Pizza has become a ritual in my home, and over the past few weeks I’ve been running a head-to-head test of two highly regarded electric pizza ovens: the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven (MO201) and the Ooni Volt 12. Both promise restaurant-quality results without an open flame, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. After dozens of pies—from Neapolitan classics to deep-dish experiments—here’s everything I learned about how these two ovens compare in daily use.
Key Difference at a Glance: Ninja Artisan vs Ooni Volt Pizza Oven
The most obvious distinction is their environment focus and heat profiles. The Ninja Artisan is designed primarily for outdoor cooking, maxing out at 700 °F (370 °C) and doubling as a multipurpose outdoor oven with five cooking modes.
The Ooni Volt, on the other hand, is an indoor/outdoor hybrid built for 850 °F (450 °C) performance and lightning-fast 90-second pizzas. One excels in versatility and family-style meals; the other aims squarely at high-temperature, authentic stone-baked pizza whether you’re in the kitchen or on the patio.
- 5-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: The ultimate outdoor sidekick for all your backyard entertainment; pizza, bake, broil, warm & proof.
- PIZZA IN ANY WEATHER - Ooni’s first electric oven, Ooni Volt offers the flexibility to make authentic, restaurant-quality pizza at home, indoors or outdoors,...
Quick Comparison Table: Ninja Artisan vs Ooni Volt Pizza Oven
| Feature | Ninja Artisan (MO201) | Ooni Volt 12 |
| Heat Source | Electric (90 – 700 °F) | Electric (up to 850 °F) |
| Pizza Size | 12 inches | 12 inches |
| Preheat Time | ~18 minutes | ~20 minutes |
| Functions | Pizza, Bake, Broil, Warm, Proof | Pizza (manual or auto), multiple heat zones |
| Weight | 25 lb (11.3 kg) | 39 lb (17.8 kg) |
| Indoor Use | Not recommended | Fully indoor/outdoor |
| Special Features | 5 pizza settings, proofing mode, Chef’s View window | Boost function for fast stone recovery, internal light, three adjustable dials |
| Material | Metal, weather-resistant | Powder-coated steel with heavy insulation |
| Wattage | 1,760 W | 1,600 W |
| Check Latest Deals | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Comparative Review
Before diving into each category, here’s some context: I baked side-by-side pizzas on three different evenings, rotating between New York thin crust, classic Neapolitan, and a Chicago-style pan pie. I also proofed dough, roasted vegetables, and even reheated leftovers to see which oven could handle everyday cooking demands beyond pizza.
Design & Build Quality
Ninja Artisan
The Ninja looks like a premium countertop oven that’s been ruggedized for the outdoors. The dropdown door with the Chef’s View window is more than a gimmick—it lets you monitor bubbling cheese without opening the door and losing heat. At 25 pounds, it’s easy to lift and its weather-resistant shell handles a night outside without worry (I still use the recommended cover).
Ooni Volt
The Volt has a sleeker, more minimalist profile. Its powder-coated steel shell feels rock-solid and heavily insulated, keeping the exterior surprisingly cool while the interior rockets past 800 °F. Built-in handles make the 39-pound body manageable, though it’s a two-hand carry. The internal light is a small but brilliant feature—you can literally watch the crust rise and blister without opening the door.
- 5-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: The ultimate outdoor sidekick for all your backyard entertainment; pizza, bake, broil, warm & proof.
- PIZZA IN ANY WEATHER - Ooni’s first electric oven, Ooni Volt offers the flexibility to make authentic, restaurant-quality pizza at home, indoors or outdoors,...
Ease of Use
Ninja
Setup is as simple as plugging it in. The LED display and button controls walk you through five pizza styles—Neapolitan, Thin Crust, Pan, New York, and Custom. The proofing mode sets a steady 90 °F for dough, which took the guesswork out of my sourdough prep. No need to rotate pies, and the electric heat is steady even on a breezy evening.
Ooni Volt
Equally plug-and-play but slightly more hands-on when baking. Three front dials control top heat, bottom heat, and timer. That flexibility is fantastic once you get the feel for it, letting you fine-tune the bake for different doughs. The Boost function is genius: between back-to-back pizzas the stone regains temperature quickly, so the last pie is as good as the first.
- 5-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: The ultimate outdoor sidekick for all your backyard entertainment; pizza, bake, broil, warm & proof.
- PIZZA IN ANY WEATHER - Ooni’s first electric oven, Ooni Volt offers the flexibility to make authentic, restaurant-quality pizza at home, indoors or outdoors,...
Cooking Performance
Ninja
It reliably hits 700 °F after an 18-minute preheat. My Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in about three minutes with nicely leoparded crusts. Deep-dish pies took around 12 minutes and came out evenly browned. Where it really shines is versatility: I baked a 12″ mac and cheese, broiled vegetables, and proofed dough without moving to the indoor kitchen.
Ooni Volt
This is the high-heat specialist. After a 20-minute preheat, it blasted to 850 °F and turned out classic Neapolitan pies in 90 seconds flat. The stone’s quick recovery means you can feed a crowd without slowing down. I appreciated the ability to adjust top and bottom heating separately—crucial for balancing a thin crispy base with a perfectly melted top.
- 5-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: The ultimate outdoor sidekick for all your backyard entertainment; pizza, bake, broil, warm & proof.
- PIZZA IN ANY WEATHER - Ooni’s first electric oven, Ooni Volt offers the flexibility to make authentic, restaurant-quality pizza at home, indoors or outdoors,...
Versatility
The Ninja is the clear winner here. Its five functions (pizza, bake, broil, warm, proof) make it more than a pizza oven; it’s an outdoor electric oven for breads, casseroles, and even desserts. The Ooni Volt can roast vegetables or meat with some creativity, but its real talent is pizza at blistering temperatures.
Maintenance
Both ovens cool down in about an hour and require only a quick wipe of the stone and interior. The Ninja’s stainless interior is easier to clean, while the Volt’s stone occasionally needs a hotter “self-clean” bake to burn off stuck cheese.
Ninja Artisan (MO201) Outdoor Pizza Oven
- 5-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: The ultimate outdoor sidekick for all your backyard entertainment; pizza, bake, broil, warm & proof.
Pros:
- 5-in-1 functionality for pizza, baking, proofing, and more
- Simple digital controls and preset pizza styles
- Chef’s View window to monitor food without opening door
- Weather-resistant and relatively lightweight
Cons:
- Max temperature of 700 °F is below true Neapolitan standards
- Strictly outdoor use—no indoor cooking
Ooni Volt 12 Outdoor Pizza Oven
- PIZZA IN ANY WEATHER - Ooni’s first electric oven, Ooni Volt offers the flexibility to make authentic, restaurant-quality pizza at home, indoors or outdoors,...
Pros:
- Reaches 850 °F for 90-second pizzas
- Indoor/outdoor capability expands where you can cook
- Boost function keeps stone hot for continuous baking
- Adjustable top and bottom heat for precise control
- Internal light for easy monitoring
Cons:
- Heavier and bulkier than the Ninja
- Primarily focused on pizza, less multipurpose
Verdict and Recommendation
If you dream of authentic Neapolitan pizzas year-round—whether it’s raining, snowing, or sweltering—the Ooni Volt is a powerhouse. Its ability to reach 850 °F indoors makes it the closest thing to a professional pizzeria oven you can plug into a standard outlet.
That said, the Ninja Artisan is the more flexible companion. It’s perfect for backyards, balconies, or patios where open flames aren’t an option but you still want to bake bread, proof dough, or serve a 12″ pan of mac and cheese alongside your pies.
For my own cooking habits, I reach for the Ooni Volt when I’m craving that blistered, airy Neapolitan crust. On weeknights or when I’m entertaining and need sides or dessert from the same oven, the Ninja Artisan takes center stage.
Either way, both ovens deliver excellent results. Your choice really comes down to where you plan to cook and whether you value pure pizza performance or all-around outdoor versatility.
