Ooni vs Roccbox: How To Choose The Right Pizza Oven For You

Once you’ve had wood-fired pizza, it’s hard to go back — which is why portable pizza ovens like Ooni and Roccbox have virtually become household names (at least in households that know good pizza).

Cut to the chase: every Ooni pizza oven is durable, high-quality and able to make delicious pizza at home. Likewise, the Roccbox is also a durable, high quality pizza oven capable of making excellent pizza. So, if your main concern is the quality of your pizza, both ovens will do the trick.

That said, I prefer the Ooni Karu 12G for almost all use case scenarios. It’s cheaper than the Roccbox, with more and newer features. It’s also more fuel efficient.

Ultimately, choosing between Ooni and Roccbox isn’t really about which pizza oven is better. It’s about understanding their features, so you can find the one that fits best with your budget and pizza goals.

In this guide, we’re zeroing in on the key factors of these ovens that matter for most home pizza makers: price, fuel choice, and convenience. By the end of this article, you’ll be better equipped to choose between Ooni and Roccbox confidently.

Ooni vs Roccbox: Why Ooni Is (Almost Always) The Better Choice

An Ooni oven. Photo credit Ooni

There’s a reason why Ooni dominates the home pizza oven market — and why I most often recommend them. Ooni carries a wide variety of modern, high-quality ovens at reasonable price points. Like I’ll explain below, they even have ones that you can use indoors.

But don’t get it twisted. Both Ooni and Roccbox are premium ovens with excellent build quality. You’ll be able to make great pizza in either one.

Indeed, the Gozney Roccbox remains a well built classic. I still enjoy using it — it’s just that Ooni edges it out in most areas, at least in 2023. For this reason, I usually end up recommending Ooni to our clients.

But there are still some use cases where the Roccbox might be a better choice, including commercial applications. More on this later.

Related:

• Shop Ooni ovens now
• Shop the Roccbox now
• For a complete analysis and specs of every single Ooni oven vs the Roccbox, see our detailed Ooni vs Roccbox Guide

Ooni vs Roccbox Price: Ooni Has Cheaper Options Than Roccbox

Before we get into a more detailed breakdown, note that there are multiple pizza oven models within the Ooni collection, but just one Gozney Roccbox. And don’t worry — I’ll provide more insights into how every single Ooni oven stacks up against Roccbox further below.

But if we want to compare apples to apples, then we’ll need to compare the Ooni Karu 12G Multi-Fuel with the Gozney Roccbox, as these are the most closely related ovens in terms of size, price, and specs.

If we’re comparing the Ooni Karu 12G with the Roccbox, the first difference you’ll notice is price. The Karu 12G is cheaper by about $70 ($499 vs $429).

Of course, $70 isn’t a huge price difference, but it’s a much better value when you consider the newer features and more fuel-efficient design with Ooni.

You can also find Ooni models for as low $299, such as the older Ooni Karu 12 model. In fact, four of Ooni’s seven pizza oven models are less expensive than the Roccbox.

So why is the Roccbox more expensive?

A lot of why Roccbox is so expensive comes down to its extra insulation, which helps with heat retention. This is a good thing in terms of build-quality, but it might be a little overkill for the average home cook.

The Gozney Roccbox. Photo credit Gozney

Translated into pizza-making terms, after you cook a pizza in an Ooni, you’ll usually need to wait a a few minutes for the heat to build back up before putting a second pizza in.

This really isn’t a big deal for most people. And since the pizzas themselves will literally cook in well under two minutes (depending on the style), that delay isn’t a problem if you’re cooking one or two pizzas at a time.

But if you expect to be regularly cooking multiple pizzas quickly, then the Roccbox might be worth considering. Its extra insulation retains heat between pizzas and reduces downtime. Not by a lot, but over time that small difference can be significant.

And the Roccbox also comes with a pizza peel, which you need whether you’re cooking in a pizza oven or a regular home oven using a pizza steel. So if you don’t already have a pizza peel, that might even out the price a little.

Comparing Fuel Options Between Ooni and Roccbox Pizza Ovens

The Ooni Karu 12G and the Roccbox are both multi-fuel — meaning you’ll have multiple fuel choices for heating them up. Like all good pizza ovens, they’re able to heat up to extremely high temperatures of up to 950°F (500°C). This is more than enough heat (almost double a home oven), even for Neapolitan style pizza.

Both the Ooni Karu 12G and the Roccbox can use wood, charcoal, and propane gas, but you’ll need to purchase attachments to use them all at once. For example, the Karu 12G is wood-fired by default, you you’ll need a separate attachment for gas.

Likewise, to burn wood with the Roccbox, you’ll need the detachable Wood Burner 2.0 accessory.

Good to know: most fuel attachments for Ooni and Roccbox cost about $100, so you’ll need to factor in your choice of fuel into your cost analysis as well.

It’s easier to put wood in a wood-fired Ooni oven. Photo credit Ooni

A lot of people think they *need* a pizza oven that lets them cook with both gas and wood. They think they’ll start out cooking with gas (which is far easier), and then switch to wood once they get the hang of things.

But here’s the thing. Building and maintaining a fire in a small pizza oven is not a simple thing. It’s its own skill that you’re going to have to develop. And it’s always going to be trickier and more of a pain than cooking with gas.

I also don’t think the average pizza maker is going to notice much of a difference in the quality of pizza coming out of a gas-fired personal pizza oven vs a wood-fired one. The smokiness from a wood-fired oven is nice, but it isn’t essential for good pizza.

Personally, I leave wood-fired pizza for special occasions or for when I eat out (almost every city has a good Neapolitan pizzeria these days, anyways).

But when I cook pizza at home, I usually prefer the simplicity and convenience of using propane.

Finally, one minor gripe with the Roccbox’s design — it doesn’t have a chimney. It’s not technically necessary, but I do prefer a chimney when cooking pizza with wood or charcoal. It’s just cleaner and improves airflow.

I like that wood-fired Ooni ovens have a chimney. Photo credit Ooni

Pro-tip: If you never plan on using wood, you can save money with the Ooni Koda 12, which is a fantastic propane-only oven at a much lower price ($399).

And if you just want to cook with wood, go with the Ooni Fyra 12, which is cheaper still at $349.

Roccbox vs Ooni: Which Oven Is Easier To Use and Maintain

I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer about the Roccbox; yes, it’s older, has fewer features, and is more expensive. But it’s very well made and can make just as good a pizza as any Ooni.

But given its price, it just struggles to compete with Ooni ovens at a similar price point — especially when you consider some of the following minor differences between the ovens.

Oonis are lighter

Case in point: the Roccbox is quite heavy for its size, weighing in at over 44 pounds. The similarly sized Ooni Karu 12G weighs almost 10 pounds lighter — which can make a big different when deciding whether you’re going to take it with you camping, to the beach, etc (if anyone actually does this?).

It’s easier to take your Ooni Karu 12G (pictured here) on road trips. Photo credit Ooni

Ooni has easier fuel options

The Roccbox’s wood burner is well-designed, but it’s sometimes clunky to use. This isn’t unusual with portable pizza ovens, but Ooni wood burners are generally more spacious and easier to use. Some Ooni models even let you use wood pellets, which is a game changer when it comes to wood-fired pizza.

In the cramped confines of a portable pizza oven, wood pellets are easier to load, easier to keep lit, and often burn more efficiently than logs. Just pour a scoop into the hopper, and gravity automatically draws in more fuel as it’s needed. This is how the wood pellet fueled Ooni Fyra 12 operates.

With the Roccbox, you’re going to have to load very specific-sized wood chunks into a small slot. And you’ll need to do this multiple times per cook. This can be a big turn-off, especially in the beginner stages.

Ultimately, if you specifically want to a wood-fired oven, and you only want to use wood, then I’d recommend the Ooni Fyra 12. It’s cheaper then multi-fuel options, and doesn’t have some of the extra bells and whistles, but it works great at burning wood.

There’s an indoor Ooni option

Finally, when it comes to the whole ‘Ooni vs Roccbox’ debate, there is one area where Ooni is the clear winner — because it’s the only option.

I’m talking about Ooni’s new Volt 12, which is a unique, electric pizza oven you can use indoors.

As you would imagine, it ain’t cheap. But it’s also well-built and able to reach much higher temperatures than a home oven. So it’s great for people in colder climates or who just know they’d rather cook indoors.

Fire up your Ooni Volt 12 from the comfort of indoors. Photo credit Ooni

Quick Breakdown of Ooni and Roccbox Pizza Ovens

Time for brass tacks. Here’s where every Ooni oven stacks up against the Roccbox (and each other).

The ovens are ordered from least to most expensive. And remember, you can always find a more thorough breakdown of all these pizza ovens compared on our website.

Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel

• Price: $299
• Comparison: This is the most budget-friendly option when compared to Roccbox. It’s the same size as the Roccbox and supports both wood, charcoal, and gas as fuel. However, it’s more basic in terms of additional features and has much less insulation.

Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet

• Price: $349
• Comparison: Much less pricey than Roccbox, and it can cook a pizza of the same size. But the Fyra 12 can only use wood, while the Roccbox is multi-fuel. It’s known for its gravity-fed wood pellet hopper, and it’s a great choice for those looking for an exclusively wood-fired pizza oven.

Ooni Koda 12 Gas Powered

• Price: $399
• Comparison: The Koda 12 can only cook with gas, so for the price it’s much less expensive than the Roccbox with its gas burner as standard. That said, the Koda 12 has much less insulation than the Roccbox, so you’ll need to wait a few minutes between pizzas (not usually a big deal, like we’ve discussed). Its light weight and compact design is perfect for small apartments or condo balconies.

Ooni Karu 12G Multi-Fuel

• Price: $429
• Comparison: The Karu 12G is cheaper than the Roccbox out of the box, but you’ll need to purchase an optional ($100) attachment to use propane, which evens the price out a bit. That said, it’s a much newer and more fuel-efficnent pizza oven that matches or exceeds the Roccbox on almost every front. Ooni is the clear winner here, in my opinion.

Gozney Roccbox

• Price: $499
• Comparison: Holds its own against Ooni models. It’s an older model and generally on the pricier side. A notable perk is that it often comes with a complimentary pizza peel, and it has legendarily good insulation.

Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered

• Price: $599
• Comparison: This propane-exclusive pizza oven is more expensive than the Roccbox, but it features a significantly larger 16 inch pizza stone. This makes it perfect for New York and New Haven style pizza, while the Roccbox is limited to smaller styles.

Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel

• Price: $799
• Comparison: Much pricier than the Roccbox, but it comes with a newer design, more features, and a huge 16 inch baking stone. The Ooni Karu 16 is Ooni’s most featured-packed model, and the only domestic pizza oven officially recognized by the AVPN. If you want it all, this is the pizza oven to get.

Ooni Volt 12 Electric

• Price: $999
• Comparison: The Ooni Volt 12 is more than twice the price of the Roccbox, but it’s electric and can be used indoors. In fact, this is currently our favorite indoor pizza oven as of 2023. But just make sure you really want to cook indoors, otherwise the Roccbox is a better value.

Final Thoughts

You can make great pizza in any high-quality pizza oven. Photo credit Ooni

Most pizza makers want a balance of performance and convenience when choosing a home oven. And while I clearly prefer the pricing and features of Ooni ovens, my experiences with both have been positive overall.

Ooni and Roccbox are both well-respected and highly trustworthy, and both offer robust warranty programs. They’re both also UK-based, so you know the customer service standards are high.

I should also note that even if Ooni ‘wins’ this match-up, the Roccbox still beats virtually every other pizza oven brand out there. For example, if we’re talking about ‘Roccbox vs the Bertello’ or ‘Roccbox vs the Pi Polo Stove,’ then Roccbox is the clear winner, in our opinion.

Basically all Ooni and Roccbox pizza ovens will make a good pizza. So when you’re deciding between them, focus on factors like convenience, price, and maintenance.

And if you want some quick recommendations:

• If you want the best all around pizza oven at the best price: go with the Ooni Karu 12G
• If you want a pizza oven that literally can do it all, including 16 inch pizzas, get the Ooni Karu 16.
• If you want an affordable wood-fired-only pizza oven that uses wood pellets: go with the Ooni Frya 12.
• If you want an affordable propane-only pizza oven, and/or if you have a smaller balcony: go with with the Ooni Koda 12.
• If you want to make pizza indoors: go with the Ooni Volt.
• If you want to make larger pizzas and only need gas: go with the Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered.
• If you want to get the cheapest (but still very decent) option, and are ok with a few less features: go with the older Ooni Karu 12.

And if you still have any questions about how to choose the right model for your needs, get a free personalized pizza oven recommendation from our team.