Instant Pot vs Crock-Pot: Which Should You Buy?
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Both make tender stews and pulled pork. The difference is time and effort: the Instant Pot is fast and does more, while the Crock-Pot is simpler and cheaper. Here’s how to choose.
Quick answer: buy an Instant Pot if you decide on dinner at 5 pm. Buy a Crock-Pot if you plan dinner in the morning and want the simplest, cheapest option.
At a glance
- Winner: speed and versatility: Instant Pot RIO 6-Quart 7-in-1
- Winner: set-and-forget: Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart (Manual)
- Also great: Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart 7-in-1
Instant Pot vs Crock-Pot compared
| Instant Pot RIO 6 qt | Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6 qt | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking speed | Fast (pressure) | Slow (4–10 hours) |
| Functions | 7 | Slow cook + warm |
| Sauté / brown | Yes | No |
| Controls | Digital programs | Low / High / Warm dial |
| Power | 1,000 W | Low draw over long cook |
| Portability | Not designed for it | Locking lid for travel |
| Price tier | $$ | $ |
Which should you buy?
Choose an Instant Pot if…
- you want dinner fast on weeknights
- you cook dried beans, stock or tough cuts
- you want one appliance for rice, steaming and yogurt too
Choose a Crock-Pot if…
- you like to prep in the morning and come home to dinner
- you take food to potlucks and parties
- you want the simplest, cheapest option
How we judged these: we compared manufacturer specs, verified owner reviews and independent test data. We did not hands-on test every model — where a claim comes from the manufacturer, we say so. Product boxes show live Amazon prices. Our methodology →
What is the difference between an Instant Pot and a Crock-Pot?
They solve the same problem — tough, cheap ingredients turned tender — from opposite directions. A Crock-Pot is a slow cooker: a ceramic pot in a low-wattage heating jacket that holds food at a gentle simmer for six to ten hours. A Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker: it seals, raises the boiling point to around 250°F and cooks the same dish in 20 to 45 minutes.
The confusion comes from branding. “Crock-Pot” is a trademark that became the everyday word for any slow cooker, and most Instant Pots include a slow-cook setting, so people assume they are the same category of machine. They are not: one is built around time, the other around pressure.
| Instant Pot | Crock-Pot | |
|---|---|---|
| How it cooks | Sealed, under pressure | Open, low steady heat |
| Typical time for a stew | 35–50 minutes total | 6–8 hours |
| Can you start from frozen | Yes | No, not safely |
| Start it before work | No, it needs you at the end | Yes, this is what it is for |
| Sauté in the same pot | Yes | Usually no |
| Also does | Rice, yogurt, steaming, sous vide on some models | Keeping food warm, buffet serving |
| Learning curve | Real — pressure, release, Burn message | Almost none |
| Typical price | Higher | Lower |
The one-line answer: buy an Instant Pot if you decide what is for dinner after you get home. Buy a Crock-Pot if you decide in the morning.
Crock-Pot Express vs Instant Pot
The Crock-Pot Express is the same brand’s answer to the Instant Pot: a genuine electric pressure cooker, not a slow cooker. It pressure-cooks, sautés, steams and slow-cooks, and it usually undercuts the Instant Pot on price.
Where the Instant Pot still leads is the ecosystem around it: far more recipes written for its exact pressure settings, easy replacement sealing rings and accessories in every supermarket, and a much larger body of long-term owner reports. Owner reviews of the Express also flag a shorter-lived lid seal and a fiddlier release valve. If you find a large discount on the Express it is a reasonable buy; at similar prices, the Instant Pot is the safer one to live with for five years.
Can one machine do both jobs?
Partly. Every Instant Pot slow-cooks, but it heats from the base only and runs cooler than a Crock-Pot, so recipes written for a slow cooker often need the high setting and extra time. If slow cooking is the main thing you do, a dedicated Crock-Pot does it better and costs less. If pressure cooking is the main thing, the Instant Pot’s slow-cook mode is good enough for the occasional overnight chilli.
Our picks
Instant Pot RIO 6-Quart 7-in-1
Who should buy it: Busy weeknight cooks who want dinner in under an hour.
- 6 qt
- 1,000 W
- 7 functions
- Stainless inner pot with tri-ply bottom
What makes it different: Pressure cooking turns 8-hour recipes into roughly an hour including pressure time, and it also sautés, makes rice and yogurt.
What we like
- Much faster than slow cooking
- Sautés in the same pot
- Seven functions
Watch out for
- Learning curve with pressure release
- Slow cook mode is weaker than a real slow cooker
✓ Worth ItThe better all-rounder for most kitchens.
Check price on Amazon →
Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart (Manual)
Who should buy it: People who prep in the morning and want dinner ready when they get home — and potluck regulars.
- 6 qt oval stoneware
- Low / High / Warm dial
- Locking lid for transport
- Dishwasher-safe stoneware & lid
What makes it different: A simple dial and a locking lid for carrying food to parties — nothing to program or learn.
What we like
- Very simple and cheap
- Stoneware and lid are dishwasher-safe
- Locking lid for transport
Watch out for
- No timer — it won’t switch to Warm by itself
- Can’t pressure cook or sauté
✓ Worth ItThe best cheap slow cooker for people who want simplicity.
Check price on Amazon →
Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart 7-in-1
Who should buy it: Buyers who find the Duo cheaper than the RIO.
- 6 qt
- 1,000 W
- 7 functions
- 10+ safety features
What makes it different: The classic Instant Pot with the same seven functions.
What we like
- Proven design
- Big recipe community
Watch out for
- Older controls
≈ DependsBuy whichever Instant Pot is cheaper.
Check price on Amazon →The verdict
For most kitchens, the Instant Pot RIO is the better buy because it does everything a slow cooker does and much more, faster. If you love true all-day slow cooking and want to spend less, get the Crock-Pot.
More: our full Instant Pot review.
Decided on pressure cooking? Compare the machines in our Instant Pot model guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Instant Pot better than a Crock-Pot?
For speed and versatility, yes. For simple, all-day slow cooking at a low price, a Crock-Pot is better.
Can an Instant Pot replace a Crock-Pot?
Mostly. It has a slow cook mode, but many owners find it runs cooler than a Crock-Pot, so use the High setting or add time.
Can I leave a Crock-Pot on all day?
Slow cookers are designed for long unattended cooking on Low. The manual Cook & Carry has no timer, so it will not switch to Warm by itself.
Which uses less electricity?
A slow cooker draws less power but runs for hours. A pressure cooker uses more power for a short time. For most recipes the total energy use is similar.
Is an Instant Pot better than a Crock-Pot?
Neither is better overall. An Instant Pot is better when you start cooking late and want dinner in under an hour, or cook beans, stock and frozen meat. A Crock-Pot is better when you want to load it in the morning and come home to a finished meal.
What is the difference between a Crock-Pot and an Instant Pot?
A Crock-Pot is a slow cooker that simmers food gently for six to ten hours. An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that does the same job in 20 to 45 minutes and can also sauté, steam and cook rice.
Is the Crock-Pot Express the same as an Instant Pot?
It is the same type of machine — an electric pressure cooker — from the Crock-Pot brand. It costs less, but the Instant Pot has more recipes written for it, easier-to-find sealing rings and a longer track record.
Can an Instant Pot be used as a slow cooker?
Yes, but it runs cooler than a real slow cooker because it heats from the base only. Expect to use the high setting and add time to recipes written for a Crock-Pot.
