Quick answer
The Creami Deluxe NC601 wins for most households. It scored 8.9 to the Creami NC351’s 8.4, its 24 oz XL tubs hold about six scoops instead of four, and its CreamiFit and Dairy-Free programs took our protein and oat bases to a creamy first spin with zero re-spins. Buy the NC351 if you cook for one or two, have 15.8 in of counter clearance rather than 17.4 in, and want the quietest Creami at 82 dB.
The Ninja Creami and the Ninja Creami Deluxe are the two scooped-ice-cream lines in the range, and the difference between them is the size of the frozen container and the list of programs. We tested the current Gen 2 version of each, the Creami NC351 and the Creami Deluxe NC601, on four identical bases frozen for 24 hours at 0 F. The Gen 1 equivalents are the NC301 and the NC501, and where the Gen 1 numbers change the picture we say so below.
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
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 | NC351Creami NC351Review | NC601Creami Deluxe NC601Review |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One or two people who want the 2026 design, quieter housing and the same proven 7 programs | Families and daily protein users who want the largest tubs plus the CreamiFit and Dairy-Free programs |
| Generation | Gen 2 | Gen 2 |
| Programs | 7 Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Mix-In | 11 Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Mix-In, Frozen Yogurt, CreamiFit, Frappe, Dairy-Free |
| Programs only on NC351 | – | – |
| Programs only on NC601 | – | Frozen Yogurt, CreamiFit, Frappe, Dairy-Free |
| Pints included | 2 x 16 oz | 2 x 24 oz |
| Capacity per pint | 16 oz, about 4 scoops | 24 oz, about 6 scoops |
| Soft serve | – | – |
| Dairy-free program | – | Yes |
| Noise measured | 82 dB at 1 m | 83 dB at 1 m |
| Footprint | 6.4 x 12 x 15.8 in | 7 x 12.5 x 17.4 in |
| Our score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Check price | Check price on AmazonPrice and delivery shown on Amazon | Check price on AmazonPrice and delivery shown on Amazon |
Capacity: 16 oz pints vs 24 oz XL tubs
The deciding difference is capacity. The Creami NC351 ships with two 16 oz pints and we got about four scoops from each. The Creami Deluxe NC601 ships with two 24 oz XL tubs and we got about six scoops from each. That 8 oz per container is the difference between one dessert for a couple and one dessert for a family of four with a scoop left over.
The two pint systems do not interchange. A 16 oz Original pint will not lock into the Deluxe outer bowl and an XL tub does not fit the Creami. If you already own spare Original pints from an NC301, they carry over to the NC351 and nothing else. Our pint compatibility guide lists every pint and tub by model.
Capacity also changes the freezer plan. Two XL tubs take up about 50 percent more shelf space than two 16 oz pints, and the Deluxe lids are 24 oz wide, so we had to clear a full shelf to keep both tubs flat. The flat-top rule still applies: a base that freezes tilted spins unevenly on either machine.
Programs: 7 on the Creami, 11 on the Deluxe
The NC351 runs seven programs: Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl and Mix-In. The NC601 runs all seven of those plus Frozen Yogurt, CreamiFit, Frappe and Dairy-Free. There is no program on the NC351 that the NC601 lacks.
Two of the four extra programs changed our results. CreamiFit processed our protein base to a 5/5 texture in 158 seconds with no re-spin, where the NC351’s Lite Ice Cream program needed one re-spin after a 128 second cycle to reach 4/5. Dairy-Free processed our oat base to a 4/5 texture on the first spin, where the NC351 needed one re-spin and a tablespoon of oat milk to get there.
The other two extras we use less. Frozen Yogurt is a useful cycle for a Greek yogurt base, but Frappe does the same job as Milkshake with more liquid and we stopped using it in week two. Over 30 days the NC601’s four extra programs resolved into two that we use daily and two that we do not miss. Our programs explained guide covers what each cycle does.
Noise: 82 dB vs 83 dB, with the Gen 1 gap wider
We measured both machines from 1 m during the Ice Cream program with a phone dB meter. The Creami NC351 peaked at 82 dB and the Creami Deluxe NC601 peaked at 83 dB. One decibel is not a difference you will hear in a kitchen, and both machines are loud enough that conversation stops while the paddle is working.
The Gen 1 units are louder and the gap is wider. The NC301 measured 84 dB and the Deluxe NC501 measured 86 dB. Part of the Deluxe noise comes from the larger XL tub, which gives the paddle more frozen mass to drill through. Cycle time tracks the same way: the NC601 Ice Cream cycle ran 175 seconds against 142 seconds on the NC351, so the Deluxe is slightly louder for about half a minute longer.
Our noise scores reflect that: the NC351 scored 7.5 for noise and the NC601 scored 7.0. If quiet is the priority, the NC351 is the quietest Creami we have measured.
Footprint: 15.8 in tall vs 17.4 in tall
The Creami NC351 measures 6.4 in wide, 12.0 in deep and 15.8 in tall, rising to 18.2 in with the lid open. The Creami Deluxe NC601 measures 7.0 in wide, 12.5 in deep and 17.4 in tall, rising to 20.1 in with the lid open. Under a standard 18 in upper cabinet the NC351 opens with room to spare and the NC601 does not open at all.
Weight follows the same pattern: 12.8 lb for the NC351 and 14.2 lb for the NC601. Both are light enough to lift in and out of a cupboard, but the NC601 is a two-hand lift because the housing is wider.
Both use a 36 in cord and draw 800 W, so the outlet and the counter position are the same. The only placement decision is vertical clearance, and the NC601 needs 20.1 in of it.
Texture on the hard bases: the Deluxe won on protein and oat
On the two easy bases, full-fat vanilla and mango sorbet, both machines scored 5/5 with zero re-spins. The NC351 vanilla came out scoopable in 142 seconds with firmer edges than the NC301; the NC601 vanilla came out dense and glossy in 175 seconds. Sorbet was smooth on both, with the NC351 slightly softer.
On the two hard bases the Deluxe pulled ahead. Protein on the NC351 was powdery after spin one and creamy after one re-spin, a 4/5. Protein on the NC601 CreamiFit program was 5/5 on the first spin. Oat on the NC351 needed one re-spin with a tablespoon of oat milk for 4/5; oat on the NC601 Dairy-Free program was 4/5 first spin, slightly soft at the center.
That is the texture score difference in the summary table: the NC351 averaged 4.5 across the four bases and the NC601 averaged 4.75, with the NC601 needing zero re-spins in total against two for the NC351. The Gen 1 Deluxe NC501 does not share this advantage; without CreamiFit or Dairy-Free it needed one re-spin on protein and two on oat, matching the NC301. If you are crumbly on either machine, our crumbly Creami guide covers the fixes.
Test results for both
| Base | NC351 program | NC351 re-spins | NC351 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 | 1 | 4/5 | Dairy-Free | 0 | 4/5 |
Cycle times: NC351 Ice Cream 142 s, Lite Ice Cream 128 s, Sorbet 134 s, re-spin 70 s. NC601 Ice Cream 175 s, CreamiFit 158 s, Sorbet 164 s, Dairy-Free 160 s, re-spin 80 s. The Deluxe runs about 30 seconds longer per program because the XL tub holds 50 percent more frozen base. The Deluxe cycles are longer but it needed no re-spins, so total time to a scoop on protein was 158 s on the NC601 against 198 s on the NC351.
Who should buy the NC351
- One or two people who eat a pint over two or three sittings and would rather not refreeze leftovers.
- Anyone with an 18 in cabinet gap who needs the machine to open in place: the NC351 opens at 18.2 in, the NC601 at 20.1 in.
- Buyers who want the quietest Creami, at 82 dB measured.
- People who already own Original 16 oz pints from an NC301 and want to keep using them.
- Anyone who wants five color options: Navy, Mocha, Purple, Green and Blue.
- Shoppers who mostly make full-fat vanilla and sorbet, where both machines scored 5/5 with no re-spins.
Who should buy the NC601
- Families of three or four who want about six scoops per tub instead of four.
- Daily protein users: CreamiFit gave a 5/5 first spin where Lite Ice Cream needed a re-spin.
- Anyone making oat, coconut or other dairy-free bases, for the only Dairy-Free program in the range.
- Batch cooks who want to process a half tub at a time for two flavors in one container.
- Buyers who want Frozen Yogurt as a dedicated cycle for Greek yogurt bases.
- Anyone who can spare 20.1 in of vertical clearance and 7.0 in of width.
Verdict
The Creami Deluxe NC601 is the better machine and the one we recommend to most readers. It scored 8.9 overall against 8.4 for the Creami NC351, and the gap comes from the two places that matter most in daily use: capacity and the hard bases. Six scoops per XL tub against four, and zero re-spins across all four test bases against two, is the whole case. The NC351 earns its 8.4 by being smaller, 1 dB quieter and faster per cycle, and it is the right choice for a household of one or two that mostly makes vanilla and sorbet. Both are solid buys; the NC601 is simply more machine. Read the full NC351 review and NC601 review, or use our which Ninja Creami guide and the products hub to see every model.
Frequently asked questions
The Deluxe uses 24 oz XL tubs instead of 16 oz pints, runs 11 programs instead of 7, and stands 17.4 in tall instead of 15.8 in. The Gen 2 Deluxe NC601 adds CreamiFit and Dairy-Free programs that the Creami NC351 does not have. Motor wattage is 800 W on both, and both follow the same 24 hour freeze at 0 F.
No. The Creami NC301 and NC351 use Original 16 oz pints and the Deluxe NC501 and NC601 use 24 oz XL tubs. The outer bowls are different sizes, so a 16 oz pint will not lock into a Deluxe and an XL tub will not fit a Creami. Buy the pint system that matches your machine; see our pint compatibility guide.
Slightly. We measured the Deluxe NC601 at 83 dB from 1 m during the Ice Cream program and the Creami NC351 at 82 dB. The Gen 1 units are louder still: the NC301 measured 84 dB and the Deluxe NC501 measured 86 dB. All four are loud enough that we run them with the kitchen door closed.
The Deluxe NC601. Its CreamiFit program took our Fairlife and whey base to a 5/5 creamy texture on the first spin with no re-spin. The NC351 ran the same base on Lite Ice Cream and needed one 70 second re-spin to reach 4/5. If you make a protein pint every day, that saved re-spin adds up.
The Creami NC351. A 16 oz pint gives about four scoops, which is two or three servings for one person before the pint needs a refreeze. The Deluxe XL tub holds about six scoops, and a single person refreezes and re-spins more leftovers. The NC351 is also 1.4 lb lighter and 1.6 in shorter closed.
The same conclusions hold. The NC301 scored 7.9 and the NC501 scored 8.2, both use the same pint systems as their Gen 2 replacements, and the NC501 has the same capacity advantage. The Gen 1 Deluxe lacks CreamiFit and Dairy-Free though, so its oat base needed two re-spins, the same as the NC301.