Is an Instant Pot a pressure cooker?

Yes. An Instant Pot is an electric, multi-function pressure cooker — Instant Pot is a brand, and it became so popular that its name is now used as shorthand for the whole category of electric pressure cookers, the way people say 'Kleenex' for tissue. Most Instant Pots are also multi-cookers, meaning they pressure cook and additionally slow cook, saute, steam, and make rice. So every Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, but not every pressure cooker is an Instant Pot; other brands and stovetop models exist too.

What is the difference between an Instant Pot and a pressure cooker?

There's no difference in kind — an Instant Pot is a pressure cooker. The useful distinctions are between types of pressure cooker. First, electric (like the Instant Pot) versus stovetop: electric models are hands-off and hold pressure automatically, while stovetop models heat faster, reach slightly higher pressure, and cook a touch quicker but need monitoring. Second, multi-cooker versus single-purpose: most Instant Pots also slow cook and saute, whereas a basic pressure cooker only pressure cooks. So 'Instant Pot vs pressure cooker' is really 'electric multi-cooker vs other kinds of pressure cooker.'

Is an electric or stovetop pressure cooker better?

It depends on your priorities. Electric pressure cookers (Instant Pot and similar) are convenient and forgiving: set it and walk away, and it holds pressure automatically, often with extra functions like slow cooking and sauteing. Stovetop pressure cookers heat faster, reach a slightly higher pressure, and can cook a little quicker, and many are all-stainless with no electronics to fail, but they need you to watch and adjust the burner. For most home cooks the electric model's convenience wins; for speed, higher pressure, or heavy-duty use, a stovetop cooker has an edge.

Are all Instant Pots multi-cookers?

Most are, but not all pressure cookers are. The typical Instant Pot pressure cooks and also slow cooks, sautes, steams, and makes rice or yogurt, which is what makes it a 'multi-cooker.' Some simpler electric pressure cookers focus mainly on pressure cooking with fewer extra modes, and stovetop pressure cookers generally just pressure cook. If you want one appliance that does several jobs, look for a multi-cooker (most Instant Pots qualify); if you only want pressure cooking, a simpler model is fine and often cheaper.

Do I need an Instant Pot or will any pressure cooker do?

If you want convenience and versatility, an electric multi-cooker like an Instant Pot is the easy default — hands-off pressure cooking plus slow cooking and sauteing in one machine. If you specifically want the fastest cooking, the highest pressure, or a simple all-metal cooker with no electronics, a stovetop pressure cooker may suit you better. And 'Instant Pot' isn't required — other brands make good electric pressure cookers too. Decide based on electric vs stovetop and how many functions you want, not on the brand name.

Instant Pot vs. Pressure Cooker: What's the Difference?

Same thing, famous name

The short answer: an Instant Pot is a pressure cooker. Instant Pot is a brand of electric pressure cooker that got so popular its name became the everyday word for the category — the way “Kleenex” means tissue. Most Instant Pots are also multi-cookers: they pressure cook and slow cook, saute, steam, and make rice. So every Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, but not every pressure cooker is an Instant Pot.

The genuinely useful distinctions aren’t brand vs generic — they’re between types of pressure cooker.

Distinction 1: electric vs stovetop

Electric (Instant Pot and similar): hands-off. Set it, walk away, and it reaches and holds pressure automatically, usually with extra functions built in. The convenient, forgiving default.
Stovetop: heats faster, reaches a slightly higher pressure, and cooks a touch quicker; often all-stainless with no electronics to fail — but you have to watch it and adjust the burner.

For most home cooks, the electric model’s convenience wins. For maximum speed, higher pressure, or a simple all-metal cooker, stovetop has the edge.

Distinction 2: multi-cooker vs single-purpose

Multi-cooker (most Instant Pots): pressure cooks plus slow cooks, sautes, steams, and more — one appliance, many jobs.
Single-purpose: just pressure cooks. Simpler and often cheaper, but it won’t replace your other appliances.

If you want one machine that does several things, look for a multi-cooker; if you only want pressure cooking, a simpler model is fine.

The default that fits most kitchens

For most people the answer is an electric multi-cooker — hands-off pressure cooking plus the extra functions — and the archetype is the Instant Pot Duo, the overall pick in our best electric pressure cookers guide.

Best electric multi-cooker

Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker

Noolaguide says

The cooker that made 'Instant Pot' a household word, and still the default electric pressure cooker for most kitchens. It pressure-cooks hands-off and also slow-cooks, sautes, steams, and makes rice and yogurt, in a bare stainless-steel inner pot, backed by one of the largest, best-rated owner bases of any kitchen appliance. It won't out-speed a stovetop cooker or air-fry, but as the convenient, do-everything electric pressure cooker, it's the one most people should get.

Prime Day Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is on — a good time to check the live price.

Check current price on Amazon

What buyers praise

Electric and hands-off — holds pressure automatically
Multi-cooker: pressure, slow-cook, saute, steam, rice, yogurt
Uncoated stainless pot; enormous, well-rated owner base

What buyers flag

A stovetop cooker cooks slightly faster at higher pressure
No air-fry; not a canner for low-acid foods

The bottom line

Don’t get hung up on “Instant Pot vs pressure cooker” — it’s a pressure cooker. The choices that matter are electric vs stovetop (convenience vs speed) and multi-cooker vs single-purpose (versatility vs simplicity), and the brand name is optional — other makers build good electric cookers too. Ready to pick a model? See how to choose an electric pressure cooker. Weighing it against a slow cooker instead? See Instant Pot vs Crock-Pot.

Best electric pressure cookers