Top 10 Ice Cream Makers in 2027 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best ice cream maker you can buy in 2027 is the Breville Smart Scoop (BCI600XL) at $599, a self-refrigerating compressor machine that hits commercial-grade density with the least fuss, automatically detecting hardness and holding a "keep cool" mode so your batch never over-churns.

For most people, though, the best value is the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe (NC501) at $229, an 11-in-1 pint-spin system that turns a frozen base into rich ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or froyo in minutes without a noisy churn cycle. This list is for home cooks deciding among three very different approaches — compressor machines that need no pre-freezing, freezer-bowl machines that are cheap but require an overnight freeze, and Ninja Creami-style pint spinners that re-process a pre-frozen base — and it ranks ten currently-shipping models so you can match the right one to your kitchen, budget, and how often you actually churn.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted real-world churn quality and convenience over spec-sheet bragging rights, then cross-checked our picks against published testing from Wirecutter, Serious Eats, America's Test Kitchen, CNN Underscored, Food Network, and The Spruce Eats. Here is how the scoring broke down:

• Texture & churn quality — 25%
• Compressor vs freezer-bowl convenience — 20%
• Capacity & speed — 15%
• Ease of use & cleanup — 15%
• Versatility (gelato/sorbet/froyo) — 15%
• Price-to-performance — 10%

Sources consulted include Wirecutter, Serious Eats, America's Test Kitchen, CNN Underscored, Food Network, and The Spruce Eats, plus manufacturer spec sheets from Ninja, Cuisinart, Breville, and Whynter.

1. Breville Smart Scoop (BCI600XL) 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Price: $599 | Best for: Serious home churners who want compressor results with zero guesswork

The Breville Smart Scoop is a self-refrigerating compressor machine with a 1.5-quart removable bowl and a built-in hardness sensor that adjusts the freeze automatically across twelve settings, so you do not babysit the bowl or pre-freeze anything. It plays an audible chime when the dessert reaches your chosen consistency and then drops into an automatic "keep cool" hold that can run up to three hours, which means a forgotten batch stays scoopable instead of turning to brick.

Churn time runs roughly 30 to 40 minutes, and the pre-cool function chills the bowl before you even pour. It is the quietest compressor unit we tested and the easiest to read at a glance thanks to its LCD progress display. The only real knock is the price.

Pros:

• No pre-freezing and fully automatic hardness detection
• Quietest compressor unit in the test pool with a clear LCD
• Keep-cool hold prevents over-churning a finished batch
• Twelve settings spanning gelato, ice cream, and sorbet

Cons:

• The most expensive consumer machine here at $599
• Heavy and large; it claims real counter or cabinet space

Verdict: If money is no object, the Breville Smart Scoop makes the best ice cream with the least effort, period.

2. Whynter ICM-201SB 2.1-Quart Compressor

Price: $369 | Best for: Big-batch makers who want compressor convenience for less than Breville

The Whynter ICM-201SB is a 2.1-quart upright compressor unit that Wirecutter-adjacent testing has repeatedly praised for churning the creamiest results in a mixed field, all without pre-freezing a bowl. Its 180-watt CFC-free compressor lets you run back-to-back batches, and an LCD with a built-in timer and auto shut-off keeps things simple.

The larger 2.1-quart capacity is genuinely useful for families, and churn time lands around 40 to 50 minutes depending on your base. It is loud, and the heft makes it a permanent-counter-resident, but for raw output and capacity per dollar it is the smartest compressor buy under $400.

Pros:

• Largest capacity here at 2.1 quarts with no pre-freeze
• Creamiest texture in several blind tests
• Back-to-back batches thanks to the compressor
• LCD timer with auto shut-off

Cons:

• Loud during the churn cycle
• Bulky and heavy on the counter

Verdict: The best capacity-per-dollar compressor machine, and our top pick if Breville's price stings.

3. Ninja CREAMi Deluxe (NC501) 💎 BEST VALUE

Price: $229 | Best for: Variety seekers who want eleven frozen treats from one quiet machine

The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe (NC501) is an 11-in-1 pint-spin machine — not a churner. You freeze a base in its tall pint container for 24 hours, then the XL processor shaves and re-emulsifies it into ice cream, gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, or "lite" versions at the press of a button.

Each spin takes only a couple of minutes, so you go from frozen base to finished dessert faster than any churner here, and the per-pint format is ideal for portion control and dietary tweaks. The trade-off is the mandatory overnight freeze and the loud, brief spin. At $229 it does more things well than anything near its price.

Pros:

• Eleven programs for ice cream, gelato, sorbet, froyo, and more
• Two-minute spin once the base is frozen
• Per-pint format is perfect for portioning and macros
• No bowl to pre-chill beyond the pint itself

Cons:

• Requires a 24-hour freeze of each base before spinning
• The spin cycle is briefly very loud

Verdict: The most versatile machine under $250 and our Best Value pick for households that want options.

4. Ninja CREAMi (NC300)

Price: $199 | Best for: First-time Creami buyers who want the system at the lowest entry price

The original Ninja CREAMi (NC300) delivers the same core pint-spin experience as the Deluxe with 7 one-touch programs — ice cream, lite ice cream, gelato, sorbet, smoothie bowl, mix-in, and milkshake — using standard 16-ounce pints. It needs the same 24-hour pre-freeze, then transforms a solid base into a creamy dessert in about two minutes.

You give up the Deluxe's larger XL pints and four extra programs, but the texture from the base machine is nearly identical, which makes the $199 NC300 the cheapest way into the Creami ecosystem.

Pros:

• Lowest-priced entry into the Creami pint system
• Seven programs covering the everyday favorites
• Two-minute processing from frozen base
• Compact footprint versus a compressor unit

Cons:

• Smaller pints and fewer programs than the Deluxe
• Same overnight-freeze requirement

Verdict: The smart pick if you want Creami texture without paying for the Deluxe's extras.

5. Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor

Price: $280 | Best for: Buyers who want a no-pre-freeze compressor with gelato and ice cream paddles

The Cuisinart ICE-100 is a 1.5-quart self-refrigerating compressor machine that ships with two paddles — one tuned for gelato and one for ice cream — and a 60-minute timer with auto shut-off. It needs no pre-freezing, churns in roughly 40 minutes, and holds a brief keep-cool window after the timer ends.

Testing notes it is just as large, heavy, and loud as other compressor units and did not top the field for creaminess, but the dual paddles and lower-than-Breville price make it a sensible middle-ground compressor. It is a reliable workhorse rather than a standout.

Pros:

• Two dedicated paddles for gelato and ice cream
• No pre-freeze required, with a 60-minute timer
• Auto keep-cool after the cycle ends
• Cheaper than Breville and Lello compressors

Cons:

• Bulky, heavy, and loud like other compressors
• Texture trailed the best compressor units in testing

Verdict: A dependable mid-price compressor, best if you specifically want a separate gelato paddle.

6. Cuisinart ICE-21 Freezer-Bowl

Price: $70 | Best for: Budget buyers who churn occasionally and have freezer room

The Cuisinart ICE-21 (sold as ICE-21P1) is the classic 1.5-quart freezer-bowl machine and a long-running best-value champion in published testing, where it churned some of the creamiest ice cream of any model while costing the least. The catch is the double-walled bowl that must freeze for 16 to 24 hours before each use, so spontaneity requires planning freezer space.

Once frozen, it churns in about 20 minutes. It is loud and limited to one batch per bowl-freeze, but for $70 the results punch far above the price.

Pros:

• Excellent texture for the money
• Cheapest capable churner on this list
• Fast 20-minute churn once the bowl is frozen
• Compact and light to store

Cons:

• Bowl needs a 16-to-24-hour freeze before every batch
• Only one batch per freeze; loud during churn

Verdict: The best cheap churner you can buy, ideal for occasional makers with freezer space.

7. Lello Musso Pola 5030

Price: $899 | Best for: Enthusiasts and small food businesses wanting commercial-grade density

The Lello Musso Pola 5030 is an Italian-made, fully stainless-steel compressor machine widely regarded as the closest thing to a commercial gelato unit you can put on a home counter. It produces an exceptionally dense, smooth texture and can finish a batch in under 25 minutes with no pre-freezing, thanks to a fixed-bowl design and a powerful compressor.

The fixed bowl is harder to clean than a removable one, and the $899 price puts it firmly in enthusiast territory, but no other machine here matches its density and build quality.

Pros:

• Commercial-grade density and smoothness
• Sub-25-minute churn with no pre-freeze
• All-stainless Italian build made to last
• Powerful compressor for back-to-back batches

Cons:

• Fixed bowl is more awkward to clean
• Among the most expensive options here

Verdict: The connoisseur's choice when texture and build quality outrank price.

8. KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment (KICA0WH)

Price: $90 | Best for: Existing KitchenAid stand-mixer owners who want to add ice cream cheaply

The KitchenAid KICA0WH is a 2-quart freezer-bowl attachment that snaps onto most KitchenAid tilt-head and bowl-lift stand mixers, using the mixer's motor and a dedicated dasher to churn. Because it leans on hardware you already own, it is one of the cheapest ways to make a real 2-quart batch, churning in roughly 20 to 30 minutes once the bowl has frozen for at least 15 hours.

You must own a compatible KitchenAid mixer, and the bowl needs that long pre-freeze, but for owners it is a near-impulse-priced add-on.

Pros:

• Uses your existing KitchenAid mixer motor
• 2-quart batch capacity
• Very low cost as an add-on accessory
• No extra appliance taking up counter space

Cons:

• Requires a compatible KitchenAid stand mixer
• Bowl needs a 15-hour-plus pre-freeze

Verdict: A no-brainer add-on if you already own a compatible KitchenAid mixer.

9. Whynter ICM-15LS 1.6-Quart Compressor

Price: $314 | Best for: Solo and couple households wanting compressor convenience in a smaller body

The Whynter ICM-15LS is the 1.6-quart sibling of our number-two pick, a self-freezing compressor machine that earned praise as a top self-refrigerating unit from outlets including Wirecutter and Real Simple. It delivers the same no-pre-freeze convenience and creamy results in a slightly smaller footprint and capacity, churning in about 40 minutes.

It is still loud and heavy for its size, and the smaller bowl makes the larger ICM-201SB a better buy for big batches, but for one or two people it is plenty.

Pros:

• No pre-freeze with a true compressor
• Smaller footprint than the 2.1-quart model
• Praised as a top self-freezing unit by reviewers
• Removable bowl for easier cleanup

Cons:

• Smaller capacity than the ICM-201SB for similar money
• Loud and heavy for its size

Verdict: A solid smaller compressor, though the larger ICM-201SB is usually the better value.

10. Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker (ICMP400)

Price: $55 | Best for: Families and parties wanting big, old-fashioned batches on the cheap

The Nostalgia ICMP400 is a 4-quart old-fashioned electric maker that uses ice and rock salt packed around an aluminum canister, churning the largest batch on this list. There is no bowl to pre-freeze — you supply ice and salt instead — and the bucket churns in roughly 20 to 40 minutes, making it a fun, nostalgic, party-scale option.

The texture is softer and icier than a compressor or Creami result, and you have to buy ice and salt every time, but at $55 for four quarts it is unbeatable for volume.

Pros:

• 4-quart capacity, by far the largest here
• No bowl pre-freeze needed
• Lowest entry price on the list
• Fun, nostalgic party-friendly format

Cons:

• Softer, icier texture than premium machines
• Needs ice and rock salt for every batch

Verdict: The pick for big nostalgic batches when volume and price matter more than density.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Buying an Ice Cream Maker

• Cooling type — A compressor machine (Breville, Whynter, Cuisinart ICE-100, Lello) freezes itself, so no planning is needed and you can run multiple batches. A freezer-bowl machine (Cuisinart ICE-21, KitchenAid) is cheaper but needs an overnight bowl freeze. A Ninja Creami pint system re-processes a base you froze 24 hours ahead.
• Capacity — Match quarts to your household: 1.5 quarts suits couples, 2 to 2.1 quarts suits families, and 4 quarts suits parties.
• Pre-freeze requirement — If you hate planning, pay for a compressor; if you plan ahead easily, a freezer-bowl saves real money.
• Noise — Compressor and Creami spin cycles are loud; the Breville is the quietest of the compressors.
• Versatility — Creami machines and dual-paddle compressors handle gelato, sorbet, and froyo best.
• Cleanup — Removable bowls (most models) beat the Lello's fixed bowl for ease.

What matters less than marketing implies: dozens of preset buttons. A great base recipe and the right cooling type drive texture far more than a long program list — three or four solid presets cover nearly everything most home cooks make.

FAQ

Is a compressor ice cream maker worth the extra money? If you make ice cream often or hate planning a day ahead, yes — a compressor freezes itself, runs back-to-back batches, and skips the overnight bowl freeze. Occasional makers are usually better served by a freezer-bowl unit.

How is the Ninja Creami different from a normal ice cream maker? The Creami does not churn a liquid base while freezing it. Instead you freeze the base solid for 24 hours, then its blade shaves and re-emulsifies the block into a creamy texture in about two minutes per pint.

Do I have to pre-freeze the bowl on every machine? No. Compressor machines (Breville, Whynter, Cuisinart ICE-100, Lello) need no pre-freeze. Freezer-bowl machines (Cuisinart ICE-21, KitchenAid attachment) need a 15-to-24-hour freeze, and the Nostalgia uses ice and rock salt instead.

Which machine makes the creamiest ice cream? In blind testing, the Lello Musso and Whynter compressors produced the densest, creamiest results, with the Breville close behind and easier to use. The cheap Cuisinart ICE-21 also punches above its price.

How long does it take to make a batch? Freezer-bowl and compressor churns run about 20 to 50 minutes. A Ninja Creami spin takes only a couple of minutes, but you must freeze the base for 24 hours first.

Can these make gelato, sorbet, and frozen yogurt too? Yes — the Creami Deluxe has dedicated programs for all three, the Cuisinart ICE-100 ships with a gelato paddle, and most compressors handle sorbet and froyo with the right recipe.

Bottom Line

For the best ice cream with the least effort, buy the Breville Smart Scoop at $599 — a self-refrigerating compressor that detects hardness, holds your batch cool, and runs quietly. If you want the most frozen-dessert variety for the money, the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe at $229 is the Best Value, turning a frozen base into eleven kinds of treat in minutes.

Not sure which approach fits your kitchen and budget? Run back through the decision tree above to route yourself to the right pick.

Sources

• Wirecutter — The Best Ice Cream Maker
• Serious Eats — The Best Ice Cream Makers
• America's Test Kitchen — Ice Cream Makers
• CNN Underscored — Best Ice Cream Makers of 2026
• Food Network — Best Ice Cream Makers, Tested and Reviewed
• The Spruce Eats — Best Ice Cream Makers
• Ninja — CREAMi Deluxe (NC501) Product Page
• Cuisinart — ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream & Gelato Maker
• Breville — Smart Scoop (BCI600XL) Spec Sheet
• Whynter — ICM-201SB 2.1-Quart Compressor Ice Cream Maker

*Ice cream maker review — ice cream maker reviews, rating, best ice cream maker 2027, and a review of the top compressor and Creami picks for buyers.*