The Ninja Slushi vs COWSAR choice comes down to about $110 on Amazon: the Ninja listed at $299.00 and the COWSAR at $189.10 on October 16, 2026, and both freeze drinks without ice using a built-in compressor. The Ninja has far more independent testing behind it, while the COWSAR adds texture levels and a self-cleaning mode for less money.
Bob Diff, a YouTube reviewer who paid $300 for his Ninja and tested it with a family of nine, found it turns nearly any sweet drink into slush (Bob Diff, “Ninja Slushi Review – Is This Slushy Machine Worthy of the Viral Hype?”). For the COWSAR, AE Mind’s own YouTube channel, Home Smart by AE Mind, made a pineapple slushie with a machine COWSAR sent, and creator Christina Alvarez, who was also gifted one, made iced-tea slush for her kids (Home Smart by AE Mind, “COWSAR Frozen Drink Machine Review | Homemade Pineapple Slushie Test”; Christina Alvarez, “COWSAR Slushie Machine | Our honest review and DEMO of this slushie machine!”).
Ninja Slushi vs COWSAR: Specs Side by Side
Prices from Amazon at time of writing. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Ninja SLUSHi (FS301) | COWSAR Frozen Drink and Slushie Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $189.10 |
| Capacity | Up to 64 oz per batch (Bob Diff) | 68 oz for drinks, 51 oz for slush (listed) |
| Presets | 5: slush, spiked slush, frappe, milkshake, frozen juice | 6: slushie, frozen drink, spiked slush, milkshake, frappe, cold drink |
| Texture control | Temperature dial | 7 texture levels |
| Time to slush | 15 to 60 minutes (Ninja) | “A few minutes” for iced tea, per Christina Alvarez; not timed |
| Cleaning | Rinse cycle plus hand-washed parts | Self-cleaning mode; removable pitcher and lid |
| Sugar and alcohol | Needs sugar; dilute drinks over 16% alcohol (per Freakin’ Reviews) | At least 5% sugar, under 16% alcohol (listed) |
| Buy | Check price | Check price |
How the Ninja Slushi Performed
Bob Diff slushed a caramel coffee frappé in about 15 minutes, apple cider in about 25, a chocolate milkshake in 38 and mango juice in 23 before rerunning it on the slush setting for a thicker result (Bob Diff, “Ninja Slushi Review – Is This Slushy Machine Worthy of the Viral Hype?”). A full 64-oz batch makes four or five drinks and takes about 45 minutes. He called it “extremely easy to use” and the $300 price “somewhat justified.”
Freakin’ Reviews, which also bought its unit, got convenience-store-quality Coke slush in about 15 to 20 minutes, a margarita in about 18, and a milkshake with “absolutely perfect” texture in 20 (Freakin’ Reviews, “Ninja Slushi Review: Does This Slushie Maker Work?”). Raising the temperature level made thicker drinks but took much longer: frozen juice went from 12 1/2 minutes on the lowest setting to about 85 minutes at the highest. It found the Ninja easy to clean, well made and quiet enough to talk over, with price as the one main drawback.
How the COWSAR Performed
Home Smart by AE Mind poured plain pineapple juice into the COWSAR, chose the frozen-drink preset and watched it thicken into a smooth, cold slush that kept its pineapple flavor because no ice was added (Home Smart by AE Mind, “COWSAR Frozen Drink Machine Review | Homemade Pineapple Slushie Test”). The video notes the six presets, seven texture levels, 68-oz container, self-cleaning cycle and removable pitcher and lid, and COWSAR’s guidance of at least 5% sugar and under 16% alcohol. COWSAR sent the machine for that video.
Christina Alvarez, who was gifted her COWSAR, made an iced-tea slushy that was ready in what she described as just a few minutes (Christina Alvarez, “COWSAR Slushie Machine | Our honest review and DEMO of this slushie machine!”). She liked the compact, modern design, a live temperature readout on the front, the ability to set hardness from spoonable to sippable, and that it was “basically silent.” Her cleaning routine: unlock the compartment, wash the two main pieces and the drip tray, and make sure everything locks back in place to avoid leaks. She cited a 50-oz capacity and a 6% sugar minimum, slightly different from the figures on the Amazon listing, so check the manual for your unit.
Video: Bob Diff, “Ninja Slushi Review – Is This Slushy Machine Worthy of the Viral Hype?”. Embedded with credit; the findings are the creator’s own.
Where the COWSAR Stands Out
- Lower price on Amazon: about $110 less on October 16, 2026.
- Six presets, including a cold-drink mode, and seven texture levels, per COWSAR’s listing.
- A removable pitcher and lid plus a self-cleaning mode.
- COWSAR says it can make soft serve with the included recipes.
Where the Ninja Stands Out
- More independent testing: Bob Diff and Freakin’ Reviews bought their own units and documented results across sodas, juice, cocktails and milkshakes.
- A temperature dial to make drinks more sippable or thicker (Freakin’ Reviews, “Ninja Slushi Review: Does This Slushie Maker Work?”).
- A family of upgrades if you outgrow it, including the 150-oz XL and two-vessel Twist.
Which Should You Buy?
- COWSAR Frozen Drink and Slushie Machine: the value pick if you want an ice-free slushie machine with fine texture control and easy cleanup. Read our COWSAR frozen drink machine review.
- Ninja SLUSHi (FS301): if you want the most-tested machine and a clear upgrade path. See our Ninja Slushi Review.
Still deciding? Our Best Slushie Machine for Home guide compares six machines, and Ninja Slushi Recipes covers drinks that work in either.
Ninja Slushi vs COWSAR: Frequently Asked Questions
Is COWSAR as good as Ninja Slushi?
Both freeze drinks with a compressor and no ice. The COWSAR adds texture levels and costs less; the Ninja has more independent, purchased-unit test results.
Which is bigger?
COWSAR lists a 68-oz pitcher (51 oz for slush), and Bob Diff measured the Ninja’s max batch at 64 oz.
Can the COWSAR make soft serve?
COWSAR says yes, when you follow its included recipes.
Which is easier to clean?
The COWSAR has a self-cleaning mode and a removable pitcher and lid; the Ninja has a rinse cycle plus hand-washed parts.
Do sugar-free drinks work in either?
No. Both need sugar to slush; COWSAR asks for at least 5%.
Sources
- Bob Diff, “Ninja Slushi Review – Is This Slushy Machine Worthy of the Viral Hype?”
- Freakin’ Reviews, “Ninja Slushi Review: Does This Slushie Maker Work?”
- Home Smart by AE Mind, “COWSAR Frozen Drink Machine Review | Homemade Pineapple Slushie Test”
- Christina Alvarez, “COWSAR Slushie Machine | Our honest review and DEMO of this slushie machine!”
- Amazon product listings for the products linked above, from Amazon at time of writing
Related: Ninja Slushi Review | COWSAR Frozen Drink Machine Review | Best Slushie Machine for Home | Ninja Slushi Recipes
Notes and disclosure
Note: Prices come from Amazon listings at time of writing. Capacities, presets and speed claims are the manufacturers’ listed figures unless a reviewer is credited. Bob Diff and Freakin’ Reviews bought their Ninja units; COWSAR sent the machine shown on Home Smart by AE Mind, AE Mind’s YouTube channel, and gifted Christina Alvarez’s. Findings are the creators’ own.