That said, this one from AGLucky — which is both self-cleaning and capable of producing a whopping 44 pounds of ice every 24 hours — is priced at less than $300. It comes with an ice basket and ice scoop for easy ice storage. The viewing window is also helpful for keep track of ice production and refilling the machine as needed. If you’d asked me a couple of years ago whether I’d consider spending money on a fancy ice maker, I would’ve said no. It’s easy enough to throw some ice cube trays in the freezer and call it a day, right? About a month ago, though, while doing a bit of late-night online shopping one weekend, I decided to go all in and order a countertop ice maker of my own — and I couldn’t be happier that I did. The machine runs constantly, but you can set a timer if you only want it to be on and produce new ice for a certain period. Its see-through, illuminated reservoir for the ice reminded us of an aquarium. It also has a water tank that attaches easily to the side of the machine via magnets. The tank allows for more ice to be made between refills, but you don’t have to use it. The front also has a Frigidaire Gallery stainless steel-colored faceplate. When it’s kept stain-free, it gives the icemaker a clean look. After that was done, we set this Frigidaire to start making ice. But it’s smaller and lighter than our pick from Magic Chef, which you might appreciate if you have minimal counter space or plan to store it away. This bullet-ice maker is compact and has a self-cleaning mode. But because of its slightly smaller size, you need to refill it a bit more frequently. In our tests, it took three hours to fill the entire bin with 3.4 pounds of ice, and after 5 hours and 20 minutes and two full ice bins, the tank needed to be refilled. GE offers a 60-day return policy and a one-year warranty for parts and labor. The square button on the front of the appliance lights up in a variety of colors and patterns depending on the ice maker's current function, like cleaning, making ice or requiring a water refill. We recommend keeping the button's key handy so you know which function your ice maker is in at all times. This compact, matte-finish model from Frigidaire Gallery aced our tests. Not only does it produce lots of nugget ice, but it received top marks for ease of use as well. We appreciate that you can pull the water tank out for quick filling and that a sturdy plastic drip tray slides into place below the main unit to prevent accidental dribbles on your countertop. Clear ice keeps beverages carbonated longer than bullet ice does. In a side-by-side test, a soda with clear cubes from the Luma Comfort IM200 fizzed much less in a glass and tasted bubbly and sharp, while a soda with cloudy cubes quickly tasted flat. Countertop ice makers are also a good option for use in RVs, campers, boats, or even food trucks. They are, however, meant to be used in a temperature-controlled environment (around 70 °F). So if you have dreams of putting this ice machine outside near a pool, you should invest in a cooler instead. Like the Magic Chef MCIM22/HNIM27, the Igloo IGLICEBSC26 makes nine bullet-shaped cubes in less than 10 minutes. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times.