Are The Best Countertop Ice Makers Actually Affordable?

• Belinda Young
• Nov 8,
• 15 min read

Updated: Feb 8

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I tested and ranked the best countertop ice makers from brands like Frigidaire and Igloo. But the GE Profile Opal is still my no.1!

FYI, Prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.

1. GE Profile Opal - Best for Nugget Ice

Highlight: Talk about crunchable, chewy ice.

Helpful review: If you’ve ever been to Sonic, then you know that besides the roller skates, their ice is literally the bomb. When I realized that ice makers exist, and that it could be possible to make my own ice like this, I was hooked! I knew I needed to get one of these. Since I got this for a pretty good deal, I ended up making sure I got the water attachment, and I’m really happy I ended up adding that on there. I definitely recommend getting it if you’re on the fence. I use this so often that I end up having to refill the water attachment multiple times a week.

If you don’t have the side container, then you’d have to remove the ice basket and fill it up with water from underneath, and yeah, that can be messy. Essentially some of the ice can slip through the holes in the basket. So it’s definitely worth getting it.

CONS:

I’m sure that this doesn’t happen to everyone, but the side tank on mine arrived a little scratched, along with the ice maker lid. I ended up keeping it, but I think I could have probably given it back. Also, the feet of this thing are pretty sharp and they scratched my counter which really annoyed me. It would have been nice if there had been a warning about that, or if they’d put those little furniture covers on them to stop them from scratching things.

Also, it’s supposed to just make a little hum, but this thing cna get pretty loud. And my apartment is pretty small, so I end up hearing everything regardless of whether I’m in the kitchen or not. Personally, I disagree with the reviews that said it wasn’t louder than my fridge. It definitely is if you ask me.

And no, this isn’t a freezer, so keep that in mind. Also, there’s no holder for the ice scooper which is kind of annoying. And if you keep it inside the ice maker, it can get lost in the ice. Despite all this, I still really love this thing, and honestly as long as you get the side tank, it’s definitely worth it! — Sam Goldberg

Get it from Amazon now: $429.00 & FREE Return

2. GoveeLife - Best Smart Option

Highlight: Can control remotely with the app.

Helpful review: Honestly, the best part of having so many smart devices around my house is that I get to come up with all these fun names for them haha. But beyond that, it’s just super nice that I can finally have a working ice machine. I can’t even begin to express how annoying it is to have a fridge that works in every regard except the ice machine. My friends and I are convinced the fridges do that on purpose, don’t know why, but it’s annoying. Never again!

One of the best things about this ice machine is that I can control it when I’m not even home. I’m terrible at making plans in advance, so I can’t explain how cool this is. I can just tell my Alexa to turn on Roxy and then when I get home, my ice is already ready. I live in Florida, in other words, I need ice in my drinks because I essentially live in a sauna. So yeah haha.

I also love that Miss Roxy has a cleaning mode that will remind you when it’s time to give her a good scrubbing–and the best part about that? I don’t even have to clean it lol. You just press a button and it runs a cleaning cycle.

I really only have one issue with this thing…I can’t really tell the difference between the variety of ice cube sizes, but maybe that’s just me. I dunno. I don’t really think it matters either way, though. At the end of the day, it’s a picky thing that really doesn’t bother me that much, because I like the small sized cubes and would probably use those even if the other sized cubes were much bigger. And the small isn’t even that small. I really love this thing.

MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:

I’m six weeks into a relationship with my new ice maker, and boy, oh boy, what a great partner this little puppy has started to become. Just so nice to be able to turn it on when I’m not even home.

Now, there are a couple things I’d recommend for improvements, though. While it’s awesome coming home to freshly made ice cubes, it does take about half an hour to get enough ice made to cool down a large cup. In other words, if you forget to get it moving before you get home, you’re going to be waiting a while.

Plus, the ice isn’t super thick, so you really need to make a lot of it in order to cool off your drinks so they’re actually, you know, ice cold.

The plastic on the button on the outside has also started to peel a little, which is kind of annoying. It still works perfectly, but if, after six weeks and this is already happening, it does make me question the durability of the product as a whole.

Also–this one is for the manufacturers: why for the love of God did you not at least put a nail on the outside to hang the ice scoop. Like at the very cheapest, you could have done that. I feel like you’re selling these for a high enough price point that you could have even splurged on a little plastic container connected to the outside to store the scoop…but at this point, I would take a nail hanging outside it to hang the scoop up. That’s how annoying it is to have to store the ice scoop inside the machine and then have to dig through freshly made ice to get it. Yeah…no bueno. Overall, I like it. But yeah, keep all that stuff in mind. — Collin McGowan

Get it from Amazon now: $159.99 & FREE Returns

3. Frigidaire - Best Value for Money

Highlight: Overside window lets you check ice levels.

Helpful review: Like most people who ended up getting one of these, I also had issues with my ice maker in my freezer. I feel like those things are meant to break. They never work! And I just didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a new fridge just so I could have some ice.

I love having ice in my soda, and since I don’t drink coffee, this is how I get my caffeine fix. I pretty much filled up a YETI sized thing of ice, and I knew I wanted this thing so I ended up giving it to myself for Christmas. Honestly, this thing was already getting to work by 11am on Christmas morning, and it made enough ice that day to feed the whole family! I made so much in fact that I ended up filling up empty bags with it and just stuffing them into my freezer.

I can’t wait for fishing season. This amount of ice is gonna go along way and save me so much money that I would have spent on buying actual bags of ice, and now I can have so many extra bags in the garage, that it won’t even be an issue.

Actually running it is super easy and it’s pretty simple to use. You can drain it really easily and then just wipe it down to keep it clean. I’d guesstimate that it makes about twenty pounds every day. Just make sure you keep emptying the bin when it fills up. Just an awesome product. Definitely going to buy this again! — Josiah Kelly

Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns

4. COWSAR - Best For Bullet-Shaped Ice

Highlight: Can make three unique bullet shapes of ice.

Helpful review: I did a fair amount of research before buying this baby. It’s a little smaller than other ice makers I’ve seen, and I actually like that. It fits perfectly on my counter, right below the cabinets.

It’s really easy to use, too. All you have to do is fill up the reservoir with your water, then you just slide the ice bin inside and turn it on! In about six minutes, you’ll get about nine ice cubes, and it will keep producing the ice until it’s full, and the sensor tells you when it’s full of ice. Then when the ice melts, it just drips back the water into the bin and remakes the ice. Pretty nifty if you ask me.

I also really like how the ice works in my blender now. The old ice in my freezer took forever to blend up, and this just works so much better.

It’s just so easy to use and I’d say it’s a lot quieter than other ice makers I’ve used in the past. I like the handle a lot because it makes it super portable, so you can move it around wherever you want. I also love how easy it is to clean, it comes with a self cleaning feature so you don’t even have to clean it… haha. There’s a plug in the bottom of it that allows you to empty out the unit without having to flip it over. Really have no cons, I love this thing!

MY FRIEND'S REVIEW:

I’m very sensitive to any minerals in water, and I definitely have a sensitivity to fluoride, so I really hate drinking tap water and definitely don’t like unfiltered water in general. Specifically, I need water that is filtered with reverse osmosis. Brita doesn’t even do that, so I essentially end up having to use bottled water for everything. I use insulated bottles so the ice in this lasts longer, and I so love it! Although the ice cubes are smaller than I expected, the ice stays in my cups longer than it would otherwise. I really like that it comes with an ice bag, too. All you have to do is just keep emptying the basket into the bag and that stops the ice from melting. I love that I have this large bag of ice in my freezer now and I don’t have to twist those tiny ice trays anymore. Love this thing. — Rebeca Kirk

Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns

5. AGLUCKY - Best for Portability

Highlight: In an average of seven minutes, you’ll get nine ice cubes.

Helpful review: It’s been about five minutes since I got this thing, and man have I gotten my money’s worth! This thing makes over twenty six pounds of ice a day, and I love that I don’t have to go out and buy bags of ice now. My fridge isn’t big enough to have an ice maker, so I always knew I wanted one of these, and I’m just so happy I took the plunge and got this thing.

I was a little worried, because my lake cabin doesn’t have a lot of counter space, but to my surprise this thing was actually small enough and fit perfectly on my counter.

I did buy it on sale and I’m glad for that. And I’m even happier that I ignored all the negative reviews that complained that this would stop working after thirty days or the reviews that said there was no customer service. It just isn’t true, at least from my personal experience.

Haven’t had any issues in all this time buying it, and that’s actually why I waited so long to write this review. I use this thing about one to two times a week and I love it so much. When I’m done, I unplug it, open the lid, and allow it to dry out.

I will say in advance that the ice cubes are on the wet side, they’re not super frozen, but that’s okay if you ask me. They don’t last forever, and if you do put them in the freezer they can clump up together, but you can avoid this if you just transfer them to a gallon bag when they’re done and then lay them flat in the bag in the freezer.

All you have to do is shake up the bag to break it into pieces. And then REPEAT!

When you fill the bucket once, it makes enough ice in one cycle to fill my freezer completely. When I’m done, I just fill it back up. It’s that easy.

Honestly, filling it in bags may sound time consuming, but it’s leaps and bounds better than the idea of using ice cube trays. The ice cubes are on the smaller side, about a third smaller than your typical ice cube, but I love it that way. Gone are the days where I have to shove large ice cubes into water bottles. And it makes great cocktails too! And the nine minute promise is no joke. It makes a great amount in that time, too. Love this thing. — Jason Beck

Get it from Amazon now: $119.99 & FREE Returns

6. CROWNFUL - Best for Small Spaces

Highlight: Modern, compact design ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

Helpful review: I’m a huge hoster. I’m the one who always has Superbowl parties, Halloween gatherings, Christmas parties–and the ice maker in my fridge just wasn’t cutting it anymore. I need a new solution. I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous when a friend from work recommended this, but I’m so happy I took the leap and went for it.

I do recommend giving it a thorough cleaning when you first open it up. You’re housing ice that will be melting into the things you drink, and you don’t know where this has been stored, you know? I just ran it through a cleaning cycle with water and vinegar and then I followed the instructions that said to leave it on the counter for under five hours before using it.

Also, when you do use it, make sure you keep about a foot distance from the exhaust fan. Just keep in mind that if you use vinegar to clean it like I did, you’ll need to run a few cycles completely before you can get that vinegar taste out. It’ll be worth it though! Just for the peace of mind that your ice is going to be clean.

I keep extra gallon bags around to store my ice, and although the cubes come out a little wet, it doesn’t bother me. It’s not a freezer, it’s an ice maker, and you’re not supposed to just let it sit there all day. In theory, if you’re hosting a party like I do, you’re going through the ice as it’s being made. Otherwise, you can create a bunch and then store it in your freezer.

I like to use filtered water or bottled water, and I make sure to fill it to the max level and that usually covers about two baskets worth of ice. I always make sure I don’t let the water completely drain, because then the motor faces the risk of overheating and you don’t want it to burn out.

Just a little tip: when you’re putting the ice in the bag, make sure you get the air out and keep the ice flat in the bag in your freezer, otherwise you run the risk of it bunching up into a block. Keeping it flat stops this from happening.

I’m a few months into adding this into my life, and it already has done great at both my Memorial Day bash and my Fourth of July party. I’m honestly thinking of getting a second one for Labor Day! The only downside I noticed was that there’s really no return policy, but fortunately that wasn’t even necessary! — Karin Melcher

Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns

7. VIVOHOME - Best Light Indicator

Highlight: Compact and versatile for any location and event.

Helpful review: This ice machine produces so much ice I can barely keep up! It typically stops creating ice after it creates about seventy five small cubes, and honestly I find that that amount is plenty for my family of four. It’s advertised as making a crap ton more, but it really can only do that if you are continuously emptying out the basket and you really only need to do that if you’re planning on having a party of some sort, but it’s kind of time consuming to continuously move it into bags. Personally, I think it works better as a short term solution that you’re using as it comes, not something where you’re trying to stock ice.

Set up is pretty straight forward. You plug it in, you pour in water, and in about ten minutes you’ll get your first batch of ice. They come in two sizes, small and large–it’s basic, remember? I would say the larger cubes are about fifty percent larger than the smaller ones and that the smaller ones are about the size of my husband’s thumb nail. He doesn’t have the biggest hands though, so take that as you will.

All the cubes have a hole in the middle, which essentially allows them to melt faster and cool your drinks quicker. It is a compact machine though, so it’s a little difficult scooping the ice out. I end up just using my fingers. Either way, I’m happy with it.

FRIEND'S UPDATE:

The instruction manual is lacking. Not really any info on how to get the cleaning cycle going, but it’s pretty easy to figure out once you understand how it works. You put it in stand by and hold the power button for up to five seconds, and then it turns on, and you let go of the button, and wah-lah! Cleaning mode activated. Remember it’s not making ice when this is happening, and it will keep going until you shut it off. It’s not necessary, but I typically add some vinegar in there when it does the cleaning cycle and then I run it one extra time with filtered water. After it’s done cleaning, I end up making my ice, and it typically takes just under seven minutes to get a nice sized bag. Definitely enjoy this little contraption. — Manny Wright

Get it from Amazon now: $139.99 & FREE Returns

8. Igloo - Best for Self-Cleaning

Highlight: Compact and convenient in size and value.

Helpful review: After owning two different brands of these countertop ice makers, I can officially say that the third time is truly a charm. All the negatives I experienced with my other ice machine are non existent with this one! And I’m convinced it comes down to the self cleaning mechanism, that is really the most important part of these things. If you keep them clean, they will last. And I found that with other models, the self cleaning function definitely didn’t work as well as it was supposed to.

But with the Igloo, the self cleaning function just works amazingly. Gone are the days where I’m scrubbing with a brush and vinegar, knowing that if I don’t clean it by hand, the ice is going to taste bad. Now I just follow the instructions that explain the right solution and ration, and then I sit back and let it do its thing.

Beyond that, I love how there is a little handle on top of the machine that makes it easier for me to store it and slide it under the counter. Just keep in mind that when you’re draining it, you have to tilt it to empty it out, otherwise it leaves a pool of water that can create mold when you’re not using it. The handle definitely helps with the tilting aspect, and this was something other models I’ve tried in the past lacked.

Also, my last machine just quit working, specifically the power button just no longer worked, like it short circuited after two years. So far, this product seems to be made much more durable–for example, the power button is in an area that I’m not using often. On other brands and models, the power button was on the lid that you had to keep moving around, and I think that eventually led to its demise. Although only time will tell on how long this will last, I can confidently say that this is my new favorite brand... Very happy with this product so far! — Sam J. Bay

Get it from Amazon now: $114.99 & FREE Returns

9. Frigidaire XL - Best for Clear Cubes

Highlight: Can produce up to forty pounds of ice cubes per day.

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Helpful review: Like most other reviewers who bought a countertop ice maker, my ice maker in my fridge quit working on me, and there was no way I was going to pay to get it fixed. I love this ice maker and I’m so happy I ended up getting it. I mainly went with it because the reviews were so positive, but I didn’t go in blind. I reviewed all the negative reviews in the process, too.

UNBOXING:

Packaging came in a really solid box and I had zero issues unpacking it. New and great looking.

MANUAL:

Not great. You’ll figure out more by playing around with the machine than actually trying to understand the poorly written instructions.

PLASTIC ICE SCOOP:

Kind of odd and awkward and not great for getting the ice out. I ended up using tongs as a replacement.

SET-UP:

I waited an hour before plugging it in (about the only thing I did understand from the manual) and then I used bottled water to fill up the tank. I kept space free behind the exhaust fan as it does expel warm up. Not difficult to set up.

SOUND LEVEL:

Surprised me just how silent it actually was, and it only runs when it’s producing ice.

ICE PRODUCT:

Produces clear sheets that have twenty four ice cubes and the size of each of the cubes is consistent. The ice is produced quickly and then the sheets fall out into the bin and for the most part remain in their shape and don’t separate from the sheet, so you’ll need to break them up with the tongs. I do like how the ice is clear and they don’t immediately melt, in other words, they last. You can store sheets in the freezer which is super convenient.

ISSUES:

If your bin is already full, the new sheet of ice won’t always fall all the way down, which is to be expected. Although I did find that sometimes it didn’t register correctly and would stop making ice even if the bin wasn’t full.

SOLUTION:

All you have to do then is just move around the ice in the basket so it reads that there is ice in the basket and then it starts back up again. you have to.

ICONS:

One icon alerts you that the bin is full of ice and the other one reminds you to add more water. Any ice that melts will recycle back through it to make new ice which is cool.

TIMER:

Timer is there but it’s kind of pointless if you ask me.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE:

The temperature displayed has nothing to do with the room temperature and seems like it’s there more for show than anything.

USEFUL LIFE:

Seems pretty durable, but I recommend buying the twenty dollar four year warranty, like I did.

BOTTOM LINE:

Ice is clear, cubed, and cold, exactly what I wanted. It’s a little inconvenient to have to continue to break up the sheets of ice and move the ice around if it mistakenly reads that the bin is full. But for the price, and the amount of money it’s saved me on buying bags of ice…it’s worth it. — Robert Lee

If you’re an ice person, then you may already know that the GE Profile Opal 2.0 is the best countertop ice maker money can buy. If you’re not an ice person, you may be surprised by just how much money it takes to buy it. But this machine does one thing better than any other ice maker out there: It produces perfectly chewable, Sonic-style ice nuggets.

• The best ice maker overall: GE Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank → Read more
• Another great nugget ice maker: Gevi Household V2.0 Countertop Ice Maker → Read more
• If you just want a cheap way to make extra ice: Consider a bullet ice maker

Though GE’s high-end machine is the best nugget ice maker out there (more on that soon), it’s certainly not the only option. And one thing is clear: After more than two years of living with a nugget ice maker, I don’t think I could ever go back to regular-old freezer ice. That’s because a portable countertop ice maker produces ice much more quickly than freezing water in ice cube trays, and it’s more convenient to keep than you might imagine. The machine can be used just about anywhere there is access to an outlet, then tucked away when you don’t need it. Perhaps most important, with a countertop ice maker, you’ll never have to worry about your ice absorbing food smells from the fridge and freezer.

I’ve tested 11 countertop ice makers over the last few years and have concluded that if you’re buying a machine to live semipermanently on your kitchen counter, a specialty ice maker—and specifically one that makes nugget ice—is worth the investment. That’s why both of my top picks below are nugget ice makers. However, if you’re just looking for something affordable and portable and care less about cube size or how pleasant the ice is to chew, you could consider anyone of the bullet ice makers I tested because as you'll learn when you keep reading, they're all pretty much the same.

Nugget ice, in particular, is so much more versatile than the kind of frozen-solid cubes you get from most ice molds, and it’s far superior to whatever shape your fridge’s built-in ice maker pops out when it feels like actually doing its job. In addition to being satisfyingly chewable, nugget ice instantly makes cocktails, fizzy drinks, limeades, and even plain water feel more fun and refreshing. I find it’s also the best option when you need to pack something on ice since it’s so malleable it can cover nearly all the surface area of even oddly shaped items.

The best countertop ice maker: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank

The ice that comes from this machine isn’t frozen solid like what you make when you put an ice cube tray full of water in the freezer. Nugget ice is actually made of compressed ice flakes, which is why it’s famously so soft and so satisfying to chew.

Another great nugget ice maker: Gevi Household V2.0 Countertop Nugget Ice Maker Machine

This sleek nugget ice maker from Gevi works quickly to make pleasantly chompable pellets, though they’re not quite as nice, texture-wise, as what you get from the Opal.

How we selected and tested countertop ice makers

I mainly focused here on the two most popular types of countertop ice makers: nugget ice makers and bullet ice makers. And after testing 11 different ice makers at various price points, I’ve learned that while all bullet ice makers are created almost too equally (more on that below), the same cannot be said for nugget ice makers.

Nugget ice makers: The ice you get from a countertop nugget ice maker is directly related to how much you’re willing to spend. As of , you can get a small, model—but the ice pellets it makes have a vastly different texture than what you'll get from a high-end, specialty nugget ice maker. So in addition to assessing the standard unboxing, setup, and cleaning of multiple nugget ice machines, I really focused on the chewability of the nugget ice they produced. After chomping lots of ice, I found that though the machines were similar in style, price, and function, the ice they produced varied in clarity and texture.

Bullet ice makers: Conversely, after testing three bullet ice makers, I realized they were eerily similar in terms of style, size, price, and performance. Further research revealed that all bullet ice makers in the $75 to $150 range had the same body style, each produced the exact same ice bullets in two marginally different ice sizes, and some even had identical control panels. That’s why, when selecting bullet ice makers to test, I stuck with machines from household names and well-reviewed brands we know (Frigidaire, Newair, and Igloo) and kept away from some of the random brands that primarily pop up on Amazon, like Aglucky or Silonn.

How we judged these ice makers

Other specialty countertop ice makers we tested

The Newair Portable Countertop Clear Ice Maker (formerly called the Luma Comfort) is the one ice maker I tested that didn’t make nugget ice or bullet ice. It makes clear ice cubes like you’d typically get in nice bars and restaurants. This Newair clear ice cube maker allows you to get those clear cubes at home without investing in a prohibitively expensive machine like something from Clinebells. Anything you have at home will be a compromise in quality compared to that, but you could consider this more diminutive clear ice maker from Newair. All clear ice machines work by building the ice cubes in layers to prevent air bubbles. Those bubbles are what make other ice cloudy, but also chompable. So clear ice, while beautiful, isn’t as fun (or safe) to chew as nugget ice or bullet ice. It’s also a more solid cube and so it won’t melt as quickly as nuggets. If you’re concerned with aesthetics and/or want an ice maker that makes cubes that won’t melt as quickly as pellets or bullets, this is a great option.

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker is the newer, upgraded version of my top pick, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 ("Ultra" is the differentiator). The ice quality is exactly the same as the previous model, and it has some nice features, including a stainless-steel ice scoop (the older version has a plastic scoop), a magnetic scoop holder for the side of the machine, and a scale-inhibiting water filter for the water reservoir. But it’s just as noisy as the older model, and (save for the stainless-steel scoop) the materials on the white Ultra that I tested actually felt less high-end than my earlier black model. My least favorite features on the new Opal Ultra, however, are the sanitize and descale indicator lights. While they could be helpful for the kind of person who always performs whatever maintenance is suggested by a machine’s manual, I’m a little more flexible with my schedule, and I use purified water instead of tap water, so I don’t feel like I need to perform the maintenance quite as often as the machine thinks I should. The sanitize light comes on after 25 hours of ice making, and the descale light comes on after 100 hours of ice making. If your machine is always on like mine is, those lights come on quickly because the ice in the drawer eventually melts and puts water back into the reservoir and starts making ice again. I ended up putting tape over the lights because I felt like they were shaming me, and the tape will stay on until the maintenance is actually performed.

The Newair 44-Pound Nugget Countertop Ice Maker is capable of making a lot more ice in 24 hours than the Opal 2.0 (44 pounds versus 24), and it costs half as much. The Newair works really quickly too. It dropped the first little ice nuggets in less than five minutes. They weren’t nearly as chewy as the ice that came from the Opal, but they were still satisfying to chomp and great for putting in drinks. Plus, because ice nuggets are so small, even crunchier ones like these will soften up very quickly in water or a cocktail. This ice maker doesn’t have an optional side tank, but it’s easy to fill the water reservoir from the front of the machine (just lift the ice drawer out) and the self cleaning function is less fussy than the Opal’s cleaning cycle. There's also an optional blue LED light that illuminates the ice drawer gives it a nightclubby vibe. Though we didn't encounter any issues with this ice maker in our testing, in , we removed this machine from our top picks because of an alarming number of bad Amazon reviews from long-term users—with pictures to back up complaints of a black substance in their ice drawers. It's worth noting that all countertop ice makers have a pretty high percentage of bad Amazon reviews compared to other products we test and review here, but these were disturbing enough to give us pause.

Until recently, if you wanted a just-okay countertop nugget ice maker, you had to spend upwards of $300 for a specialty machine. But several brands (including Newair, above) seem to have caught onto the nugget ice craze and are releasing more compact nugget ice makers that look just like the cheap, portable bullet ice makers that are all eerily similar. So I decided to test one I kept seeing pop up on Amazon and find out if it could compare to pricier countertop models. The Euhomy Portable Ice Maker is very compact (9.45"D x 11.61"W x 12.99"H) and has a carry handle, so unlike the Opal or Gevi, it's truly portable. This affordable, portable nugget ice maker also does make chompable ice, but unlike what comes out of the Opal and Gevi, the pellets come out firm and almost clear. They're at their least chompable when they're fresh and they become softer and more chompable after they've warmed a bit in the ice basket. You can definitely hear the motor on this machine working, but it's not nearly as loud or grating as some of the other ice makers we've tested.

I was excited to try this compact Whytner Nugget Ice Maker from the maker of a great budget-friendly compressor ice cream maker. It’s considerably shorter than any other nugget ice maker I’ve used and could easily tuck under upper cabinets, even in a small kitchen or RV. Initially I had some trouble with setup because I couldn’t get it to run the cleaning cycle that’s required before making the first batch of ice. After multiple attempts, I realized I just needed to fill it with water past the max fill line until a little water drained into the ice basket area, then it was smooth sailing. I like that the cleaning cycle calls for vinegar versus the Opal’s bleach requirement, and because it’s so compact, it’s easy to move. The ice nuggets were nice (though not as nice as the Opal’s, a recurring theme here), but the biggest drawback is the small ice drawer. While you can’t expect a huge amount of ice from such a compact machine, you’ll empty the ice basket after two or three drinks. This ice maker machine is also pretty loud.

Bullet ice makers I tested

One interesting thing I learned diving deep into the world of countertop ice makers over the last few years: If you’re not buying a specialty ice machine that makes nuggets or clear ice cubes, the rest are all pretty much the same. They’re all compact bullet ice makers with the same ice-making capabilities. Almost all have identical body styles, and they all cost less than $200—and often less than $100. (In , I'm starting to notice this trend with cheap nugget ice makers too.)

These are truly portable ice machines: small and light enough to pack in the car for a weekend at the lake and to tuck away in a closet until your next party. They also work quickly by freezing water around little metal prongs and can start producing bullet-shaped ice cubes within 10 minutes of setup.

While bullet ice, which is generally a bit bigger, less symmetrical, and somewhat harder than nugget ice, has never gotten the same online adulation, it is pretty soft and chewy compared to what you get from an ice cube tray because it’s made quickly and not frozen solid.

So if you just want to make sure you always have enough ice for cooling your drinks and you’re not picky about what type of ice it is, these machines are all so similar that you really can just choose one based on color or finish. They’re all slightly different sizes, though, so if you’re short on space, go for the Newair, which is the smallest of the three recommended below.

Middle of the road in terms of size, the Frigidaire Compact Ice Maker allows you to check how much ice you have via a clear door on top of the machine. It’s easy to use and easy to clean; you simply remove a plug on the bottom of the machine to drain and rinse the water reservoir.

If you want the most compact countertop ice maker, choose the Newair Portable Countertop Ice Maker. This bullet ice maker is the smallest one I’ve tested with footprint of 8.74" x 12.32," and it’s just over a foot tall.