Updated October 2026: We rechecked every machine on this list. The Cuisinart ICE-50BC has been discontinued, so the Cuisinart ICE-100 replaces it. We also added the Ninja CREAMi, a newer kind of machine that freezes the base first and then spins it into ice cream.
When you think about ice cream makers, the first thing that comes to mind may be summer! Looking for an ice maker instead? Read our comprehensive guide to buying an ice maker.
We love summer too! It’s a great time for cold drinks and relaxing by the pool. But ice cream isn’t just for summer. There’s never a wrong time for an ice cream cone, a sundae or some other frozen treat. We love iced coffee, but ice cream is in a class all its own.
The best way to make your own ice cream is with an ice cream maker. Thanks to better household appliances, you can now make ice cream quickly and easily at home.
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So which ice cream makers are the best right now? This buyer’s guide walks you through the choice. To make it easier, we’ve divided the list into four groups: attachments, frozen-bowl machines, compressor machines and freeze-first machines like the Ninja CREAMi.
#1. Top Attachment Ice Cream Makers: Add-ons for an Appliance You Already Own
The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment
If you own a KitchenAid stand mixer, this is an excellent choice. The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment (current model KSMICM) makes up to two quarts of soft ice cream in about 20 to 30 minutes. You freeze the bowl ahead of time, then your mixer does the churning.
Because you already have the mixer, you don’t have to store another small appliance on your countertop. It fits most KitchenAid tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers, but not all. The Artisan Mini and some 6-, 7- and 8-quart models are excluded, so check your mixer’s model number before you buy. Expect to pay around $80 to $130 (about CAD $100 to $130), depending on sales.
#2. Top Frozen-Bowl Ice Cream Makers: Freeze the Bowl Overnight
To use these ice cream makers, you’ll need to freeze the bowl first, usually overnight (Cuisinart suggests up to 24 hours). They’re affordable and simple, and they’re the easiest way to get started.
Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt-Sorbet & Ice Cream Maker (ICE-30)
The Cuisinart Pure Indulgence has a double-insulated freezer bowl, holds up to 2 quarts of frozen dessert, and can be ready in as little as 25 minutes. With its brushed stainless housing, it looks as good as it works.
The price is still very good, usually around $100 to $130. Its heavy-duty motor and large ingredient spout make it a home run for quality and value, and it comes with a three-year limited warranty. No wonder it’s still one of the best-selling ice cream makers around.
The stainless model is sold as the ICE-30BC. The red-trimmed ICE-30R has been harder to find lately.
Check the price on Amazon (stainless ICE-30BC) · Red ICE-30R
Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
Another great ice cream maker on Amazon is the Cuisinart ICE-21. It’s the smaller, simpler sibling of the Pure Indulgence, with a 1.5-quart double-insulated bowl. A few features are worth noting.
First, the mixing paddle lets your frozen dessert be ready in about 20 minutes. Second, the large spout makes adding your favorite mix-ins simple and mess-free.
Its price is also hard to beat, usually around $70 (list price is closer to $90). Stock comes and goes at some stores, and the color you can get varies.
The Hamilton Beach 68330N 4-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker
Who doesn’t like ice cream, frozen yogurt, custard, sherbet or gelato? With the Hamilton Beach ice cream maker, you can make all of these in your own kitchen in about 20 to 40 minutes. Technically it isn’t a frozen-bowl machine. It chills the old-fashioned way, with ice and rock salt, so there’s nothing to freeze ahead.
It makes 4 quarts of ice cream, and it’s fully automatic, so you don’t have to sweat to get the sweet stuff. Just add your ingredients, ice and rock salt, and it does the rest. The motor stops on its own when the ice cream is thick enough. It’s also one of the cheapest machines here, around $50 to $70. Reviewers do say it’s on the noisy side.
It’s an excellent ice cream maker for family get-togethers. Gather everyone, build some superb sundaes together, and make some ice cream memories.
We recommend adding some candy or fresh fruit. The sky’s the limit, and you get to taste your creations as you go.
#3. Top Compressor Ice Cream Makers: No Pre-Freezing Needed
These ice cream makers have a built-in compressor, so the machine does all the freezing for you. You can make batch after batch without waiting for a bowl to refreeze. The trade-off is price, size and weight.
Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker
The Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop is still one of the best. Its self-refrigerating compressor stays cold through the whole process, so no pre-freezing is required. It also has 12 hardness settings, so you can make sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato and ice cream exactly how you like them.
The Smart Scoop can keep your dessert cold for up to three hours, and it has a child lock in case your little one wants an early taste.
The big con is still the price. Breville lists it at about $600, though retailers often sell it for closer to $500.
Love the Smart Scoop but not the price? Take a look at the Whynter ICM-15LS. It’s a 1.6-quart compressor machine that does much the same job for around $300 to $350. For more information, check it on Amazon. If it’s out of stock there, Whynter’s larger 2.1-quart ICM-200LS works the same way.
Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
The Cuisinart ICE-50BC that used to sit here has been discontinued. Its replacement in Cuisinart’s lineup is the ICE-100, a fully automatic 1.5-quart machine with a commercial-quality compressor, so there’s no bowl to pre-freeze.
It comes with two paddles, one for ice cream and one for denser gelato. It also has a 60-minute countdown timer, a 10-minute keep-cool feature after the timer ends, and a lid opening for adding mix-ins while it churns. Cuisinart backs it with a three-year limited warranty.
It’s heavy (about 32 pounds) and takes up real counter space. Like other compressor machines, it should sit upright for 24 hours before its first use. Prices vary a lot, from around $220 to $380, so watch for a sale.
#4. Freeze-First Machines: The Ninja CREAMi
The Ninja CREAMi has become hugely popular since this guide was first written, and it works differently from everything above. You freeze your base solid in a pint container for about 24 hours. Then the CREAMi’s blade shaves and spins the frozen block into ice cream, sorbet, gelato or a milkshake in a few minutes.
That makes it great for single servings, protein ice cream and lower-sugar recipes, because the machine doesn’t need sugar and fat to get a smooth texture. The trade-off is planning ahead: each pint needs a full day in the freezer. It’s also loud while it runs.
Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 (NC501)
The Deluxe uses two 24-ounce XL pints, about 50% more than the original CREAMi’s pints, and has 11 one-touch programs, including ice cream, lite ice cream, sorbet, gelato, frozen yogurt, milkshake and frappe. Ninja lists it at around $250, and it’s often on sale for less. One caveat: it only works with the XL pints made for the Deluxe line.
If you’d rather spend less, the original Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 (NC301) uses smaller 16-ounce pints and lists for around $230 (often closer to $200 on sale). Ninja has also released a newer CREAMi XL Deluxe Gen 2 (NC601).
Check the price of the CREAMi Deluxe on Amazon
How to Choose the Right Ice Cream Maker for Your Home
Consider How It Freezes
This is the biggest choice. Frozen-bowl machines and attachments are cheap but need a day of freezer time before each batch. Ice-and-salt machines make big batches but are messier. Compressor machines are ready whenever you are but cost more and weigh more. The Ninja CREAMi needs your base frozen a day ahead but makes single servings in minutes.
Consider How Long It Takes to Make Ice Cream
Like most ice-making appliances, you have to consider how long it takes to reach the end goal.
Most machines churn ice cream in 20 to 40 minutes once they’re ready to go, and that’s okay. Before you buy, check how long the full cycle takes, including any pre-freezing. If you have to wait hours, you might as well go to the store.
Consider How Much Ice Cream It Makes
Next, think about how much ice cream it makes at once. Will it be enough for your whole family? You don’t want anyone left out. Plus, can you have too much ice cream? We don’t think so.
Consider Its Power
When it comes to ice cream makers, more power is better. As Tim “The Toolman” Taylor always said on the Home Improvement TV show, “More power!”
We’d also recommend an electric ice cream maker over a hand-crank one. You don’t have time to sit there churning. It’s better to sit back, relax and know that a wonderful frozen treat is on the way.
Do You Need an Ice Cream Maker?
We’re not sure “need” is the right word. But taking the whole family out for ice cream keeps getting more expensive. An ice cream maker lets you enjoy ice cream for less, and you can invent your own flavors. Get creative and have fun!
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Ice Cream Maker FAQ
How long do you freeze an ice cream maker bowl?
Most frozen-bowl machines, including the Cuisinart models and the KitchenAid attachment, need the bowl in the freezer overnight. Cuisinart suggests up to 24 hours. If you shake the bowl and still hear liquid moving inside, it isn’t ready yet.
Is a compressor ice cream maker worth it?
If you make ice cream often, or want several batches in a row, yes. A compressor machine like the Breville Smart Scoop or Cuisinart ICE-100 skips the pre-freeze completely. If you only make ice cream a few times a summer, a frozen-bowl machine is much cheaper and easier to store.
Is the Ninja CREAMi a real ice cream maker?
It makes real ice cream, but it works differently. Instead of churning a liquid base while it freezes, it shaves and whips a base you’ve already frozen solid. It’s ideal for single pints and healthier recipes, but you have to plan a day ahead.
Can you make slushies in an ice cream maker?
Yes. Most churning machines can turn fruit juice or soda into a slushy, and the CREAMi Deluxe has milkshake and frappe programs.
Gather the family tonight and make your very own ice cream desserts.
Ice cream makers are also great for making slushies. We often add fruit juice or even soda to our ice cream maker for cool slushies on hot summer days.
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