What's in this guide
How We Tested
We bought every machine on this list at retail and tested them side-by-side over six weeks in a temperature-controlled kitchen. Each unit was measured on five criteria: time-to-first-ice (how long after plug-in until the first ice drops), 24-hour output (real production vs. advertised), ice quality (clarity, hardness, and shape consistency), noise level (measured at 3 ft with an iPhone dB meter), and cleaning ease (drain location, descale process, and bin removal).
We also pulled and analyzed every Amazon review with more than 200 verified-purchase ratings, looking for failure patterns at the 6-month and 12-month marks. Compressor failures, water-pump issues, and control-board glitches were tracked separately and weighted heavily — an ice maker that breaks in a year isn't a deal at any price.
1. Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver — Best Overall
Price: $120–$160 · Capacity: 26 lbs/day · First batch: 6 minutes
The Frigidaire EFIC189 is the model we end up recommending to most people, and the Amazon numbers back that up — over 18,000 reviews and a 4.5-star average is rare in this category. It hits the sweet spot of price, footprint, and reliability that the rest of the field keeps trying to copy.
In our tests, it produced its first batch of nine bullet cubes in 6 minutes and 12 seconds, faster than any non-commercial unit we tried. Over a 24-hour run with the bin emptied every two hours, it produced 24.8 lbs of ice — within shouting distance of its 26-lb claim. The bullet cubes were smaller (Frigidaire's "small" setting) than the larger size, so we ran the full day on "large" and got hollow but well-formed cubes that took the better part of an hour to melt in a glass of water at room temperature.
Noise topped out at 52 dB at 3 ft — slightly above conversation level but quiet enough to leave running on the kitchen island during dinner. The bin holds about 2 lbs at a time and the unit shuts off automatically when full, then restarts when ice melts back into the reservoir. Cleaning is just emptying the reservoir and wiping; we ran a vinegar descale at the 4-week mark with no issues.
2. GE Profile Opal 2.0 — Best Nugget Ice
Price: $549–$629 · Capacity: 24 lbs/day · Ice type: Nugget
If you're a nugget-ice convert, you already know nothing else will do — and the Opal 2.0 is currently the best home machine you can buy that produces it. It's expensive, but the Sonic-style chewable nuggets it produces are identical to what you'd get at a fast-food fountain.
The 2.0 model improved on the original by adding a side tank that holds three days of water and Wi-Fi connectivity that lets you schedule ice production from your phone. In our tests, the first nuggets dropped at 18 minutes — slower than bullet machines but expected for the freeze-and-flake process. After that, it produced about 1 lb of ice per hour as long as the side tank was attached.
The downside, beyond the price, is that nugget ice melts fast — it's mostly air — so don't expect cubes that last all afternoon in a glass. The Opal also needs a deeper cleaning routine than bullet machines: GE recommends a full clean every two weeks, and skipping it leads to slimy buildup in the freeze bar. Reviews that complain about the Opal almost universally trace back to skipped cleaning cycles.
3. NewAir AI-100SS — Best for Capacity
Price: $140–$180 · Capacity: 28 lbs/day · First batch: 9 minutes
NewAir's AI-100SS is the workhorse alternative to the Frigidaire. It's slightly larger and slightly louder, but it'll run all day without complaint, and the all-stainless exterior wipes clean in seconds. We measured 28.4 lbs over a real 24-hour run — the only sub-$200 unit that actually beat its rated output.
It offers three cube sizes (the Frigidaire only has two), and the medium size came out almost perfectly cylindrical with no hollow center, which matters if you're using the ice in cocktails. Noise was 56 dB — noticeable in a quiet kitchen but easy to ignore from another room. We compare it directly with the Frigidaire in our Frigidaire vs NewAir head-to-head if you're torn between the two.
4. Silonn Ice Makers Countertop — Best Budget
Price: $89–$120 · Capacity: 26 lbs/day · First batch: 6 minutes
Silonn is the budget Amazon brand that consistently outperforms its price tag. The unit looks suspiciously similar to the Frigidaire (and probably comes off the same factory line), and in our testing the performance was nearly identical — 6-minute first batch, two cube sizes, and a quiet 53 dB cycle.
What you give up is brand recognition and a bit of fit-and-finish. The plastic body has visible mold lines and the LED panel is basic. But for $90 to $120 — sometimes $50 less than the Frigidaire on sale — it's a no-brainer if you don't need stainless trim. The self-cleaning function is a nice touch the Frigidaire doesn't have.
5. Euhomy Commercial Ice Maker — Best for Volume
Price: $280–$360 · Capacity: 100 lbs/day · Ice type: Clear cube
This is the unit you buy when 26 lbs/day isn't enough — for bars, food trucks, big parties, or commercial kitchens. The Euhomy is plumbed (you connect it to a water line) and produces restaurant-grade clear square cubes at a rate of about 4 lbs per hour, hitting roughly 100 lbs in 24 hours.
The cubes are the real story here. Because the freeze plate slowly layers water, impurities and air bubbles get pushed out, leaving cubes that are nearly optically clear. They melt about 30% slower than bullet ice, which makes a noticeable difference in cocktails and iced coffee. The included drain pump means you don't need a gravity drain — useful if you're sliding it under a counter.
It's bigger than a microwave and needs both water-in and drain-out, so this isn't a true "countertop" unit for most people. But if you have the space and the volume need, it pays for itself fast.
6. hOmeLabs Portable Ice Maker — Quietest
Price: $130–$170 · Capacity: 26 lbs/day · Noise: 48 dB
hOmeLabs has been a quiet favorite for years, and this unit is the one we recommend when noise is a real concern — open kitchens, studio apartments, RV trips. We measured 48 dB at 3 ft, the lowest of any portable bullet maker in the test. You can run it on the kitchen counter during a dinner conversation and barely notice.
Output is similar to the Frigidaire (we got 25.6 lbs in 24 hours), the cube quality is good, and the easy-pour reservoir is genuinely easier to refill than competitors. The control panel is more basic than the Frigidaire's, and the bin doesn't shut off the unit as crisply as we'd like — it sometimes overfills slightly when ice is melting back into the reservoir. Minor complaints on an otherwise solid machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a countertop ice maker take to make ice?
Most countertop ice makers produce their first batch of bullet ice in 6 to 15 minutes. Nugget machines like the GE Opal take longer — about 20 minutes for the first nuggets — but then produce continuously.
Do countertop ice makers keep ice frozen?
No. The bin is insulated, not refrigerated. Melted water cycles back into the reservoir to make new ice — nothing wasted — but for long-term storage, transfer batches to your freezer.
What is nugget ice?
Nugget ice (also called Sonic ice or pellet ice) is small, soft, chewable ice made by compressing flaked ice. It absorbs the flavor of drinks and is what every soda fanatic wants at home.
How much ice does a countertop unit produce per day?
Standard portable bullet machines produce 26 to 30 lbs per day. Commercial-style cube makers like the Euhomy reach 100 lbs/day. Nugget makers usually deliver about 24 lbs in 24 hours.
Do I need to plumb a countertop ice maker?
Not for portable bullet or nugget models — they use fillable reservoirs and only need an outlet. Larger commercial-style units like the Euhomy can be plumbed for hands-free operation.