Heatwaves are great for one business in particular: home ice cream machines. They sell out every July, and this year the viral Ninja that turns a frozen tub into soft serve has been the one flying off the shelves. We compared the makers worth buying in 2026, from a £75 churner that has been around for years to slushie machines that cost more than a weekend away.
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The short version
Most people will be happiest with the Ninja CREAMi. On a budget, the Cuisinart ICE-21. For slushies and soft serve from one machine, the Cuisinart Frost Fusion. If it is only slush you care about, the Ninja Slushi or a cheaper Currys model.
How they compare
| Machine | What it makes | Pre-freezing? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja CREAMi | Ice cream, sorbet, shakes | Base frozen overnight | around £200 |
| Cuisinart ICE-21 | Ice cream, sorbet | Bowl frozen first | around £75 |
| Cuisinart Frost Fusion | Soft serve, slush, sorbet | None | around £250 |
| Ninja Slushi | Slushies, frozen drinks | None | around £250 |
The makers worth buying
Ninja CREAMi
Best all-rounderThe CREAMi works backwards from every other machine. Instead of churning a cold liquid, you freeze your base solid in the tub overnight, then it shaves the block into ice cream, gelato, sorbet or a milkshake in about two minutes. It copes with protein ice cream and dairy-free mixes without fuss, which is how it took over TikTok.
The catch: You have to plan ahead, because the base needs a full night in the freezer, and it is loud while it runs.
Makes ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes · around £200
Check price on AmazonCuisinart ICE-21
Best budgetIf you just want a cheap machine that works, this is it. You keep the bowl in the freezer, pour your mix in, and about twenty minutes of churning later you have soft, scoopable ice cream. It has sold by the tens of thousands for a reason.
The catch: The freezer bowl hogs space and only does one batch before it needs re-freezing, so back-to-back batches are out.
Makes ice cream, frozen yoghurt, sorbet · around £75
Check price on AmazonCuisinart Frost Fusion
Best for slushies and soft serveThis one has a built-in compressor, so there is no bowl to pre-freeze and no overnight wait. It runs soft serve, slushies, sorbet, frappe and frose, and most jobs are done inside half an hour.
The catch: It is big, it is heavy, and at around £250 it costs as much as several cheaper machines put together.
Makes soft serve, slushies, sorbet, frappe, frose · around £250
Check price on AmazonNinja Slushi
Best for slushiesA machine that does one job and does it properly. It holds a drink at slush consistency for hours, so it earns its keep at a kids’ party or a summer get-together, and frozen cocktails work just as well.
The catch: It is single-purpose and pricey. A roughly £110 Currys model makes a perfectly good slush if you are not set on the brand.
Makes slushies, frozen drinks · around £250
Check price on AmazonHow to pick one
It comes down to how much planning you can stomach. Bowl machines like the Cuisinart ICE-21 are cheapest, but the bowl has to be frozen in advance and you get one batch at a time. The Ninja CREAMi needs your base frozen overnight and pays you back in versatility. Compressor machines like the Frost Fusion skip the waiting and cost the most. And if all you actually want is slush, a dedicated machine will serve you better than a do-everything maker.
Common questions
Do you have to freeze the bowl overnight?
Only on bowl-style machines like the Cuisinart ICE-21, where the bowl needs a good 12 to 24 hours in the freezer first. The Ninja CREAMi instead needs your mixture frozen overnight, and compressor machines like the Frost Fusion need no pre-freezing at all.
Ninja CREAMi or Cuisinart ICE-21?
The Cuisinart is cheaper and makes very good soft ice cream. The CREAMi costs more but handles sorbet, protein ice cream and dairy-free mixes far better, and single portions are easier. Pick the Cuisinart to save money, the Ninja for range.
Can one machine make both ice cream and slushies?
Yes. The Cuisinart Frost Fusion covers soft serve, slushies, sorbet and more from a single machine, which is part of why it costs more than the single-job options.
Are they worth it over shop-bought?
If you use one a few times each summer for a few years, easily. You also control exactly what goes in, which matters if you are avoiding dairy or cutting back on sugar.
Trying to cool the whole house, not just your pudding? See our picks for the best fans and portable air conditioners, or browse more Kitchen & Appliances.
New to these machines? Read the three types of ice cream maker explained first.