Ninja CREAMi Swirl NC701 vs Ninja CREAMi NC301 Ice Cream Maker

Both are Ninja CREAMi machines that turn a pre-frozen pint into a frozen dessert, and both need you to freeze the base overnight. The NC701 Swirl adds soft serve: a dispensing lid and swirl press let you pull classic scoops or a swirled soft-serve shape, and it has 13 one-touch programs against the NC301's 7. The NC301 is the simpler, lighter, more widely owned machine with a strong owner record; the NC701 is the step up if soft serve and more presets matter to you. Build is plastic on both, and reviewers of the CREAMi line consistently praise the texture while noting the overnight freeze and the learning curve on base recipes.

• Choose the Ninja CREAMi Swirl NC701 if you want soft serve and swirled servings, more one-touch presets, and a built-in drip tray, and you have the counter space for a taller, heavier machine.
• Choose the Ninja CREAMi NC301 if you mainly want scooped ice cream, gelato, sorbet and milkshakes from a compact, lighter machine with a long, well-established owner track record.