A countertop ice maker makes ice fast - often 9 cubes in about 6 minutes - with no plumbed water line, so you just pour water in and go. The right one depends on how much ice you need and what kind: hard bullet cubes for everyday drinks, or soft chewable nugget ice for cafes-at-home. We weighed ice output and speed, ice type, water tank size, self-cleaning and the form factor - compact top-load versus a tidy front-load that fits under cabinets. These six run from a 100 dollar Devanti up to the 290 dollar Maxkon nugget machine.
How to choose a countertop ice maker in Australia
The big appeal of a countertop ice maker is that it makes ice fast - often 9 cubes in about 6 minutes - without a plumbed water line, so you just pour water in and switch it on. The first thing to settle is how much ice you need and what kind, because that splits the field straight away. Most machines make hard bullet or cube ice for everyday drinks, while a nugget machine makes the soft, chewable pebble ice you get at cafes. After that it comes down to ice output and speed (kilograms per 24 hours and cubes per cycle), water tank size (a bigger tank means more back-to-back batches), whether it self-cleans, and the form factor - a compact top-load versus a tidy front-load that fits under cabinets. This guide covers six machines from around 100 to 290 dollars, each suited to a different kind of home.
The honest trade-offs of countertop ice makers
Before the picks, a couple of honest caveats. These machines make cloudy bullet ice rather than the clear, slow-frozen cubes you get from a freezer tray, and that quicker ice melts faster in a drink. They are also not freezers - if you make ice and do not use it, it slowly melts back into the water tank rather than staying frozen, though most machines recycle that meltwater into the next batch so little is wasted. None of this is a flaw so much as how the technology works: you trade the clarity and longevity of freezer ice for speed and the convenience of having ice on demand without a plumbed line. If you understand that going in, a countertop maker is a brilliant bit of kit. Our budget pick below is the cheapest way to test the waters.
Ice output and speed - how much, how fast
The headline numbers are how much ice a machine makes in 24 hours and how quickly the first batch arrives. Most of these machines hit a similar quick-batch figure - 9 cubes in about 6 minutes - so you are never waiting long for the first ice, even on the budget Devanti. Daily output is where they separate: the everyday machines like the CROWNFUL make up to 12kg a day, which comfortably covers normal household use, while the big-tank Advwin pushes up to around 20kg a day for entertaining. Think about your peak demand rather than the average - a machine that makes plenty across a day can still run short if everyone wants ice at once, which is where cubes-per-cycle and tank size come in. For most homes 12kg a day is ample, but if you host often, look higher.
Ice type - cubes versus nugget
The kind of ice a machine makes is a bigger decision than people expect. Most countertop makers, including five of our six, produce hard bullet or cube ice - the standard choice that chills drinks and is what you picture when you think of ice. Some, like the Advwin 12KG, let you choose between small and large cubes, which is handy for matching the ice to the drink. Then there is nugget ice, the soft, chewable pebble ice you get at cafes and fast-food chains - the Maxkon is the only machine here that makes it. Nugget ice is loved because it is easy to chew, absorbs the flavour of your drink and chills fast, but the machines cost more because of how they form the ice. Decide first whether you want classic cubes or that chewable cafe ice - it points you to a completely different machine.
Water tank size and back-to-back batches
The water tank is what determines how long you can make ice before stopping to refill, and it matters more than the spec sheet suggests. A compact machine like the Devanti has a 1.3L tank, which keeps the footprint small and is fine for everyday drinks but means more frequent top-ups if you are making ice all afternoon. The big-tank Advwin steps right up to 3.2L, more than double, so you can run back-to-back batches for a party without hovering over it. There is a trade-off either way: a bigger tank means a bigger machine on your bench, while a smaller one is tidier but needs refilling sooner. Match the tank to how you will use it - a small tank for occasional drinks, a large one for entertaining where running dry mid-event is the thing you most want to avoid.
Two practical features round out the decision. The first is self-cleaning - because these machines hold standing water, they need regular cleaning to stay fresh, and a self-clean function turns that into a single button rather than a fiddly manual job. Every machine in this guide self-cleans, which is the standard you should hold out for. The second is form factor. Most countertop makers load from the top, which means you cannot slide them under an overhead cabinet. The Kenmore is the exception - a front-loading design you fill and empty from the front, so it tucks neatly under cabinetry for a more built-in look. If your benchtop sits beneath cabinets and you care about a clean fit, that front-load design is worth seeking out; if you have open space, a top-loader is simpler and usually cheaper.
How much should you spend
You can make ice perfectly well at any price in this guide. The Devanti at around 100 dollars proves you do not need to spend much for a capable everyday machine with quick-cube output and self-cleaning. The CROWNFUL at 106 dollars is where most people should land - it is the most-reviewed, most-proven machine here for barely more than the cheapest. The Advwin 12KG at 121 dollars buys selectable cube sizes, and the big-tank Advwin and the front-load Kenmore at 180 dollars buy entertaining-scale output and a tidy built-in look respectively. The Maxkon at 290 dollars is the most expensive because nugget machines cost more to build - it is a buy for people who specifically want that chewable cafe ice. Decide what kind of ice and how much you need first, then pick the cheapest model that nails it - for most households that is the CROWNFUL.
Our verdict
For most homes the CROWNFUL Ice Maker Countertop at around 106 dollars is the smart buy - it is by far the most-reviewed machine here with 13,100-plus ratings, makes 9 cubes in about 6 minutes and up to 12kg a day, self-cleans, and has a handy carry handle, which is why it is our pick. If you only want to spend a little, the Devanti 1.3L at 100 dollars is a compact stainless machine from a well-known Australian brand with the same quick-cube output. Want to pick your cube size? The Advwin 12KG at 121 dollars makes small or large cubes. For entertaining, the Advwin 3.2L at 180 dollars has a big tank and up to around 20kg a day, while the Kenmore Front-Load at 180 dollars tucks under cabinets for a built-in look. And if you love the soft, chewable pebble ice cafes make, the Maxkon Nugget Ice Maker at 290 dollars is the premium pick.
Frequently asked questions
How does a countertop ice maker work without plumbing?
You simply pour water into the machine's tank and switch it on - there is no plumbed water line to connect, which is the whole appeal of a countertop maker. Most models, like the CROWNFUL (around 106 dollars), make 9 cubes in about 6 minutes by freezing water around chilled metal prongs, then dropping the finished ice into a basket. When the water runs low you top it up, and many machines recycle the meltwater from unused ice back into the next batch. That makes them ideal for renters, caravans, offices and kitchens without a fridge water line.
What is the difference between cube ice and nugget ice?
Cube or bullet ice is the hard, standard ice that most countertop makers produce - five of our six, including the Devanti (around 100 dollars), make it. Nugget ice is the soft, chewable pebble or pellet ice you get at cafes and fast-food chains, and the Maxkon (around 290 dollars) is the only machine here that makes it. Nugget ice is loved because it is easy to chew, absorbs the flavour of your drink and chills fast, but nugget machines cost more because of how they form the ice. Choose cube ice for everyday drinks or nugget if you specifically want that chewable cafe texture.
How much ice can a countertop ice maker make in a day?
It varies by machine. The everyday models like the CROWNFUL (around 106 dollars) make up to 12kg of ice in 24 hours, which comfortably covers normal household use. The large-tank Advwin 3.2L (around 180 dollars) steps up to around 20kg a day for entertaining, and the Maxkon nugget machine (around 290 dollars) makes up to 15kg. Think about your peak demand rather than the daily total - a machine can make plenty across a day but still run short if everyone wants ice at once, which is where a bigger water tank and more cubes per cycle help.
Does the ice melt if I do not use it?
Yes - a countertop ice maker is not a freezer, so any ice you make slowly melts back into the water tank if you leave it sitting in the basket. The good news is that most machines, including the ones in this guide, recycle that meltwater into the next batch, so very little water is actually wasted. For a party, make the ice as you need it or transfer batches to your freezer to store. For everyday use, just run the machine when you want ice rather than expecting it to keep a full basket frozen like a freezer would.
Do countertop ice makers need cleaning?
Yes, regular cleaning matters because these machines hold standing water, which needs to stay fresh. Every machine in this guide has a self-cleaning function that turns the job into a single button rather than a fiddly manual scrub - the Devanti (around 100 dollars), CROWNFUL (around 106 dollars) and Kenmore (around 180 dollars) all self-clean. You should still empty and wipe the tank periodically and run the self-clean cycle with a little vinegar or cleaning solution every few weeks to prevent scale and keep the ice tasting clean. Self-cleaning is a feature worth holding out for.
Can a countertop ice maker fit under kitchen cabinets?
It depends on how it loads. Most countertop ice makers fill from the top, which means you cannot slide them under an overhead cabinet without leaving room to lift the lid. The Kenmore Front-Load (around 180 dollars) is the exception in this guide - it is a front-loading stainless design you fill and empty from the front, so it tucks neatly under cabinetry for a more built-in look. If your benchtop sits beneath cabinets and a clean fit matters, look for that front-load design; if you have open bench space, a simpler top-loader like the CROWNFUL (around 106 dollars) is usually cheaper.
Why is the ice from these machines cloudy and does it melt faster?
Countertop ice makers freeze water quickly around chilled metal prongs, which traps tiny air bubbles and makes the ice cloudy rather than clear like the slow-frozen cubes from a freezer tray. That quicker-formed ice also tends to melt a little faster in a drink. It is a normal trade-off of the technology - you get ice on demand in minutes with no plumbing, in exchange for the clarity and longevity of freezer ice. For everyday drinks it makes no real difference, and machines like the CROWNFUL (around 106 dollars) make it so fast and conveniently that most owners happily accept the cloudier cubes.
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