Find your yogurt maker in one question
Tell us what matters most and we'll point you to the pick that fits.
1 What matters most to you?
The decision that comes first: standard or specialty?
One question sorts this whole category:
- Standard dairy yogurt (8–12 hours)? Almost any quality machine holds temperature well enough, so buy on convenience and price — the Euro Cuisine machines are the value answer.
- 24-hour SCD/GAPS, long plant-based, or large-batch Greek? These need a steady temperature held over a long cycle. No budget dedicated maker currently does this reliably, so the dependable route is an Instant Pot’s yogurt setting (more on that below).
Match the machine to the fermentation, and the pick is obvious.
Best overall — Euro Cuisine YMX650
Euro Cuisine YMX650 Automatic Yogurt Maker
The best yogurt maker for most people. A preset fermentation temperature plus an auto-shutoff timer make it genuinely hands-off, and it produces the same quality dairy yogurt as far pricier machines on a standard cycle. Seven glass jars let you make several flavors at once. Not the tool for 24-hour SCD or long plant-based fermentation — for that, an Instant Pot's yogurt setting holds temperature more reliably.
Prime Day Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is on — a good time to check the live price.
Check current price on AmazonWhat buyers praise
- Hands-off — auto-shutoff timer runs the cycle and turns off on its own
- Same quality dairy yogurt as much pricier machines
- Seven glass jars — multiple flavors per batch, serve from the jar
- Affordable and simple to use
What buyers flag
- Preset temperature — not for 24-hour SCD fermentation
- Timer maxes well short of 24 hours
- Individual jars make bulk Greek straining less convenient
The sensible default for everyday dairy yogurt. Full detail in the Euro Cuisine review; deciding between the two Euro Cuisine models is covered in YMX650 vs YM80.
Best budget — Euro Cuisine YM80
Euro Cuisine YM80 Automatic Yogurt Maker
The value pick. Same yogurt, same temperature, and one more jar than the YMX650 — you just give up the auto-shutoff timer, so you set your own alarm and unplug it. For anyone comfortable managing the timing, it is the most capability for the least money.
Prime Day Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is on — a good time to check the live price.
Check current price on AmazonWhat buyers praise
- Cheapest quality option — same yogurt as the YMX650
- Eight glass jars — one more than the YMX650
- Simple and reliable, fewer parts to fail
What buyers flag
- No timer or auto-shutoff — you time it and unplug it yourself
- Over-ferments if you forget
- Preset temperature — not for 24-hour SCD fermentation
Identical yogurt for less, if you’ll manage the timing. More in the best budget yogurt maker guide.
For 24-hour SCD, plant-based, or large-batch Greek
Here is the honest state of the category: no budget dedicated yogurt maker reliably holds a precise temperature across a 24–48 hour cycle. The machine the SCD and GAPS communities long relied on (the Luvele Pure) is no longer sold on Amazon, and the current crop of “adjustable temperature” dedicated makers draw consistent owner complaints about temperature drift — the one thing a long ferment cannot tolerate.
So if you ferment 24 hours for SCD/GAPS, make slow plant-based yogurt (coconut, cashew, long-cycle oat or almond), or want to strain one big batch of Greek yogurt, the most reliable tool now is an Instant Pot (or similar multi-cooker) with a yogurt setting — it holds incubation temperature steadily over a long cycle and makes one large batch. See yogurt maker vs Instant Pot for the trade-offs, or the best electric pressure cookers for models with a yogurt function. For standard 8–12 hour plant-based or Greek yogurt, the Euro Cuisine above is adequate.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Temperature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro Cuisine YMX650 | Most people — everyday dairy | Preset + auto-shutoff | Affordable |
| Euro Cuisine YM80 | Budget (set your own timer) | Preset, manual | Cheapest |
| Instant Pot (yogurt setting) | 24-hour SCD, long plant-based, large batches | Steady over long cycles | Multi-cooker |
For a specific need
- Greek yogurt / large batches: best yogurt maker for Greek yogurt
- Plant-based / non-dairy: best yogurt maker for plant-based yogurt
- Families / high volume: best yogurt maker for families
- Small kitchens: best yogurt maker for small kitchens
- Lowest price: best budget yogurt maker
How we chose
These picks come from each machine’s documented capabilities and the use cases owners consistently report — how steadily it holds temperature, whether it suits long or specialty fermentation, its batch format, and its price — rather than a single tester’s few weeks with one unit. We match the machine to the fermentation, because that is what actually decides which yogurt maker is right. We do not claim hands-on lab testing. More on the method in how to choose a yogurt maker.
The bottom line
Most people should buy the Euro Cuisine YMX650 — it makes excellent everyday dairy yogurt, hands-off, for a fair price. Choose the Euro Cuisine YM80 to spend the least, if you’ll set your own timer. And if you need strict 24-hour SCD fermentation, long plant-based cycles, or large single batches, reach for an Instant Pot’s yogurt setting rather than a budget dedicated maker, none of which hold a precise temperature reliably over a long hold. Settle the standard-vs-specialty question first, and the rest follows.
How to make yogurt at home · YMX650 vs YM80 · Yogurt maker vs Instant Pot · How a yogurt maker works · What buyer reviews reveal across every category
