Best countertop ice makers

Top pick: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker — the soft, chewable nugget ice people actually want, 38 lb a day, and it's the model with the longest track record of the countertop nugget machines. It's the priciest of the bunch and its owner rating is only middling, so buy it for the ice, not the scorecard.

Who the others suit:

• COWSAR Silent Nugget — same nugget ice with a quieter motor and a big rating base; the value pick if Opal money feels steep.
• IGLOO Premium Self-Cleaning — small footprint, self-cleaning, bullet ice; best for a tight counter and light use.
• Frigidaire Compact 26-lb — the crowd-pleaser: thousands of ratings, bullet ice, cheapest way into a name brand.
• COWSAR 44 lb dispenser — for households that empty the basket daily.

Skip the tiny no-name bullet makers if nugget ice is the point.