Ninja CREAMi vs Cuisinart FastFreeze (Freeze Wand in the UK)
For one or two people, get the Cuisinart FastFreeze. If you want pint tubs and to walk away while it works, the Ninja CREAMi.
Cuisinart FastFreeze (Freeze Wand in the UK)
A CREAMi-style ice cream maker the size of a stick blender, for about half the price. Makes single servings.
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Both turn a base frozen for 24 hours into ice cream, sorbet or milkshake. The FastFreeze costs about half as much, fits in a drawer, is quieter and finishes a cup in under a minute. The CREAMi makes a pint at a time and churns hands-free, but it's loud and needs counter space.
- —You make ice cream for two to four people.
- —You want to press a button and walk away.
- —You have counter space.
- —You make single servings.
- —Your kitchen is small.
- —You want to spend less.
What verified owners report
Only reviews from checked buyers count, and every 1–3 star review is read by us. How we do this
Owners love the ice cream and how easy it is. Most unhappy ones didn't expect the 24-hour freeze.
- ✓Easy to use
- ✓The ice cream tastes great
- ✓Makes sorbet, milkshakes and frozen yoghurt too
- −Didn't realise the base has to be frozen for 24 hours first — it spins frozen tubs rather than making ice cream
Owners love how easy it is, the small pots that fit the freezer and let them try several flavours, and how good the ice cream tastes. The only complaint with text found chocolate ice cream powdery.
- ✓Easy to use
- ✓Small pots: fit the freezer, several flavours
- ✓Creamy, tasty ice cream and sorbet
None came up often enough to list.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Silky ice cream, gelato and sorbet
- +Great for protein and dairy-free recipes
- +Cheapest CREAMi
- −Each base has to freeze for a full 24 hours — less and the texture suffers.
- −It's loud while it spins, like a blender.
- −Tubs are about a pint, so a family gets through them quickly.
- +About half the price of a CREAMi
- +Fits in a drawer
- +Each cup done in under a minute
- −The base still has to freeze for 24 hours first, and it helps to let the cup soften for 10–15 minutes.
- −Half-pint cups, so serving a group means freezing several.
- −Low-fat and protein bases come out a little grainy; full-fat ones are creamy.
- −The blade takes some care to clean.
- Is the CREAMi worth it?
- Is the FastFreeze worth it?
- CREAMi vs CREAMi Deluxe
- CREAMi Deluxe vs Scoop & Swirl
- Smart Scoop vs CREAMi
- Smart Scoop vs CREAMi Deluxe
- Best ice cream makers
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar: Ninja CREAMi, Expert Reviews: Ninja CREAMi, Tom's Guide: Ninja CREAMi, TechRadar: Ninja Swirl, Trusted Reviews: Ninja Swirl, Food Network, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the CREAMi: 187 verified buyer ratings at Currys and Otto (Germany), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the FastFreeze: 27 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.