The 10 Best Ice Cream Makers as of June 2026

How we ranked these ice cream makers

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each ice cream maker does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#	Ice Cream Makers	Score	Best for	Type	Approx. Price	Amazon links
1	Ninja Creami	9.0	Best overall	Freeze & churn	$200	View Price
2	Sage the Smart Scoop	8.8	Best self-freezing	Compressor	$400	View Price
3	Magimix Gelato Expert	8.7	Best premium compressor	Compressor	$450	View Price
4	Ninja Creami Deluxe	8.7	Best for big batches	Freeze & churn	$250	View Price
5	Cuisinart ICE-30BCU	8.7	Best freezer-bowl	Freezer bowl	$80	View Price
6	Cuisinart Gelato & Ice Cream	8.6	Best mid compressor	Compressor	$300	View Price
7	KitchenAid Ice Cream Bowl Attachment	8.5	Best for stand mixers	Mixer attachment	$80	View Price
8	Lakeland Digital	8.4	Best value freezer-bowl	Freezer bowl	$50	View Price
9	Andrew James Ice Cream Maker	8.3	Best budget	Freezer bowl	$40	View Price
10	Klarstein Compressor	8.2	Best value compressor	Compressor	$200	View Price

The full ranking

Best overall

Ninja Creami

9.0Our number one pick.

The Ninja Creami works differently to most — you freeze a base solid then it shaves and re-churns it into ice cream, gelato, sorbet and more, with endless flavor control and no bowl pre-freeze faff each time. It is loud and needs overnight freezing, but the versatility and results are exceptional.

Results: 9.2Ease: 8.8Versatility: 9.6Value: 8.8

Pros

Huge variety of frozen treats
Great texture control
No daily bowl pre-freeze

Cons

Loud while churning
Needs overnight freezing

Check price on Amazon≈ $200

Best self-freezing

Sage the Smart Scoop

8.8A superb runner-up.

Sage's Smart Scoop has a built-in compressor so it freezes as it churns with no pre-frozen bowl, sensing hardness and even playing a tune when ready. It is expensive and heavy, but the convenience and quality are excellent.

Results: 9.2Ease: 9.4Versatility: 8.8Value: 8.2

Pros

No pre-freezing needed
Senses set point
Excellent texture

Cons

Expensive
Heavy and bulky

Check price on Amazon≈ $400

Best premium compressor

Magimix Gelato Expert

8.7Rounds out our top three.

The Magimix Gelato Expert is a powerful self-freezing machine with three modes for ice cream, gelato and sorbet, producing dense, professional-quality results. It is a big investment, but for keen home gelato makers it is excellent.

Results: 9.4Ease: 9.0Versatility: 8.8Value: 8.0

Pros

Dense professional results
Three dedicated modes
No pre-freezing

Cons

Expensive
Large footprint

Check price on Amazon≈ $450

Best for big batches

Ninja Creami Deluxe

8.7A standout in the upper half.

The Creami Deluxe scales up the Creami concept with a larger tub and extra programs, ideal for families who want bigger batches and more presets. It is bulkier and pricier, but the capacity and variety are excellent.

Results: 9.0Ease: 8.8Versatility: 9.4Value: 8.6

Pros

Larger batches
More programs
Great variety

Cons

Bulky
Loud while churning

Check price on Amazon≈ $250

Best freezer-bowl

Cuisinart ICE-30BCU

8.7A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The Cuisinart ICE-30BCU churns ice cream in about 20 minutes from a pre-frozen bowl, a simple, reliable and affordable route to homemade scoops. You must pre-freeze the bowl, but the ease and value are excellent.

Results: 8.8Ease: 9.0Versatility: 8.4Value: 9.2

Pros

Quick churning
Simple and reliable
Great value

Cons

Bowl needs pre-freezing
One batch at a time

Check price on Amazon≈ $80

Best mid compressor

Cuisinart Gelato & Ice Cream

8.6Great value in the middle of the pack.

This Cuisinart compressor model freezes as it churns at a lower price than premium rivals, with dedicated gelato and ice cream settings. It is heavier than bowl models, but the no-pre-freeze convenience and value are excellent.

Results: 8.8Ease: 9.0Versatility: 8.6Value: 8.6

Pros

Self-freezing for less
Gelato and ice cream modes
Good results

Cons

Heavy
Mid-tier finish

Check price on Amazon≈ $300

Best for stand mixers

KitchenAid Ice Cream Bowl Attachment

8.5A dependable pick if the price is right.

This freezer-bowl attachment turns a KitchenAid stand mixer into an ice cream maker, a smart, space-saving option if you already own the mixer. It needs the bowl pre-frozen and a compatible mixer, but the results and value are excellent.

Results: 8.6Ease: 8.6Versatility: 8.2Value: 9.0

Pros

Uses your KitchenAid
Space-saving
Good results

Cons

Needs a KitchenAid mixer
Bowl pre-freeze required

Check price on Amazon≈ $80

Best value freezer-bowl

Lakeland Digital

8.4Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Lakeland's digital ice cream maker offers a timer and clear controls with a pre-frozen bowl at a friendly price, a simple, good-value choice with UK support. Capacity is modest, but the ease and value are good.

Results: 8.4Ease: 8.8Versatility: 8.0Value: 9.0

Pros

Digital timer
Easy to use
Affordable

Cons

Bowl pre-freeze needed
Modest capacity

Check price on Amazon≈ $50

Best budget

Andrew James Ice Cream Maker

8.3A budget-friendly option worth a look.

The Andrew James maker covers the basics with a pre-frozen bowl and simple paddle at a low price, a sensible cheap entry into homemade ice cream. It is basic, but for the money it does the job.

Results: 8.2Ease: 8.6Versatility: 7.8Value: 9.2

Pros

Very affordable
Simple to use
Compact

Cons

Bowl pre-freeze needed
Basic build

Check price on Amazon≈ $40

Best value compressor

Klarstein Compressor

8.2Rounds out our top ten.

Klarstein's compressor machine freezes as it churns at a lower price than the big names, a budget route to no-pre-freeze ice cream. The build is less premium, but the self-freezing convenience and value are good.

Results: 8.4Ease: 8.8Versatility: 8.2Value: 8.8

Pros

Self-freezing for less
No bowl pre-freeze
Decent results

Cons

Less premium build
Heavier

Check price on Amazon≈ $200

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the ice cream makers in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Ninja Creami, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Sage the Smart Scoop and Magimix Gelato Expert are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best ice cream makers without overthinking it, the Ninja Creami is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ $200

Our top picks at a glance

Ninja Creami

Lakeland Digital

Magimix Gelato Expert

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How we ranked these ice cream makers

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

Ninja Creami

Pros

Cons

Sage the Smart Scoop

Pros

Cons

Magimix Gelato Expert

Pros

Cons

Ninja Creami Deluxe

Pros

Cons

Cuisinart ICE-30BCU

Pros

Cons

Cuisinart Gelato & Ice Cream

Pros

Cons

KitchenAid Ice Cream Bowl Attachment

Pros

Cons

Lakeland Digital

Pros

Cons

Andrew James Ice Cream Maker

Pros

Cons

Klarstein Compressor

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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