If you love making homemade ice cream and gelato, choosing the right machine is essential for achieving smooth, creamy texture and perfect consistency. The best machines have built-in compressors (so you don’t need to pre-freeze the bowl), powerful motors, and customizable settings for both ice cream and gelato.
This guide breaks down the top home ice cream and gelato makers based on performance, budget, and features.
Best Home Ice Cream and Gelato Machines: Top Picks
1. Lello Musso Pola 5030 – Best Overall Premium Ice Cream & Gelato Machine
💰 Price: $1,200 – $1,500
📦 Capacity: 1.5 quarts per batch (~2 batches per hour)
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 65 lbs
⭐ Best For: Serious home chefs who want professional-quality ice cream and gelato
The Lello Musso Pola 5030 is a high-end, Italian-made machine that delivers professional-quality ice cream and gelato at home. It features a built-in compressor, meaning there’s no need to pre-freeze the bowl, and it can churn multiple batches back-to-back. The all-stainless-steel construction makes it durable, easy to clean, and long-lasting.
✅ Pros:
- Produces ultra-smooth, creamy ice cream & gelato
- Built-in compressor (no pre-freezing required)
- Durable stainless-steel construction
- Faster freezing time (~20 minutes per batch)
❌ Cons:
- Expensive ($1,200+ new)
- Takes up counter space (heavy & non-portable)
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Webstaurant Store, and specialty kitchen retailers.
2. Cuisinart ICE-100 – Best Mid-Range Ice Cream & Gelato Maker
💰 Price: $300 – $400
📦 Capacity: 1.5 quarts per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 32 lbs
⭐ Best For: Home users who want a compressor machine at an affordable price
The Cuisinart ICE-100 is a great mid-range option with a built-in compressor, allowing you to make ice cream or gelato without pre-freezing the bowl. It comes with two paddles—one for ice cream and one for gelato—so you can achieve the perfect texture for each style.
✅ Pros:
- Affordable compressor ice cream maker
- No pre-freezing required
- Separate paddles for ice cream & gelato
- Compact design compared to larger compressor models
❌ Cons:
- Takes longer to freeze than premium models (~40 minutes per batch)
- Plastic parts feel less durable than stainless-steel models
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.
3. Ninja CREAMi – Best Budget Ice Cream & Gelato Maker with Customization
💰 Price: $200 – $250
📦 Capacity: 1 pint per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 13 lbs
⭐ Best For: Custom flavors, small-batch ice cream, and mix-ins
The Ninja CREAMi is different from traditional ice cream makers because it doesn’t churn—instead, it uses a powerful spinning blade to turn frozen ingredients into ice cream, gelato, or sorbet. You freeze your base for 24 hours in one of the included pint containers, then the machine processes it into ultra-smooth ice cream.
✅ Pros:
- Affordable & compact
- Great for mix-ins & custom flavors
- Multiple settings (Ice Cream, Gelato, Sorbet, etc.)
- Works with dairy & non-dairy bases
❌ Cons:
- Requires pre-freezing ingredients for 24 hours
- Smaller capacity (1 pint per batch)
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Best Buy, and Ninja’s website.
4. Whynter ICM-201SB – Best Value Compressor Ice Cream & Gelato Maker
💰 Price: $300 – $350
📦 Capacity: 2.1 quarts per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 24 lbs
⭐ Best For: Larger homemade batches without pre-freezing
The Whynter ICM-201SB is a great budget-friendly compressor model that offers larger capacity (2.1 quarts per batch) than the Cuisinart ICE-100 or Lello Musso 5030. It’s easy to use, self-freezing, and perfect for families who want to make back-to-back batches.
✅ Pros:
- Large capacity (2.1 quarts per batch)
- No pre-freezing required (built-in compressor)
- Affordable compared to premium models
- Easy-to-clean stainless-steel bowl
❌ Cons:
- Not as fast or durable as higher-end models
- Slightly noisy during operation
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Best Buy, and Home Depot.
5. Breville Smart Scoop BCI600XL – Best Smart Ice Cream & Gelato Maker
💰 Price: $450 – $550
📦 Capacity: 1.5 quarts per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 30 lbs
⭐ Best For: Precision control & automatic hardness settings
The Breville Smart Scoop BCI600XL is one of the most advanced home ice cream machines. It features 12 hardness settings, allowing you to make gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt, or ice cream at the perfect consistency. The built-in smart temperature control ensures even freezing and customizable results.
✅ Pros:
- 12 different hardness settings
- Keeps ice cream cold for up to 3 hours
- Built-in compressor (no pre-freezing required)
- Modern, easy-to-use interface
❌ Cons:
- More expensive than Cuisinart & Whynter models
- Smaller batch size (1.5 quarts)
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Breville’s website, and kitchen retailers.
Comparison Table: Best Home Ice Cream & Gelato Machines
| Machine | Best For | Price | Capacity | Built-in Compressor? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lello Musso Pola 5030 | Best Premium Machine | $1,200 – $1,500 | 1.5 quarts | ✅ Yes |
| Cuisinart ICE-100 | Best Mid-Range | $300 – $400 | 1.5 quarts | ✅ Yes |
| Ninja CREAMi | Best Budget | $200 – $250 | 1 pint | ❌ No (pre-freezing required) |
| Whynter ICM-201SB | Best Large Batch | $300 – $350 | 2.1 quarts | ✅ Yes |
| Breville Smart Scoop | Best Smart Features | $450 – $550 | 1.5 quarts | ✅ Yes |
Final Verdict: Best Ice Cream & Gelato Machine for You
🔥 Best Overall: Lello Musso Pola 5030 ($1,200) – Best professional-quality ice cream & gelato
🔥 Best Budget: Ninja CREAMi ($200) – Affordable & customizable
🔥 Best Mid-Range: Cuisinart ICE-100 ($300) – Best balance of price & performance
🔥 Best Large Capacity: Whynter ICM-201SB ($300) – Makes bigger batches