Before settling on an Instant Pot or stove, you should consider size, price, functionality, and cooking programs.
Consider the features and programs
Food-specific modes and options will make all the difference when it comes to choosing the best Instant Pot for your cooking needs. If you want to get into making your own yogurt or if you like hard-boiled eggs, it's worth paying a little more for an Instant Pot model that can do those things.
Choosing the right size Instant Pot
When it comes to choosing the right size, the Instant Pot recommends a 3-quart model for one or two people. Families of six or less will likely be satisfied with the 6-quart multicooker. If you have a large household or often host large groups, consider the 8 liter model.
Price and value
You can find multicookers and Instant Pots for hundreds of dollars, but even the budget-friendly models do most of what you'd ask of an Instant Pot and do it well. More expensive models may include more cooking programs, more user-friendly release valves, or a sleeker exterior, but how well they cook under pressure, slow cook, or steam won't change much even as you increase the price.
If you're still not sure which model will be the best Instant Pot for your kitchen, take a look Instant Pot Product Comparison Chart or his guide to choosing the right stove. At the end of the day, all of these models offer the basic pressure cooking and slow cooking modes. The Instant Pot is known for such good performance.
Other multicooker brands to consider
There are options from other brands as well. We looked great Wi-Fi Multivark by ChefIQfor example. It does more than the Wi-Fi model of the Instant Pot and comes with an integrated scale, a non-stick pan and a handy app for iOS or Android. It costs $200, so if you're not ready to graduate to a high-end model, Instant Pot's more affordable options are great for beginners. Ninja also makes several multicookers that performed well in our testing. On Ninja Foodi 6.5-quart with SmartLid (out of stock) and is just one of several options from the brand's expansive line.