Quick answer
The Creami Deluxe NC601 wins, 8.9 to 8.2. Both use the same 24 oz XL tubs and both list 11 programs, but the NC601 trades Creamiccino, Slushi, Italian Ice and Frozen Drink for CreamiFit, Dairy-Free, Frappe and Smoothie Bowl, and those two new programs took our protein and oat bases to a creamy first spin with no re-spin. Buy the NC501 only if you want the Italian Ice and Slushi cycles or find it cheaper.
The Ninja Creami Deluxe NC501 and the Gen 2 Deluxe NC601 look like the same machine with a new color list. Both take 24 oz XL tubs, both list 11 programs, both draw 800 W and both ship with two tubs. The spec sheet hides the fact that four of the 11 programs are different, and in our testing those four programs decided the result. We ran both on the same four bases, frozen 24 hours at 0 F, and logged every cycle, re-spin and texture score. Full details are in our NC501 review and NC601 review.
Creami Deluxe · Gen 1
Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 (NC501)
Model NC501 · Our score 8.2/10
- 11 programs including Frozen Yogurt, Italian Ice and Slushi
- Two 24 oz XL tubs, about 6 scoops each
- Top and bottom tub processing for mix-ins in half the tub
Creami Deluxe · Gen 2
Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Gen 2 (NC601)
Model NC601 · Our score 8.9/10
- 11 programs including CreamiFit and the only Dairy-Free program
- Two 24 oz XL tubs, about 6 scoops each
- Oat base needed zero re-spins on the Dairy-Free program
| Feature | NC501Creami Deluxe NC501Review | NC601Creami Deluxe NC601Review |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Families of three or four who want XL tubs and the Italian Ice and Slushi programs | Families and daily protein users who want the largest tubs plus the CreamiFit and Dairy-Free programs |
| Generation | Gen 1 | Gen 2 |
| Programs | 11 Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Mix-In, Frozen Yogurt, Creamiccino, Slushi, Italian Ice, Frozen Drink | 11 Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Mix-In, Frozen Yogurt, CreamiFit, Frappe, Dairy-Free |
| Programs only on NC501 | Creamiccino, Slushi, Italian Ice, Frozen Drink | – |
| Programs only on NC601 | – | Smoothie Bowl, CreamiFit, Frappe, Dairy-Free |
| Pints included | 2 x 24 oz | 2 x 24 oz |
| Capacity per pint | 24 oz, about 6 scoops | 24 oz, about 6 scoops |
| Soft serve | – | – |
| Dairy-free program | – | Yes |
| Noise measured | 86 dB at 1 m | 83 dB at 1 m |
| Footprint | 6.9 x 12.6 x 17.6 in | 7 x 12.5 x 17.4 in |
| Our score | 8.2/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Check price | Check price on AmazonPrice and delivery shown on Amazon | Check price on AmazonPrice and delivery shown on Amazon |
Programs: the same count, four different cycles
Both machines run Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Mix-In and Frozen Yogurt. The NC501 adds Creamiccino, Slushi, Italian Ice and Frozen Drink to reach 11. The NC601 drops all four and adds CreamiFit, Dairy-Free, Frappe and Smoothie Bowl to reach the same 11.
The swap moves the Deluxe from a frozen-drink machine toward a daily-dessert machine. The NC501’s four exclusives are all drink or granular-ice cycles, and after 30 days we had used Slushi twice and the others less. The NC601’s CreamiFit replaced Lite Ice Cream for every protein tub we made because it needed one fewer re-spin, and Dairy-Free is the only program in the Creami range built for oat and coconut bases.
Not every addition earned its place. Frappe does the same job as Milkshake with more liquid and we stopped using it after the first week. Smoothie Bowl is a cycle the NC351 also has and it produces a result we can match with Lite Ice Cream plus a re-spin. The honest count is two useful new programs on the NC601 against one or two niche ones lost from the NC501. Our programs explained guide covers each cycle.
Protein and oat: three re-spins on the NC501, zero on the NC601
This is the result that separates the two machines. On the NC501, our protein base ran on Lite Ice Cream for 165 seconds and came out crumbly in the top inch; one 85 second re-spin brought it to a creamy 4/5. The oat base ran on the same program, needed two re-spins, and finished at 3/5 with ice at the base of the tub.
On the NC601, the protein base ran on CreamiFit for 158 seconds and came out creamy on the first spin, 5/5, no re-spin. The oat base ran on Dairy-Free for 160 seconds and came out creamy on the first spin with a slightly soft center, 4/5, no re-spin. Across the four bases the NC501 needed three re-spins and the NC601 needed none.
In time terms, protein on the NC501 took 250 seconds to reach a scoop (165 plus 85) and protein on the NC601 took 158. Oat on the NC501 took 335 seconds with two re-spins and oat on the NC601 took 160. If your tub is crumbly on either machine, our crumbly Creami guide has the fixes, but on the NC601 we never needed it.
Noise: 86 dB on the NC501, 83 dB on the NC601
The NC501 is the loudest Creami we have measured. From 1 m during the Ice Cream program it peaked at 86 dB; the NC601 peaked at 83 dB. Three decibels is a clear difference in the same room, and the NC601 also has less of the rattle the NC501 housing produces in the last 20 seconds of a cycle.
Cycle lengths shortened at the same time. Ice Cream ran 182 seconds on the NC501 and 175 on the NC601. Lite Ice Cream ran 165 against 158, Sorbet 170 against 164, and a re-spin 85 against 80. The NC601 is quieter for less time per tub.
Both remain louder than the 16 oz Creami line. The NC351 measured 82 dB, so the Deluxe’s larger tub costs about a decibel in Gen 2 and four in Gen 1. Our noise scores are 6.0 for the NC501 and 7.0 for the NC601.
Footprint: 17.6 in vs 17.4 in tall, 14.5 lb vs 14.2 lb
The NC501 measures 6.9 in wide, 12.6 in deep and 17.6 in tall, rising to 20.3 in with the lid open. The NC601 measures 7.0 in wide, 12.5 in deep and 17.4 in tall, rising to 20.1 in open. The NC601 is 0.1 in wider and 0.2 in shorter; on a counter the two are interchangeable.
Weight is 14.5 lb for the NC501 and 14.2 lb for the NC601. Both are two-hand lifts because of the wide housing. Both use a 36 in cord and 800 W.
The practical point is vertical clearance. Neither Deluxe opens under a standard 18 in cabinet gap, and both need just over 20 in to lift the lid fully. If your counter has that clearance, either fits; if it does not, the 16 oz NC351 at 18.2 in open is the machine to look at.
Finish, colors and 30-day wear
The NC501 comes in Silver only. The NC601 comes in Navy, Mocha and Purple, with a matte finish that showed fewer fingerprints than the NC501’s gloss housing after 30 days of the same wipe-down routine.
Wear was similar but not identical. After 20 top-rack dishwasher cycles the NC501 XL tubs were clear with one faint scratch from a utensil, the lids still sealed and the paddle was unchanged. The NC601 tubs were clear, lids sealed, paddle unchanged and the outer bowl lid showed no warping. The NC501 tub lids developed a small flat spot where they rested on the freezer shelf; they still seal, but it is something to watch if you stack tubs.
Neither machine had a lid lock issue in 30 days. The NC601 lock clicks a little more positively and the button labels are easier to read on the darker housing.
Test results for both
| Base | NC501 program | NC501 re-spins | NC501 texture | NC601 program | NC601 re-spins | NC601 texture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-fat vanilla | Ice Cream | 0 | 5/5 | Ice Cream | 0 | 5/5 |
| Protein (Lite) | Lite Ice Cream | 1 | 4/5 | CreamiFit | 0 | 5/5 |
| Mango sorbet | Sorbet | 0 | 5/5 | Sorbet | 0 | 5/5 |
| Dairy-free oat | Lite Ice Cream | 2 | 3/5 | Dairy-Free | 0 | 4/5 |
Cycle times: NC501 Ice Cream 182 s, Lite Ice Cream 165 s, Sorbet 170 s, re-spin 85 s. NC601 Ice Cream 175 s, CreamiFit 158 s, Sorbet 164 s, Dairy-Free 160 s, re-spin 80 s. Average texture across the four bases was 4.25 on the NC501 and 4.75 on the NC601. Vanilla and sorbet were 5/5 on both with no re-spins; the entire gap came from protein and oat.
Who should buy the NC501
- Anyone who wants dedicated Italian Ice, Slushi, Frozen Drink or Creamiccino programs.
- Households whose rotation is vanilla, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt, where both machines scored 5/5 with no re-spins.
- Buyers who want a Silver Deluxe; the NC601 has no silver option.
- Readers who find the NC501 priced well below the NC601 and do not make protein or dairy-free bases.
- Anyone who already owns NC501 XL tubs and wants a second Deluxe on the same tub system.
Who should buy the NC601
- Daily protein users: CreamiFit gave 5/5 on the first spin where the NC501 needed a re-spin.
- Anyone who makes oat, coconut or other dairy-free bases, for the only Dairy-Free program in the range.
- Buyers who want the quieter Deluxe, 83 dB against 86 dB.
- Anyone who wants Navy, Mocha or Purple and a matte finish.
- Readers who want the shorter cycles: 7 seconds less on Ice Cream and 5 seconds less per re-spin.
- First-time Deluxe buyers choosing between the two at similar prices: 8.9 against 8.2 overall.
Verdict
The NC601 is the Deluxe we recommend, and the scores reflect a real gap: 8.9 against 8.2. The NC501 is a good machine that produced the same 5/5 vanilla and sorbet, and its XL tubs carry straight over to the NC601, so nothing an NC501 owner bought is wasted. The difference is the four swapped programs. CreamiFit and Dairy-Free took three re-spins out of our four-base test and turned a 3/5 oat result into a 4/5. Add three fewer decibels and shorter cycles, and the NC601 is simply the better daily machine. Buy the NC501 if Italian Ice and Slushi are the point, or if it is clearly cheaper and you never make protein or oat bases. Our Deluxe family page, which Ninja Creami guide and products hub cover the rest of the range.
Frequently asked questions
Both are 11-program Deluxe machines using 24 oz XL tubs, but four programs differ. The NC501 has Creamiccino, Slushi, Italian Ice and Frozen Drink; the NC601 replaces them with CreamiFit, Dairy-Free, Frappe and Smoothie Bowl. The NC601 also measured 83 dB against 86 dB, ran its Ice Cream cycle in 175 s against 182 s, and comes in Navy, Mocha and Purple rather than Silver.
Yes. Both machines use the Deluxe 24 oz XL tub system covering the NC500 and NC600 series, and the tubs, lids and outer bowl dimensions carried over unchanged. Spare tubs bought for an NC501 lock into the NC601. Neither machine accepts the Original 16 oz pints from the NC301 and NC351 or the Swirl pints from the NC701.
Yes, by one re-spin per pint. The NC601’s CreamiFit program took our Fairlife and whey base to a 5/5 texture in 158 seconds on the first spin. The NC501 ran the same base on Lite Ice Cream for 165 seconds, came out crumbly in the top inch, and needed one 85 second re-spin to reach 4/5. Over a daily protein habit that difference is real.
No. Slushi, Italian Ice, Frozen Drink and Creamiccino are NC501 programs that did not carry over to the NC601. In our 30 days with the NC501 we used Slushi twice and then stopped, but if frozen drinks or Italian ice are the reason you want a Deluxe, the NC501 is the one that has the dedicated cycles. Sorbet on the NC601 is the nearest substitute.
Yes, by three decibels. We measured the NC501 at 86 dB from 1 m during the Ice Cream program, the loudest reading of any Creami we have tested, and the NC601 at 83 dB. The NC601 also finishes the cycle 7 seconds sooner. Our noise score moved from 6.0 on the NC501 to 7.0 on the NC601.
Only if you make protein or dairy-free bases most days. CreamiFit and Dairy-Free removed every re-spin from those two bases in our test, and the machine is 3 dB quieter. If your rotation is vanilla, sorbet and frozen yogurt, the NC501 produced identical 5/5 results and your tubs already fit, so spend the money on extra XL tubs instead.