Quick Answer: For most kitchens, GE Profile (Opal line) is the best overall ice maker brand — it invented the home nugget-ice category and backs it with the deepest service network of any manufacturer here. Euhomy and Silonn are the best budget brands, matching roughly 90% of Opal’s ice quality at a third of the price. For undercounter and built-in installs, Whynter and EdgeStar have the longest reliability track records, while Frigidaire-branded countertop units are licensed products, not built by the same factories as Frigidaire’s full-size kitchen appliances.
Picking an ice maker by brand name is trickier than it looks, because several of the labels on Amazon’s bestseller list aren’t run by who you’d assume. Some are century-old appliance divisions; others are five-year-old, Amazon-native companies that source hardware from contract factories and compete purely on price and shipping speed. Here’s who actually stands behind the ice maker you’re about to buy.
Ice maker brands at a glance
| Brand | Best for | Founded | Flagship model | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE Profile | Best overall / nugget ice | 1907 (GE Appliances) | Opal 2.0 | $299-$449 |
| Euhomy | Best budget nugget ice | ~2019 | Nugget Ice Maker | $160-$190 |
| Whynter | Best drainless undercounter | 1998 | UIM-155 | ~$450 |
| EdgeStar | Best built-in reliability | ~2000s (EdgeStar Appliances) | IB250SS | ~$1,049-$1,139 |
| NewAir | Best clear cube ice | 2003 | ClearIce40 | ~$300-$400 |
| Frigidaire (licensed) | Best cheap square ice | 1918 (name licensed on this category) | EFIC452-SS | ~$110-$130 |
| Gevi | Best premium build, mid-price | ~2016 | Household V2.0 | ~$300 street |
| Silonn | Best compact countertop | ~2020 | SLIM21 / Nugget | $68-$200 |
| Insignia | Best Buy exclusive nugget value | House brand | NS-IMN44BS4 | ~$249.99-299.99 |
| Costway | Widest price-tiered nugget lineup | General home-goods brand | 10286US-SL-CYSE | ~$164-999.99 |
| Antarctic Star | Newest budget nugget value | Amazon-native brand | 34 lbs/24H Countertop | $170-$220 |
| hOmeLabs | Two-machine lineup (nugget + bullet) | Amazon-native brand | 44 lbs/24H Nugget | Budget-to-mid |
| Avalon Bay | Budget bullet ice, no plumbing | Amazon-native brand | AB-ICE26S | ~$129 |
| Igloo | Trusted cube-ice name, unproven on nugget | Established cooler/appliance brand | INICE30BK Nugget | ~$199.99 |
| Danby | Bullet-ice only, watch the 1-year mark | Established compact-appliance brand | DIM2500SSDB | ~$149.99 |
1. GE Profile — Best Overall
GE Profile Opal Line
- The brand that created the home nugget-ice category — GE Appliances launched the original Opal in 2015 and it's still the reference point every competitor is measured against.
- GE Appliances has operated continuously since 1907 (Haier Group has owned it since 2016), which gives Opal the largest authorized-service and parts network of any ice maker brand.
- Wi-Fi + SmartHQ app control and an optional side tank are exclusive to this line among countertop nugget makers.
- Priciest brand here for the ice output you get — you're paying for polish and longevity, not raw lbs/day.
If you want the brand with the longest track record behind it, GE Profile is the safe pick. See our full best nugget ice maker roundup and GE Opal 2.0 review for model-by-model detail. Stocking the bar cart to go with your new ice maker? Try Amazon Fresh for grocery and mixer delivery on the same account.
2. Euhomy — Best Budget Brand
Euhomy Nugget & Countertop Ice Makers
- A newer, Amazon-native brand (roughly 2019) that competes purely on price-to-ice-quality ratio rather than brand heritage.
- Over 17,000 Amazon reviews at a 4.1/5 average on its nugget ice maker — real-world proof the hardware holds up for casual daily use.
- No app, no Wi-Fi, and a build that feels a step below GE — the trade-off for a price roughly a third of the Opal's.
Full breakdown in our Euhomy ice maker review.
3. Whynter — Best Drainless Undercounter Brand
Whynter UIM-155 and Undercounter Line
- Founded in 1998, Whynter has specialized in built-in and undercounter cooling appliances (ice makers, wine coolers, beverage centers) for over 25 years — longer than most competitors in the built-in category.
- The UIM-155 is one of the only undercounter ice makers that runs fully drainless via an internal condensate evaporation system, which avoids a plumbed drain line.
- Narrower model lineup than GE or Frigidaire — Whynter focuses depth over breadth.
See our best undercounter ice maker guide for where Whynter ranks against EdgeStar and NewAir, or our Whynter ice maker review for the full lineup beyond the UIM-155 — portable bullet and nugget models included.
4. EdgeStar — Best Built-In Reliability
EdgeStar IB250SS and IB120SS
- EdgeStar Appliances focuses exclusively on compact and built-in cooling/ice hardware for kitchens and home bars — no full-size fridges or ranges to split R&D attention.
- The IB250SS has one of the longest documented reliability records of any built-in ice maker in owner-review data on major retailers.
- Highest price-per-lb-of-ice on this list — 25 lbs/day for roughly triple the cost of a comparable-output undercounter Whynter or NewAir.
See our EdgeStar ice maker review for how the IB120SS, IB250SS, IB450SS, and outdoor-rated IB250SSOD compare on price and output.
5. NewAir — Best Clear Cube Ice
NewAir ClearIce40
- Founded in 2003, NewAir has built a wine-cooler and ice-maker catalog aimed at the "looks as good as it works" buyer — brushed steel finishes, undercounter installs, glass-clear cubes.
- The ClearIce40 uses a directional-freezing process (first documented for home use by drinks writer Camper English around 2009) to produce clear, dense cubes instead of cloudy ones.
- Street price runs well under the $399.99 list — shop around before paying MSRP.
- NewAir also owns Luma Comfort, a budget clear-ice sub-brand: the IM200SS trades some daily output (28 lbs vs. the ClearIce40's 40 lbs) for a lower price around $250 — see our Luma Comfort ice maker review.
Full picks in our best clear ice maker guide.
6. Frigidaire (licensed) — Best Cheap Square Ice
Frigidaire EFIC452-SS / EFIC117-SS
- Frigidaire's full-size kitchen lineup (fridges, ranges, dishwashers) is owned by Electrolux, but small countertop appliances carrying the Frigidaire name — including its ice makers — are produced under license by other manufacturers, standard practice across the countertop appliance category.
- The EFIC452-SS still delivers real value: about 40 lbs/day of drainless clear, square ice for roughly a third of what a Silonn or Euhomy nugget unit costs. The smaller EFIC117-SS makes bullet-shaped ice instead — see our full Frigidaire ice maker review for how the two compare.
- Don't expect Electrolux's factory warranty support behind a $110-130 licensed product — treat it like any other budget countertop brand.
- Magic Chef sits in the same cheap-bullet-ice tier under its own licensed arrangement (via MC Appliance Corporation, not Whirlpool) — see our full Magic Chef ice maker review for how the two budget brands compare.
- Della is the third name in this budget bullet-ice tier, sold under dozens of near-identical SKUs with a much wider retailer-to-retailer price swing than Frigidaire or Magic Chef — see our full Della ice maker review before assuming the lowest listed price is the best deal.
7. Gevi — Best Premium Build at a Mid-Price
Gevi Household V2.0
- Gevi (roughly 2016-founded) has built a small-appliance catalog spanning coffee, ice makers, and kitchen electrics, positioning itself a notch above pure budget brands on fit and finish.
- The V2.0 has a stainless build that feels a tier above Euhomy or Silonn while still selling for about a third of GE Opal's price on Amazon.
- MSRP on Gevi.com runs nearly double the typical Amazon street price — always compare both before buying.
See how Gevi stacks up directly against the category leader in our Gevi vs Opal comparison.
8. Silonn — Best Compact Countertop
Silonn SLIM21 and Nugget Ice Maker
- One of the newest brands here (around 2020), Silonn keeps its lineup narrow — a handful of compact countertop bullet and nugget models — and its footprint smaller than most rivals.
- The SLIM21 is one of the smallest-footprint countertop ice makers on the market, aimed squarely at studio apartments and small offices, and street prices verified 2026-08-02 run about $68-90 despite an $89.99 list price.
- Thinnest brand track record on this list — fine for casual use, less proven for years of daily heavy use.
Where Silonn fits among other compact picks: best small ice maker. Full specs and a real-world output test are in our Silonn SLIM21 review. Koolatron — better known for portable 12V coolers — also sells a single bullet-ice model with nearly identical output to the SLIM21, but at more than double the price; see our Koolatron KIM26 review for the full breakdown.
9. Insignia — Best Buy Exclusive Nugget Value
Insignia NS-IMN44BS4 Nugget Icemaker
- Best Buy's exclusive house brand — no independent Insignia factory exists, so its ice makers are contract-manufactured for the retailer the same way most brands on this list source hardware.
- The NS-IMN44BS4 rates up to 44 lbs/day of chewable nugget ice, matching or beating the Euhomy and Silonn on output at a comparable price.
- Sold exclusively through Best Buy, which means in-store returns and exchanges are an option the Amazon-only brands here don't offer.
Full lineup breakdown — including the clear-ice and budget bullet-ice models — in our Insignia ice maker review.
10. Costway — Widest Price-Tiered Nugget Lineup
Costway Self-Dispensing Nugget Ice Maker (10286US-SL-CYSE)
- A general home-goods manufacturer, not a dedicated ice-maker brand — but it spans three real tiers: a $189.99 portable countertop unit, a 56-lb/24h self-dispensing model, and a $999.99 under-counter build.
- The self-dispensing model's list price swings hard on frequent flash sales, often landing well under the Euhomy and Insignia budget tiers.
- Independent testing (The Gadgeteer) rated the chewable ice quality solidly, with operating noise as the main trade-off against pricier brands.
Full lineup breakdown — portable, self-dispensing, and under-counter models — in our Costway ice maker review.
11. Antarctic Star — Best Budget Nugget Value
Antarctic Star Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
- The newest brand on this list — Amazon-native, with a lineup built entirely around undercutting the established nugget-ice names on price.
- Rated for 34 lbs of chewable nugget ice in 24 hours with a one-touch self-clean cycle, a feature pricier brands like GE Profile treat as a premium extra.
- Also sells a step-up 44 lbs/24H model (58020RIM0, $249.99 list, sub-45 dB) for buyers who need more daily output.
- Shorter track record than Euhomy or Silonn — the trade-off for the lowest price on genuinely chewable nugget ice.
Full spec breakdown and head-to-head comparisons against Euhomy and Silonn in our Antarctic Star ice maker review.
12. hOmeLabs — Two-Machine Lineup (Nugget + Bullet)
hOmeLabs Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
- Sells two distinct machines under one brand name: a 44 lbs/24H nugget model and a separate 26 lbs/24H bullet-ice model.
- The nugget model's 2.2-liter tank and 3.3 lb drawer are competitive with pricier brands, backed by digital touch-panel controls.
- Shorter track record than Euhomy, but a larger tank and drawer than most budget nugget machines at this price tier.
Full spec breakdown of both machines and head-to-head comparisons against Euhomy and Antarctic Star in our hOmeLabs ice maker review.
13. Avalon Bay — Budget Bullet Ice, No Plumbing
Avalon Bay AB-ICE26S Portable Ice Maker
- Amazon-native brand built around a single flagship model, the AB-ICE26S, rated for up to 26 lbs of bullet ice in 24 hours.
- Batch of 9 cubes every 6-13 minutes depending on cube size, reservoir-fed with no water line or drain hookup.
- Thinner track record and heavier (about 20 lbs) than compact rivals like Silonn, but a lower price point than most countertop bullet machines.
Full spec breakdown and head-to-head comparisons against Silonn and Frigidaire in our Avalon Bay ice maker review.
14. Igloo — Trusted Cube-Ice Name, Unproven on Nugget
Igloo INICE30BK Nugget Ice Maker
- Best known for its long-running $79-99 bullet/cube-ice line (200+ reviews per listing, ~4 stars) — the nugget model is a separate, much newer product.
- Rated for 30 lbs of chewable nugget ice in 24 hours with an 8-minute first batch and a 1.75-lb basket.
- Barely over a dozen reviews on major retailers and inconsistent stock — the least-proven nugget machine tracked on this site.
Full spec breakdown and head-to-head comparisons against Euhomy and Della in our Igloo ice maker review.
15. Danby — Bullet-Ice Only, Watch the 1-Year Mark
Danby DIM2500SSDB Countertop Ice Maker
- Single-product ice-maker lineup (stainless DIM2500SSDB / white DIM2500WDB) — 25 lbs/day, 3 selectable cube sizes, 2-lb basket.
- Most owner reviews are positive on day-one performance and the built-in self-clean mode.
- Recurring complaint: units failing around the 10-12 month mark, close to the 1-year parts-and-labor warranty window.
- Bullet ice only — no nugget model in the lineup.
Full spec breakdown and head-to-head comparisons against Frigidaire and Euhomy in our Danby ice maker review.
How to choose an ice maker brand
If you want the longest track record, buy GE Profile or Whynter — both have decades of appliance manufacturing behind them, not just a few product cycles. If price is the deciding factor, Euhomy and Silonn deliver comparable day-to-day ice quality for a third of the cost, backed by tens of thousands of Amazon reviews rather than decades of history — Antarctic Star undercuts even those two, at the cost of a shorter track record. If you’re installing a permanent undercounter or built-in unit, EdgeStar and NewAir have the strongest reliability data specifically in that install type — don’t extrapolate a countertop brand’s reputation to its built-in lineup, since several companies license their name across categories with very different manufacturing behind each one.
A brand that doesn’t actually make one
Not every appliance name you’ll see attached to “ice maker” searches sells a standalone unit. Hisense, for example, is a major refrigerator brand — but in the US it only sells ice makers as a built-in refrigerator feature, not as a countertop or portable machine like the 15 brands above. See our Hisense ice maker review for what Hisense actually sells (including a real CPSC recall worth knowing about) and which of the brands on this page fills that gap instead.