5 Best Vegan Ice Cream Makers to Buy in 2026

Step into the world of instant, healthy vegan treats with the Yonanas 988RD Deluxe. This machine is a game-changer for anyone craving dairy-free soft serve without added sugar or fats. It masterfully transforms frozen fruit into a remarkably smooth, creamy dessert using a powerful 200W motor, making healthy indulgence incredibly accessible and fast. The included 75 diverse recipes provide ample inspiration right out of the box, tackling the common pain point of figuring out what to make.

In real-world testing, the Yonanas 988RD handled various frozen fruits – from bananas and berries to mango – with impressive consistency, producing a texture akin to soft-serve ice cream in mere minutes. Its compact design doesn’t demand much counter space, and the easy-to-clean, dishwasher-safe parts are a significant plus for busy households. While it excels at creating ‘nice cream’ from fruit, remember its core function is strictly processing frozen fruit, not churning traditional liquid bases or mixing in solid toppings easily.

Compared to the more versatile Drinkpod Frozay, the Yonanas 988RD focuses solely on the healthy, single-ingredient frozen fruit soft serve, making it less flexible for sorbets or adding mix-ins during processing. However, for users prioritizing pure frozen fruit goodness and effortless cleanup, it stands out. It offers a slightly larger recipe collection than the Yonanas Classic 902MN, positioning it as the premium choice within the Yonanas lineup for those seeking maximum inspiration and ease.

The Yonanas 988GY Deluxe offers a fantastic entry point into effortless vegan dessert creation, mirroring the core capabilities of its sibling models. It expertly turns frozen fruit into smooth, dairy-free soft serve using its reliable 200W motor, providing a healthy alternative to traditional ice cream. The promise of turning simple frozen ingredients into a delightful treat in minutes directly addresses the desire for quick, guilt-free desserts.

Performance is consistently strong across various frozen fruits, yielding that signature creamy texture Yonanas is known for. The machine is straightforward to operate – just insert frozen fruit and push down with the plunger. Cleanup is equally simple, with dishwasher-safe removable parts making post-dessert tidying a breeze. Its design is practical for everyday kitchen use, though like all Yonanas models, it’s dedicated specifically to processing frozen fruit and isn’t designed for churning liquid bases or incorporating solid mix-ins during operation.

Positioned as a mid-range option within the Yonanas family, the 988GY offers a generous 72 recipes, only slightly fewer than the top-tier Deluxe 988RD, yet significantly more than the budget-friendly Classic 902MN. While it doesn’t offer the multi-dessert versatility of the Drinkpod Frozay, it delivers on its core promise exceptionally well. For those seeking the optimal balance between features, recipes, and value in a dedicated frozen fruit soft serve maker, this model is a compelling choice.

For those seeking the simplest path to delicious, healthy vegan soft serve, the Yonanas 902MN Classic is an unbeatable budget option. This machine strips away complexity, focusing purely on its core strength: transforming frozen fruit into a remarkably smooth, dairy-free dessert. With its dependable 200W power, it delivers that signature creamy texture that makes ‘nice cream’ so appealing, solving the problem of wanting a sweet treat without the added sugars and fats.

In practical use, the Yonanas Classic performs exactly as expected, efficiently processing frozen bananas, berries, and other fruits into soft serve within moments. Its straightforward mechanics make it incredibly easy to use for anyone, and the top-rack dishwasher-safe components ensure cleanup is never a chore. While it’s a master of frozen fruit, it’s important to note its singular purpose; it won’t churn traditional ice cream bases or allow for easy addition of mix-ins like nuts or chocolate chips during processing.

Compared to the Deluxe Yonanas models (988RD/988GY), the primary difference in the Classic 902MN is the number of included recipes (36 vs. 75/72). This makes the Classic ideal for users who prefer experimentation or already have favorite recipes, rather than relying heavily on the included book. It offers the same excellent core performance as its pricier siblings but at a more accessible point, making it the perfect entry-level dedicated frozen fruit soft serve maker.

The Drinkpod Frozay stands out as a highly versatile machine in the vegan dessert space, moving beyond just frozen fruit to offer a wider array of treats. This isn’t just a ‘nice cream’ maker; it’s capable of creating sorbet, sherbet, and even handles adding small toppings during the process. This makes it a powerful tool for experimenting with different textures and flavors, addressing the user need for variety in their homemade frozen desserts.

Operating the Frozay is remarkably simple with its one-push operation, making it accessible for users of all ages. It quickly processes ingredients to produce desserts in just a few minutes, ideal for spontaneous cravings. Its compact size is a plus for kitchen storage. Unlike machines strictly limited to processing frozen fruit, the Frozay’s ability to handle different ingredients and mix-ins offers greater creative freedom, though users should follow guidelines for ingredient types and sizes.

While Yonanas models specialize in turning pure frozen fruit into soft serve, the Drinkpod Frozay offers broader dessert capabilities, allowing for more complex sorbets or incorporating additions like nuts or chocolate chips as it runs. This makes it a better fit for users who want more than just fruit-based treats. For those prioritizing versatility and the ability to customize with mix-ins over pure, single-ingredient fruit processing, the Frozay offers a compelling feature set.

The Elite Gourmet EIM520M is a classic-style ice cream maker, offering a straightforward approach to creating traditional churned frozen desserts, including vegan options from liquid bases. Unlike frozen fruit processors, this machine utilizes a pre-frozen bowl and a churning paddle to produce smooth ice cream, sorbet, gelato, or frozen yogurt. It appeals to users who appreciate the texture and process of conventional ice cream making without needing special ingredients like salt or ice.

Operation is incredibly simple: freeze the bowl overnight, add your prepared vegan base mixture, and press a button. The machine quietly churns the mixture into dessert within a relatively short time. Its 1-quart capacity is perfect for small families or individual servings, making it convenient for regular use. The simplicity is its strength, though it requires planning ahead to freeze the bowl, and it cannot instantly process frozen fruit like a Yonanas machine.

Fundamentally different from the Yonanas or Drinkpod Frozay, the Elite Gourmet EIM520M is a traditional churner, not a frozen fruit processor. It requires liquid or soft bases and relies on freezing the bowl for its chilling power, whereas the others use the frozen ingredients themselves. This makes it ideal for users wanting true churned textures and willing to plan ahead, offering a different kind of simplicity compared to the instant nature of frozen fruit machines.