We compared every popular countertop nugget maker on what you live with: pounds per day, noise, how much water it holds and how long the warranty runs. The GE Profile Opal 2.0 is still the one to beat.
By Ice & Water Report Editors · 4 models compared
Nugget ice is made by scraping thin flakes off a chilled cylinder and pressing them into soft pellets. It's chewable, soaks up your drink and melts fairly quickly. Think fountain soda and iced coffee.
Clear ice freezes in layers, pushing air and minerals out as it goes, so the cube comes out dense and glass-clear. It melts slowly and doesn't water down a cocktail.
The freezer-tray cube in the middle of your glass right now is cloudy because it froze from every side at once and trapped air in the center.
| Nugget | Clear cube | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Soft, chewable, porous | Hard, dense, glassy |
| Melts | Faster | Slowest |
| Best for | Soda, iced coffee, kids | Cocktails, whiskey, entertaining |
| Our picks cost | About $160 to $599 | About $150 to $400 |
We assume about 0.4 lb of ice per iced drink and 1 lb per party guest, and that a machine makes about 75% of its rated output in a warm kitchen. The black tick on each bar is what you need.
Hard tap water leaves scale inside an ice maker, which slows it down and means more descaling. It also carries chlorine taste straight into every drink.
A reverse osmosis filter pushes water through a membrane fine enough to remove most dissolved solids. NSF/ANSI 58 is the certification that proves an RO system does what it claims.
That's why we cover both: the same kitchen upgrade, done once.
| Install | Our pick | |
|---|---|---|
| Tankless, under the sink | Under the sink; needs an outlet. Fast flow, small footprint. | Waterdrop G3P800 |
| Tank, under the sink | Under the sink; no power. Slower, but cheap to run. | iSpring RCC7AK |
| Countertop | No plumbing at all. Fill it and plug it in. Great for renters. | AquaTru Classic |
Ice makers
GE Profile reviewThe quietest, most refined nugget maker, with a side tank and app scheduling.
GoveeLife reviewThe fastest nugget maker we track, at up to 60 lb a day, with a 3-year warranty.
Frigidaire reviewReal nugget ice and 44 lb a day for less than half the Opal's price.
Euhomy reviewThe cheapest way into nugget ice: small, light and loud.
Clear ice and water filters
NewAir reviewClear cubes every seven minutes and a 2-year warranty.
Frigidaire reviewClear square cubes in two sizes for about $150.
Waterdrop reviewFast tankless RO with UV, a TDS faucet and the best waste ratio under the sink.
Waterdrop reviewMost of the G3P800 for about half the price, minus the UV and smart faucet.
Rated pounds per day are measured in cool rooms. We show the rating and plan for less, so your machine keeps up in July.
For water filters we list the exact NSF/ANSI standards a system is certified to, and say when a brand only claims testing.
Replacement filters, descaling and warranties are part of the price. Every review shows what a year of ownership costs.