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Best KitchenAid alternatives – stylish stand mixers, tried and tested

You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to snag one of the best stand mixers

A woman using a stand mixer.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Best KitchenAid Alternatives 2023: Jump Menu

A man using a stand mixer.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall: Cuisinart Precision
3. Best small: Delish by Dash
4. Best large: Kenwood Chef XL
5. Best-looking: Smeg Retro
6. Best luxury: Wolf Gourmet
7. Best budget: Beautiful by Drew Barrymore
8. How we test
9. Meet the team
10. FAQs

KitchenAids are iconic. After years of testing stand mixers we've found that they are always the best. They come with variable speed settings, attachable accessories, and a premium design – at a premium price point. If you're shopping for a stand mixer, but you don't have hundreds of dollars to spare, you'll need to find an alternative. 

It's not just a question of cost, but of quality, too. Though KitchenAid make many of the best stand mixers, their products aren't perfect. More experienced bakers might appreciate a more powerful motor, while mass caterers will need larger bowls. 

The best stand mixer isn't always a KitchenAid: it's the mixer that meets your needs. Our team of experts have tested all the best stand mixers to find the strongest alternatives to KitchenAid. We've narrowed it down to our top six to suit every size and style of kitchen. 

These mixers can knead dough, whip cream, and fold flour. We've ranked them based on power, capacity, style, special features, and, of course, price. 

The quick list

We'll get into the specifics later. For now, here are the best KitchenAid alternatives at a glance.

The best KitchenAid Alternatives, in depth

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The best stand mixer overall

Cuisinart Precision against a white background.

(Image credit: Cuisinart)
Best stand mixer overall

Specifications

Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.2 x 15.9 in
Power: 500W
Capacity: 5.5qt.
Colors: 6

Reasons to buy

+
Great value
+
Variable speed settings
+
Large capacity

Reasons to avoid

-
Fewer color options than KitchenAid
Buy it if:

✅ You like to bake in bigger batches: this bowl is half a quart larger than the KitchenAid Artisan, so it's easier to cater for a crowd.
✅ You're a control freak: this machine comes with 12 speed settings, which is more than the KitchenAid, for greater granular control.
✅ You're looking for a colorful mixer: this machine comes in six bright shades.

Don't buy it if:

You like to make the most of your ingredients: many of the mixer's attachments don't quite reach the bottom and edges of the bowl. On test, this meant that some flour wasn't worked into the dough.
❌ You like to bake smaller batches: this machine works best with larger quantities of ingredients.
❌ You hate washing up: you'll have to wash the whisk by hand, though the bowl and the rest of the baking accessories are dishwasher-safe.

The bottom line

🔎 Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer is best for large volume bakes and recipes.

KitchenAid vs Cuisinart: the debate rages on. If you're catering for a crowd, you'll appreciate the Precision's bigger bowls and larger selection of speed settings, as well as its much more reasonable price. 

The Precision proved itself on test to be a capable mixer, especially when it comes to larger batches. This machine works best with double quantities, so you should make the most of the 5.5-qt. bowl space. It's less effective with smaller servings. Since some of the attachments can't reach right down inside the bowl, you might struggle to fully incorporate smaller quantities of ingredients. 

But it's great at beating cream and kneading dough: heavy-duty tasks that allow the 500-watt motor to come into its own. Most of the accessories are dishwasher-safe, though you'll have to wash the whisk by hand.

If you tend to bake in bigger batches, and you need a kitchen workhorse, then the Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer would be a great choice.

You can find more detail in our Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer review

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Test results
AttributesNotesRating
PowerGreat for heavy-duty tasks★★★★
CapacityIdeal for bigger batches★★★★★
PerformanceBest with dough★★★★
StyleSleek and chic★★★★

The best small stand mixer