Best Pizza Ovens Reviewed:
Ooni vs. Roccbox vs. Bertello
(2021 Review)

If you have considered investing in a pizza oven for your backyard, it’s time to get the flames roaring. Based on our review, Roccbox, Ooni, and Bertello are the best options, and we will help you pick the best oven for your situation. We’ve explained these recommendations in detail below, but it is also helpful to know where we are headed. Here are the pizza ovens we recommend:

There is something special about pizza that brings us together. Perhaps it’s the fact that one pie can be shared by many, but there is no denying that some of our favorite memories involve our favorite people enjoying pizza together. Let’s be honest that it is delicious too, and pizza cooked over an open fire has even more complex and irresistible flavoring. 

You might have thought that making wood fire pizza was done only in restaurants or by the occasional wealthy person with an elaborately designed outdoor oven, but that is no longer true. There are fantastic outdoor pizza oven options accessible for the rest of us, and we spent untold hours reviewing the best options on the market. Check out the side-by-side comparison table, read the detailed reviews, and see our recommendation at the end of the article.

Ooni vs. Roccbox vs. Bertello
Comparison Table

Best Domestic Pizza Oven
Priceadd	Ooni💰💰💰	Roccbox💰💰💰💰	Bertello💰💰💰
Biggest Selling Pointadd	OoniWith more than five different ovens, there is a perfect option for everyone	RoccboxA restaurant-quality oven that is safe to touch	BertelloSleek design at an affordable price
Fun Factsadd	Ooni1% For The Planet Member	RoccboxUtilizes a rolling flame for heat dispersion	BertelloAppeared on Kickstarter and Shark Tank
Max Temperatureadd	Ooni950°F	Roccbox950°F	Bertello930°F
Max Pizza Sizeadd	Ooni16 inches	Roccbox11 inches	Bertello11 inches
Wood or Charcoaladd	Ooni✅	Roccbox✅	Bertello✅
Gas-Firedadd	Ooni✅	Roccbox✅	Bertello✅
Portable Optionsadd	Ooni✅	Roccbox✅	Bertello✅
Websiteadd	OoniTry Ooni	RoccboxTry Roccbox	BertelloTry Bertello

Roccbox vs. Ooni

The Roccbox works with both gas and wood and has silicone skin that makes it safer in tight spaces. Still, Ooni has many more options than Roccbox, such as multiple sizes and more fuel sources, each of which reaches 950°F for optimal cooking temperature. Ooni is more likely to have a pizza oven that meets your preferences.

For instance, the multi-fueled Ooni Karu now comes in a 16-inch size to accommodate larger pizza, the wood pellet Ooni Fyra works well as a portable pizza oven, and the gas oven Ooni Koda allows you to dial in an exact temperature. Ooni and Roccbox rise above Bertello and the other alternatives. 

We recommend most people consider one of Ooni’s ovens, as they have various options that will work well for any experience level. Cooking with live fire will take a little practice, but after a few uses, we are sure you will be cooking amazing pizza with the perfect crispy crust. 

Ooni Pizza Oven Review

Ooni’s entire purpose is to bring restaurant-quality pizza right to your backyard, and they designed elegant and functional ovens to make that happen.  

The company makes five separate ovens, spanning multiple heat sources and sizes so that you can find the perfect pizza oven for your taste and needs. Whether you prefer wood-fired, charcoal-fired, or gas-powered, they have an option for you. And if you are looking for a portable pizza oven that you can take on your next camping trip, Ooni  has you covered there too.

Understanding that good pizza is all about community, Ooni also has a wide variety of recipes on its website to guide you in the right direction. With guidance from the recipes on their website, you can make everything from a Neapolitan-style Margherita pizza to a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. And if you want to get a little more adventurous, you might try Peruvian pork or Spanish prawn skewers.

To make sure you have all of the tools necessary to cook professional pizza from your backyard, the brand also offers a line of accessories, including pizza peels, serving boards, wood pellets, and an infrared thermometer.

Traditional woodfired ovens are expensive, but Ooni ovens heat up to more than 950°F in less than 20 minutes for a fraction of the cost.  The result is smoky and crisp pizza as flavorful as any you have had at a restaurant. And if you like to have big parties, the pizzas cook in 60 seconds, so you can pump out pizza after pizza to satisfy the feeding frenzy. 

Ooni Pro vs. Ooni Karu

The Ooni Pro and Ooni Karu both fall into the multi-fuel pizza oven category. For years, the Ooni Pro was the brand’s flagship product that would work with any fuel source. The Ooni Pro has such a stellar reputation, that some restaurants may use it rather than investing in commercial pizza ovens. In the past, the Ooni Karu only came in a smaller model, large enough for 12-inch pizzas.

This was the main distinction between the two models. The Ooni Pro was the OG multi-fuel oven that could handle larger homemade pizza, while the Ooni Karu was the smaller, more portable option. This all changed when the company released the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-fuel Pizza Oven, which is built with multiple innovative technologies. 

Let’s just start with this: The Ooni Karu 16 Multi-fuel Pizza Oven is the 1st oven

The Ooni Karu 16 Multi-fuel Pizza Oven has a new hinged oven door design, featuring a ViewFlame door.  The ViewFlame door is a much larger glass front than was previously available so that you can watch your pie as it cooks. The other feature that contributes to the larger glass front is that the Ooni Karu 16 has a taller internal chamber, which makes it easier to turn your pizza, and helps you avoid over-charring your pizza crust. 

Ooni Koda

While the Ooni Pro has an entirely stainless steel finish, we prefer the Ooni Karu or Ooni Koda look, which sport stainless steel accents along with a powder-coated carbon steel shell for the main body. Beyond looks, the Ooni Koda is worth considering because it is gas-powered and available in two sizes. 

The multiple fuel options featured on the Pro model and the Karu models are excellent but might be a little much to handle for most people wanting to cook up a quick dinner. Plus, you have to store multiple fuels, which might be a hassle for some. You might find yourself relying on the gas burner attachment more than they thought they might.

The Ooni Koda, on the other hand, quickly attaches to a propane tank. Using propane gas also makes it much easier to manage a consistent temperature, because you just have to turn a dial. The inbuilt thermometer on the new Karu 16 is nice, but the thermometer is just another data point; it doesn’t necessarily make it easier to manage the fire temperature or facilitate a consistent cooking time. 

Still, many prefer the authentic smoky flavor provided by charcoal and wood. If you are interested in premium flavoring and authenticity, then utilizing multiple types of fuel makes sense.  If you are looking for that authentic flavoring, go with one of the hybrid pizza ovens like the Karu 16, and hook up the gas attachment only when you need it. 

In addition to its gas-fueled simplicity and sleeker design, the Koda is an intriguing option because it comes in two sizes, big enough for 12-inch pizzas and 16-inch pizza, respectively. If you choose to go with the Koda, just keep in mind that the larger size and wider design will give you extra cooking space for non-pizza grilling too. Once you get the hang of cooking with your Koda, you might want to fire up steaks and other flame-kissed treats.

In fact, while you will probably start with authentic pizza styles like the Neapolitan, Ooni has recipes on their website for Chicago-style pies, Detroit-style pies, New York-style pizza, and more. 

Ooni Fyra

In comparing portable ovens, the Ooni Fyra rises to the top of the competition. Unlike its Ooni siblings, it only comes in one size.  The Ooni Fyra is a wood pellet pizza oven large enough to make 12-inch pizza at max. If you like the flavor complexity that a wood-fired oven provides, but you are looking for a pizza oven you can take to the beach, the Ooni Fyra is an unmatched option.

This little Ooni makes particularly delicious pizza since it incorporates that smoky wood-fired pizza oven flavoring. If you are looking for a pizza oven with a larger cooking surface, you probably need to look at the Ooni Karu, which has multi-fuel options. Still, the Fyra is like the little oven that could, and despite its smaller size, it still reaches a maximum temperature of 950°F.

Here is one quick tip for using the smaller oven: Consider using the pizza wheel instead of the pizza peel to turn the pie. The standard pizza peel has a square shape, so it doesn’t fit in the smaller oven door as easily. The round pizza turning peel makes it much easier to move your pie where you need it to be inside the oven.

Working with the pellet burner instead of gas will make it a little more difficult to manage the exact temperature, so being able to maneuver the pie well becomes more important, which is where that pizza wheel will come in handy. 

But what about that chimney? Yeah, the chimney is pretty tall, since it is designed to elevate the smoke from those beautiful, burning wood chips away from the cook. Fortunately, the chimney detaches and fits inside the Ooni Fyra Carry Case. 

What Is the Difference Between Ooni and Uuni?

If you have been eyeing a pizza oven for a while, then you might be wondering what happened to a brand called Uuni. And the name is suspiciously close to Ooni, after all. As it turns out, Uuni was challenging to pronounce for some, and Ooni is the phonetic spelling for the company’s name. So Uuni officially changed their name, but they still sell the same high-quality ovens and have expanded their pizza options even more since the Uuni days.

Is Ooni Worth The Price?

The bottom line is that an Ooni pizza oven is a trip into homemade pizza heaven. They are versatile too, so while you can fire up restaurant-quality pizzas, you can also use your favorite new oven for steak and other household favorites. It’s not often that a product is so fantastic that it might change your weekly routines and traditions, but when you get your Ooni flaming, we fully expect it will do just that.

Roccbox Review

The Gozney Roccbox only comes in one model, compared to the five separate models Ooni manufacturers, but the Roccbox is a restaurant-grade pizza oven designed for your home, so it is still worthy of your consideration.  

It’s the restaurant-grade quality that makes the Roccbox a little more expensive than its competitors, but that same quality should reassure you you are getting the absolute best product. Gozney is coming out with a pizza dome in 2021 priced well north of $1,000, so compared to that, the Gozney Roccbox seems like a steal. 😅

Gozney Roccbox Design

While the oven has stainless steel accents, our favorite feature is that the oven is covered in an outer silicone skin that makes the stove safer around your family because it isn’t as hot to touch, but the top-notch features don’t stop there. The unit doesn’t have a tall chimney, like some of the competitor pizza ovens, but the Gozney Roccbox oven isn’t as slim either.  

Stylistically, it is a matter of preference, but the most important and functional design element is the folding legs, and that is probably the feature most likely to influence your decision.

The oven also comes with a built-in thermometer and a detachable gas burner as standard. An optional wood burner is available for those that prefer wood flavoring to the gas burner. While it only comes in one size and only cooks pizzas about 11 inches in diameter, the Roccbox is still a premium consumer pizza oven.

Is The Roccbox Any Good?

If you thought that the Ooni pizza oven gets hot at 930°F, you would be impressed to know the Roccbox pizza oven reaches a whopping 950°F.  The additional 20 degrees might add marginal performance at that high of a cooking temperature, but it is still impressive.  950°F is even more remarkable given that the outer silicone skin, combined with body insulation, makes the unit safe to touch.

You still need to be careful around your oven, even if the silicone skin is safe to touch, but it is always nice to know that they eliminated the scorching surfaces to the best they could.

The folding legs make the Roccbox pizza oven the most portable pizza oven we reviewed. Since the burner is detachable, the Roccbox is relatively easy to fold up and go.  This is particularly nice if you envision taking your new pizza oven to any gatherings or perhaps on your annual family trip to a cabin or beach house. 

It is better than functional; it is restaurant quality. If you purchase the Roccbox, you will eliminate the need to grab a takeout pizza or visit the best Italian spot in town. Even so, the limited model options and the smaller opening for turning pies might make it worth your time to consider if Ooni or one of the other competitors might be a good option.

If you decide on the Roccbox, we won’t blame you. Not too many people have restaurant-grade pizza ovens at their homes. Also, be sure to check out the recipes on Gozney’s website.  The Roccbox pizza oven is designed for your success, and you can grab top-chef-level recipes off their website.

Is Roccbox Worth The Price?

The Roccbox pizza oven is made from industrial-grade materials and is as hat as any ovens we reviewed. It also has unique styling that would make a nice addition to your backyard kitchen. The standout feature to me is that the silicone skin provides a little protection from accidental bumps. On the other hand, the price is a little steep, and the opening for pies is smaller than some of Ooni’s models. Still, the Roccbox will rock out some top-notch pizza, so it’s hard to criticize too much. 

Is Roccbox As Good As Ooni?

Some people will try to position the Roccbox as more straightforward because there is only one choice, and it works with multiple fuel types. The truth is that this is a weak argument, and if you want simplicity to work with multiple fuel types, Ooni offers both the Ooni Pro and the Ooni Karu series.

From a pure usage standpoint, Ooni offers multiple sizes that will work in various settings. If you are looking for a do-it-all model, then like I mentioned, the Ooni Pro or Ooni Karu series will get the job done. On the other hand, if you just want to put the pizza oven on the back deck and conveniently fire up the gas at a moment’s notice, the Ooni Koda series is a better option. And if you want a small portable pizza oven that you can take to the beach, then the Ooni Fyra is the best option.

There are times when less is more, but this is not one of those times. Ooni offers multiple versions of their ovens, because people have different needs, and want to use their pizza ovens in different ways.

How To Decide Between Roccbox and Ooni

On the bright side, both Ooni and Roccbox reach extreme temperatures, and that heat output is what creates a crispy pizza crust. If you own a restaurant or plan on cooking in tight quarters, then choosing the Roccbox might make sense because of the silicone outer skin.  It is safe to touch, which will help prevent accidental bumps and burns. Still, the silicone skin doesn’t cover the entire oven, and metal pieces will be dangerously hot. I also feel obligated to mention that cooking with fire always requires careful attention.

On the other hand, Ooni shines with its innovative designs, including the L-shaped burners on the gas models, which result in your pie only needing one turn. This is especially true with the new Ooni Karu 16, which is truly a one-of-a-kind pizza oven. It’s a multi-fueled pizza oven with a clear front that you can see through, and because there is a clear door, they were able to make the chamber taller because the door facilitates heat retention. 

In reality, either the Roccbox or Ooni would be a fantastic option, and it is pretty incredible that you can cook pizza in your backyard with authentic wood flavoring and a stone floor that creates the perfect crust. Still, we prefer Ooni for most individuals. If the size of pizza matters, or if you are looking for the most versatility, Ooni is really a no-brainer in our opinion, and all of their ovens fire up incredible pizzas.

What is the Best Ooni Model?

The all-new Ooni Karu 16 is the only domestic-use oven recommended by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, so not only is the Karu 16 the best Ooni, but it is arguably the best domestic oven available anywhere, under any brand. For a long time, the Ooni Pro was the flagship model, and for now, the company still sells the Ooni Pro, but there is a case to be made that the Karu 16 is the most innovative oven designed for domestic use.

That said, the Ooni Karu may or may not be the best model for you.  That answer might depend on how comfortable you are cooking with wood or charcoal.  The gas pizza oven is the easiest to use. Simply attach the propane gas tank, and regulate the temperature with the turn of a knob. If you have a family and are tight on time, or if you are slightly intimidated by regulating heat output from a wood or charcoal fire, then the Ooni Koda series is best for you.

Still, the Fyra is a great little portable outdoor oven, that is easiest enough to take with you to the beach. 

Bertello vs. Ooni

If you spend much time on Kickstarter, the name Bertello might ring a bell. The company started up in 2017 when its Kickstarter campaign was funded in less than 24 hours from launch. The Bertello Pizza Oven eventually landed on Shark Tank too, where the founders won a deal with Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary. With that amount of social movement behind the product, it might be the most recognizable outdoor pizza oven we reviewed. 

The design is elegant and straightforward. It is a beautiful-looking appliance that would look great as a centerpiece of your backyard and small enough to take camping. We appreciate Bertello’s versatility because it works using gas, charcoal, wood, or pellets as a heat source.  If you didn’t catch it already, check out their deal with Kevin to hear how much Barbara and Kevin both loved the product.

As a brief sidenote, Bertello’s website isn’t very sophisticated, so plan on purchasing through Amazon. We recommend the Everything Bundle that includes the gas burner attachment, thermometer, pizza peel, and cover. 

Is The Bertello Any Good?

The Bertello pizza oven gets up to 930°F, which is plenty hot to cook a personal size pie in under two minutes. We like that the oven is small and portable, but it doesn’t have any defining features that make it stand out from the crowd.  While the Bertello may have some name recognition from Shark Tank and Kickstarter, it might not be the best bang for your buck if you are a novice trying to cook Neapolitan pizza at home.

The biggest problem with the Bertello unit is that the opening is too small and that the heat is not evenly distributed. Until experienced, you may struggle with your pizza burning on the side nearest the fire, which will be difficult to avoid because it only comes in one, smaller size. 

What comes with the basic Bertello package? The Bertello pizza oven works with gas or charcoal, or as a wood-fired portable outdoor pizza oven, but the gas burner attachment is sold separately at an extra cost.  The baking stone, wood chip scoop, and wood tray are included. The wood/charcoal/pellet tray is included with the base package and is easiest enough to clean, so that’s a plus. There aren’t that many brands making outdoor ovens, after all, so each brand fills a unique hole in the market.

While it takes time and practice to get comfortable using the oven, it is a good option for cooking fresh pizza at home. The Bertello comes at an affordable price and can easily be moved around, so the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven shouldn’t be entirely written off as an option.  

Is Bertello Worth The Price?

The Bertello Pizza Oven is the most basic design and functionality of any of the ovens we reviewed.  The benefit to that is that the Bertello oven comes at an affordable price, even if it does have certain limitations. The biggest thing to be aware of is that learning to cook your pizza without burning it might be a challenge, in part because of the small oven opening.

Should You Buy A Pizza Oven?

If you have ever had authentic brick oven pizza, the quality is undeniably better than pizza cooked in a standard oven.  The biggest reason for this is that cooking pizza at high temperatures, with open flames, produces a perfectly crisp crust with fire-kissed flavoring. Most indoor ranges only reach 500°F, while the best pizza ovens get as hot as 950°F. If you like brick oven quality pizza but want to spend more time enjoying your backyard with family and friends, a backyard pizza oven is worth it. 

If you’ve considered a backyard makeover, design your patio and outdoor space in a manner that allows for the pizza oven to be a focal point. 

The most popular backyard pizza ovens are Ooni, Roccbox, and Bertello, which is for a good reason. Each of these ovens reaches north of 900 degrees, which is the minimum cooking temperature for authentically fire-cooked, Neapolitan-style pizza. If your pizza oven has temperatures much lower than that, you might as well use your standard indoor range.

These three brands offer plenty of versatility to choose from as well. Among the three brands, there are wood and charcoal-fired ovens, as well as gas-powered ovens. Some have versatility for multiple heat sources. There are also various sizes available, perfect for personal pizzas or groups. My taste buds are already excited, so let’s find the perfect pizza oven for your backyard. 😋

Other Pizza Oven Options

While we recommend one of the highlighted brands, as they are the best options based on our review, there are a few other ovens you could consider.

Camp Chef Italia Artisan - The Camp Chef Italia Artisan has fully adjustable heat but only reaches 700°F. The first thing that stands out about the Camp Chef Italia Artisan is propane-powered, with no charcoal or wood-fired heat sourcing.

It fills a unique space because Camp Chef intends to replicate beloved artisan pies from Italy while packaged in a modernized oven that is portable and powered by propane.  The lower heat limits the authenticity, though, so we would only consider this model if you have other Camp Chef equipment and you want to stay in the Camp Chef family.

KettlePizza - KettlePizza isn’t a standalone oven; instead, it is a pizza oven insert that will work with your existing Weber-type grill. If you already have a grill you are comfortable using, then KettlePizza might be worth considering.  Still, like Camp Chef, the flavoring and experience won’t be an authentic experience.

Which Home Pizza Oven Is Best?

If you choose between Roccbox, Ooni, and Bertello, the choice is clear. Ooni pizza ovens are our favorite outdoor pizza ovens on the market. Their ovens feature modern and sleek designs, and the brand sells models in multiple sizes. While the Roccbox has die-hard fans, Ooni’s wide selection provides you with the opportunity to choose between the convenience of gas and the authenticity of wood or charcoal. 

And don’t forget that Ooni pizza ovens reach as high as 950°F, perfect for cooking perfectly crisp pizzas in only 60 seconds.

If you like big gatherings or pizza parties, we recommend going with the Ooni Koda Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven.  Since it’s gas-powered, you can spend more time focused on your guests and less time focused on getting the heat right in your oven.  This is also a larger model, but you can still churn out 16-inch pies every few minutes.

The Ooni Koda is a show-stopper statement piece for your backyard that makes chef-quality pizza.  If you would prefer charcoal or wood-fired pizza, invest in Ooni Karu 16 multi-fuel pizza oven instead. The Ooni Karu 16 is the most advanced at-home pizza maker on the market, and the only oven recommended for at-home use by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. 

We are big believers in spending time outside, and there isn’t a much better way to do it than to gather around one of these fires for food and fun. And by the way, if you didn’t learn enough about Ooni here, we are obviously big fans, so you can read a full review devoted to Ooni. Pick your favorite pizza toppings, fire up the perfect crust, and enjoy.

🔥BONUS🔥 - If you are interested in outdoor pizza ovens, you might also be interested in our review of the best smokeless fire pits on the market.  And if you aren’t quite ready to grill up surf and turf in a pizza oven, you can check out our review of charcoal and gas grills, or wood pellet grills.