Ninja
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301
$229.99Cheaper
Released 2021
Best Ice Cream Makers · head-to-head
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 is cheaper at $229.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Which is better: the Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 or Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 is the cheaper at $229.99.
See Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 on Amazon See Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB on Amazon
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 |  Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $229.99 | $339.99 |
| Brand | Ninja | Whynter |
| Released | 2021 | — |
| Type | pre_frozen_pint | compressor |
| Capacity qt | 1 | 2.1 |
| Build in compressor | No | Yes |
| Wattage (W) | 800 | 180 |
| Preset programs | 7 | 3 |
| Timer | No | Yes |
| Keep cool function | No | Yes |
| Mix ins setting | Yes | No |
| Release | 2021 | — |
Sources — Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301: sharkninja.com (verified 2026-06-20). Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB: shopwhynter.com (verified 2026-06-20).
What's the difference between the Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 and Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (8 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Type: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 pre_frozen_pint vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB compressor
- Capacity qt: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 1 vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB 2.1
- Build in compressor: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 false vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB true
- Wattage (W): Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 800 vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB 180
- Preset programs: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 7 vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB 3
- Timer: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 false vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB true
- Keep cool function: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 false vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB true
- Mix ins setting: Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 true vs Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB false
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301
Only one whitelisted tester, Wirecutter (NYT), published a hands-on review of the original Ninja Creami (NC301). Wirecutter found it makes surprisingly dense, smooth, ready-to-eat ice cream fast, but flagged a burning-plastic smell, icy unmixed edges, difficult cleaning, loud operation, and durability doubts at $200-plus with only a one-year warranty. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Produces dense, smooth, tasty ice cream that is ready to eat immediately, even from tricky low-fat bases; Fast: quickly spins a frozen pint of ingredients into mostly smooth ice cream in minutes.
Flagged: Shook and smelled of burning plastic during testing; a taster detected a burnt-plastic flavor; Blades cannot reach pint edges/bottom, leaving unmixed frozen base and crunchy, icy bits; Hard to clean thoroughly; ice cream gunk builds up in the sealed lid and around the spindle housing.
Whynter 2.1 Qt Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB
One whitelisted hands-on tester covers this exact model: NYT Wirecutter, which names the ICM-201SB a compressor pick after timing churns and weighing/measuring machines. It praises a light, creamy, stretchy dairy/custard texture but flags icy vegan results and bulk (~28 lb, 13.5 in tall). No other whitelisted outlet reviewed this exact model. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Goldilocks dairy/custard texture — light, creamy, stretchy, rich-but-light; Self-cooling compressor makes back-to-back batches with no bowl pre-freezing; Larger 2.1-quart bowl gives more room for mix-ins.
Flagged: Vegan/non-dairy base came out icier than rival machines; Heavy (~28 lb) and tall (13.5 in); not the most compact; Pricey versus the top frozen-bowl pick.