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Best quiet ice cream makers for apartments and late-night batches

Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick

Top picks at a glance

Compare all picks

  • Closest match for the job

    Cuisinart ICE-100: compressor churn, 60-minute timer

    The second paddle made specifically for gelato is unique among the picks under $300.

    See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon

  • Most for the money on paper

    GSEICE countertop soft serve rated at about 62 dB

    Only 8.3 inches wide with an angled 5-inch control panel.

    See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon

  • Most complete listing

    Breville Smart Scoop: 3-hour hold lets you churn early

    Frozen yogurt is one of the listed hardness settings, so the machine decides when it is done.

    See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon

Noise is one of the least documented specs in this category. Ninja does not publish a decibel figure for the Creami, and most compressor churners do not either. A compressor machine runs longer, often close to an hour, but with a steady hum and a slow dasher rather than a short burst from a high-speed blade. This guide starts with the few listings that make a noise claim, and only one of them gives an actual decibel number. It then adds compressor churners with long keep-cool modes, because a machine that holds a batch cold for hours lets you churn in the early evening and serve later without running it at midnight. Each pick is compared on machine type, capacity, the exact noise claim the listing makes (or Not stated), keep-cool time and whether anything must be pre-frozen.

Compare the picks

Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.

The picks in detail

Pick 1 · Cuisinart

Cuisinart ICE-100: compressor churn, 60-minute timer

See price on Amazon

Cuisinart's compressor model with two paddles, one for ice cream and one for gelato, plus a 60-minute timer. The most complete package under $300 for cooks who want gelato too.

What the listing offers

  • The second paddle made specifically for gelato is unique among the picks under $300.
  • The listing states a limited 3-year warranty, the clearest coverage term in this group.
  • Touchpad controls with a large LCD and a 60-minute countdown timer keep operation simple.

Limits to know

  • At 1.5 quarts it makes less per batch than the 2 to 2.1 quart machines here.
  • Keep Cool runs only 10 minutes after the timer ends, according to the listing.
See it on AmazonListing title: Cuisinart 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker and Gelato Machine, Makes Frozen Y...

Pick 2 · Breville

Breville Smart Scoop: 3-hour hold lets you churn early

See price on Amazon

A stainless churner that senses the hardness of the mix for the frozen yogurt setting you choose and holds it for up to 3 hours. Suits cooks who want froyo stopped at the same texture every time.

What the listing offers

  • Frozen yogurt is one of the listed hardness settings, so the machine decides when it is done.
  • Keep Cool holds the froyo chilled and churned for up to 3 hours.
  • Full manual mode is available if you want to stop softer.

Limits to know

  • Capacity is not stated in the listing, so batch size is unknown.
  • It is the most expensive pick in this guide.
See it on AmazonListing title: Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel

Pick 3 · GSEICE

GSEICE countertop soft serve rated at about 62 dB

See price on Amazon

A narrow ETL-certified machine only 8.3 inches wide that runs at about 62 dB, per the listing. Best for tight counters, coffee bars and spaces where noise matters.

What the listing offers

  • Only 8.3 inches wide with an angled 5-inch control panel.
  • The listing states about 62 dB, the only noise figure in this guide.
  • 3-step no-disassembly cleaning and ETL certification.

Limits to know

  • Hopper size and wattage are not stated on the listing.
  • Up to 25% overrun is lower than some buyers may expect for airy soft serve.
See it on AmazonListing title: Commercial Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker Machine

Pick 4 · COUPLUX

COUPLUX 2.1 qt compressor with a low-noise claim

See price on Amazon

A 2.1 quart compressor machine with three modes, a 2-hour keep-cool hold and a stainless bowl, priced near the bottom of the range. The value pick for large batches.

What the listing offers

  • The 2-hour keep-cool hold is the longest stated in this group.
  • 2.1 quarts makes up to 24 scoops per batch, according to the listing.
  • The listing describes a food-grade stainless bowl, steel mixing shaft, all-metal body and low noise.

Limits to know

  • The low-noise claim has no decibel figure behind it.
  • The listing gives no warranty term, so check coverage before you buy.
See it on AmazonListing title: COUPLUX Fastest Freezing Ice Cream Maker, with Built-in Compressor 2.1...

Pick 5 · Cuisinart

Cuisinart ICE-200: soft serve with an ultra-quiet motor

See price on Amazon

A compressor-chilled soft serve and slushy maker that produces 1.7 quarts in as little as 15 minutes and dispenses with Smart Dispense Control. The pick for swirl cones without freezing a base.

What the listing offers

  • No pre-freezing is required; the listing says a compressor holds the temperature and consistency.
  • It can produce 1.7 quarts in as little as 15 minutes, per the listing.
  • The listing describes an ultra-quiet motor for low-noise operation.

Limits to know

  • It is built for soft serve and slushies, not dense scoopable ice cream for the freezer.
  • The quiet claim comes without a decibel figure, so it is hard to compare with other machines.
See it on AmazonListing title: Cuisinart 6-in-1 Slushy & Soft-Serve Maker, Ice Cream Maker Machine Ma...

Pick 6 · Whynter

Whynter ICM-201SB: upright 2.1 qt compressor

See price on Amazon

An upright Whynter that keeps a 2.1-quart batch in a smaller footprint than horizontal machines. For small kitchens that still feed a family.

What the listing offers

  • Upright stainless housing designed for a smaller counter footprint.
  • 2.1-quart capacity, the largest in this compact guide.
  • No bowl in the freezer, so it saves freezer space too.

Limits to know

  • Taller and heavier than the 0.8 to 1.28 quart picks, though the listing gives no figures.
  • No preset programs are listed, only an LCD timer.
See it on AmazonListing title: Whynter Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker, 2.1 Qt, ICM-201SB

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Scoop & Churn chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.