10 Best Ice Cream Makers for Home in 2022

1. Whynter ICM-128BPS Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker

Make frozen desserts and yogurt with this small ice cream maker

We think the Whynter ICM-128BPS is the best home ice cream maker in Australia, as it sits upright, taking up less space than your traditional ice cream maker that tends to be wider and bulkier even though it has a built-in compressor.

If you’re looking for an ice cream maker that takes up less kitchen countertop space without compromising on functionality, then the Whynter ICM-128BPS Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker is a fantastic option to consider.

You can make ice cream, sorbets and gelato with this ice cream maker. You can even make all-natural yogurts with it, making it a very versatile option.

It also has a built-in motor protection function. If the mixture in the ice cream maker freezes solid, the machine is automatically shut off to prevent any damage to it. This is a really useful feature especially if you’re figuring out how to use it for the first few times or trying out new recipes.

2. Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

High-end ice cream maker for those serious about ice cream

If you’re looking to churn heaps of ice cream, then the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker is probably the one you’ll want to get. It is the best ice cream maker with a compressor. Its commercial quality compressor means you won’t have to wait between batches of ice cream - really useful if you want to make various flavours or large volumes. It also has a large capacity of 1.4 litres, so you’ll also be able to make a decent amount each time.

It only takes up to 60 minutes to churn out some homemade ice cream. The Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker comes with an ice cream and sorbet paddle so that you can achieve the right consistency required with each one.

While this is an expensive ice cream maker that’s also large and heavy, you get a great quality machine. This is the best option on our list if you’re really serious about your frozen desserts.

3. Cuisinart ICE100BCU Gelato and Ice Cream Maker

Makes ice cream in just 40 minutes

The Cuisinart Gelato and Ice Cream Maker is another good option if you’re looking for an ice cream maker with a compressor. This will allow you to make back-to-back batches instead of wasting time waiting between them. You also have a large 1.5 litre capacity to work with.

This ice cream maker comes with an instant freeze bowl. This takes out the hassle of having to pre-freeze your bowl before you get started, saving you lots of prep time. It also comes with an ice cream and gelato paddle. The Cuisinart Gelato and Ice Cream Maker can make ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt in just 40 minutes.

This unit is quite heavy at 10.2kg though, so it might be hard to move in and out of storage. If you’ve got plenty of kitchen countertop space and are keen to make frozen desserts on the regular, then its weight and size definitely aren’t dealbreakers.

4. Ninja Ice Cream Maker

Easy to use with preset programs

The Ninja Ice Cream Maker is great if you’re looking for something that’s quick and easy to use and simple to clean.

All you need to do is to put all the ingredients into one of the three provided tubs and pop it in the freezer. Once the ingredients are frozen, put it in the machine and choose one of the seven programs - ice cream, gelato, smoothie bowl, milkshake, sorbet, lite ice cream or mix-ins.

It is also compact, taking up less kitchen countertop space than your traditional ice cream maker. The parts are top rack dishwasher-safe, making it super easy to clean.

One downside is that it’s quite expensive given its smaller capacity and the fact that you need to freeze the ingredients overnight. However, given its versatility and convenience, it could be worth it if it ticks your boxes.

5. Breville The Smart Scoop BCI600XL

Great for customising ice cream hardness

A standout feature of the Breville The Smart Scoop is the ability to use the manual mode and customise the hardness of your frozen treat - great for people who like it a little different. 

You have the option of 12 hardness settings, ranging from frozen yogurt to ice cream. The ability to customise the level of hardness makes the Smart Scoop a great maker for vegan and dairy free ice cream so that you can tweak the settings to achieve the right texture and consistency.

Once your ice cream is done churning, you also have the option of keeping it cool for up to three hours, which is really convenient. It has a feature that detects the hardness of your ice cream based on your selected level and keeps it there until you’re ready to dish up.

A drawback is its smaller capacity at 1 litre, but depending on your needs, that might not necessarily be a negative.

6. Cuisinart ICE-21R Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker

Makes ice cream in a jiffy

The best ice cream maker under $200 is the Cuisinart ICE-21R, recommended to those looking for an ice cream maker that can churn frozen desserts out really quickly. It’s also the our top pick for making frozen yogurt as it can churn that out as well as ice cream, sorbet or frozen drinks in just 20 minutes.

It has an ingredient spout at the top of the machine which makes it really easy to add ingredients as you go along. It also means you can do so without disrupting the freezing cycle.

The bowl that comes with it has double insulated walls that keeps the temperature of the bowl even. With the Cuisinart ICE-21R Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker, you have to pre-freeze the bowl for about 16 to 24 hours. Definitely something to keep in mind. An easy way to get around this though is to keep the bowl in the freezer so that it’s ready whenever you need it.

Another plus is that it’s in the mid-price range, so you don’t have to fork out too much for a decent ice cream maker.

7. Cuisinart ICE30BCU Ice Cream Deluxe

The best ice cream maker under $150

At 2 litres, the Cuisinart Ice Cream Deluxe has the biggest capacity out of all the ice cream makers on our list. This is a great one if you intend to make big batches of ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet at a time, currently sold at a really attractive price point.

It only takes 25 minutes to make your desired frozen treat, quite impressive considering its capacity. Just note that you’ll need to pre-freeze the bowl overnight before you can get started on making your ice cream. This ice cream maker also only has an on/off button and doesn’t have a dedicated set timer, so you’ll need to watch the time yourself to get your desired consistency.

One more plus about the Cuisinart Ice Cream Deluxe is that it’s tall rather than wide - great news for your kitchen countertop.

8. Davis & Waddell Electric Ice Cream Maker

Inexpensive no-frills ice cream maker

The Davis & Waddell Electric Ice Cream Maker is an easy-to-use machine, perfect for those of you who just want to have ice cream made quickly and easily.

There is just an on/off button, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of figuring out what settings to use. However, this also means manually keeping track of your ice cream and knowing how long it should churn for.

It takes just a quick 15 to 30 minutes to get your ice cream, sorbet or gelato created depending on the ingredients you use. You do have to pre-freeze the bowl for at least 8 hours though, so make sure you remember to do that.

Compared to some other ice cream makers on this list, this one is in the lower-price range, great if you’re just venturing into the homemade ice cream scene and want to have fun with it without investing too much money yet.

9. Zoku Ice Cream Maker

Single-serve manual ice cream maker

If you’re looking for a pared down ice cream maker, the Zoku Ice Cream Maker is a good option. It doesn’t have any mechanisms and doesn’t require electricity, relying on manual hand mixing to get your ice cream mix turned into ice cream.

The bowl requires freezing for more than 12 hours for it to work effectively, something to keep in mind. After that, you’ll just simply need to pour in your cold ice cream mix and stir and scrape it until your ice cream starts forming.

As there aren’t any mechanisms or parts to the Zoku Ice Cream Maker, it’s really easy to clean and get ready for the next make. It’s also made of stainless steel, making it durable and long-lasting.

The Zoku Ice Cream Maker makes one portion of ice cream, perfect if you want to whip up a sweet frozen treat for yourself. It is also stackable, so if you want to make ice cream for multiple people, you can get a few and just stack it up and store it in the freezer until you’re ready to make some ice cream.

10. Domaier Electric Ice Cream Maker

Inexpensive and straightforward

The Domaier Electric Ice Cream Maker is fairly straightforward - pre-freeze the bowl, pour your ingredients in, turn it on and let it do its thing. It has a capacity of 1.4 litres and can make ice cream in under 25 minutes. It’s a great option if you’re not wanting to spend too much on a decent ice cream maker.

There’s a handy funnel on the lid of the ice cream maker, making it easy to add ingredients as and when you like. It’s interior is made of premium aluminum alloy that’s BPA free, so it’s durable and safe.

The Domaier Electric Ice Cream Maker also boasts a noise level of 65db, so it’s not overly loud while it’s running. It’s easy to detach the paddle and lid for cleaning, so it’s not too much of a hassle.

You’ll need to pre-freeze the freezer bowl ahead of time for about 8 hours. As with the other makers that utilise freezer bowls, a handy tip is to keep the freezer bowl in the freezer so it’s all ready to go once you get cravings for homemade ice cream.

As you’ve probably noticed from our list, ice cream makers can vary quite greatly in terms of cost. Of course, this is influenced by the various functionalities as well as whether it’s a more professional piece of equipment or more geared towards leisurely ice cream makes.

Check out our guide below on what you should look out for in an ice cream maker so that you can get one that best suits your needs.

Types of ice creams and frozen desserts

Are you looking for an ice cream maker just to make ice cream or would you like more versatility? Many ice cream makers have the ability to make various types of frozen treats, but there are some that are a bit more stripped back.

Some makers are more versatile than others in terms of customisability. If you would like an ice cream maker that can make other types of frozen desserts like gelato, frozen yogurt or sorbet, look for an ice cream maker that comes with different paddles or the ability to customise the hardness. That way, you can achieve the correct consistency and texture.

If you’re just wanting to make ice cream, then you can probably get away with buying an ice cream maker that has just the one paddle and a simple on/off functionality.

Type of ice cream maker

This would probably depend on the frequency that you intend to make ice cream. If you’re planning on making it quite frequently or in big batches, then you will probably want to look at getting an ice cream maker with a compressor. These tend to be more expensive, but they’ll be able to handle higher frequencies and larger volumes better.

If you’re just wanting to make a frozen treat for yourself every now and again, then you could go for one that uses a freezer bowl. These ones require you to put the bowl in the freezer, usually overnight, to freeze before you can get started on churning your ice cream.

Capacity

This one’s pretty straightforward - if you’re planning on making big batches of ice cream, then look for an ice cream maker that has a bigger capacity. That way you won’t have to make multiple batches.

Ease of use

Ice cream machines with compressors tend to be a lot easier to operate because all you have to do is put the ingredients in and let it do the work. Ice cream makers that use freezer bowls have an extra step of pre-freezing the bowl. There are also more manual ice cream makers that requires hand mixing to make your ice cream. Ultimately which one to go for would depend on whether you can be bothered with those extra steps.

Speed

How long are you willing to wait for your ice cream to be churned? It may seem like ice cream makers with compressors take a lot longer to churn, but that’s because it doesn’t require pre-freezing. With ice cream makers that use freezer bowls, the actual churning process is shorter but pre-freezing the bowl beforehand can be anywhere between 8 - 24 hours.

Ease of cleaning

Look out for attachments that are dishwasher-safe and are easy to remove for washing. Another one that’s good to consider is the material of the ice cream maker’s main body and whether it helps facilitate easy wipedowns.