Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart
Best OverallInstant Pot RIO Wide 7.5-Quart
Best Large CapacityPrice
$107-$140
$100-$140
Summary
The Duo Plus is the sweet spot between simplicity and features — it adds cake, egg, and sterilize settings over the base Duo, plus a bigger LED display and mid-cook adjustments. Good Housekeeping named it their top pick after testing eight models.
At over 16 inches wide, the RIO Wide fits a whole chicken without crowding and sears large cuts without batching — Serious Eats calls it their best budget pick for its spacious cooking surface and easy-release steam valve. Ideal for families and batch cookers.
Pros
- Adds cake, egg, and sterilize settings over the base Duo model
- Larger, brighter LED display is easier to read than competitors
- Can edit cooking time and pressure level while machine is running
- 25 customizable smart programs with step-by-step instructions for beginners
- Anti-spin inner pot design prevents rocking during sauté
- 16+ inch wide cooking surface fits a whole chicken and sears large cuts without batching
- Status light shows exactly where the cooker is in its cooking process
- Anti-spin inner pot stays anchored during sauté
- Easy-Release steam valve vents hot air quickly and safely — good for pressure cooking beginners
- Stainless steel inner pot and steam rack are dishwasher-safe
Cons
- More expensive than the base Instant Pot Duo
- WhisperQuiet steam release still makes some noise in real-world use
- Natural pressure release takes longer than some competing models
- Inner cooking pot has no handles — must wait for it to cool before removing
- May take up too much counter space in smaller kitchens at 17.9 pounds
- Only 7 cooking functions vs. 10 on the Pro models
Our take
If you're buying your first Instant Pot or replacing an old one, get the Duo Plus. It does everything the bestselling Duo does but lets you tweak settings mid-cook — a small thing that makes a huge difference when you're learning.
The RIO Wide is the Instant Pot for people who cook in volume. The wide, flat base means you can actually brown a large piece of meat properly, and the 7.5-quart capacity means you're not cooking in shifts. It's the one I'd buy for a family of four or more.
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