Multicooker vs. Thermomix vs. Air Fryer: Which to Buy in 2026?

For most families, a multicooker such as the Moulinex Cookeo is the best first buy: it pressure cooks complete one-pot meals fast, with guided recipes. An air fryer is the perfect partner for anything that should come out 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 really comes down to how you cook.

This comparison is based on manufacturer specs, published independent reviews and verified owner reviews. It covers models on the market in 2026: the Thermomix TM7, which replaced the TM6 in 2025, the Moulinex Cookeo Touch WiFi and the best-selling air fryers in Europe. For the full range of multicookers, see our multicooker picks.

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 slashes the time needed for stews, risottos, soups and curries. You follow a recipe on the screen, add the ingredients, and the appliance finishes the job on its own and keeps the food warm. It doesn’t blend, chop or knead, and it won’t make food crispy.

The Thermomix: a machine that preps and cooks

Vorwerk’s Thermomix is a heated food processor. In a single bowl, it chops, blends, kneads, emulsifies and weighs ingredients on its built-in scale, then cooks while it stirs. Guided recipes come from the Cookidoo platform, which requires a subscription. It doesn’t pressure cook and can’t deliver a fried-style crunch. Vorwerk sells it through its own consultants 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 fries, chicken, roasted vegetables or breaded fish with little or no oil. It heats up quickly and is easy to clean, but it doesn’t simmer, pressure cook or prep anything: it cooks what you put in it. Our air fryer picks cover the sizes available.

What really matters

• What 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 6.3 qt (6 L) pot feeds a family, while the Thermomix’s 2.3 qt (2.2 L) bowl limits some batches for five or six people. For an air fryer, plan on at least 5.3 to 6.3 qt (5 to 6 L) for a family of four.
• How much time you have: pressure cooking saves the most time on long-cooking dishes; an air fryer is fastest for small crispy portions.
• Guidance: step-by-step recipes on the screen of the Cookeo and the Thermomix; on air fryers, mostly presets and, depending on the model, a recipe app.
• Ongoing costs: you get the Thermomix’s full set of guided recipes with a Cookidoo subscription; the Cookeo and air fryers don’t need one.
• 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 pick

The Cookeo Touch WiFi combines a 6.3 qt (6 L) pot, 1,600 W, 13 cooking modes and 250 preloaded recipes with a tilting touchscreen and Wi-Fi for adding new recipes. The ceramic pot, lid and steam basket are dishwasher-safe. Pros: simplicity, complete meals for up to six people, very clear guidance. Cons: no blending or crisping, and the pot’s coating needs some care. Best for: families who want a home-cooked weeknight dinner without standing over the stove.

Instant Pot Duo Plus WhisperQuiet: pressure cooking without a touchscreen

This 6 qt (5.7 L) Instant Pot offers 9 functions (pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, yogurt, sous vide and more) and a steam release that doesn’t hiss. It has no Wi-Fi and no guided recipes on the screen. Pros: versatility, quiet operation, a size that suits four to six people. Cons: the controls are less intuitive for beginners. Best for: people who already know how to cook and mainly want pressure cooking.

Thermomix TM7: the premium all-in-one cooking machine

Launched in 2025, the TM7 keeps a 2.3 qt (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. Pros: it preps and cooks, weighs ingredients and walks you through every step. Cons: a very high budget, a Cookidoo subscription to get the most out of the recipes, and limited capacity for big gatherings. Best for: serious home cooks who make lots of different recipes and want one machine to handle the prep.

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

This 6.6 qt (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. Pros: family-size capacity, simplicity, easy cleanup. Cons: a single basket, so only one thing cooks at a time. Best for: anyone who wants an easy first air fryer to go alongside a multicooker.

Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5 L: two stacked drawers

The Ninja SL400EU stacks two independently controlled 5 qt (4.75 L) drawers, for 10 qt (9.5 L) in all, with a function that syncs their finish times. Its vertical design takes up less counter width than a classic dual-zone model. Pros: a main and a side at the same time, large total capacity. Cons: 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) puts pressure cooking and air frying under a single lid, with a 7.9 qt (7.5 L) pot, a 5 qt (4.7 L) basket and 14 functions. Pros: it replaces both a pressure cooker and an air fryer. Cons: bulky, heavy (over 24 lb, or 11 kg) and slower to master. Best for: people who want only one appliance on the countertop and have the room for it.

Comparison table

Can one replace another?

• A multicooker doesn’t replace a Thermomix: it can’t 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 it can’t make 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 dinners for a fraction of what a Thermomix costs.

Our picks for every kind of cook

Families with kids: the Cookeo Touch WiFi, later joined by an air fryer of 6.3 qt (6 L) or more. Students and couples: 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. Serious home cooks: the Thermomix TM7, if the budget and the subscription aren’t an issue; compare it with the alternatives in our smart cooking machine comparison. Small kitchens: a Ninja Foodi MAX SmartLid if you want just one appliance, provided you have the space.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying a Thermomix mostly for pasta and simple meals: it will sit underused.
• Expecting a multicooker to make food crispy: it sears, but it doesn’t replace an oven or an air fryer.
• Choosing an air fryer that’s too small for a family: you’ll end up cooking in several batches.
• Forgetting about size: measure the clearance under your upper cabinets, especially for tall or combination models.
• Skipping maintenance: a worn lid gasket or a damaged pot shortens a pressure cooker’s life.

Use and safety

A pressure multicooker only opens once the pressure has dropped: respect the max fill lines, check the gasket and valve regularly, and keep your face away from the steam vent. An air fryer needs clearance around its hot-air vent and shouldn’t sit against a wall or under a low cabinet. Plug all of these appliances straight into a wall outlet rather than an overloaded power strip. Models sold in Europe are built for 230 V, so check that the version on your Amazon store is rated for 120 V.

The bottom line

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 is the better fit for bigger households. 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 smart multicooker comparison.