I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream - it might not be the newest jingle, but it still rings true. Trust us when we say that every time we hear an ice cream truck play its siren song, a significant part of us wants to sprint outside to buy something cold.

So, yeah, we like ice cream. It's not necessarily an economical habit, and buying from stores and trucks can sometimes feel like you're being had a little, the markups getting bigger and bigger. That's why so many people have ice cream makers, canny machines that let them cut out the middleman and easily create their own frozen goodies at home.

We've gathered together some of the very best models you can pick up, so if you're thinking about entering the world of homemade ice cream then look no further.

Best ice cream makers available to buy

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Sage The Smart Scoop

Our top pick

A brilliant ice cream maker that might cost a bomb but will create impeccable desserts. 

Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

Amazon

These kitchen gadgets tend to be at the top end of the price scale, but also have a history of justifying that positioning with absolutely oodles of features and super impressive performance. That's a narrative that holds up with The Smart Scoop, an ice cream maker clever enough to automatically adjust how hard your pudding will be according to your recipe, but simple enough that it isn't too challenging to use for first-timers.

It's a brilliant ice cream maker that's easy to get going with, and will store your ice cream for 3 hours once made, in pristine serving condition, so that you can easily make your frozen snack ahead of time then get it out when ready.

Best ice cream maker 2020 Make gelato at home without hassle photo 9
Breville The Smart Scoop

Our top pick

A brilliant ice cream maker that might cost a bomb but will create impeccable desserts. 

Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

Amazon

Breville's kitchen gadgets tend to be at the top end of the price scale, but also have a history of justifying that positioning with absolutely oodles of features and super impressive performance. That's a narrative that holds up with The Smart Scoop, an ice cream maker clever enough to automatically adjust how hard your pudding will be according to your recipe, but simple enough that it isn't too challenging to use for first-timers.

It's a brilliant ice cream maker that's easy to get going with, and will store your ice cream for 3 hours once made, in pristine serving condition, so that you can easily make your frozen snack ahead of time then get it out when ready.

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Magimix Gelato Expert 

A great option

If your budget is even more limitless, why not plumb for one of the best ice cream makers going?

Magimix has a bit of an advantage over Sage's maker in that it's smaller and matches its performance, but we can't deny that its price tag is even more off-putting than The Smart Scoop. However, it's still a pretty stunning machine, and the fact that it can churn out amazing ice cream in 20 minutes flat doesn't get old.

It also has an impressive capacity compared to many makers, meaning that those 20 minutes don't just make a couple of measly scoops. Dedicated functions for ice cream, gelato and crushed ice mean that you can also switch up your recipes really easily.

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Cuisinart Ice Cream Deluxe Maker

Excellent ice cream

It costs a huge amount less than the previous two but still has great performance, which is a pretty heady blend of attributes. 

Cuisinart ICE30 ice cream maker

Amazon

Cuisinart's maker matches the big capacity of a Magimix, but does so at a far lower price point, which makes it an interesting proposition in the first place. On top of that, though, it serves up really solid performance.

It keeps things super simple, without much in the way of pre-programmed options, which does mean that you're a little bit out on your own with it, although an included booklet of recipes will help on that front. Still, for its price a stripped-back maker is very much okay with us.

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American Originals Ice Cream Maker

Simple and easy

Perfect for parties or families, this is a fun ice cream maker that's by far the most affordable on our list. 

We know that many people won't have kicked off their search for an ice cream maker accepting the fact that they might have to spend hundreds to get one, though, and we empathise. If you're looking more for a maker that's a bit fun and easy to use, plus is far, far more affordable, this one from American Originals is a great shout.

It's perfect for kids and families, and while its capacity is only just above a litre, and it takes more like 45 minutes to an hour to get actual results, it's still an impressive option given the price. If you're looking to make some ice cream for a party or on a one-off basis, this is a good choice.

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Smeg Ice Cream Maker accessory

A great extra

If you're already invested in Smeg's kitchenware systems, this accessory could be a great addition. 

Smeg 50's Retro Stand Mixer Ice Cream Maker

Amazon

Finally, if your kitchen is already decked out with great devices you might be wondering whether some of them could be adapted to the job of ice cream making. It's not as simple as that, sadly, but if you've got one of Smeg's superb stand mixers for baking and cooking, it can be. This accessory works with Smeg's mixer to give you a high-grade ice cream maker.

It'll give you 1.1 litres of ice cream in between 20 and 30 minutes, making it pretty standard in terms of capacity, but the results are impressive compared to the competition. Of course, we recognise it won't work for anyone without a Smeg stand mixer, and those are expensive enough on their own to make this a fairly pricey and niche option.