Head-to-head · Best Instant Pot

Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker vs Instant Pot Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer, 6-in-1

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about budget-conscious users wanting maximum cooking functions — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Instant Pot

Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

4.6

3 sources$164.99as of Aug 1

Ten functions in one pot is the Instant Pot Pro's pitch: pressure cook, slow cook, saute, steam, sous vide, yogurt, sterilise, bake, rice and keep warm, driven by 28 preset programs from a dial and a digital display. The stainless inner pot is dishwasher safe and the lid seals itself. Slow cooking is the weak function, the interface takes a week to learn, and the lid is awkward to put down. It earns its counter space in a household that pressure cooks most weeks.

Strengths

— 10 cooking functions replace multiple appliances including pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, and yogurt making
— 20% faster preheating and up to 70% quicker cooking times than traditional methods
— 28 smart programs ensure consistent results for everything from soups to cheesecakes

Watch-outs

— Slow cooking runs hot at the base and needs stirring on long recipes
— Sous vide holds temperature without circulating the water, so precision is approximate
— No air-fry lid included and no app control

$164.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Instant Pot

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer, 6-in-1

4.3

4 sources1 derived$129.99as of Aug 1

The Instant Vortex Plus is a six-function countertop air fryer, covering air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat and dehydrate, built around a 6-quart basket and a 1500W element. Tom's Guide and TechGearLab both rate it in the mid-4s out of 5 for how much it does for the money and how little cleaning it demands. The preheat is slower than rivals, the basket tray slides out when the food is tipped, and the fan is audible from the next room.

Strengths

— Impressive versatility with six preset functions including air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate
— Easy to clean with dishwasher-safe parts and a dedicated how-to video on the website
— Intuitive digital touch controls combined with a central dial make operation effortless

Watch-outs

— Preheat runs about five minutes, slower than several rivals
— Inner tray is unlatched and slides out when the basket is tipped
— Fan is audible from the next room through longer cycles

$129.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

The standard 10-in-1 model offers the most cooking programs and fastest cooking times compared to the Vortex Plus and RIO Wide, but lacks the smart features of the Pro Plus and the air frying capability of the Vortex Plus. It's more affordable than the Pro Plus but heavier than the Duo Plus and RIO Wide. While it provides 28 smart programs, it doesn't match the RIO's wider cooking surface or the Vortex Plus's specialized functions, making it a solid choice for those who want maximum functionality without extra features.

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer, 6-in-1

The Vortex Plus offers the only air frying capability among all models, making it unique compared to the Duo Plus, Pro Plus, and RIO Wide. While it's more expensive than the standard 10-in-1 and has a longer preheat time, it provides six preset functions and a large 6-quart capacity that the others don't match. Unlike the Pro Plus, it lacks Wi-Fi features but compensates with more versatile cooking options, making it ideal for users wanting a multi-functional appliance with air frying.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker	Instant Pot Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer, 6-in-1
Capacity	6-8 Quarts	6 quarts
Wattage	1200-1400 watts	1500W
Inner Pot Material	Stainless Steel	Non-stick basket and tray
Safety Features	Overheat protection, auto-sealing lid, easy-grip handles	Auto-shutoff
Functions	10	Air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate
Display	digital display and a control knob	Digital screen with knob
Dimensions	13"D x 12.7"W x 12.8"H	10.2"D x 13.03"W x 11.02"H
Weight	6 kg	—

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