I made 100 pizzas this summer to put Ooni vs Gozney to the test – but which pizza oven is best?

If you've just started looking into getting a pizza oven, or your curioristy has been piqued by the seasonal sales, you will probably have heard of Ooni. It's the biggest pizza oven brand on the planet, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. Lots of people use the brand's name as a synonym for the 'best pizza oven' – and it can be hard to compete with that.

However, Gozney has been in the game just as long, and while Ooni’s ovens are functional and efficient, they can sometimes feel utilitarian and industrial. Gozney, on the other hand, creates chic, minimalist ovens that elevate any outdoor kitchen, consistently topping our lists of the best Ooni alternatives.

I’ve spent the summer making pizzas and testing every oven I could get my hands on, building on the insights of lead outdoor product tester, Alex David. To make it easier to compare, we've created this guide that breaks down the two brands across four key areas: design, ease of use, taste test, and price (including the latest discounts).

Our final verdict? Ooni came out on top overall, but we think Gozney is worth considering if chic design or a more precise cooking experience matters to you.

End of summer sales

Traditionally, you'll find some price drops on pizza ovens around the end of August and Labor Day. The height of summer may be over at this point, but it's always a good idea to shop off-season to find the best deals.

Gozney Roccbox | Was $499.00, now $399.99 at Gozney
The Rocbox was one of the first domestic pizza ovens on the market, but it still stands firm against the modern competition. It's incredibly fast, has an inbuilt thermometer, and makes great pizza. The only thing to bear in mind is that the marketing isn't quite right for this oven. It's listed as a 'portable' oven, but after lugging this around a garden, I don't think that's accurate.

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Koda 2 Max 24" Gas Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven | Was $1,299.00, now $1,039.20 at Ooni

This is our favorite gas-powered pizza oven. When we put it to the test, we found that it makes wonderfully crisp crusts, and perfectly melts mozzarella. It's easy to use, with a responsive gas burner that quickly reaches blistering temperatures. Best of all, it can fit two pizzas in the spacious oven.

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At a glance

When considering Ooni vs Gozney, both ranges include models of all shapes and sizes, so the fairest comparison between the two brands is to assess their two top-rated, similar spec ovens – the Ooni Karu 2 Pro vs the Gozney Dome S1. On paper, they're very evenly matched. They both make exceptionally good pizza, and both use both wood and gas.

Both have digital and probe thermometers, and both can cook pizzas incredibly quickly. The only significant technical difference is that the Karu has a door. It's an obvious point, but this makes it much more heat-efficient and means that in the long run, it uses slightly less fuel. This latest Karu is also much deeper than the Gozney Dome, so it's better for large joints of meat. Overall, we felt that the Karu 2 Pro made slightly better pizza, with a better crust.

The only real difference between the two pizza ovens is price. The Gozney Dome is usually $1200 more expensive than the Ooni Karu and I don't think you get a better oven for your money. I've just laid out that these ovens have very similar features, so you're not paying for anything extra. The only improvement is that the Dome looks better, and I don't think good looks are worth $1200 extra.

Design

If you scroll the Ooni website, you'll see that their ovens have a more utilitarian design; they are boxy, angular, and often finished in black tones. The brand prioritizes functionality over style, which means they’re incredibly practical but can feel a bit industrial.

Gozney takes a very different approach. The brand's ovens have smooth, rounded edges and are available in a range of chic colors, instantly elevating the look of any patio. They are tactile, with sleek accessories and modern controls. If you're comparing Ooni vs Gozney on visuals, the latter looks much better in an outdoor kitchen by a long stretch.

Winner: Gozney

Ease of use

When it comes to ease of use for Ooni vs Gozney, each brand takes a slightly different approach to home pizza-making, and every model in their range is different. It's tricky to come down on either side, but here's our take.

Ooni ovens are all about speed and simplicity. For all the Ooni ovens we’ve tested, the setup has been easy. The ovens and accessories lift out of the box effortlessly, and often you'll find that the crucial parts are already assembled. For the Ooni Koda 2 I recently tested, I didn’t have to screw in the legs or wrestle with any complicated wiring – it was ready to fire up in seconds.

The Ooni instructions manuals tend to be clear and friendly; when I had a question about a propane tank, the customer service was incredibly prompt and helpful; they sent through lots of video links, which were fun and useful to watch.

Gozney takes a slightly more precision-oriented approach, aiming for more professional-level results. The Dome S1, for example, took us a little getting used to. The pizza oven took a while to ignite and we struggled to understand some of the instructions in the Gozney Dome S1 technical manual, but got there in the end through trial and error.

However, once you're all fired up and know what you're doing, Gozney's bonus features do make the experience more precise. Not all of Ooni's pizza ovens come with thermometers, but every Gozney has one as standard, which takes out some of the guesswork. Some Gozneys even have notifications to let you know when your oven has reached the right temperature.

Cleaning is just as simple as with both brands – brush the stone lightly and wipe the interior with a microfibre cloth. A cover keeps your pizza oven safe and dry from the elements.

Winner: Tie

Taste and cooking performance

Even after trying dozens of pizzas made across all different brands, we're yet to find an oven that can match Ooni for taste. When we tried blind taste tests for our best pizza oven guide, Ooni came out number one. I don't know if it's how their ovens are shaped, the thickness of the stone, or the efficiency of the heat source, but pizzas made in Oonis have the best crusts, perfectly melted cheese, and a delicious smokiness.

I also recently tried out Ooni's pre-made dough balls, which you can order from their site and they were absolutely fantastic; they are evenly sized, bake well, and tasted consistently great in the Ooni oven – better than our own homemade dough we used for testing, I have to admit.

That's not to say Gozney's pizza-making skills are terrible by any stretch of the imagination; the difference between Ooni vs Gozney are only noticeable when trying to find flaws. Gozney makes very, very good pizza, just not as crispy or evenly cooked. You'll see what I mean if you read our Gozney Tread review.

Winner: Ooni

Price: Which is best value?

Ooni wins on value. This comes with the significant caveat that their ovens are still expensive - our favorite is $799, and doesn't include essential items like a pizza peel - but they're often around $100 cheaper than equivalent ovens. It's hardly a bargain, but it could be a lot worse.

The Fyra 12 is the oven I recommend to the average user. It's cheap and you get all the fun of making homemade pizzas without spending a small fortune. Gozney's Roccbox is its cheapest offering after the Roccbox, but it's still hundreds of dollars more than the Fyra 12.

Winner: Ooni

Ooni vs Gozney: the bottom line

Ooni is the overall winner. To be brutally honest, I think Ooni is overpriced, but they're still much cheaper than Gozney alternatives. I also think Ooni pizza tastes slightly better, with better char, crust, and melted cheese, but the difference between the two brands is tiny. The design isn't as sleek or chic, but I can look past that for taste and value. If you do want something that looks great on a patio, I'd opt for a Gozney oven, but I think you'll be paying a premium for looks and little else.

Other brands worth looking at

If you love the idea of a pizza oven but find both Ooni and Gozney out of budget, there are some alternatives worth considering.

Solo Stove Pi Prime makes ovens that cost a bit less, while still turning out pizzas that rival the top models from Ooni and Gozney. It can run on both gas and wood, letting you choose between the ease of gas or the smoky flavor of wood-fired pizza. The pies we made on it tasted really nice, although we found the design a bit tricky at first – you can read our full Solo Stove review for all the pros and cons.

For indoor cooking, you could also consider one of the best indoor pizza ovens. Ooni leads here as well, but Breville and Cuisinart both offer strong, more affordable options – perfect if you’d rather save money and don’t mind skipping the outdoor setup. We've written a guide to the indoor vs outdoor pizza ovens to help you weigh up the decision.

FAQs

Is everything included in an Ooni or a Gozney?

No, not everything is included when you buy an Ooni or a Gozney pizza oven. My biggest pet peeve about these brands is that they don't include essential equipment as standard. With both brands, you'll have to pay extra for a pizza peel so that you can load your pizza into the oven.

When is the best time to buy a pizza oven?

The best time to buy a pizza oven is in the sales. Both Ooni and Gozney participate in Black Friday, but your next best chance is in the summer. There is no guarantee either company will run a sale, but in 2024 both ran discounts on some of their pizza ovens.

For more help with pizza ovens, check out our expert guide to how to clean a pizza oven, and what else you can cook in a pizza oven.