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Best Instant Pots of 2026: 10 Compared

A multicooker earns its counter space by how many single-purpose gadgets it can retire, not by how many buttons crowd its lid. We lined up ten contenders and weighed cooking modes, capacity, and inner-pot material against what each one actually asks you to pay. The spread is wide, from a pocket-money kitchen accessory to a touchscreen flagship, so the smart move is matching the machine to the meals you cook most.

Instant pots blur the line between pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, and yogurt machine, which is exactly why picking one feels harder than it should. The deciding factors here are concrete: how many cooking functions a unit offers, whether it holds 3, 6, or 8 quarts, how steam release is handled, and what the inner pot is made of. A 28-program flagship is wasted on someone who only wants weeknight rice and the occasional stew, while a three-quart mini frustrates anyone batch-cooking for a household of six. To build this guide we gathered current Amazon specifications, feature lists, and pricing for the ten most relevant instant pots, then scored each on capability, value, and how cleanly it fits a real kitchen routine. We leaned on the specs buyers raise most often for this category, cooking modes, steam handling, capacity, and inner-pot construction, and let those trade-offs decide the order. The quick verdict is below if you are in a hurry; the full breakdown follows for anyone who wants the reasoning behind every rank.

The short version: The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker is our top pick of the ten instant pots we compared, thanks to its nine cooking functions, 15 one-touch programs, and tri-ply stainless inner pot. For shoppers who just want to get more out of a cooker they already own, the Momo & Nashi Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet is the best value.

How to use this guide: In a hurry? The Quick Verdict below names the top pick in seconds. Want to compare? The full comparison table and charts line up all 10 instant pots side by side. For the details, every model has a full review with key features, honest pros and cons, and who it is best for.
  • The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker leads with nine cooking functions and 15 one-touch programs in a six-quart stainless build.
  • For the most modes, the Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 packs 28 one-touch options including sous vide and sterilize.
  • The Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker is the connected pick, adding WiFi, a built-in scale, and video-guided recipes.
  • The Our Place Dream Cooker is the premium choice, with a PFAS-free ceramic nonstick interior and touchscreen controls.
  • Sizes range from the three-quart Duo Mini for small households to eight-quart models for batch cooking; we compared ten in all.

Our Top 3 Picks

Editor's Choice
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker
1Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker
  • Nine cooking functions in one appliance
  • 15 one-touch smart programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
  • 18/8 stainless tri-ply, anti-spin bottom
  • Display shows time, temp, and pressure
Best Value
Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker
2Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker
  • WiFi and Bluetooth app connectivity
  • Built-in ingredient scale
  • Automatic steam release
  • Hundreds of video-guided recipes
  • Presets accessible on cooker or app
Premium Pick
Our Place Dream Cooker
3Our Place Dream Cooker
  • PFAS-free ceramic nonstick interior
  • Touchscreen time/temp/mode control
  • Hands-free automatic steam release
  • Nine built-in safety features
  • Compact footprint with stay-cool surfaces
Buyer Reports is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our rankings.

Full Comparison — All 10 Instant Pots

Our RankingPrice: Low to HighPrice: High to Low
ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Editor's Choice
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker

1Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker

  • Nine cooking functions in one appliance
  • 15 one-touch smart programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
  • 18/8 stainless tri-ply, anti-spin bottom
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Best Value
Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker

2Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker

  • WiFi and Bluetooth app connectivity
  • Built-in ingredient scale
  • Automatic steam release
  • Hundreds of video-guided recipes
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Premium Pick
Our Place Dream Cooker

3Our Place Dream Cooker

  • PFAS-free ceramic nonstick interior
  • Touchscreen time/temp/mode control
  • Hands-free automatic steam release
  • Nine built-in safety features
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

4Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

  • Seven cooking functions
  • 13 one-touch programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
  • Up to 70% faster than slow cooking
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Instant Pot 6QT RIO 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker

5Instant Pot 6QT RIO 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker

  • Seven cooking functions
  • 13 one-touch smart programs
  • Easy-Release steam release
  • Tri-ply stainless pot stays in place
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

6Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

  • 10 cooking functions, 28 one-touch options
  • Includes sous vide and bake modes
  • Preheats 20% faster, cooks up to 70% faster
  • Gentle, quiet diffusing steam release
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Momo & Nashi Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet

7Momo & Nashi Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet

  • Large-font cooking reference
  • Built to withstand spills and splatters
  • Dual display options
  • Compact 7" x 6" magnetic format
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

8Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

  • Seven cooking functions
  • Roomy eight-quart capacity
  • 13 one-touch programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker

9Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker

  • Compact three-quart size
  • Seven cooking functions
  • 11 one-touch smart programs
  • App access to over 1,900 recipes
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review
Instant Pot Pro

10Instant Pot Pro

  • 10 functions with 28 one-touch options
  • Eight-quart capacity for up to eight servings
  • Includes sous vide and bake modes
  • Preheats 20% faster, cooks up to 70% faster
Check Price on Amazon
Read Full Review

How They Compare

Top picks — strengths at a glance

Brands compared

All 10, Reviewed

1 Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker

This is the multicooker we'd hand most people first. The Duo Plus 9-in-1 covers pressure cooking, slow cooking, sauté, sous vide, steaming, sterilizing, warming, plus rice and yogurt, with 15 one-touch programs and a clear display showing time, temperature, and pressure. Its six-quart 18/8 stainless tri-ply pot sears well and lands it at #1 for blending capability with everyday usability.

Strength
  • Nine cooking functions in one appliance
  • 15 one-touch smart programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
  • 18/8 stainless tri-ply, anti-spin bottom
Weakness
  • Offers fewer one-touch programs than the 28 on the Instant Pot Pro
  • Heavier than the three-quart Duo Mini at 12.35 lb

2 Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker

Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker

Built for cooks who lean on recipes, the Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker pairs over WiFi and Bluetooth to an app stocked with guided recipes and how-to videos. A built-in scale lets you measure as you cook, and steam releases automatically when pressure cooking finishes. That connected, measure-and-follow workflow places it second among the ten.

Strength
  • WiFi and Bluetooth app connectivity
  • Built-in ingredient scale
  • Automatic steam release
  • Hundreds of video-guided recipes
Weakness
  • Sits in the upper price tier here
  • Lacks the yogurt and sterilize modes the Duo Plus lists

3 Our Place Dream Cooker

Our Place Dream Cooker

The Our Place Dream Cooker is our premium pick, and it gets there by simplifying rather than piling on. Four modes, pressure cook, sauté/sear, slow cook, and warm, are run from a touchscreen using time, temperature, and mode instead of a wall of presets. Its six-quart ceramic nonstick interior is made without Pfas, and hands-free steam release pairs with nine built-in safety features.

Strength
  • PFAS-free ceramic nonstick interior
  • Touchscreen time/temp/mode control
  • Hands-free automatic steam release
  • Nine built-in safety features
Weakness
  • Four modes versus seven or more on most Instant Pot models
  • No yogurt or sous vide mode unlike several rivals here

4 Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

For shoppers who want core multicooker duty without paying for extras, the Duo 7-in-1 hits the mark. It pressure cooks, slow cooks, sautés, steams, and makes rice and yogurt across 13 one-touch options, cooking up to 70% faster than slow-cooking methods. Its six-quart 18/8 stainless tri-ply pot handles searing, which keeps it competitive at #4.

Strength
  • Seven cooking functions
  • 13 one-touch programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
  • Up to 70% faster than slow cooking
Weakness
  • Heavier than most at about 14.6 lb
  • Two fewer functions than the Duo Plus 9-in-1

5 Instant Pot 6QT RIO 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker

Instant Pot 6QT RIO 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker

The 6QT RIO 7-in-1 keeps things straightforward: pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, rice, yogurt, and warm, with 13 one-touch options. Easy-Release handles venting, and the stainless tri-ply pot stays put for clean sautéing. It cooks up to 70% faster than slow methods, landing it solidly at #5 for no-fuss everyday use.

Strength
  • Seven cooking functions
  • 13 one-touch smart programs
  • Easy-Release steam release
  • Tri-ply stainless pot stays in place
Weakness
  • Lacks the sous vide mode the Instant Pot Pro offers
  • Six-quart only, no eight-quart option in this listing

6 Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

When you want the deepest feature set in a six-quart body, the Pro 10-in-1 delivers. It pressure cooks, slow cooks, does sous vide, sautés, sterilizes, bakes, steams, and makes rice and yogurt across 28 one-touch options. It preheats 20% faster and cooks up to 70% faster than slow methods, with a quiet diffusing steam release. Its six-quart pot suits up to six servings.

Strength
  • 10 cooking functions, 28 one-touch options
  • Includes sous vide and bake modes
  • Preheats 20% faster, cooks up to 70% faster
  • Gentle, quiet diffusing steam release
Weakness
  • No notable drawbacks in the listed feature data
  • Heavier than the Duo Plus at about 13.23 lb

7 Momo & Nashi Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet

Momo & Nashi Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet

Not a cooker but a companion, this Momo & Nashi magnetic guide is our value pick for a reason: it puts cook times and tips at eye level so you actually use your machine's range. Printed in a large font on a wipe-clean 7" x 6" magnet with dual display options, it's built to survive everyday spills and doubles as a kitchen gift.

Strength
  • Large-font cooking reference
  • Built to withstand spills and splatters
  • Dual display options
  • Compact 7" x 6" magnetic format
Weakness
  • An accessory, not a cooker itself
  • Adds no cooking functions of its own

8 Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Same trusted Duo recipe, scaled up. This 7-in-1 brings pressure cooking, slow cooking, sauté, steam, rice, and yogurt across 13 one-touch options into an eight-quart stainless body for larger families and meal prep. Easy-Release handles venting and it cooks up to 70% faster than slow methods. The extra capacity is its calling card at #8.

Strength
  • Seven cooking functions
  • Roomy eight-quart capacity
  • 13 one-touch programs
  • Easy-Release steam switch
Weakness
  • Heaviest of the Duo line at about 15.79 lb
  • Fewer functions than the Pro's 10-in-1 set

9 Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker

Tight on space or cooking for one or two? The Duo Mini packs seven functions into a three-quart footprint, with 11 one-touch smart programs and access to an app loaded with over 1,900 recipes. It cooks up to 70% faster than slow methods and keeps the 18/8 stainless tri-ply pot of its larger siblings. Compact capability earns it #9.

Strength
  • Compact three-quart size
  • Seven cooking functions
  • 11 one-touch smart programs
  • App access to over 1,900 recipes
Weakness
  • Three quarts is too small for big batches
  • Fewer programs than larger six-quart models

10 Instant Pot Pro

Instant Pot Pro

This is the Pro feature set stretched to eight quarts. It pressure cooks, slow cooks, does sous vide, sautés, sterilizes, bakes, steams, and makes rice and yogurt across 28 one-touch options, sized for up to eight servings. It preheats 20% faster and cooks up to 70% faster than slow methods, with a quiet diffusing steam release. Its scale and depth round out the ten.

Strength
  • 10 functions with 28 one-touch options
  • Eight-quart capacity for up to eight servings
  • Includes sous vide and bake modes
  • Preheats 20% faster, cooks up to 70% faster
Weakness
  • Heaviest pick here at about 15.83 lb
  • Large footprint demands counter or storage space

8 Things to Consider Before Buying Instant Pots

Before you compare badges and program counts, get honest about portion sizes and the gadgets you hope to replace. The features that move the needle for instant pots cluster around four things: cooking functions, capacity, steam release, and inner-pot material. Weigh each against the price tier you are comfortable with, and let the higher-ranked picks settle the close calls.

Cooking functions and program count
Function count separates a basic cooker from a do-everything one. The Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 carries 28 one-touch options spanning sous vide, sterilize, bake, and yogurt, while the Our Place Dream Cooker keeps it deliberately simple with four modes. Decide whether you want presets for everything or prefer dialing in time and temperature yourself.
Capacity for your household
Size dictates who this cooker actually feeds. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini holds three quarts for small households and side dishes, the bulk of our picks sit at a six-quart family size, and the eight-quart Instant Pot Pro suits batch cooking and meal prep for larger groups. Match quarts to your typical serving count, not your biggest holiday.
Steam release mechanism
How a cooker vents pressure shapes how safe and stress-free it feels. Several Instant Pot models use an Easy-Release switch for fast, simple venting, while the Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker and Our Place Dream Cooker release steam automatically at the end of the cook. The Dream Cooker pairs hands-free release with nine built-in safety features.
Inner-pot material and coating
The pot you cook in affects searing, cleanup, and what touches your food. Most Instant Pot units use durable 18/8 stainless steel with an anti-spin, tri-ply bottom built for sautéing. The Our Place Dream Cooker instead lines its interior with a ceramic nonstick coating made without Pfas, which releases food easily and wipes clean.
Smart and app-connected features
Connectivity is the divide between a manual cooker and a guided one. The Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker pairs over WiFi and Bluetooth to a free app with step-by-step video recipes and a built-in scale for measuring as you go. Several Instant Pot models include an app with over 800 recipes, while the mini ships with access to over 1,900.
Cooking speed
Speed is a core reason people reach for a pressure cooker over a slow cooker. Multiple Instant Pot models cook up to 70% faster than slow-cooking methods, and the Pro line preheats 20% faster on top of that. If weeknight turnaround matters, lean toward the units that publish those time savings.
Weight and counter footprint
These appliances live on a counter or get hauled out of a cabinet, so heft counts. The eight-quart Instant Pot Pro lands near 15.83 lb and the eight-quart Duo around 15.79 lb, while the three-quart Duo Mini comes in close to 8.22 lb. The Our Place Dream Cooker leans on a compact footprint and stay-cool surfaces to ease the squeeze.
Price tier versus features you'll use
Paying up only makes sense when the extra capability earns its keep. The Instant Pot Duo Plus took our top spot over pricier flagships, which tells you a mid-tier pick can out-deliver a premium one for everyday cooks. Reserve the higher tiers for genuine wants like sous vide, app guidance, or a ceramic interior.

Our Final Verdict

The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker is our overall winner, balancing nine cooking functions, 15 one-touch programs, and a tri-ply stainless pot in a six-quart size that fits most kitchens. If you already own a cooker and just want to use it better, the Momo & Nashi Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet is the value play, an inexpensive reference that helps you cook with more confidence. Shoppers chasing the high end should look at the Our Place Dream Cooker, whose ceramic nonstick interior, touchscreen controls, and automatic steam release with nine safety features justify its premium position. Each fills a clearly different niche, so the right answer comes down to how much cooking you actually do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which instant pot is the best overall?

The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker tops our ranking of ten models. It combines nine cooking functions, 15 one-touch programs, an easy-to-read display, and an 18/8 stainless tri-ply inner pot, which made it the strongest all-rounder for the money among everything we compared.

What size instant pot should I buy?

Match quarts to your household. The three-quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini suits small households or side dishes, six-quart models like the Duo Plus and Chef iQ handle most families, and eight-quart options such as the Instant Pot Pro are built for batch cooking and meal prep.

What's the difference between the cheaper and pricier instant pots?

It mostly comes down to functions, smart features, and inner-pot material. Lower-tier picks like the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 cover the essentials with seven functions, while higher tiers add things like the Chef iQ's app and built-in scale, the Pro's 28 programs and sous vide, or the Dream Cooker's ceramic nonstick interior.

Are smart, app-connected instant pots worth it?

They help if you cook from recipes a lot. The Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker connects over WiFi and Bluetooth to an app with step-by-step video recipes and includes a built-in scale, so you can measure and follow guided steps. If you prefer cooking by feel, a standard model will serve you fine.

How does steam release work on these cookers?

It varies by model. Many Instant Pot units use an Easy-Release switch for fast, simple manual venting, while the Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker and the Our Place Dream Cooker release steam automatically at the end of cooking. The Dream Cooker backs its hands-free release with nine built-in safety features.

Can one instant pot really replace several appliances?

Yes, that's the core appeal. The Instant Pot Duo Plus alone pressure cooks, slow cooks, sautés, steams, sterilizes, keeps warm, and makes rice and yogurt. The Instant Pot Pro adds sous vide and baking across its 28 programs, letting a single unit stand in for a rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and more.

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