Which is better for a family of six to eight?

Both are 8-quart and cook up to eight portions. The RIO costs less at $109.99 at Target as of November 7, 2026; the Pro adds more programs and a stainless pot for $169.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Is the Pro worth the extra money?

Yes if you will use sous vide, yogurt, cake or oven finishing to 450°F, or want the quieter steam release and included rack. If you mostly pressure cook and steam, the RIO does that for $60 less.

Which one is easier to clean?

The RIO: its non-stick ceramic-coated pot and lid are dishwasher-safe. The Pro's stainless pot and glass lid are durable and oven-safe but generally need hand scrubbing to stay spotless.

Does either one do sous vide?

Only the Pro. It lists sous vide among its 28 smart programs. The RIO's 7 functions do not include it.

Which has better owner feedback?

The RIO has far more: 4.5 out of 5 from 7,385 ratings versus 4 out of 5 from 56 for the Pro. The Pro's sample is too small to weigh heavily.

Can I put the inner pot in the oven?

Only the Pro's stainless pot, and only up to 450°F. Keep the RIO's non-stick aluminum pot out of the oven.

Instant Pot RIO Chef Series 8Qt vs Instant Pot Pro 8-Quart

Buy the RIO Chef Series 8-quart if you want the most capacity for the least money: $109.99 at Target as of November 7, 2026, versus $169.95 at Williams-Sonoma for the Pro. Buy the Pro if you want sous vide, 28 smart programs, a stainless-steel inner pot and a quieter steam release, and you can wait for a sale — its lowest recent daily price was $96.92 on November 7, 2026. Both are 8-quart, 1200-watt Instant Pots; the Pro is the more capable machine, the RIO is the better value at list.

Today the Instant Pot RIO Chef Series 8Qt costs $59.96 less at its best price.

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