The freezer aisle can be overwhelming. Dozens of brands promise perfect scoops, but which ones actually deliver?
After months of tasting, comparing ingredients, and analyzing what makes great ice cream truly great, we’ve narrowed down the choices. Some brands nail the classics. Others push boundaries with creative flavors. A few strike that rare balance between quality and affordability.
This guide walks you through the brands worth your money and freezer space.
How We Selected the Best Ice Cream Brands
Our team tested and evaluated dozens of ice cream brands over several months. We wanted to move past marketing hype and find brands that consistently deliver on taste, quality, and value.
We focused on these key factors:
Ingredient Quality: Real cream content matters. We checked for natural ingredients and flagged products loaded with artificial additives or excessive stabilizers that compromise taste.
Flavor Variety: Great brands offer both reliable classics and interesting options. We looked at how many flavors each brand carries and whether they cater to different preferences and seasonal cravings.
Texture and Consistency: Smooth and creamy wins every time. We tested for iciness, graininess, and that unpleasant airy feel that means you’re paying for mostly air instead of actual ice cream.
Value for Money: Price matters, but so does what you get. We compared costs against portion sizes and quality to find brands that give you the most for your dollar.
Availability: The best ice cream means nothing if you can’t find it. We prioritized brands you can actually buy at major grocery stores, specialty shops, or through online retailers.
Brand Reputation: Customer reviews tell stories. We researched feedback, industry recognition, and company track records to understand which brands have earned lasting customer loyalty.
Dietary Options: Many people need dairy-free, low-sugar, or organic choices. We evaluated how well each brand serves customers with specific dietary requirements.
These criteria helped us separate truly exceptional brands from the rest. Let’s look at what made the final cut.
10 Best Ice Cream Brands (2025 Review) (Expert Review)
Each of these ten brands has earned customer loyalty through quality, consistency, and flavors people actually want to eat. Here’s what makes them stand out.
1. Ben & Jerry’s
You probably know Ben & Jerry’s for chunks so big they sometimes get stuck in your spoon. What started in a renovated Vermont gas station has grown into something much bigger, though the founders still pack each pint with serious amounts of mix-ins.
The social activism angle sets them apart. While other brands stay neutral, Ben & Jerry’s takes stands on issues and sources fair trade ingredients. Their flavors range from the legendary Cherry Garcia to wild combinations like Phish Food that somehow work perfectly together.
Ben & Jerry’s fits anyone who wants more than plain vanilla. The texture stays creamy even when frozen solid, and their non-dairy lineup actually tastes good. You’ll find them everywhere, which makes trying new flavors easy and convenient.
2. Häagen-Dazs
Five ingredients. That’s usually all Häagen-Dazs needs to create ice cream that tastes expensive because it is. No stabilizers, no fillers, no shortcuts. They let quality cream, sugar, eggs, and real flavorings do all the work.
Their approach focuses on intensity rather than quantity. Each spoonful delivers concentrated flavor that doesn’t need cookie dough or candy pieces to taste complete. The texture feels impossibly smooth, almost like frozen custard that melts perfectly on your tongue.
This brand makes sense for people who’d rather pay more for pure quality. Their flavor selection stays classic with occasional sophisticated additions like spirits-infused varieties. The mini cups help if you want portion control without giving up the luxury experience.
3. Talenti
Those clear containers changed everything. Suddenly you could see exactly what you were buying before opening the package. Talenti brought authentic gelato to American freezers and made it available beyond expensive Italian restaurants.
Real ingredients create those vibrant colors you see through the plastic. The gelato contains less air than regular ice cream, which means denser texture and bigger flavor in smaller amounts. Many flavors use organic milk and fair trade certification, appealing to shoppers who care about sourcing.
The sorbetto line deserves special mention for people avoiding dairy. These fruit-based options taste creamy despite having no milk at all. Flavors range from traditional Italian styles to American favorites like Peanut Butter Fudge that give you options whether you can eat dairy or not.
4. Blue Bell
Texas takes its Blue Bell seriously. This regional brand tastes like someone’s grandmother made it in her kitchen, with familiar flavors that bring back childhood summers and family gatherings.
The distribution stays mostly southern and southwestern, though fans keep demanding wider availability. Blue Bell doesn’t chase trends or create bizarre flavor mashups. They stick with what works, which means you get reliable taste at prices that don’t require a second mortgage.
Families on budgets appreciate the half-gallon containers that cost less per serving than fancy pints. The texture stays creamy, the flavors stay recognizable, and kids actually eat it without complaints. Sometimes simple really is better.
5. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni’s does things differently. They source directly from farmers, create unexpected flavors, and skip the eggs in their base recipe. The result tastes unlike anything else in your freezer.
Brown Butter Almond Brittle sounds weird until you try it. Brambleberry Crisp makes you question why other brands stick with plain strawberry. Each flavor tells a story through carefully chosen ingredients like single-origin vanilla and heritage grains. These are flavors you’d expect from restaurants, packaged for home.
This brand costs more because small-batch production and premium sourcing cost more. Jeni’s works best as an occasional treat for people who view ice cream as an experience. If you eat ice cream every night, your wallet might prefer something less ambitious.
6. Breyers
Breyers has been around since 1866, which means they figured out ice cream long before anyone reading this was born. Their Natural Vanilla proves you only need four ingredients to make something people want to eat.
Budget-friendly pricing makes quality accessible. Families with kids appreciate flavors everyone can agree on without spending half the grocery budget on dessert. The variety extends beyond basics too, with Carb Smart and No Sugar Added options for people managing health conditions.
You’ll find Breyers at every grocery store, gas station, and corner market. It’s reliable, familiar, and gets the job done. Sure, luxury brands offer fancier textures, but Breyers delivers consistent quality at prices that make sense for regular consumption rather than special occasions.
7. Turkey Hill
Pennsylvania dairy country produces some serious ice cream. Turkey Hill sits in that perfect middle zone between budget brands and premium prices, delivering quality that punches above its price tag.
Their All Natural line cuts out artificial growth hormones and keeps ingredient lists simple. Flavors like Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup and Butter Pecan taste expensive while costing considerably less than luxury competitors. The half-gallon size makes sense for families, while their premium small-batch line satisfies anyone wanting something special.
This brand fits people who refuse to choose between affordability and taste. The frozen yogurt and sherbet options add variety beyond traditional ice cream. If you’ve never tried Turkey Hill, you’re probably paying more elsewhere for similar quality.
8. Tillamook
Oregon dairy farmers own this cooperative, which means they control everything from cow to container. You taste the difference immediately because Tillamook packs more cream and less air than most brands.
Real fruit chunks, genuine chocolate pieces, and actual vanilla create authentic flavors instead of chemical approximations. The extra creamy formula means richer taste in smaller servings, so containers last longer. You get premium quality without the super-premium price that luxury brands charge.
Distribution keeps expanding beyond the Pacific Northwest, though availability varies depending on your region. Check your local stores to see what they carry. The denser texture and real ingredients make Tillamook worth seeking out if it’s available near you.
9. Graeter’s
Cincinnati knows something other cities don’t. Graeter’s still makes ice cream the old way, using French pots and hand-breaking chocolate into huge chunks that other brands can’t match.
The process dates back to 1870 and stays essentially unchanged. They pour melted chocolate directly into spinning ice cream, creating those massive chips that feel more like candy bars than mix-ins. The texture comes out dense and incredibly smooth because this method just works better than modern factory shortcuts.
Limited distribution means mostly Midwest availability, though you can order online if you live elsewhere. The flavor selection stays smaller than national brands because they focus on perfecting classics rather than inventing gimmicks. Serious ice cream lovers recognize the craftsmanship difference.
10. Van Leeuwen
Brooklyn created this brand, and it shows in the creative flavors and ingredient obsession. Organic cream, sugar, and eggs go into dairy recipes. The vegan line proves plant-based ice cream can actually compete with traditional versions.
Those vegan flavors deserve real attention. Using cashew and coconut milk bases, Van Leeuwen creates creamy textures that previous dairy-free options couldn’t touch. The brand attracts people who care about sustainability and ethical sourcing alongside great taste.
Collaboration flavors generate social media buzz, from pizza ice cream to cereal-inspired varieties that sound strange but somehow work. Scoop shops create community spaces while grocery store pints spread availability beyond major cities. This brand feels current while maintaining serious quality standards.
Final Thoughts
Your perfect ice cream brand depends on what matters most. Maybe that’s clean ingredients, maybe it’s price, maybe it’s adventurous flavors, or maybe you just want something reliable that always tastes good.
The right choice is whichever brand makes you happy while fitting your budget and values. Grab a few different options from this list and see which one becomes your go-to. Your freezer will thank you.