Cuisinart ICE-200 Slushy & Soft-Serve Maker vs Cuisinart Cool Combo Snow Cone & Ice Cream Maker 1.4L

Buy the ICE-200 if you want soft-serve, slushies and frozen cocktails without pre-freezing a bowl. Its built-in compressor chills on its own and six preset programs cover sorbet, frappes and wine, so it suits entertaining. The Cool Combo is the simpler, cheaper-feeling machine: a 1.4L bowl you freeze ahead, one button, and a snow cone chute for kids. Owners rate the ICE-200 4.1 out of 5 from 148 ratings; the compressor and wider menu are the real step up, but it is bulky and heavier.

• Choose the Cuisinart ICE-200 if you want self-cooling soft-serve, slushies and frozen cocktails on demand and don't want to pre-freeze a bowl.
• Choose the Cuisinart Cool Combo if you mainly want snow cones for kids plus basic ice cream, and prefer a compact, one-button machine.