Which Ooni pizza oven should I buy? The best Ooni ovens, tested by experts

Ooni are everywhere at the moment and this popular brand shows no signs of slowing down. With so much marketing and press coverage you'd be forgiven for thinking that Ooni pizza ovens are little more than hype.

However, there's a reason Ooni is taking up number one, number two, and even number four spots in our guide to the best pizza ovens. Unless there are some big shake-ups over the next few months, our tests have shown that they're quite simply the best pizza oven brand around.

We've tested plenty of pizza ovens and several Ooni ovens. With quite a few Ooni models with similar-sounding names, we've pitched some of Ooni's top ovens against each other to reveal which Ooni oven is best.

Which Ooni should I buy in 2024? 

The best Ooni overall

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We could talk about how great this pizza oven is all day. Not only is it the best Ooni on the market, it's the best pizza oven in the world. You don't even need to take our word for it, because this is officially endorsed by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana - the True Neapolitan Pizza Association. If you want an oven given a rare nod from proper Neapolitan pizzaiolos, this is the one to get.

Our Managing Director Jason Orme says that there is 'nothing like the pizzas that come out of the Karu 16'. It makes perfect pizzas with charred crusts and gooey melted cheese.

It has a huge 16-inch capacity and runs off both gas and wood fuel, delivering both the speed and convenience of gas cooking or the smoky flavors of a traditional wood-fired pizza. There's a responsive digital thermometer and a see-through door so you can check your pizza as it cooks.

While it cooks on two different fuels, gas fuel isn't fitted as standard, so it's an extra expense. We also aren't fans of the fact that essential accessories like pizza peels and pizza cutters aren't included.

Read more: Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven review

The best wood-fired Ooni

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If you want your pizza journey to achieve absolute authenticity, you need a wood-fired oven. They make pizzas that taste like a different product to store-bought pies and, if we're being critical, they taste a little better than pizzas from gas ovens too. Cooking with flames means that you char the crust, create leopard spots on the base, and can beautifully brown cheese.

At the risk of sounding like an Ooni sponsor, we give the Fyra our 'best wood-fired pizza oven' accolade, against all other brands, in a heartbeat. It easily overcomes the common complications faced with other wood-fired pizza ovens: it's easy to set up because the instructions are clear and the app is loaded with tips for your everything from pizza wood pellets to dough. It's simple to add wood and control the temperature, and the fast heat-up time means it's ready to go in just 15 minutes.

When it came to the all-important taste test, this was unbelievable. The pizzas our experts made looked the part, with spotting, browning, and charring in all the right places. Even better, it tasted the part too, each bite was packed with intense, smoky flavors.

It's worth noting that the Fyra, just like the Karu, doesn't come with a pizza peel or slicer. Other pizza ovens include these as extras almost by default, because you won't get far without either.

Read more: Ooni Fyra 12 review

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The best gas Ooni

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The Koda 12 is the easiest Ooni to use. You save on all the hassle of swapping fuel types or lighting charcoal and just plug in your propane. After that, it heats up in 15 minutes and can cook a pizza in a respectable two minutes.

It excelled on test, making near-perfect cheese and tomato and pepperoni pizzas, as well as an indulgent garlic bread. The worry with gas ovens is that you can't achieve a good crust, but this model achieved excellent charring.

This lightweight oven is one of Ooni's lighter ovens, so it's easy to move around the garden and store.

The only thing preventing this oven from a perfect taste test is the problem of all gas-fuelled outdoor cooking. By comparison with charcoal, this oven tastes almost sterile. It's wonderfully charred but it's missing the je ne sais quoi of smoky flavour you get with wood pellets. This model would also hugely benefit from a door. It makes it easier to load the pizza but means that it's easy to drop heat.

Read more: Ooni Koda 12 review

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The best indoor Ooni

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There was only one indoor pizza oven on the market until this launched last year - the Breville Pizzaiolo. In my preview of the Volt 12, I compared the specs on both machines and found that the Volt reaches a higher temperature. It also has an innovative 'boost' function which hikes up the temperature when you open the oven door, preventing any sudden loss of heat and making it much faster to turn around lots of pizza in one go.

When we finally got it on test, it made delicious pizzas, and we found the boost button helpful for hosting pizza parties. They're a little sanitized compared to the rest of the market, but it's about as close as you can get to flame-licked leopard spotting you get in a wood or gas oven.

However, the biggest draw is that this oven works both indoors and outdoors. No other pizza oven on the market can do that. It brings an unparalleled versatility to entertaining that other ovens - even the Karu 16 - won't be able to match.

However, this is the most expensive Ooni oven available. You'll also need a lot of counter space, because the 24.2” x ” x 20.8” x 10.9” dimensions take up plenty of room.

Read more: Ooni Volt 12 review.

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Ooni alternatives

If this all feels too much like advertising, don't worry. We've tested lots of other brands of pizza ovens. We recommend:

How to choose the best Ooni pizza oven for you:

Pizza ovens are brilliant ways to cook food in a more artisanal way. Although the name suggests that they only suit pizzas, you can cook meats, breads, and other slow-roast foods in them. Before leaping into a purchase, you'll want to think about a few aspects:

Fuel source
Ooni ovens use a range of sources. They can use fire, electricity, or gas to cook your food. Electricity is the most simple method, but it limits where you can place your oven. Gas gives more versatility and more control, but won't deliver the same flavors as a wood-fired model. Cooking with flames creates a whole new world of flavors. They'll char and brown your food, enhancing smoky and intense flavors. Flames are harder to control, but they're the best option for artisanal chefs.

Size
Consider the space that you're willing to dedicate to a pizza oven. There are portable options that you can pack up and take with you. Some are safe for kitchens, but others are outdoor only.

Price and accessories
The ovens that have a smaller retail price often don't come with a peel, paddle, or slicer. If you already own these, you can save money and opt for a cheaper model. If you don't, you'll want to evaluate the total cost, because buying a bundle might save you overall.

How we tested these Ooni pizza ovens

Our team of experts tests every single product we recommend. We used these Oonis to make pizzas, because they're a good litmus test for the base heat across the whole oven, how thorough the heat is to the oven's roof, and how well it browns ingredients too.

Then, we'll test the limits of every oven. Our experts make flatbreads, focaccia, chicken, and vegetables. The best ovens are those that are versatile and quick to cook these ingredients, but we also want them to be energy-efficient.

We make notes on every aspect of these ovens, so we can let you know which spaces these suit. This largely depends on size, assembly, storage, and maneuverability. Balanced with price and warranty, we can give you a good overview of which ovens are best for which homes.

You can find more information on our testing process in our How We Test guide.

Ooni FAQs

Is Ooni the best pizza oven?

Our tests have shown that Ooni is the best pizza oven brand. The Karu 16 is the best pizza oven you can buy - period - followed by the Fyra 12 as the best wood-fired pizza oven and the Koda 12 as the best gas-fuelled pizza oven. If you want the very best pizza oven, Ooni is the way to go.

However, there are plenty of other brands out there. We're also big fans of Gozney, which tends to be a little more design-forward than Ooni.

Can you use an Ooni indoors?

You can't use Ooni ovens indoors, except for the Volt 12, which is specifically designed to be used indoors. Using any other Ooni indoors risks a fire hazard, and in the case of the wood-fired models, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Can you leave an Ooni outdoors?

Yes, but think of it like a grill. Ooni pizza ovens are designed to be used outside, and you can leave them out, but if they're exposed to rain too often they'll rust. The best move is to buy a waterproof cover from Ooni, or a cheaper cover on Amazon.