Ninja CREAMi vs a compressor ice cream maker
Last checked 2026-10-03.
They make frozen desserts in opposite orders. Per Ninja's guide the CREAMi needs the base frozen for at least 24 hours before it can process it; per Whynter's manual the ICM-201SB needs no pre-freezing, because its built-in compressor freezes the mix while it churns, within 30 to 60 minutes.
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What each workflow asks of you
- CREAMi (frozen-base processor): freezer space for each pint, a freezer set between 9°F and -7°F, and a day's wait per base. Processing itself happens on the counter.
- ICM-201SB (compressor churner): no freezer space, but a 2.1 qt bowl filled to at most 60% (about 1.26 qt of mix), a room between 60°F and 90°F with the vents clear, and about 2 hours standing upright before first use.
- Freezer-bowl machines, which need their bowl frozen in advance, are a third kind and are not covered here.
Side by side
| Ninja CREAMi NC301 | Whynter ICM-201SB | |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | frozen-base processor | compressor churner |
| How a batch is made | Freeze the base in a pint for at least 24 hours on a level surface, with the freezer set between 9°F and -7°F, then process. | No pre-freezing: pour the mix into the bowl; the built-in compressor freezes it while churning, within 30 to 60 minutes per the manual. Let the unit stand upright about 2 hours before first use. |
| Container | 16 oz. CREAMi Pint with storage lid | removable 2.1 qt stainless steel mixing bowl (built in; no storage containers listed) |
| Containers in the box | 2 | 0 |
| Fill limit | Do not fill past the pint's MAX FILL line. | The mixture should not exceed 60% of the bowl's capacity, because it expands as it freezes. |
| Programs | 7 (Ninja's model name, '7-in-1') | ice cream, cooling only, mixing only (manual) |
| Power | 800 W | 180 W (maximum power consumption (manual)) |
| Room it runs in | not stated | a well-ventilated room above 60°F and below 90°F, vents unobstructed (manual) |
| Unit dimensions (case only) | 12.07 × 6.52 × 15.95 in (L × W × H, Amazon listing’s Product Dimensions; the same listing’s Item Dimensions field gives 18.39 × 8.58 × 18.39 in) | 12.5 × 10.75 × 14.25 in (W × D × H, manual) |
| Operating space, per the guide | no clearance figure stated; the guide says to place it on a “clean, dry, level surface such as a countertop” | the vents “must be completely unobstructed”, in a well-ventilated room between 60°F and 90°F; no clearance distance stated |
| Freezer space (per batch) | one 16 oz pint per batch; listed pint size 4.13 × 4.67 × 4.13 in (Amazon listing for the original pints) | none needed to make a batch |
| Seller | Sold by Amazon.com | Sold by Amazon.com |
| Owner's guide | Ninja NC300 Series owner's guide (lists NC301) | Whynter ICM-201SB user manual |
| Buy | Amazon › | Amazon › |
Power figures are different measures: the CREAMi's is its rating in Ninja's guide; the Whynter's is the manual's maximum power consumption. Neither is an energy-use comparison, and the CREAMi's freezer time is not counted in either.
Kinds of claim on this page: workflow, fill limits, power and operating conditions are each maker's owner's guide, a manufacturer claim; what is in the box, dimensions marked "Amazon listing" are the Amazon listing's statements and container compatibility is SharkNinja's own accessory pages, read 2026-10-03; product evidence here is limited to those documented specifications; anything no source states is unknown and shown as not stated.
Left out, and why
- Cuisinart ICE-100 (B006UKLUFS): sold by Amazon.com on 2026-10-03; not added in this re-check, which covers the listed models only
- Ninja CREAMi XL Deluxe Gen 2 NC601 (B0GZWRHSG4, B0GZWLRPBH): no US owner's guide for the NC600 series was read; left out rather than borrowing the NC500 guide
- Third-party 'compatible' pints and lids: compatibility is claimed by the seller, not Ninja; the owner's guides say to use only provided or recommended accessories
We tested nothing: no taste, texture, noise or freezer-energy comparisons, and no recipes. Nothing here says one machine makes better ice cream, or that a homemade dessert suits a diet or is free of an allergen. Third-party "compatible" pints are not covered; Ninja's guides say to use only accessories it provides or recommends.
Choosing between CREAMi models: CREAMi vs CREAMi Deluxe. Setup with extra pints: CREAMi setup.