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Reddit Reviews
Just bought an Instant Pot 4qt for small size, square basket, light and window. We have 3-4 servings tops so I am hopeful. I see my last Ninja on fire because it was impossible for me to clean.
i have a 4l basic air fryer from instant pot. using it regularly for the past couple of years and very happy with the purchase. these days you can find all sorts of fancy models with glass doors, traditional oven like design, etc. air fryers are just miniature convection ovens.
We had an Instant Brand Vortex that the display started failing 1 year in. I replaced it with a Gourmia and its performed perfectly for 13 months. It cost less than 1/2 what the vortex did.
I like the instapot vortex. We have a single basket as it's just the 3 of us. I would get double if you have a bigger family
I’ve had both: a really fancy Cuisinart and a much cheaper and better basket-style one from Instant Pot. The Instant Pot one is simpler. You set time and temp, it preheats, beeps when it’s time to put the food in, beeps when it’s time to flip it, and beeps when it’s done. It simple and I burn things less often.
I'm pretty happy with my Instant Vortex Plus. The one with the window is $89 at Amazon. No app.
I bought one back in July and since I unpacked it I haven’t used my oven once. There may be better ones but it’s worked well for me. I like the dial to change time and temp.
I have the Instant Vortex Plus. It's the most used item in my kitchen, bar none.
For two people, just get a **6qt basket style** – skip the oven-style, takes too much space and doesn't crisp as well. **COSORI TurboBlaze** or **Instant Vortex Plus** are both solid in 2026. Under $100 on sale, easy to clean, cook evenly. COSORI runs hotter (crispier), Instant has an odor filter (less smell). Ignore the presets and smart features – you'll just use temp and time anyway. Dishwasher-safe basket is the only feature that really matters. [Here's a quick compariso](https://medium.com/illumination/best-air-fryers-under-100-2026-e9f860eb83b3)n of the best under $100.
For a first air fryer, go with the **Instant Vortex Plus,** easy to use, has an odor filter, and the app walks you through temps and times. **Ninja AF101** is also a solid simple option. Tips: frozen fries don't need preheat, just shake once halfway. Chicken, preheat 3 min, don't overcrowd. Start with fries, hard to mess up and you'll see why people love these things. I [wrote up more on beginner-friendly models here](https://medium.com/illumination/best-air-fryers-under-100-2026-e9f860eb83b3) if you want details.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Easy cleaning

Top pick
Ninja - Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Countertop Glass Air Fryer
Best for Large family meals

Top pick
Breville - Smart Oven Air Fryer Series
Best for Maximum crispiness

Top pick
COSORI - Turbo Blaze 9-in-1 6QT
Best for Non-toxic cooking

Top pick
Ninja - Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Countertop Glass Air Fryer
Best for Single person households

Top pick
Ninja - Foodi Air Fry Oven Series





