In the homemade frozen dessert scene, the Ninja Creami 5 and Ninja Creami 7 have been making a splash and making waves for their simplicity and functionality. All in all, they’re a step above their direct competitors in those regards, but the question is, what’s the difference between the two?
On one hand, the Creami 5 is cheaper, and it’s similar in a lot of ways, including form factor, design and performance. On the other hand, the Creami 7 has more presets, giving you more options to work with. That’s pretty much the gist of it, but we’ll be taking a closer look at the two to hopefully help you figure out which one deserves a spot in your kitchen.
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Ninja Creami 5 vs 7 Comparison Chart
| Model | Ninja Creami 5 | Ninja Creami 7 |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price at Walmart.com | Check Price at NinjaKitchen.com |
| Presets | Ice Cream, Sorbet, Milkshake, Lite Ice Cream, Mix-in | Ice Cream, Sorbet, Milkshake, Lite Ice Cream, Mix-in, Gelato, Smoothie Bowl |
| Tubs | 2 x 1-pint tubs | 3 x 1-pint tubs |
| BPA-Free Plastic | Yes | Yes |
| Dishwasher-Safe Parts | Yes (tubs, lids, paddle, outer bowl) | Yes (tubs, lids, paddle, outer bowl) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 12.07” x 15.95” x 6.52” | 12.07” x 15.95” x 6.52” |
Design and Build
The Ninja Creami 5 and Ninja Creami 7 share the same appearance and even dimensions.
At first glance, you’d likely be hard-pressed to tell the Ninja Creami 5 and Ninja Creami 7 apart from each other. After all, they look the same, and they’re more or less made out of the same materials with their sleek metallic finish and black, glossy interface. Speaking of, the only noticeable difference is the number of buttons they have on the front, which we’ll get into in a bit. Other than that, they’re virtually the same machine from an aesthetic standpoint.
Additionally, they even measure the same, coming in at 12.07” x 15.95” x 6.52” in width, height and depth, respectively. In other words, both are compact ice cream makers, and finding a spot for one in your kitchen is equally as easy as doing so for the other.
Moreover, their included tubs, lids, paddle and outer bowl are dishwasher-safe, and their plastic materials are BPA-free.
Performance and Functions
The Ninja Creami 7 is more capable than the Ninja Creami 5.
Besides saving some cash from buying one pint after another from the supermarket, ice cream makers give you more control over what goes into your frozen treat, be it for dietary or health purposes (e.g., vegan, keto, low sugar, lactose intolerance, etc.). Not to mention that they provide plenty of room to get creative with flavors, meaning you can make one that isn’t available in stores.
Now this is where the Ninja Creami 7 has the upper hand, as it offers seven presets in total: Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Lite Ice Cream and Mix-in. In contrast, the Ninja Creami 5 leaves out Gelato and Smoothie Bowl, and just to be clear, it has the rest.
Performance-wise, neither one stands out from the other. Both can prepare a frozen dessert in about one minute and 30 seconds or three minutes, but keep in mind that the mixture you’re using has to be frozen prior to being spun. For the record, Ninja recommends freezing any of your concoctions for at least 24 hours.
It should also be noted that these machines come with one-pint tubs, so you should adjust your measurements accordingly. They do come with a guide that has dozens of recipes to try out, so not only will you have no problem at all in getting started, but you can get a clear idea of how much ingredients will fit in the containers too. Also, if you want more recipes, there are a ton available online, some of which are from Ninja itself.
Price and Value
The Ninja Creami 5 and Ninja Creami 7 may be more expensive than the usual ice cream maker, but their ease of use and versatility are hard to beat.
As mentioned, an ice cream maker can help you save a lot of money in the long run because getting ingredients like milk, sugar, cream and maybe a mix-in or two such as chocolate chips or granola is more budget-friendly than regularly buying a tub from the store. For that reason, machines such as the Ninja Creami 5 and Ninja Creami 7 practically pay for themselves.
That said, the Creami range isn’t exactly the cheapest around. Sure, it’s arguably a worthwhile investment considering the potential savings, especially if you just can’t get enough of frozen treats. However, there are cheaper alternatives that can get the job done, such as the Cuisinart ICE-30.
But it’s worth mentioning that, unlike most counterparts, the Creami 5 and the Creami 7 don’t need any of its components to be frozen before it can make ice cream or sorbet, only the blend you’re going to use. Needless to say, that’s a huge plus since you can whip up several batches at a time.
Click here for our Cuisinart Ice-30 vs Ice-70 comparison.
Verdict
You can’t go wrong with either one, and choosing really boils down to whether you need the two extra functions the Ninja Creami 7 has over the Ninja Creami 5 or not.
In terms of performance and design, the two are the same, and the main difference is the Ninja Creami 7 has seven presets and the Ninja Creami 5 only has five.
To sum things up, the Creami 5 is a more affordable pick and likely your better bet if you don’t care for gelato or smoothie bowls. In short, it can still make ice cream, lite ice cream, milkshake and sorbet, and you’ll be saving a bit more cash with it. But if the additional functions are important to you—or if money’s no object—then the Creami 7 can go a longer way.
FAQs
The Ninja Creami 5 has five functions: Ice Cream, Sorbet, Milkshake, Lite Ice Cream and Mix-in. In comparison, the Ninja Creami 7 has all those, as well as Gelato and Smoothie Bowl.
Technically, the Ninja Creami 7 is more capable because it has more presets, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the better pick for everyone. After all, the Ninja Creami 5 is easier on the budget, and it has pretty much the same functionality.
The Ninja Creami 5 or Creami 7 only needs about a minute and a half or three minutes to make ice cream. However, you have to freeze the mixture for at least 24 hours beforehand.
Yes, the Ninja Creami ice cream maker sets itself apart by not requiring any component of the machine to be frozen in advance, which is usually the case with other brands. This allows you to make several batches in a day if you have plenty of frozen mixtures on hand.