Differences Between Ooni and Roccbox Pizza Ovens: Features, Price, and Value Compared

Ooni and Roccbox are both great pizza ovens, but one is definitely better than the other. For our money, we prefer Ooni, because there are more options to choose from at a better price.

In our experience, the Ooni Karu 12G is better than the Roccbox in terms of features and price. The Karu 12G is less expensive and has newer features compared to the Roccbox ($499 vs $429), so it takes the lead very easily.

But the Gozney Roccbox is still a fantastic pizza oven in our testing, it’s just not as competitive with Ooni options in 2023 for what the average pizza maker needs. Keep reading for more insights on these amazing pizza ovens.

Overall Winner:
Ooni Karu 12G

The Ooni Karu 12G has all the features of the Roccbox & more, plus a newer more fuel efficient design. This high performance, multi-fuel pizza oven is perfect for all tastes and styles.
Price: $429

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Still Good:
Gozney Roccbox

The Roccbox is a well built classic, but other Ooni pizza ovens have caught up with it in features & price. The Roccbox won’t disappoint, but Ooni is better value right now.
Price: $499

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Ooni vs Roccbox Features In-Brief

Our Pizza Oven Reviewing Method

We’re not going to focus on which portable pizza oven makes the best pizza for this review. That might seem odd, but both Ooni and Roccbox are premium pizza oven brands with excellent build quality, so it’s a given that both make great pizza.

Instead, we’re going to focus on what matters most to pizza makers: price, fuel choice, and convenience. With this knowledge, hopefully you can make the most informed choice with either Ooni or Roccbox.

Pros and Cons For Buying Ooni or Roccbox

To make things easier for you, we’ve broken down the key pros and cons of buying either Ooni or Roccbox. Don’t worry, we elaborate on all of these things further down the page.

Choosing Ooni over Roccbox:

Choosing Roccbox over Ooni:

Ooni vs Roccbox: Price Per Square Inch

Ooni carries 7 different pizza oven models as of 2023, while the Gozney Roccbox is a single portable pizza oven model. This means you need to compare each Ooni pizza oven with the Roccbox to truly understand which one is better for different use cases.

To help determine which pizza oven ics most cost effective, I’ve devised a “price per square inch” metric. This metric calculates how much you’re paying per square inch of baking surface, which is an important factor for most potential buyers.

Keep in mind, this is merely one factor to consider among many when it comes to comparing Roccbox with Ooni.

Gozney comes in near the middle of the pack in terms of these price metrics, which means you’re paying more on a relative basis for the 12 inch Roccbox than you will for a comparable Ooni pizza oven.

This doesn’t mean the Roccbox is overpriced, just that it’s relatively more expensive than Ooni. This extra cost is partially due to the extra insulation material used to build the Roccbox, which helps with heat retention in some use cases.

The Roccbox’s extra insulation is a nice feature, but it will only be useful if you’re cooking many pizzas in a row, such as in a commercial environment. It may not be worth the extra cost for the average pizza maker cooking only 1 or 2 pizzas at a time.

I’ll get into more details about all of this further down in this review.

The Gozney Roccbox: An Up-close Look

The Roccbox by Gozney is a versatile outdoor pizza oven capable of using three different types of fuel (wood, charcoal and propane). The Roccbox is fully able to produce wood-fired deliciousness at high temperatures of up to 950°F (500°C), which makes it perfect for Neapolitan style pizza.

Despite the Roccbox’s ability to make amazing pizza, its main drawbacks are price and weight.

Priced at $499, the Roccbox has trouble competing with similar Ooni ovens at a similar price point. And weighing over 44lbs, owners of the Roccbox might be reluctant to bring it places much further than their backyard.

As a bonus, most Roccbox packages include a pizza peel, which is a $50-$100 value. Build quality is also top-notch.

The Roccbox lacks a chimney, which is something we don’t like when it comes to wood or charcoal burning pizza ovens. A chimney improves airflow and help prevent a build-up of harmful gasses close to the cooking area.

In terms of pizza quality, the Roccbox delivers with few compromises. Despite having fewer, and slightly older, features (7+ years as of 2023), the Roccbox can make a pizza as tasty as any Ooni pizza oven.

Many Roccbox users use gas to get the oven to a nice high temperature then switch to wood at the very end to add a smoky flavor to their pizza. This is a nice little trick, but it would be nice if the wood wasn’t as much of a pain to get going in the first place.

But consider this: if the Roccbox makes pizza as well as Ooni with fewer features and a higher price point, why would you buy it over an Ooni? This is why we recommend most pizza makers choose Ooni over Roccbox outside of commercial settings.

Pros:

• Classic design
• Makes great pizza
• Amazing insulation
• Multi-fuel (wood, charcoal, propane)
• Built in thermometer

Cons:

• Heavy for its size
• Expensive for its size
• No chimney
• Hasn’t been updated in years

Roccbox vs Ooni Karu 12G: The two most similar options

When comparing Ooni vs Gozney, the most similar Ooni model to the Roccbox is the Ooni Karu 12G. The Karu 12G has all of the same features as the Roccbox, but a newer design, more fuel efficiency, and a slightly lower price. Both pizza ovens are big enough for a 12 inch pizza.

The Gozney Roccbox is outdated compared to the Ooni Karu 12G, and it costs slightly more as well. The Karu 12G is clearly the better pizza oven in 2023.

In terms of form factor, the Roccbox weighs significantly more than the Ooni Karu 12G, weighing in at 44lbs compared to 34lbs for the Ooni.

The extra weight on the Roccbox comes from the dense insulating layers that help the oven retain heat. This is a nice feature, but for most pizza makers, extreme heat retention isn’t a huge concern.

If a pizza cooks in as little as 60 seconds at high temperatures, retaining heat for extended periods of time is not a big selling point for the Roccbox, unless you plan on making dozens of pizzas in a row or using it commercially.

Compared to the Gozney Roccbox, the Ooni Karu 12G doesn’t retain heat as efficiently, but it’s still more than adequate for the average pizza maker’s needs. In fact, our tests show that it’s better than average compared to other similar pizza ovens.

We say the tradeoff between price and heat retention makes the Ooni Karu 12G a better value than the Roccbox. This is especially true when you consider the Roccbox has fewer features and a less fuel efficient design.

Pros:

• Multi-fuel
• Great insulation
• Built in thermometer (ambient temp)
• Glass viewing door
• Improved Fuel Efficiency

Cons:

• Gas burner sold separately

Roccbox vs Ooni Karu 16

The Ooni Karu 16 is Ooni’s flagship pizza oven, and for good reason. It also happens to be my favorite pizza oven that I personally own.

The Karu 16 can do it all: wood, charcoal, propane, and pizza up to 16 inches in size. It includes several features that the Roccbox doesn’t, such as a chimney and an insulated glass door for watching your pizza without losing heat.

Overall, the Ooni Karu 16 is a superior pizza oven compared to the Gozney Roccbox. It has a newer design, more features, and a much bigger baking surface. That said, the Karu 16 costs significantly more than the Roccbox.

Similar to the Roccbox, the Ooni Karu 16 lets you make authentic Neapolitan style pizza. However, unlike the Roccbox, the Karu 16 can also be used to make large New York or New Haven style pizza using a lowered propane fueled flame. With this extra size, it’s also easy to make pan pizza styles such as Detroit, Sicilian, and even Grandma style.

The Ooni Karu 16 is also the only domestic pizza oven recognized by the AVPN, the official body regulating Neapolitan cooking in Italy. This is a major honor and a testament to how well the Karu 16 performs. It truly provides the most authentic wood-fired pizza making experience of any pizza oven.

The Ooni Karu 16 replaces the older, and very popular, Ooni Pro 16. In our testing, the Karu 16 is superior to the Ooni Pro in almost every way.

Pros:

• Huge baking surface
• Great insulation
• Built in thermometer (ambient temp)
• Glass viewing door
• AVPN recognized

Cons:

• Heavy
• Most expensive model
• Overkill if you just want to make a quick 12 inch pizza

Roccbox vs Ooni Frya 12

Both the Roccbox and select Ooni pizza ovens support wood, but the two aren’t completely equal.

While the Roccbox features a traditional wood burner, Ooni gives you the option to choose between traditional wood logs and wood pellets. The Ooni Fyra 12, for example, features a gravity-fed pellet hopper in place of a regular wood burner.

Comparing the Ooni Fyra 12 and the Roccbox isn’t straightforward. On one hand, the Ooni Fyra 12 is a much better wood-fired pizza oven compared to the Roccbox’s sometimes awkward to use wood burner. On the other hand, the Roccbox supports a propane burner, which is much more convenient than using the Ooni Fyra 12.

Wood pellets are easier to use, require less experience to master, and burn more efficiently than traditional wood logs. This is why we recommend the Ooni Fyra 12 for those specifically seeking an exclusively wood-fired pizza oven over the Roccbox.

The Roccbox’s Wood Burner 2.0, while efficient at its job, comes with a steeper learning curve and is more difficult to use for beginners. It requires very specific sized wood chunks that must be loaded into a small slot. Many users find this difficult and time consuming, and we agree.

By contrast, the Ooni Fyra 12 can easily be re-fueled by simply scooping up some wood pellets and pouring them into the hopper. As more fuel is needed, pellets are automatically drawn into the chamber by gravity.

Keep in mind: all other Ooni wood-fired pizza oven models (besides the Fyra 12) employ a similar system as the Roccbox. However, in our experience, the Roccbox was the most difficult to use of all due to its smaller fuel compartment. Also, the Ooni Fyra 12 does not support gas, which is the most convenient fuel option.

Pros:

• Pellet hopper works great
• Least expensive wood-fired oven

Cons:

• No propane option

Ooni Volt 12 vs Roccbox: Electric Indoor vs Outdoor Multi-Fuel

The Ooni Volt 12 is an electric, indoor pizza oven launched in early 2023. This pizza oven is unique for being one of the only indoor pizza ovens to be fully electric and capable of reaching temperatures of up to 850F (450C), making it perfect for most styles of pizza, including Neapolitan.

If you’re looking to use your pizza oven indoors, the Ooni Volt 12 is the clear choice over the Gozney Roccbox because the Roccbox can only be used outdoors.

That said, if you plan on using your pizza oven mostly outdoors anyways, the Roccbox is much less expensive than the Ooni Volt 12 ($499 vs $999), so choose carefully before making any decisions between these two.

Related Post: Best Indoor Pizza Ovens

Pros:

• Only indoor model
• Fully electric
• Hits high temperatures (850F)
• Performs well
• Built in thermometer

Cons:

• Very expensive for its size
• Needs to be plugged in

Roccbox vs Ooni Koda 16

The Ooni Koda 16 is a large pizza oven fueled exclusively by propane. That means if you’re looking for a wood-fired pizza ovenoption, the Roccbox is the logical choice.

That said, most pizza makers are looking for a balance of performance and convenience. The Ooni Koda 16 is more convenient to use than the Roccbox because it runs exclusive only propane with precise temperature control. Also, the Koda 16’s propane burner cooks more efficiently and evenly due to its innovative “L-Shaped” design, as you can see in the pictures below.

With its larger baking surface, lower price per square inch, and convenient gas burner, the Ooni Koda 16 is a better choice compared to the Roccbox for most people. Our testing results confirm this as well.

Pros:

• Large 16 inch baking surface
• L-Shaped burner is big improvement
• Best priced 16 inch pizza oven
• Easy temperature control

Cons:

• No wood-fired option
• Less portable

Roccbox vs Ooni Karu 12

The Ooni Karu 12 is the older version of the Ooni Karu 12G with fewer features and a much lower price point.

The Roccbox beats the Ooni Karu 12 in most areas: it has much better insulation and more features. However, as of 2023, the Ooni Karu 12 is much less expensive, costing only $299 compared to $499 for the Roccbox. At nearly half the price of the Roccbox and with similar capabilities, the Ooni Karu 12 is still a good option.

The Ooni Karu 12 is perfect for pizza makers looking for a very inexpensive multi-fuel pizza oven with great performance. Otherwise, the Roccbox, or the updated Ooni Karu 12G pizza ovens offer better long-term value.

Related Post: Which Ooni Accessories You Need To Get Started

Pros:

• Works great
• Cheapest multi-fuel pizza oven
• lightweight

Cons:

• Barebones, with no extra features compared to the Gozney Roccbox

Roccbox vs Ooni Koda 12

The Ooni Koda 12 is the smaller version of the Ooni Koda 16. It compares favorably against the Roccbox in terms of convenience and weight, being an exclusively propane fueled pizza oven with less insulation.

However, the Ooni Koda 12 lacks the L-Shaped burner featured on the Koda 16. It also isn’t better than the Roccbox’s propane burner, which works quite well.

The Roccbox will give you more fuel options than the Ooni Koda 12, but it costs $100 more. We recommend the Ooni Koda 12 for those who only want to cook with propane, otherwise the Roccbox is worth the extra price for its flexibility.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Convenient
• Easy temperature control

Cons:

• Lacks L-Shaped burner
• Less insulated than Roccbox
• No wood or charcoal options

Other Important Considerations

Customer Service: Ooni and Gozney are Both Great Pizza Oven Brands

While we prefer some features over others, our experiences with both Ooni and Roccbox (Gozney) have overall been positive. Both brands are well respected, highly trustworthy companies with robust warranty programs and great customer service.

Also, both Ooni and Gozney are based in the UK, so you can expect good customer service as well as high-quality design standards. I’m confident that whichever pizza oven you choose, you will have a good experience dealing with either company from a customer service perspective.

Ooni Has Better Options for New York and New Haven style Pizza

If you plan on making Neapolitan style pizza, we recommend going with a 12 inch model, like the Ooni Koda 12, Ooni Karu 12G, or even the Ooni Volt 12. These pizza ovens are just the right size for Neapolitan, and reach an appropriately high temperature (850F or higher) for Neapolitan pizza.

On the other hand, if you’re mainly interested in New York or New Haven style pizza, I recommend picking up a 16 inch model for the extra baking surface size. Our favorite 16 inch pizza oven model is currently the Ooni Koda 16 because it’s easy to use and budget-friendly for its size.

Both Ooni and Roccbox Feature Safe-Touch Designs

Pizza ovens get extremely hot, which can make them dangerous to touch when fired up. This is especially prevalent with cheaper pizza ovens without good insulation.

High quality pizza ovens, like Ooni and Roccbox, address this problem in different ways. The Roccbox has thick insulated layers of aluminum and a safe-touch silicone jacket on the outside. Similarly, Ooni uses its own insulating layers of thick aluminum along with powder-coated stainless steel on the exterior.

While Roccbox generally remains cooler to the touch at the highest temperatures compared to Ooni, both maintain adequately cool exterior temperatures while in use. This is an important safety feature that prevents scalding yourself if you accidentally touch the pizza oven while using it, especially if you have kids or pets around.

The extra insulation on the Roccbox is effective at keeping the exterior cool, but it comes at the cost of portability due to its increased weight. We believe that the various Ooni models are better at balancing portability with safety and price.

Conclusions:

Other Observations:

• The Roccbox works best as a gas powered oven than as a wood one due to some design limitations with the size of the wood burner where it opens.
• Not all Ooni pizza ovens have the same pizza stones. For example, the Koda 12, Fyra 12, and Volt 12 all have a 0.4″ pizza stones, while all other models have a larger size 0.6″ pizza stones. This should not affect the pizza, but it will affect how well the stone retains heat between uses.
• While Ooni is generally the preferred brand due to having more options, Roccbox vs other pizza oven brands compare quite favorably. Roccbox is the easy winner between Roccbox vs the Bertello or the Roccbox vs the Pi Solo Stove, for example.
• Ooni pizza ovens do not include a pizza peel, unless you purchase one separately or as part of a bundle. Pizza peels are essential for using a pizza oven.

Related Posts:

• Ooni Pizza Ovens: All 6 Models Compared & Reviewed
• Improved Ooni Pizza Dough Recipe: 65% Hydration, Double Fermented, No-Knead Method
• Can Ooni Pizza Ovens Be Used In The Rain? Yes & No: Here’s Why
• What’s The Best Flour For Making Pizza?
• 70% Hydration Pizza Dough Recipe – No More Dry Crust
• How To Use A Pizza Peel: Prevent Sticking
• What You Need To Make Pizza At Home – Pizza Making Buyer’s Guide
• Ooni Vs Bertello: Which Pizza Oven Is Best And Why?
• Ooni vs The Gozney Dome: Pizza Ovens Reviewed And Compared
• Ooni vs Big Horn Pizza Oven: Ooni Clone or Cheap Knockoff?
• Ooni Koda vs Ooni Karu: Which Pizza Oven Is Best For You?
• How Much Does A Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Cost? Complete Buyer’s Guide

Related Questions:

Gozney Roccbox

Domenic Vitulli

The Roccbox 12 inch multi-fuel outdoor portable pizza oven by Gozney

Price: $499

Size: 12.4×12.4 inch baking surface

Fuel: Wood, charcoal, gas

Max Temperature: 950°F (500°C)

Weight: 44lbs (20kg)

Price Per Inch (baking surface): $3.24

Pizza Quality: Excellent

4

Buy Roccbox

Other Vendors

Ooni ovens are also available on Amazon, however you won’t be able to take advantage of bundle offers available by buying directly from Ooni.

• Ooni Fyra 12
• Ooni Karu 12
• Ooni Karu 16
• Ooni Pro 16
• Ooni Koda 12
• Ooni Koda 16