Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart
Best BudgetInstant Pot Duo Crisp 6-Quart
Best 2-in-1 with Air FryerPrice
$80-$110
$160-$230
Summary
The #1 bestseller on Amazon with over 100,000 reviews averaging 4.7 stars — the Duo nails the basics at the lowest price of any full-featured Instant Pot. CNET, Good Housekeeping, and Serious Eats all recommend it as the entry point.
A separate air fryer lid transforms this into a superconvection air fryer that rivals standalone units — CNET says results rival their favorite dedicated air fryers. One appliance replaces two, and it still does all the standard Instant Pot pressure cooking.
Pros
- Amazon's #1 bestselling pressure cooker with 4.7-star average from 100,000+ reviews
- Seven cooking functions: pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, sauté, yogurt, keep warm
- Available in 3-, 6-, and 8-quart sizes to fit any household
- Detachable cord makes cabinet storage much easier
- Top performer in Good Housekeeping's rice test — evenly cooked, not mushy
- Separate air fryer lid delivers superconvection results that rival standalone air fryers per CNET testing
- 11 cooking functions including pressure cook, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate
- Sturdy stainless steel inner cooking pot
- Available in 6- or 8-quart capacity
- Replaces two appliances for less than buying both separately
Cons
- Cannot adjust settings mid-cook — must cancel and restart to change time or pressure
- Took longer than other models to release pressure naturally in testing
- Missing cake, sterilize, and egg settings found on the Duo Plus
- Two separate lids to store and manage
- Missing canning, sterilize, poultry, and egg settings
- More expensive than standard Instant Pot models
Our take
The Duo is the Instant Pot that made the category famous, and it's still the one to buy if you just want to cook great food without overthinking it. The price is hard to argue with.
If counter space is tight and you want both an Instant Pot and an air fryer, the Duo Crisp is the obvious answer. The air frying lid is genuinely good — not a compromise — and the pressure cooking side is solid.
Buy
