6 Air Fryer Brands To Buy And 5 To Skip In 2026

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

How did we survive so long without air fryers? These countertop appliances have changed the way we all cook, not least because they save anyone who uses them a significant amount of time — and we're still discovering features we didn't know about that make preparing food even more of a breeze. Plus, there are more air fryer options than ever, and it feels like a new brand appears every other day, promising value for money, sleeker designs, and delicious meals.

However, just because there are countless air fryer brands doesn't mean every one of them is worth your hard-earned cash. Like any appliance, there are air fryer brands you can trust, and ones you should avoid considering, no matter how affordable their machines are. Trusted names like Ninja, Instant, and Breville may cost a little more, but you get what you pay for, with longer-lasting air fryers that work consistently well, and with customer support that shows up when you need it most. By contrast, brands like Gourmia and PowerXL might be familiar to some, but customers who've purchased their air fryers have been left disappointed. In this article, we scoured both professional and customer reviews to see which air fryer brands should be top of your list, and which should be skipped.

When it comes to air fryer brands, Ninja reigns supreme. There are plenty of good reasons for that. The ever-trusty appliance maker, which makes some of the best blenders around, has an air fryer range that's consistently voted as one of the best out there by industry professionals. Unlike a lot of other air fryer brands, which might only make one or two models in a standard size, Ninja's range has everything from its smaller, simpler, 4-quart air fryer (ideal for dorm rooms or solo cooks) to its 10-quart DualZone XL for $229.95 on Amazon – a two-drawer appliance designed to handle much larger meals and portions. Ninja's Crispi Glass Air Fryer is also a particular favorite, and true to its name, it browns and crisps food with efficiency and ease.

No matter which model you choose, Ninja's air fryers are easy to operate, attractive, and reliable. Its appliances regularly receive high ratings from customers, who particularly love how consistent they are with their results and how simple they are to use. The only downside to Ninja's air fryers is they can be slightly more expensive than others, but we would argue you get what you pay for. There's a reason why one of its air fryers was the best-reviewed on Amazon: They're just great products. 

It's easy to see how Gourmia's air fryers might be an attractive choice. This air fryer brand sits on the more affordable end of the scale, and if you're looking for appliances that manage to pack a bunch of features into a slightly cheaper package, they might lull you into thinking they're a steal. However, many people have found there's potentially a reason for Gourmia's lower prices — and that reason is they may suffer from poorer build quality than other brands. Gourmia customers have repeatedly stated their air fryers have malfunctioned relatively quickly after purchasing them, rendering them either useless or faulty. "You get what you pay for," said one customer on Reddit. "I've had mine for about three months now. It's starting to make a funny noise when I use it."

Gourmia's designs are also not as user-friendly as they might initially seem. Some people have said their touchscreens don't work as well as they should, and that the air fryer basket can be stiff. Plus, when people have problems with their appliances, they've been left in the cold. Gourmia's customer service has been harshly criticized by the people who have purchased air fryers from them, and as of the time of writing this article, the company has a 1.22 out of 5 rating on the Better Business Bureau's website.

If you've ever glanced at a list of air fryers, you've probably seen the Cosori brand name in there somewhere. The kitchen appliance maker is incredibly well-respected in the air fryer world for its ability to produce machines that balance function and budget, and some of its models are almost universally praised by customers. For example, at the time of writing this article, its Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer boasts a rare 4.8 out of 5 rating on Amazon out of well over 22,000 reviews (and for $99.99) — making it the highest-rated air fryer on the whole site. Professional reviews and food publications have also recognized the air fryer for its superlative browning ability, power, and relatively quiet nature, all of this at a price that's a lot more affordable than other brands.

Cosori's other air fryer models also win similar praise. Its TWINFRY air fryer has enough space to cook entire pizzas or multiple steaks, or you can keep the two baskets separate to cook two dishes at the same time, giving it a versatility customers love. It doesn't hurt that its air fryers are also easy on the eye, with a sleek, modern, unobtrusive design. If you don't have unlimited amounts of money to spend, Cosori will likely be your best bet.

If you ever see a cheap GoWISE USA air fryer on a marketplace website or somewhere like Amazon, it's best to avoid it entirely. The food appliance maker no longer lists air fryers on its own website, and it appears it's discontinued its entire line. There may well be good reason for that: Its air fryers have been revealed by customers to be not just unsatisfactory, but potentially dangerous. In the last few years, multiple people have reported their GoWISE USA air fryers have produced burning smells or malfunctioned entirely, exploding mid-use and leaving a pile of melted plastic underneath them.

If its air fryers weren't creating health hazards, they were otherwise cumbersome to use and produced rather poor performance overall. Reviews noted they just weren't very good at crisping up food, and instead, they left vegetables and meat soggy, if not waterlogged. Throw in a needlessly complicated interface, and these appliances just don't cut the mustard.

Anyone with even a passing interest in appliances will likely know about the Instant Pot. Did you know, though, that Instant also makes air fryers? If you didn't, and you're in the market for one, you might be pleased to hear they're just as good as its flagship product. Instant air fryers are highly respected for their speed (which is probably no surprise, given the brand name), and they cook food evenly and capably, with an excellent browning capacity.

Price-wise, Instant's air fryers fall roughly in the middle: They won't break the bank as much as a model from a manufacturer like Ninja, but they aren't suspiciously cheap. They also have some nifty functions other air fryers might not be able to perform. Its Vortex Plus ClearCook Air Fryer, for example, has a Dehydrate function and is also excellent for keeping food warm, thanks to its ability to dip down to 95 F. It's available on Amazon for $135.70. Instant air fryer users have also noted its air fryers are true to temperature, giving you way more accuracy over your final result.

It's not unusual for there to be a difference of opinion around air fryers — even the biggest brand names out there have their detractors. When it comes to BELLA, though, the sentiment is fairly consistent across the board: These air fryers aren't quite up to scratch. BELLA's air fryers are attractive, modern-looking machines, but good aesthetics don't mean they can cook your food properly. Some reviews have noted they have difficulty maintaining a steady temperature, which can result in food either being undercooked or burnt, while others have criticized both their cooking speed and overall performance.

Those responses are on the more moderate side, too. Customers have been left seriously frustrated with their BELLA air fryer purchases, with one person on Reddit saying they "regret it so much," before going on to state, "Every single thing I cook produces smokes, like burned oil." Others have stated their BELLA air fryers have suddenly stopped working, don't work as effectively as they'd like them to, or, more troublingly, have melted. None of these things are particularly high on our priorities list when it comes to air fryers.

Over the last half-century, Cuisinart has built an impressive name for itself in the appliance world — and while the brand may be better-known for its food processors, it's rapidly becoming a name to beat in the air fryer world. Cuisinart's air fryers are beloved by both reviewers and customers alike, with the company's experience in what consumers want clear in its builds. Its air fryers are both easy to use and easy to clean, with a host of functions for versatile and intuitive cooking — and while they're not exactly inexpensive, they're not extortionate.

However, out of all its air fryers, there are two that stand head and shoulders above the rest: Its 6-Quart Basket Large Air Fryer (on Amazon for $119.95) and its Air Fryer Toaster Oven With Grill, available on Amazon for $179.99. The former is as solid an air fryer as any, cooking food evenly and quickly, with a viewing window that allows you to check on your items visually without having to pull the drawer open. It also feels durable, and people note it runs for years with no lull in its operation — and it's larger size helps users avoid the biggest downside of air fryers. The latter, meanwhile, is incredibly quiet, and its wide build means you can fit surprisingly large items inside. Its multi-purpose use also means it can stand in place of your standard oven for a variety of functions.

PowerXL is a brand that's hard to put your weight behind — for a couple of reasons. The first, and perhaps most pertinent to customers, is it's been plagued by serious, and ultimately hazardous, performance issues. In late 2023, Empower Brands, the owner and operator of PowerXL, had to issue a recall for around 319,000 of its air fryers due to their potential to break during use. The recall was announced following dozens of reports of its air fryers malfunctioning, and three people stating they were burnt by their appliances.

Beyond this specific recall, PowerXL's other air fryers haven't impressed customers too much. Countless people have pointed out its air fryers cook food unevenly, certain buttons suddenly stop working, its models are faulty, and ultimately, the appliances might last less than a year before they don't operate anymore. To make things worse, its air fryers aren't the cheapest — so you may end up with an appliance you've paid a lot of money for, only for it to be out of warranty when it stops working. This brand name may promise power, but its appliances' performance seems to contradict it.

When it comes to air fryers, Breville does things a little differently. The veteran kitchen appliance company makes high-end coffee makers, but it also specializes in toaster oven air fryers. These machines offer way more functions than a standard drawer-design air fryer (a fact its customers love), while still keeping cooking times speedy. Its air fryers require a little more space than others, and they're also slightly pricier than standalone fryers — but you essentially get two appliances in one. It makes them well-suited for smaller apartments, dorm rooms, or any space that requires significant cooking capabilities, but in a modular, movable manner.

Breville's toaster oven air fryers are well-regarded across the board, and most of its models would be a worthy purchase — you can just pick the one that best suits your budget. Its Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, however, may be the best all-rounder — and it's available on Amazon for $399.95. With speedy cooking, an intuitive design, capacious interior, and an attractive design, it balances style, function, and versatility well. You can even use it to proof bread. If you can't decide between an oven or an air fryer, this one's for you. 

To say Kalorik's air fryers have some issues would be an understatement. This brand's appliances have more unique and modern features, like touchscreens, clear windows at the front for you to check on your food, and French doors that allow you to position your items more easily. However, all these conveniences arguably hide some serious function issues, which could even be harmful. In October 2026, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (or CPSC) advised owners of Kalorik's MAXX Air Fryer Oven with French Doors to stop using it immediately, due to a design flaw that caused its doors to close on people's arms, burning them. The brand's current owner, The Legacy Companies, LLC, "... has declined to participate in a recall of the affected ovens," noted the CPSC.

Even before this warning, though, Kalorik's MAXX Air Fryer had been criticized by many customers for its poor build quality and temperamental nature. Elsewhere, its other air fryers have apparently stopped working after just a few uses and, in some cases, have arrived with defects. Given that some of its air fryers, like its MAXX model, cost approximately $200, you may want to spend your money elsewhere.

Chefman may not be the biggest name in the air fryer world, but don't underestimate this affordable brand. Its air fryers have won regular praise from both customers and reviewers for their balance of inexpensiveness and excellent cooking power. Chefman has a range of models, but none of them are especially pricey — and yet, Chefman still manages to pack in a bunch of modern features like cooking windows, touch controls, and buttons that boost the temperature rapidly to get extra crispiness on your food. This Chefman 6-Quart Compact Air Fryer is available on Amazon for $74.98.

What really stands out about Chefman's air fryers is how consistent they are. Time and time again, customers remark on how their appliances continue to work optimally, even with daily use over several months. What's more, unlike some air fryers, which produce a deafening, hurricane-like sound in your kitchen, Chefman's appliances run relatively quietly. If you're looking for a reliable brand that balances sheer function with a few extra special touches, at a price you probably won't mind paying, it's up there with the best.