Ninja CREAMi vs CREAMi Deluxe
Last checked 2026-10-03.
The CREAMi NC301 and the CREAMi Deluxe NC501 work the same way, per Ninja's owner's guides: freeze a base for at least 24 hours, then process it. The Deluxe makes a 24 oz pint per batch instead of 16 oz, and the two machines' pints do not fit each other. Each comes with 2 pints in the box.
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Side by side
| Ninja CREAMi NC301 | Ninja CREAMi Deluxe NC501 | |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | frozen-base processor | frozen-base processor |
| 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. | Freeze the base in a Deluxe pint for at least 24 hours on a level surface, with the freezer set between 9°F and -7°F, then process. |
| Container | 16 oz. CREAMi Pint with storage lid | 24 oz. CREAMi Deluxe Pint with storage lid |
| Containers in the box | 2 | 2 |
| Fill limit | Do not fill past the pint's MAX FILL line. | Do not fill past the Deluxe pint's MAX FILL line. |
| Programs | 7 (Ninja's model name, '7-in-1') | 11 (Ninja's model name, '11-in-1') |
| Power | 800 W | 800 W |
| Room it runs in | not stated | not stated |
| 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) | 12.01 × 8.42 × 16.69 in (L × W × H, Amazon listing) |
| 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” | no clearance figure stated; the guide says to place it on a clean, dry, level surface |
| 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) | one 24 oz Deluxe pint per batch; the pint's own dimensions are not stated on its listing |
| Seller | Sold by Amazon.com | Sold by Amazon.com |
| Owner's guide | Ninja NC300 Series owner's guide (lists NC301) | Ninja NC501 Series owner's guide |
| Buy | Amazon › | Amazon › |
Pints are not interchangeable
- Ninja CREAMi Original Pints 2-pack with lids XSKPLID2CD, a pack of 2: SharkNinja's accessory page: its exact-model list names the NC301, and every compatibility line on it names the NC299 and NC300 series. Amazon ›
- Ninja CREAMi XL Tubs 2-pack with lids XSKPNTLD2, a pack of 2: SharkNinja's accessory page: its exact-model list names the NC501, and every compatibility line on it names the NC500 series. Amazon ›
Neither page lists the other machine's series, so the 16 oz pints are not shown for the NC501 or the XL tubs for the NC301. SharkNinja's own page conflicts on the NC350 series: its heading and model list include it (NC351), but one Product Details line says the pint will “ONLY” fit the NC299 and NC300 series. So only those two series are claimed here. The Amazon listing has the same conflict. SharkNinja's own page conflicts on the NC600 series: its heading and model list include it (NC601), but its Product Details say the tub will “ONLY” fit the NC500 series. So only the NC500 series is claimed here. The Amazon listing has the same conflict.
Extra pints matter because each batch freezes for a day first: more pints means more bases waiting in the freezer. How many pints to own: CREAMi setup.
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.
A different kind of machine: CREAMi vs a compressor ice cream maker.