Compare capacity, basket layout and cleaning on the leading air fryer brands
Best overall — dual-basket models that cook two foods at once
DualZone models run two baskets on separate settingsMatch Cook and Smart Finish sync both baskets to finish togetherWide range from compact single-basket to large multi-function ovensDishwasher-safe baskets and crisper plates on most modelsMulti-function units also roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate
Best value — strong feature set at a lower price point
Square basket shape uses more of the footprint than round designsPreset cooking programmes for common foodsApp-connected models offer additional recipes and remote controlDetachable non-stick basket, dishwasher safeWide accessory range including racks and skewers
Best for multi-cookers — air frying built into a wider appliance
Air fry lids available for existing Instant Pot multi-cookersVortex range covers dedicated air fryers and countertop ovensEvenCrisp airflow design across the Vortex lineOne-touch programmes for common cooking modesEstablished accessory and replacement-part availability
Best build quality — the original Airfryer brand
Originated the consumer Airfryer categoryRapid Air and Twin TurboStar designs across the rangeFat-removal technology on higher-end modelsLonger published warranties than many competitorsPremium build with a correspondingly higher price
Best countertop oven — air frying plus full oven functions
Smart Oven Air Fryer combines air frying with convection bakingElement iQ heat distribution across multiple elementsLarge interior fits a full tray or a small roastBroad function set including toast, bake, roast, proof and dehydratePremium price bracket with stainless construction| Product | Ninja 9.6 | Cosori 9.1 | Instant 8.6 | Philips 8.1 | Breville 7.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights | DualZone models run two baskets on separate settings · Match Cook and Smart Finish sync both baskets to finish together · Wide range from compact single-basket to large multi-function ovens · Dishwasher-safe baskets and crisper plates on most models · Multi-function units also roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate | Square basket shape uses more of the footprint than round designs · Preset cooking programmes for common foods · App-connected models offer additional recipes and remote control · Detachable non-stick basket, dishwasher safe · Wide accessory range including racks and skewers | Air fry lids available for existing Instant Pot multi-cookers · Vortex range covers dedicated air fryers and countertop ovens · EvenCrisp airflow design across the Vortex line · One-touch programmes for common cooking modes · Established accessory and replacement-part availability | Originated the consumer Airfryer category · Rapid Air and Twin TurboStar designs across the range · Fat-removal technology on higher-end models · Longer published warranties than many competitors · Premium build with a correspondingly higher price | Smart Oven Air Fryer combines air frying with convection baking · Element iQ heat distribution across multiple elements · Large interior fits a full tray or a small roast · Broad function set including toast, bake, roast, proof and dehydrate · Premium price bracket with stainless construction |
Editorially scored by our research team.
Every score out of 10 is assigned by our editors from published pricing, features, fees, coverage and support terms — not from user-submitted reviews. Scores are our own opinion and change as products change. Read our full methodology.
Ninja is our top-scoring pick in Air Fryers, at 9.6/10 — it highlights “DualZone models run two baskets on separate settings”.
Cosori scores 9.1 and is the one to compare against it — it highlights “Square basket shape uses more of the footprint than round designs”.
Both scores are our editors’ assessment of published specifications, pricing and terms against the criteria in our rating methodology — they are not aggregated customer reviews.
Air fryer capacity is quoted in quarts or litres of total basket volume, which is not the same as how much food it will actually cook well. Air frying works by circulating hot air around food, so anything piled into a second layer steams rather than crisps. The usable capacity is roughly a single layer across the basket floor.
A rough guide: around 3 to 4 quarts suits one or two people, 5 to 6 quarts suits a small family, and 8 quarts and above is worth it for four or more — or for anyone who regularly cooks a whole chicken. If you find yourself cooking in two batches every time, the unit is too small, and no setting will fix that.
Square and rectangular baskets use more of their stated volume for flat food than round ones, which waste the corners. Two units quoting the same capacity can differ noticeably in how many chicken thighs or how much of a tray of chips they take in one layer.
Single-basket models are the smallest, cheapest and easiest to store. They cook one thing at a time, which is fine if the air fryer is a side dish machine.
Dual-basket models run two compartments at independent temperatures and times, and better implementations can synchronise them so both finish together. This solves the genuine weakness of air frying — that a main and a side cannot easily share one basket — and it is the single most useful feature in the category if you cook full meals. The cost is a much larger footprint.
Countertop oven styles with an air fry function have a large open cavity with racks rather than a basket. They fit a full tray or a small roast, replace a toaster oven, and are the most versatile option. They are also the least efficient at pure air frying, because a bigger cavity moves air less aggressively around the food, and they take up the most counter space.
Be honest about which problem you are solving. If you want crisp chips and reheated leftovers, a basket unit does it better and faster. If you want to replace a small oven, buy the oven style.
The most common reason an air fryer ends up in a cupboard is that cleaning it is tedious. Three things to check:
Genuinely useful: a wide temperature range, because low temperatures matter for dehydrating and reheating without drying food out. A shake reminder, which sounds gimmicky and materially improves results, since evenness depends on turning food partway through. Preheat, if you want repeatable results. And a clear window or interior light, which saves you opening the basket to check and losing heat.
Less important than the marketing suggests: long lists of preset programmes, which mostly set a temperature and time you could set yourself; app connectivity, which adds little to an appliance you stand next to; and very high maximum temperatures, since most air frying happens in a fairly narrow band.
Air fryers contain a fan running at speed, and they are louder than an oven. Most sit in a range that is noticeable but not intrusive; some larger units are genuinely loud. If your kitchen is open-plan, it is worth checking reviews that mention noise.
On power, these draw significant current — enough that running one alongside a kettle or toaster on the same circuit can trip a breaker in older wiring. Worth knowing before you site it.
And measure the space, including clearance above and behind. Air fryers exhaust hot air upward and to the rear, and manufacturers specify a gap. A unit that fits the worktop but not the gap under a wall cabinet is a returns problem.
Setting expectations honestly: they excel at anything that wants a dry, crisp exterior — frozen chips and nuggets, roast vegetables, chicken wings and thighs, bacon, halloumi, and reheating pizza or anything previously fried, where they comprehensively beat a microwave.
They are poor at anything wet or batter-coated, which drips through the basket, and at large volumes, where a conventional oven is simply bigger. They do not replicate deep frying — the texture is closer to a very good convection oven, which is what an air fryer essentially is.
On the health question: cooking with a tablespoon of oil instead of a pan of it does cut fat substantially. That is a real difference, and it does not make fried food into a health food.
Check the published warranty length, since it varies considerably across this category, and check whether replacement baskets and crisper plates are sold separately — the coating is the part that wears out, and being able to buy one part rather than a new appliance meaningfully extends its life.
Specifications, capacities, warranty terms and accessory availability vary by model and change between generations. Confirm current details with the manufacturer, and measure your clearance before ordering.