Quick answer
Buy the Creami NC351 if the two are close in price on the day; it scored 8.4 to the NC301’s 7.9. Both run the same seven programs on the same 16 oz pints, so the deciding difference is the Gen 2 housing: 82 dB instead of 84 dB, an Ice Cream cycle 8 seconds shorter and one fewer re-spin on our oat base. Buy the NC301 if you want Silver, Rose Gold or Red, or find it discounted.
The Ninja Creami NC301 was the first 16 oz Creami and the NC351 is its 2026 Gen 2 replacement. They run the same seven programs on the same Original 16 oz pints, so this is not a comparison of features. It is a comparison of housings, motors and 30 days of results, and we measured both on the same four bases frozen 24 hours at 0 F. Full write-ups are in our NC301 review and NC351 review.
Creami · Gen 1
Ninja Creami 7-in-1 (NC301)
Model NC301 · Our score 7.9/10
- 7 programs including Lite Ice Cream and Mix-In
- Two 16 oz pints included, about 4 scoops each
- Smallest footprint of any full-size Creami
Creami · Gen 2
Ninja Creami 7-in-1 Gen 2 (NC351)
Model NC351 · Our score 8.4/10
- Same 7 programs as the NC301 in the 2026 housing
- Measured 82 dB, two decibels quieter than Gen 1
- Uses the same 16 oz pints as the NC301
| Feature | NC301Creami NC301Review | NC351Creami NC351Review |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One or two people who want the original Creami and the widest choice of colors | One or two people who want the 2026 design, quieter housing and the same proven 7 programs |
| Generation | Gen 1 | Gen 2 |
| Programs | 7 Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Mix-In | 7 Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Mix-In |
| Programs only on NC301 | – | – |
| Programs only on NC351 | – | – |
| Pints included | 2 x 16 oz | 2 x 16 oz |
| Capacity per pint | 16 oz, about 4 scoops | 16 oz, about 4 scoops |
| Soft serve | – | – |
| Dairy-free program | – | – |
| Noise measured | 84 dB at 1 m | 82 dB at 1 m |
| Footprint | 6.5 x 12.1 x 15.9 in | 6.4 x 12 x 15.8 in |
| Our score | 7.9/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Check price | Check price on AmazonPrice and delivery shown on Amazon | Check price on AmazonPrice and delivery shown on Amazon |
Noise: 84 dB on the NC301, 82 dB on the NC351
The single clearest change is noise. From 1 m during the Ice Cream program the NC301 peaked at 84 dB on our phone meter and the NC351 peaked at 82 dB. We repeated the reading on three separate days and got the same two-decibel gap each time.
Two decibels is a real difference when the machines run side by side, and the NC351 has a lower pitch to it, less of the high whine the Gen 1 housing lets out. On its own in a kitchen the NC351 is still loud; neither machine is quiet enough to run during a phone call. Our noise score went from 6.5 on the NC301 to 7.5 on the NC351, the largest single score change between the two.
Neither of these is the quietest or the loudest in the range. The Deluxe NC501 measured 86 dB and the Scoop and Swirl NC701 measured 85 dB, so the NC351 is the quietest Creami we have tested.
Cycle time: 150 s vs 142 s on Ice Cream
The Gen 2 motor housing runs every program a few seconds shorter. Ice Cream took 150 seconds on the NC301 and 142 seconds on the NC351. Lite Ice Cream took 135 seconds against 128, Sorbet 140 against 134, and a re-spin 75 seconds against 70.
Eight seconds per pint is not a reason to buy a machine. The reason it matters is what the shorter cycle did to the result: the NC351 vanilla came out with firmer edges than the NC301, which had slight softness at the rim, and both still scored 5/5. The shorter cycle appears to put less heat into the pint, and that shows up most on the bases that melt fastest.
Both machines draw 800 W, so the saving is in the program timing rather than motor power. Both use the same 36 in cord.
Footprint and weight: 0.1 in smaller, 0.2 lb lighter
The NC301 measures 6.5 in wide, 12.1 in deep and 15.9 in tall, rising to 18.4 in with the lid open. The NC351 measures 6.4 in wide, 12.0 in deep and 15.8 in tall, rising to 18.2 in open. The NC301 weighs 13.0 lb and the NC351 weighs 12.8 lb.
Those are the smallest differences on this page and you will not notice them on a counter. Both open under a standard 18 in cabinet gap with the lid at 18.2 or 18.4 in only if the machine sits at the front edge; in practice we pull both forward to open them. Either way, these are the two smallest full-size Creamis, 0.6 in narrower than the Deluxe NC601 and 3.7 in narrower than the NC701.
What did change is the finish. The NC301 has a gloss housing that shows fingerprints and water spots; the NC351 is matte and after 30 days looks cleaner with the same wipe-down routine. The NC351 lid lock clicks more positively than the NC301’s, which needs a firm push to seat.
Colors: three on the NC301, five on the NC351
The NC301 comes in Silver, Rose Gold and Red. The NC351 comes in Navy, Mocha, Purple, Green and Blue. There is no overlap, so if you want a silver or rose gold machine the NC301 is the only route, and if you want one of the 2026 colors it has to be the NC351.
Color does not affect the programs or results, but it does affect which listing you land on. The rose gold NC301 is a separate Amazon listing from the silver one, and the mocha NC351 is a separate listing from the navy. Check the model number in the listing title before you buy, because the housings look similar in product photos.
Dairy-free oat: two re-spins on the NC301, one on the NC351
Three of the four bases produced identical results on both machines. Vanilla scored 5/5 with no re-spin, protein scored 4/5 after one re-spin, and mango sorbet scored 5/5 with no re-spin. The programs are the same, the pints are the same, and the results followed.
The oat base separated them. On the NC301 it came out crumbly, needed two re-spins and a tablespoon of oat milk, and finished at 3/5 with a slightly icy texture. On the NC351 it needed one re-spin with a tablespoon of oat milk and finished at 4/5. We ran the oat base twice more on each machine and got the same counts.
Neither machine has a Dairy-Free program, so both are running oat on Lite Ice Cream. The NC351’s shorter cycle and slightly firmer first spin seem to leave the base in a better state for the re-spin. If you make oat or coconut bases most days, the Deluxe NC601 with its Dairy-Free program is a better fit than either; it scored 4/5 on oat with zero re-spins. Our re-spin guide covers when to re-spin and when to add liquid.
Test results for both
| Base | NC301 program | NC301 re-spins | NC301 texture | NC351 program | NC351 re-spins | NC351 texture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-fat vanilla | Ice Cream | 0 | 5/5 | Ice Cream | 0 | 5/5 |
| Protein (Lite) | Lite Ice Cream | 1 | 4/5 | Lite Ice Cream | 1 | 4/5 |
| Mango sorbet | Sorbet | 0 | 5/5 | Sorbet | 0 | 5/5 |
| Dairy-free oat | Lite Ice Cream | 2 | 3/5 | Lite Ice Cream | 1 | 4/5 |
Cycle times: NC301 Ice Cream 150 s, Lite Ice Cream 135 s, Sorbet 140 s, re-spin 75 s. NC351 Ice Cream 142 s, Lite Ice Cream 128 s, Sorbet 134 s, re-spin 70 s. Across all four bases the NC301 needed three re-spins in total and the NC351 needed two. Average texture was 4.25 on the NC301 and 4.5 on the NC351, with the whole gap coming from the oat base.
After 30 days the NC301 paddle showed light surface scuffing but no chips and the pints were faintly cloudy near the rim after 20 top-rack dishwasher cycles. The NC351 paddle had no visible wear and the pints were still clear after the same 20 cycles. Both sets of lids still sealed.
Who should buy the NC301
- Anyone who finds the NC301 discounted against the NC351, since the programs and pints are identical.
- Buyers who want Silver, Rose Gold or Red, which the NC351 does not offer.
- Households that already own Original 16 oz pints and want a second machine on the same system.
- Readers who make vanilla, sorbet and protein bases, where both machines scored the same.
- Anyone replacing a worn NC301 who wants the same button layout and lid feel.
Who should buy the NC351
- First-time buyers choosing between the two at similar prices: 8.4 against 7.9 overall.
- Anyone who wants the quietest Creami, at 82 dB measured.
- Oat and coconut base makers who want one fewer re-spin without moving up to a Deluxe.
- Buyers who prefer a matte finish that hides fingerprints after a month of use.
- Anyone who wants Navy, Mocha, Purple, Green or Blue.
- Readers who want the pints to stay clear after 20 dishwasher cycles.
Verdict
The NC351 is the better machine, and the margin is exactly what the measurements say: two decibels quieter, eight seconds faster per Ice Cream cycle, one fewer re-spin on oat, and no paddle or pint wear after 30 days. It scored 8.4 overall against 7.9 for the NC301, with the gap coming from noise, ease and value rather than texture or programs. The NC301 is not a bad buy; it produced the same 5/5 vanilla and sorbet and the same 4/5 protein, and if the listing price favors it on the day you shop, take it. If the two are close, take the NC351. Neither is the right choice if you need more than four scoops per container; for that read our which Ninja Creami guide or browse the products hub.
Frequently asked questions
Functionally close but not identical. Both run the same seven programs, use the same Original 16 oz pints and draw 800 W. The NC351 is the 2026 Gen 2 housing: we measured it at 82 dB against 84 dB, its Ice Cream cycle ran 142 s against 150 s, and it comes in Navy, Mocha, Purple, Green and Blue rather than Silver, Rose Gold and Red.
Yes. Both machines use the Original 16 oz pint system shared by the NC299AMZ, NC301 and NC351. The pints, lids and the paddle are the same part family, so spare pints bought for an NC301 lock into the NC351 outer bowl without modification. They do not fit the Deluxe NC501 and NC601 or the Scoop and Swirl NC701.
By two decibels in our test. From 1 m during the Ice Cream program the NC301 peaked at 84 dB and the NC351 at 82 dB. Two decibels is noticeable side by side but both are loud; neither is a machine you run while someone sleeps in the next room. The NC351 also finishes 8 seconds sooner, so the noise lasts less time.
No. Both run Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl and Mix-In. There is no CreamiFit or Dairy-Free program on either; those arrived on the Deluxe NC601 and the Scoop and Swirl NC701. Protein bases use Lite Ice Cream on both and needed one re-spin in our test on each.
Three measured improvements. Noise fell from 84 dB to 82 dB, so the noise score rose from 6.5 to 7.5. Ease rose from 8.0 to 9.0 because the matte housing, the lid lock and the dishwasher results were all better after 30 days. Value rose from 8.5 to 9.0. Texture, programs and capacity scores stayed identical at 8.0, 7.5 and 7.0.
No, not on performance alone. Your vanilla, protein and sorbet results will be the same, and the only base that improved was oat, which went from two re-spins to one. The NC351 is the pick when you are buying your first Creami or replacing a broken one. An NC301 owner is better served by extra pints and a look at the Deluxe NC601 if capacity is the complaint.