Multicooker vs Thermomix vs Air Fryer: Which to Choose in 2026?

For most families, a multicooker such as the Moulinex Cookeo is the best first buy: it cooks complete one-pot meals quickly under pressure, with guided recipes. An air fryer is the ideal partner for anything that should be crispy, and a Thermomix only makes sense if you want a machine that chops, kneads, weighs and cooks for you. These three appliances do different jobs, so choosing between them is really about how you cook.

This comparison is based on manufacturer specifications, published independent reviews and verified buyer feedback. It covers models on sale in 2026: the Thermomix TM7, which replaced the TM6 in 2025, the Moulinex Cookeo Touch WiFi, and the most widely sold air fryers in Europe. For the full range of multicookers, see our multicooker selection.

Three appliances, three different jobs

The Cookeo: a guided electric pressure cooker

Moulinex’s Cookeo is a pressure multicooker. It sears, simmers, steams and above all pressure cooks, which sharply cuts the time needed for stews, risottos, soups and curries. You follow a recipe on screen, add the ingredients, and the appliance finishes on its own and keeps the dish warm. It does not blend, chop or knead, and it does not make food crispy.

The Thermomix: a robot that preps and cooks

Vorwerk’s Thermomix is a heated food processor. In one bowl it chops, blends, kneads, emulsifies, weighs ingredients on its built-in scale, then cooks while stirring. Guided recipes come from the Cookidoo platform, which requires a subscription. It does not pressure cook and does not deliver a fried-style crunch. It is sold by Vorwerk, through its advisers and website, not through the usual online marketplaces.

The air fryer: crispy hot-air cooking

An air fryer is a small, powerful convection oven. Fast-moving hot air browns chips, chicken, roasted vegetables or breaded fish with little or no fat. It heats quickly and is easy to clean, but it does not simmer, pressure cook or prepare anything: it cooks what you put in it. Our air fryer selection covers the capacities available.

The criteria that really matter

• The dishes you cook: stews and one-pot meals (multicooker), from-scratch cooking with doughs, sauces and desserts (Thermomix), or quick crispy food (air fryer).
• Household size: the Cookeo’s 6 L pot feeds a family, whereas the Thermomix’s 2.2 L bowl limits some quantities for 5 or 6 people. For an air fryer, allow at least 5 to 6 L for four people.
• Time available: pressure cooking saves the most time on long dishes; an air fryer is quickest for small crispy portions.
• Guidance: on-screen, step-by-step recipes on the Cookeo and Thermomix; on air fryers, mostly presets and, depending on the model, a recipe app.
• Running costs: the Thermomix’s guided recipes are fully available with a Cookidoo subscription; the Cookeo and air fryers need none.
• Counter space: a 2-in-1 multicooker with an air fry function is still a bulky, heavy appliance.

The models worth knowing in 2026

Moulinex Cookeo Touch WiFi: the family choice

The Cookeo Touch WiFi combines a 6 L pot, 1,600 W, 13 cooking modes and 250 pre-loaded recipes, with a tilting touchscreen and Wi-Fi to add new recipes. The ceramic pot, lid and steam basket are dishwasher-safe. Strengths: simplicity, complete meals for up to six people, very clear guidance. Limits: no blending or crisping, and the pot coating needs some care. Best for: families who want a home-cooked weeknight meal without watching the hob.

Instant Pot Duo Plus WhisperQuiet: pressure cooking without a touchscreen

This 5.7 L Instant Pot offers 9 functions (pressure, slow cook, rice, steam, yoghurt, sous vide and more) and a steam release that does not hiss. It has no Wi-Fi and no on-screen guided recipes. Strengths: versatility, quiet operation, a size suited to 4 to 6 people. Limits: a less intuitive interface for beginners. Best for: people who already cook and mainly want pressure cooking.

Thermomix TM7: the premium kitchen robot

Launched in 2025, the TM7 keeps a 2.2 L bowl but adds a 10-inch touchscreen, a quieter motor, an insulated bowl shell, new modes such as browning and open-lid cooking, and a larger Varoma. Strengths: it preps and cooks, weighs ingredients and guides every step. Limits: a very high budget, a Cookidoo subscription to get the most from recipes, and limited capacity for big gatherings. Best for: keen cooks who make many varied recipes and want one preparation machine.

Philips Airfryer 3000 Series XL 6.2 L: the all-round air fryer

This 6.2 L model offers 14 cooking modes, a touchscreen with 7 presets, keep-warm for up to 30 minutes and recipes in the NutriU app. Strengths: family-friendly capacity, simplicity, easy cleaning. Limits: a single basket, so only one cook at a time. Best for: anyone wanting an easy first air fryer alongside a multicooker.

Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5 L: two stacked drawers

The Ninja SL400EU stacks two independently controlled 4.75 L drawers, with a function that synchronises finish times. Its vertical design takes up less width than a classic dual-zone model. Strengths: a main and a side at the same time, large total capacity. Limits: a tall, heavy unit, and some foods may cook less evenly according to published reviews. Best for: large families who often cook two things at once.

Ninja Foodi MAX SmartLid: the all-in-one compromise

The Ninja Foodi MAX SmartLid (OL750EU) brings pressure cooking and air frying under a single lid, with a 7.5 L pot, a 4.7 L basket and 14 functions. Strengths: it replaces both a pressure cooker and an air fryer. Limits: bulky, heavy (over 11 kg) and slower to master. Best for: those who want only one appliance on the worktop and have the room.

Comparison table

Can one replace another?

• A multicooker does not replace a Thermomix: it cannot chop, blend, knead or weigh.
• A Thermomix partly replaces a multicooker: it cooks and simmers, but without pressure, so a beef stew still takes a long time, and the bowl limits big batches.
• An air fryer replaces neither: it roasts and crisps, but makes no sauces, soups or stews.
• The most common pairing: a multicooker for complete meals and an air fryer for crispy food. Together they cover most weeknight meals for a fraction of a Thermomix budget.

Our recommendation by profile

Family with children: the Cookeo Touch WiFi, later joined by an air fryer of 6 L or more. Student or couple: an air fryer such as the Philips 3000 Series XL is often enough to start; see our guide on how to choose an air fryer. Keen cook: the Thermomix TM7, if the budget and subscription are not an issue; compare it with the alternatives in our connected cooking robot comparison. Small kitchen: a Ninja Foodi MAX SmartLid if you want just one appliance, provided you have the space.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying a Thermomix mainly for pasta and simple meals: it will be underused.
• Expecting a multicooker to make food crispy: it sears, but does not replace an oven or an air fryer.
• Choosing an air fryer too small for a family: you will have to cook in several batches.
• Forgetting about size: measure the space under your wall cupboards, especially for tall or combination models.
• Neglecting maintenance: a worn lid seal or damaged pot shortens a pressure cooker’s life.

Use and safety

A pressure multicooker only opens once the pressure has dropped: respect the maximum fill lines, check the seal and valve regularly, and keep your face away from the steam outlet. An air fryer needs clearance around its hot-air outlet and should not be placed against a wall or under a low cupboard. Plug all of these appliances directly into a wall socket rather than an overloaded extension lead.

Verdict

If you buy only one, the Moulinex Cookeo Touch WiFi is the most useful day to day for a family. For crispy food, the Philips Airfryer 3000 Series XL is a simple, effective partner, and the Ninja Double Stack XL suits larger households better. The Thermomix TM7 remains the most complete tool, but only for people who cook a lot and want to prep as well as cook. To go further, read our connected multicooker comparison.