Jump to:

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: which electric pizza oven should you buy?

Face Off
By published

I pitted these two electric pizza ovens head-to-head

Jump to:

So what's better, the Ooni Volt or the Ninja Artisan? Keep reading for my full verdict.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: What's the difference?

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan pizza oven

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0

Ooni Volt 2

Ninja Artisan

Dimensions

21.5"D x 10.4"W x 17.4"H

20.78"D x 16.22"W x 12.4"H

Weight

38.8 pounds

25 Pounds

Settings

Neapolitan, Thin & Crispy, Pan Pizza

Neapolitan, Thin Crust, Pan, New York, Custom

Temperature range

68-850°F / 20-450°C

90-700°F / 30-370°C

Price

$699

$299

On the surface, the Ooni Volt and Ninja Artisan look like very similar pizza ovens, but there's one very major difference which could help you decide on a winner. The Volt is designed to be an indoor-only oven. Its predecessor (now discontinued) was engineered to work both indoors and outdoors, but the latest iteration (the Volt 2) can't technically be used outdoors.

Now, my outdoor space sits below a balcony and therefore isn't at risk of getting wet, so would I break the rules a little and put it on my patio table for some al fresco cooking? Absolutely, and I have. But technically, you're not meant to.

The inverse is true for the Ninja Artisan. Despite its safety legs which elevate the base of the oven, and its electric design, it's actually engineered to be an outdoor-only pizza oven. Again, I can't recommend you use it indoors because Ninja doesn't, but I personally tested mine indoors during a rainy week in the fall, and it didn't cause any issues for my kitchen countertop, or kick up too much spoke.

If you've got a specific space in mind for your oven and you're less rebellious than me, that could be your decision made.

If you want to use your oven indoors, opt for the Ooni Volt. If you'd prefer to use it in the garden, the Ninja Artisan is going to be your best bet.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: Price

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan pizza oven

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Ooni's Volt 2 pizza oven retails for $699 / £499, whereas the Ninja Artisan costs $299 / £299. In the U.S., the Volt 2 will cost you twice as much as the Ninja oven, whereas in the U.K., where I (and Ooni) come from, the price is a little closer, but still significant.

With that price difference, you get Ooni's pizza pedigree and a machine that feels more slick and premium. We gave the Volt 2 a 4.5-star rating in our review, whereas the Ninja Artisan got 3.5 stars when we tested it last year. So on paper, while the Volt costs more, it's the better oven.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: Features

Ninja Pizza oven

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

With five settings (Neapolitan, Thin Crust, Pan, New York, and Custom) to the Ooni's three, you might think that the Ninja Artisan is the more versatile choice. However, these five settings are really just different pre-determined temperature settings within the oven, as opposed to the Ooni's 'Pizza Intelligence' system, which adjusts the heat input from both the top and bottom of the oven to cook different types of pizza in different ways.

The Artisan's temperature range is also smaller: 90-700°F compared to the Ooni's 68-850°F. This means you can cook your pizza in record times using the Ooni, and its top temperature is more than capable of giving your Neapolitan pie that iconic leopard-spotted look.

Included with the Ninja is an air fry basket and a roasting tin which allow you to use it as an outdoor oven, as well as for pizzas. The Volt 2 comes with a shelf, but you can also buy a pan for Detroit-style pizzas, as well as a sheet pan and rack. For the price, it would've been nice if these came included.

While you pay for it, the Ooni is the more versatile choice. However, due to its pre-sets, the Ninja is incredibly easy to use.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: Performance

Ooni Volt

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

While the Volt hits the higher temperatures, that's not to say you can't get an authentic pizza from the Ninja Artisan. Below is a photo of a pizza I made at its hottest setting, the Neapolitan setting, and it did manage to brown and crisp around the edges before my toppings became too scorched.

When setting both ovens up, I noticed that each of them took around 15 minutes to hit their top temperatures. However, I found that the Ninja took much more time to re-acclimatize between pies, meaning I wasn't able to batch-cook as effectively. If you want to host pizza parties or have family pizza nights, the Ooni will definitely cook your pizza faster and hit those target temperatures at a greater speed.

Ninja Pizza oven

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

While both my neopolitan pizzas came out with a great rise on the crust and a crisp base, I found that the Ooni had far more of the signature leopard-spotting. If, like me, you can be a bit over-zealous with your toppings, you can also switch on a 'Boost' function to kick the top heating element into high gear, which is a setting you won't find with the Ninja.

When it comes to user experience, I appreciated that both ovens offer a viewing window to allow you to watch your pizza as it cooks. The Ooni's is larger and more brightly illuminated, but for the price, I think it's pretty good that Ninja included one at all. Its Woodfire series doesn't feature a viewing window, making this a much smarter option for budding pizzaiolos.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: which pizza oven should you buy?

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan pizza oven

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Buy the Ooni Volt 2 if:

You're passionate about pizza: Simply put, it's the better pizza oven. Its Pizza Intelligence feature gives it a lot more versatility than its three pre-sets suggest

You want to cook indoors: The ability to make perfect pies while sheltered from the element is pretty awesome, and it's ideal for those without the ideal outdoor space

You love an authentic neapolitan slice: With its higher top temperature, it'll churn out piping-hot thin-crust pizzas in minutes

Buy the Ninja Artisan if:

You're conscious of costs: For significantly less money, this is a pretty good alternative to the Ooni Volt 2

You'd prefer to cook outdoors: Ninja designed the Artisan to be an outdoor oven, meaning it's best suited to those with space to store and use it in the yard

You want to cook more than pizza: With an air fry basket included, there's no reason to stop at pizza with this oven

Google News

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

TOPICS
Millie Fender
Millie Fender
Managing Editor, Homes

Millie is the Managing Editor of Homes at Tom's Guide. She's been reviewing home tech for over five years, testing everything from coffee makers to the latest vacuum cleaners.

With particular expertise in cookware and kitchen appliances, you'll struggle to find an air fryer Millie hasn't tested. She's traveled the world reporting on the latest home innovations and product launches, learning how to use pizza ovens from Pizzaiolos in Naples, and touring the De'Longhi factory in Venice. Millie is also an SCA-Certified barista.

When she's not reporting on home and appliance trends, Millie loves watching live music. She's currently learning the guitar - naturally, she plays a Fender.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Back To Top