Best Ice Cream Makers of 2025

Best Budget Pick: Cuisinart ICE‑21

If you’re just getting into ice cream making and don’t want to spend a fortune, the Cuisinart ICE-21 is where it’s at. This little workhorse is consistently ranked at the top of “best value” lists for good reason—it churns out smooth, creamy ice cream in about 20 minutes. It also happens to be the first ice cream machine I tried!

Just remember: you’ll need to freeze the bowl for at least 16–24 hours before using it, so plan ahead. But for under $100, it’s one of the most dependable and beginner-friendly machines on the market. It’s also super easy to use—just flip a switch and let it whirl.

• Best for: First-timers, small families, people who don’t planning ahead
• Price: ~$70
• Get it here

Best Large-Batch Electric Ice Cream Maker: Cuisinart ICE‑30BC

Love the ICE-21 but wish it made more? The ICE-30 has all the simplicity of the smaller model but with a 2-quart capacity and a sleeker stainless steel look. It’s great for making ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt for a crowd—and it won’t hog too much counter space.

While I haven’t tried this one myself, Amazon customers and reviewers at Serious Eats and Bon Appétit love how consistently creamy the results are, even without a compressor. As with the ICE-21, you’ll still need to pre-freeze the bowl, but that’s a small trade-off for quality at this price point.

• Best for: Batch-makers and families
• Price: ~$100–$130
• Get it here

Best Compressor Ice Cream Maker: Cuisinart ICE‑100

If you’re serious about your scoops and don’t want to deal with pre-freezing bowls, the Cuisinart ICE‑100 is a rock-solid mid-tier compressor model. It cools itself and churns batch after batch without breaking a sweat. You can make ice cream or gelato in under 40 minutes—and then go right into your next flavor without waiting. 

It also comes with two paddles (one for ice cream, one for gelato) so you can tweak the texture to your liking. This machine earned top praise from Serious Eats for being user-friendly, reliable, and significantly more affordable than luxury brands. I can also personally attest that it’s quite easy and fast to use. 

The only drawback is that it’s about twice as deep and quite a bit heavier than the ICE-21, so make sure you have sufficient cabinet space for storage.

• Best for: Frequent churners, people who like to batch cook
• Price: ~$300
• Get it here
  

Best High-End Splurge: Lello Musso Lussino 4080

The Lello Musso Lussino is the Ferrari of home ice cream machines—and it has the price tag to match. At around $800, this Italian-made compressor churns out ice cream with a professional-grade texture in just 18–20 minutes! (But, at $800 I also haven’t had the pleasure of testing this one myself. 😅)

Unlike most machines, the bowl is fixed, so cleanup does take an extra minute. But the build quality is outstanding—solid stainless steel, precise controls, and whisper-quiet operation. Bon Appétit and Wirecutter both raved about its dreamy consistency and long-term durability.

• Best for: Culinary pros, bougie foodies, and wedding gift wish-listers
• Price: ~$800
• Get it here
  

Best Soft-Serve Ice Cream Machine: Cuisinart Frost Fusion

If you’re into soft serve, slushies, and everything in between, the Cuisinart Frost Fusion is a fun pick. It has pre-programmed settings for ice cream, frozen yogurt, slush, gelato, and even drinks like frozen margs. The self-cleaning cycle, large 1.6-liter capacity, and the multi-functionality makes it ideal for entertaining. The only downside is it’s only available on this side of the Atlantic. 

For my American readers, check out the Cuisinart Mix It for around $250 which allows you to add up to 3 mix-ins as you dispense the soft-serve. The Greenpan Frost Ice Cream & Frozen Drink Maker is more expensive (~$400), but sounds like a dead ringer for the Frost Fusion.

• Best for: Families, frozen drink lovers, entertainers
• Price: ~$300–350
• Get it here

Best Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Maker: Nostalgia 4‑Quart Ice Cream Maker

The Nostalgia Ice Cream Maker takes you on a trip down memory lane, complete with an adorable wooden barrel. It is an electric model, but there’s no need to pre-freeze the drum—you just add enough ice and salt to the barrel to surround the metal insert. It’s the lightest and smallest of the bunch, and it’s easy to transport, making it great for parties and potlucks.

A few drawbacks to note: First, the ice and rock salt method produces smooth results, but you’ll need quite a bit of ice and salt to keep it cool. Make sure to check on it several times throughout the process to refill as needed. Second, it’s quite loud! You’ll want to have a spot in the pantry or somewhere away from the action to let it work. Finally, it takes a bit longer than other models.

• Best for: Summer cookouts, small kitchens, budget-minded shoppers
• Price: ~$50–60
• Get it here

Best Small Ice Cream Maker: DASH My Pint Ice Cream Maker

If you live in a small space like a dorm or RV or just want the occasional single scoop, the DASH My Pint is a personal-size ice cream maker that’s just plain fun. It fits on your counter, plugs in, and churns up a scoop in under 30 minutes. Bon Appétit praised it as one of the best budget small-batch makers out there, and it’s a great gift right in time for graduation, too.

• Best for: Dorms, apartments, gifts
• Price: ~$30–40
• Get it here

🍨 Honorable Mentions

These machines didn’t quite make the top tier but still offer excellent features for the right users. From instant-freeze pans to fruit-based soft-serve, here are four ice cream makers worth considering:

Chef’n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker

This countertop-freezing pan delivers instant gratification, like your own personal Cold Stone Creamery. Just freeze the metal dish overnight, pour your chilled mixture onto the surface, and use the included spatulas to spread, scrape, and roll it into a soft-serve-style dessert within minutes. It’s fun, easy to clean, and great for interactive dessert nights.

On the downside, it only makes small portions (about half a cup at a time), and the results are more soft-serve than scoopable. You’ll also need a little elbow grease to continuously mix and scrape the base as it freezes. Still, it’s an entertaining and low-tech option for spontaneous treat-making.

• Best for: Kids, portion control, instant frozen fun
• Price: ~$50-60
• Get it here

Yonanas Classic Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Maker

The Yonanas machine turns frozen bananas (and other fruit) into creamy, dairy-free soft-serve in seconds. It’s a popular pick for those avoiding dairy, added sugar, or processed ingredients, plus it’s a fun way to reduce food waste and make dessert healthier.

That said, it’s not a true ice cream maker. This isn’t for making custard-style bases or churning milk-based creams. It also requires a bit of pressure to push the frozen fruit through the chute, and the texture can be hit or miss depending on ripeness and temperature. But if you love banana-based “nice creams,” it’s worth looking at!

• Best for: Vegan treats, healthy dessert lovers, dairy-free diets
• Price: ~$40–60
• Get it here

KitchenAid 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker Attachment

If you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer, this attachment is a great add-on. It turns your mixer into a fully functioning ice cream maker capable of producing up to 2 quarts of ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. It’s efficient, space-saving, and lets you make frozen desserts without investing in a whole new appliance.

However, the bowl must be frozen in advance for 15 to 24 hours, and some users find it a bit messy to attach and detach. It can also be noisy during churning, and the final consistency varies depending on freezer temperature and how cold your mix is to start. Still, for KitchenAid fans, it’s a versatile and worthwhile investment.

• Best for: KitchenAid owners, space-savers, multi-purpose appliance lovers
• Price: ~$69–85
• Get it here

Ninja CREAMi Deluxe Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker

With 11 preset programs for everything from ice cream and gelato to slushies, smoothie bowls, and frozen drinks, the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe is designed for people who love options. If you’re someone who likes experimenting with flavors or creating high-protein, dairy-free, or low-sugar alternatives, that’s where I find the CREAMi really shines.

That said, it’s not without drawbacks. Like several of the options here, you have to freeze your base for a full 24 hours before spinning. It’s also louder than most traditional ice cream makers—closer to a blender or food processor in terms of volume—and has a fairly bulky footprint. 

I’ve also seen inconsistent textures depending on the recipe, with certain mixtures turning out crumbly or powdery. Part of the issue is that the churning blade can’t reach the bottom of the bowl, so there are large parts that don’t get fully mixed in. The “re-spin” function lets you re-process the base to achieve a more even texture, but that can be frustrating. 

Cleanup can be a bit finicky, too, especially when dealing with sticky mix-ins. And while it’s largely well-built, I do have concerns about durability, particularly the plastic container being paired with a sharp metal blade and the motor emitting a burnt smell after extended use.

• Best for: Adventurous home cooks, health nuts, fans of multitasking tools
• Price: ~$200–249
• Get it here

Ready to Get Churning?

No matter your budget or experience level, there’s an ice cream maker out there for you. Make sure to check out my post on how to choose the right ice cream maker to help you make the final decision. Just remember, whether you go old-school or opt for a high-tech compressor, the reward is always sweet!

If you’re just dipping your toe into the world of homemade ice cream, don’t forget to check out my favorite ice cream recipes, my online ice cream making course, and my Ice Cream 101 guide to all the ice cream basics!