Are The Best Countertop Ice Makers Actually Affordable?
- Belinda Young
- Nov 8, 2024
- 15 min read
Updated: Feb 8
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.
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
Get it from Amazon now: $169.99 & FREE Returns
