Best Ninja Creami ice cream makers under $200

Top pick: Ninja CREAMi NC301 (7-in-1). It's the sweet spot — the 7-in-1 program set covers ice cream, sorbet, gelato, smoothie bowls and mix-ins, it's rated 4.5 from over a thousand ratings, and it lands comfortably under your limit. If you want the most machine for the money, start here.

Who the others suit:

• Ninja CREAMi NC300 / CN301 — the classic 5-in-1 lineage; pick one if you mostly make plain ice cream and sorbet and want the simplest controls.
• Ninja Creami Deluxe — bigger tubs and more programs; the one to choose if you're feeding a family or want larger batches.
• Ninja Swirl — the soft-serve option, for anyone who wants swirls and soft-serve texture rather than scoops.
• Ninja Creami (base model) — the cheapest entry point, but reviewers report durability and safety complaints, so I'd only take it if budget is the whole story.

All of these need the tub frozen overnight before you spin, so plan a day ahead.