If you are hesitating between these two appliances, the answer is in one sentence: the Ninja Creami makes thick ice cream to eat with a spoon, while the Ninja Slushi creates frozen drinks to sip with a straw. I have a Slushi in permanent service in my kitchen, and the Creami simply plays in a different category. Budget-wise, expect to pay 220 to 280 euros for a Creami and 300 to 430 euros for a Slushi (prices noted on the official Ninja France website in September 2026, for informational purposes). I will explain exactly what each machine does so you can choose the one that truly fits your evenings and your kitchen.
Ice cream by the spoon or drinks by the straw: the real difference
The Ninja Creami uses the principle of pacotizing. You must freeze your liquid preparation for 24 hours in a specific tub. Then, a powerful blade “shaves” this block of ice at very high speed to transform it into a compact texture of ice cream or sorbet.
The Ninja Slushi, on the other hand, is equipped with an integrated compressor. It cools the liquid directly while a worm screw stirs it continuously. The result is a slushy drink or a granita, ready in 15 to 30 minutes, without needing to plan the day before.
| Criterion | Ninja Creami | Ninja Slushi |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | 24 hours of prior freezing | Instant (15 to 30 minute cycle) |
| Texture | Thick, firm (by the spoon) | Fluid, frozen, slushy (by the straw) |
| Main use | Desserts, ice creams, dense sorbets | Frozen cocktails, granitas, frappés |
| Volume per batch | 1 tub of 493 to 709 ml | 1.9 to 3.3 L useful, kept cold for 12 h |
| Footprint | Compact, stores in a cupboard | 52.4 x 27.4 x 53.3 cm and 13.6 kg on the FS301: does not fit under a standard upper cabinet |
| Observed price | 219.99 to 279.99 euros | 299.99 to 429.99 euros |
The Ninja Creami: for fans of gourmet ice creams and sorbets
The Creami is the perfect machine for those who love to design their own ice cream flavors while mastering the ingredients. Its operation requires planning: you prepare your base (milk, cream, fruits, vegan substitutes), put it in tubs, and wait 24 hours in the freezer.
The big advantage is the final result. You get very rich ice creams, creamy sorbets, and truly dense smoothie bowls.
The French range consists of three references. The Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 (NC302EU) is the entry-level model, with two 493 ml tubs, at 229.99 euros. The CREAMi Deluxe 10-in-1 (NC502EU) goes up to 709 ml tubs and, curiously, is currently cheaper than the 7-in-1, at 219.99 euros: at this price, there is no reason to choose the entry-level model. Finally, the CREAMi Scoop & Swirl 13-in-1 (NC702EU), at 279.99 euros, adds soft-serve ice cream on tap.
One point that comparisons often forget: the Deluxe does not just add volume. Its ten programs include Slush, Frappé, and Frozen Drink, so it definitely encroaches on the Slushi’s territory. The difference remains entirely intact, but it is not where one usually thinks it is: I will come back to this below.
The Ninja Slushi: the expert for granitas and frozen cocktails on demand
If you are into appetizers or refreshing drinks in the middle of the afternoon, the Slushi is for you. No need to freeze anything: you pour in the juice, soda, or cocktail preparation, and the machine freezes everything while spinning. No crushed ice is added, which prevents diluting the flavors.
It is the king appliance for granitas (slush), frappés, smooth milkshakes, and frozen cocktails like my frozen margarita with Ninja Slushi. Be careful, however, the Slushi has its rules: it imperatively requires sugar or alcohol to freeze properly without blocking the screw. If the machine is struggling, I advise you to consult my tips for a Ninja Slushi that freezes on one side and dispenses poorly: my troubleshooting solutions.
There are several models to adapt to your hosting volumes:
- The Ninja Slushi (FS301), 299.99 euros: 2.5 L tank for 1.9 L actually usable, this is the base model and the only one to have the Frappé program.
- The Ninja Slushi XL (FS601), 329.99 euros, and Ninja Slushi Max (FS605), 349.99 euros: larger (3.7 and 4.4 L tank, i.e., 2.8 and 3.3 L usable), they do not have the Frappé mode (you use the Milkshake mode by adjusting the texture) but exclusively feature the Frozen Cocktail Max and SlushAssist functions.
- The Ninja Slushi Twist (FS701 and FS702), 429.99 euros: the latest, which serves two flavors simultaneously. Reserved for those who really host a lot, given the price.
Note for your evenings that the tolerated alcohol threshold is about 16% on the classic Frozen Cocktail program, and goes up to about 20% on Frozen Cocktail Max. Beyond that, the preparation will not set. And as always with alcoholic versions, serve in moderation.
Another asset that the Creami does not have: the tank remains kept cold for 12 hours, so you serve as you go instead of consuming everything at once. If there is leftover granita at the end of the evening, I explain in my granita leftover storage tips how to save it without turning it into a block of ice.
Which one to choose according to your profile and your evenings
The real dividing line is not “ice cream vs. drink,” since the Creami Deluxe can also make a granita. It is elsewhere: the Creami works one frozen tub at a time, which is served immediately, whereas the Slushi keeps 1.9 to 3.3 L cold for 12 hours and serves via a tap, glass after glass. One is an ice cream maker, the other is a dispenser.
Concretely: if you create your flavors in advance for dessert and are looking for the texture of a real artisanal ice cream, get the Creami. If you host and want to serve ten frozen glasses without having prepared anything the day before, get the Slushi.
Two practical points that make people give up more often than one might think. First, the footprint: the FS301 measures 52.4 x 27.4 x 53.3 cm for 13.6 kg, it does not fit under a standard upper cabinet and it does not store away, it lives on the countertop. The Creami, on the other hand, goes back into a cupboard. Then, cleaning: the Creami requires washing the tub, blade, and lid for each tub, whereas the Slushi has a very convenient built-in rinse cycle to chain batches, with a full disassembly at the end of the day.
If I had to do it again, I would start with the CREAMi Deluxe at 219.99 euros: it is currently the cheapest machine in this entire comparison, it covers ice cream, sorbet, and a back-up granita, and it can be stored. I would only add a Slushi if I host quite a bit, because that is where its 1.9 L on tap justifies the 80 euro difference and the space lost on the countertop.
One last warning: if you want drinks to sip, do not count on the Creami 7-in-1. Even its Milkshake mode requires a base that has been previously frozen; we are far from the instant nature of a countertop dispenser.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make granitas with a Ninja Creami?
Yes, but not in the same way. The CREAMi Deluxe (NC502EU) does have a Granita program, as well as Frappé and Frozen Drink. The limit is elsewhere: it works one tub frozen for 24 h at a time, to be served right away. The CREAMi 7-in-1, for its part, stops at ice creams, sorbets, and dense smoothie bowls.
Does the Ninja Slushi make soft-serve ice cream?
No, the Slushi makes frozen drinks (slush, frappé, smooth milkshake). For soft-serve, you need the CREAMi Scoop & Swirl (NC702EU), at 279.99 euros, which serves it directly on tap.
Which machine is the fastest to use?
The Ninja Slushi, for an immediate need: 15 to 30 minute cycle, without preparing anything the day before. The Creami mixes in a few minutes, but only once the tub has been frozen for 24 hours, which prevents any improvisation.
In the end, the ranges overlap a bit, but the question to ask remains simple: do you want a tub of ice cream for dessert, or ten frozen glasses to serve on tap? So, are you more team creamy ice cream or team granita with a straw by the pool? Tell me which machine you are leaning towards!