Fresh bread in the morning is one of life's true pleasures, but ask anyone who's tried and they'll tell you just how painful the effort of making it yourself from scratch.

Baking in your own oven can be time-consuming and error-prone, with no guarantee on your first umpteen tries that you'll produce anything tasty at all.

There is another way - breadmakers have been around for decades, but as with most kitchen appliances they're improving all the time.

There are now countless models out there to help you produce delicious loaves of all types, including gluten-free variants, exactly when you need them with minimum fuss.

Get that fresh-bread morning whenever you want, with any of the great breadmakers we've featured on our list below.

Best bread makers available to buy today

Best bread machine photo 9
Cuisinart Bread Maker

Solid all-rounder

A solid bread maker that does it all well. 

Cuisinart Bread Maker, Up To 2lb Loaf, New Compact Automatic

AmazonBest Buy

It's far from the cheapest maker out there, but this model from Cuisinart is a really solid starting point for most people.

It's got a small display that makes choosing settings and setting timers way easier, and a solid capacity to make chunky loaves.

A delayed-start mode is useful for getting fresh bread in the morning (it's life-changing) and it's really easy to remove the bread pan, too, which not all bread makers can boast.

Best bread machine photo 8
Oster 2-Pound Expressbake

Budget classic

A great option that costs a lot less than some more extravagant choices, this Oster unit will get the job done. 

Best bread machine photo 8
Oster 2-Pound Expressbake

A great option that costs a lot less than some more extravagant choices, this Oster unit will get the job done. 

Oster's Expressbake actually boasts many of the same features as the top-tier models on this list, but also has some clear drawbacks for being several times cheaper.

It's a lot louder, and a bit slower, and you'll likely find that your loaves aren't quite as uniformly even in their finish.

If those drawbacks aren't an issue, though, you'll be getting bread maker at a very reasonable price, even if you might have to make sure it doesn't walk itself off your countertop in more intense moments of its kneading.

Best bread machine photo 5
Morphy Richards Fastbake

Perfect for new starters

A nice and easy-to-use set of options makes Morphy Richards' breadmaker a great pick for budding bakers.

Best bread machine photo 5
Morphy Richards Fastbake

A nice and easy-to-use set of options makes Morphy Richards' breadmaker a great pick for budding bakers.

Morphy Richards' machine matches the Oster Expressbake for its low price, as well for its relatively healthy set of features.

Its fast bake mode, as the name suggests, can even get you a completely baked loaf in 50 minutes, the sort of turnaround that means you don't have to leave it on overnight or plan around it too much.

Of course, if you do want to, a delay timer means that you can leave it overnight for bread in the morning. You also have the option of three loaf sizes, to make sure that you're not throwing away unused bread in a couple of days' time.

Best bread machine photo 7
Panasonic SD-2511W

Inspired choice

With a few more options for what you can make with it, Panasonic's breadmaker is a great choice.

Panasonic's bread maker looks a bit less like one than we're used to, but it packs a baffling ability to make jams and compotes that goes some way to explaining that.

If you're into making jam to spread on your homemade bread, then this is an all-in-one machine that's perfect for you.

17 pre-programmed bread options meet a range of loaf size choices to leave you with a wealth of choice as to what to bake, and an automatic ingredient dispenser means you don't need to remember to come back to put raisins in later.

The odd uneven finish aside, it's a great little (okay, quite chunky) machine, with that added bonus of adaptability.

Best bread machine photo 6
Russell Hobbs 23620

Strong and stable

Russell Hobbs delivers a classic model that promises plenty of features in an inexpensive package.

Best bread machine photo 6
Russell Hobbs 23620

Russell Hobbs delivers a classic model that promises plenty of features in an inexpensive package.

Russel Hobbs' 23620 has a really similar set of options to Panasonic's offering, but might suit you if you're a fan of the brand, or if you want a black unit in particular.

Its own fast-bake option takes 55 minutes, in comparison, and smart touches like a keep-warm setting and the option to select how dark you want your crusts are welcome.

Up to 13 hours of delay also mean that the all-important "wake up to the smell of fresh bread" test is passed. A dishwasher-safe bread pan and kneading blade will also make for easy cleanups.

Best bread machine photo 10
Morphy Richards Homebake

No-frills pick

A very solid newer model that has a nice sheen to it. 

Morphy Richards Homebake Breadmaker 502001 White

Amazon

Another solid option comes again from Morphy Richards in the form of this modern-looking maker, which has a 2-pound capacity as many others do, too.

With plenty of settings that you can change if needed, but a core system that's very easy to set up, it's a great machine for experts or novices.