Fuel Type: Gas vs Wood Pellets
The Gozney is a great oven, but heavier than the average model at 60 pounds.
Home outdoor pizza ovens usually run on gas, wood, or wood pellets. Propane gas pizza ovens can be quickly connected, ignited immediately and heated up in just minutes. They also burn clean, with less smoke and less mess to clean up. They can be attached to propane tanks in the same way as a grill.
Wood and coal stoves, in contrast, must be filled (and sometimes refilled) with fuel before use and take longer to heat up; also, constant temperature is more difficult to maintain. They also make a bigger mess, leaving behind ash and soot. While you might assume that wood-fired pizza ovens would impart a smoky flavor, the pies aren't exposed to much smoke or in the oven long enough to absorb the flavor of the wood. Ovens smell nice after they fire up.
Gozny fired up a large stove fueled by old-school firewood.
There is no significant cost difference between the different types of fuel. It's more a matter of personal choice. Wood pellets can be purchased online or at most hardware and grocery stores and are available in a number of wood varieties.
There is also electrical pizza ovens, incl this expensive model from Breville and this new entry from Ninja. Electric pizza ovens only reach temperatures of about 700 degrees F. Purists may tell you that's just not hot enough to make a truly great pizza. We plan to test some electric pizza ovens soon and will be back.
The Alpha Nano is the largest oven of all the models we tested, allowing you to roast whole chickens and other foods that won't fit in most home pizza ovens.
Size and portability
If you have a dedicated space for your oven, a larger, heavier model should work. If you want to store it away between uses or move it regularly, a more portable oven is a better choice. Home pizza ovens start at about 20 pounds, while semi-portable and stationary pizza ovens can weigh several hundred.
Accessories
A pizza crust is the most important tool for making pies at home.
One accessory you will definitely need for your new pizza oven is pizza crust. This unique spatula-shaped tool allows you to safely slide the pizza in and out and rotate it for even cooking. Remember, these ovens heat up to 950 degrees so you don't want to risk a wobbly spatula or tiny tongs.
The other accessory you'll likely want to invest in is a cover, especially if you plan to leave it out in the elements between uses. Some pizza ovens come with their own lids, but many do not.
Price and value
Quality home pizza ovens start around $300 and go up (up!) from there. More expensive pizza ovens have larger, sturdier frames, higher oven capacity, and reach hotter temperatures faster. You can find cheap pizza ovens under $250, but we haven't tried one worth the investment yet.
Pizza crust is the most critical accessory for making pies at home.