5 Alternatives to the Ninja Foodi MAX Health Grill & Air Fryer (Including 2 Better Value Picks)

If you’re shopping for the Ninja Foodi MAX Health Grill & Air Fryer AG551UK alternatives, the first thing to know is that none of these are true one-to-one replacements. The AG551UK is a grill-first appliance with a built-in digital probe, so it’s especially appealing if you want that steakhouse-style sear, chicken with proper doneness control, and a machine that can also air fry, bake, and roast. The alternatives below lean more toward dual-zone air frying, bigger batch cooking, or better value for money. For many UK households, that’s actually the smarter move.

1) Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer AF500UK — £193.00

This is the best all-round alternative if your priority is feeding a family rather than grilling like a pro. It’s roughly £207 cheaper than the AG551UK, which is a huge saving, and you’re getting a much larger 10.4L capacity versus the grill’s 5.7L. In practical terms, that means a whole chicken, a tray of chips, or a full family meal is easier to manage without batch cooking. The removable divider is the star feature: you can split it into two zones or use one giant drawer, which gives you flexibility the grill simply doesn’t match.

Build quality is very much classic Ninja: sturdy, well-finished, and designed for regular use. It doesn’t feel cheap, and the dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup easy after a busy weeknight dinner. The trade-off is obvious though — you lose the grill plate and the probe, so you won’t get the same seared finish or precise meat cooking. If you mostly cook burgers, halloumi, salmon, chips, and tray-style meals, that may not matter. But if you specifically bought the AG551UK for grilling steaks or wanting a proper “health grill” experience, this is a different category.

Verdict: choose the AF500UK if you want the best value upgrade for a UK family kitchen, especially if worktop space is limited and you want maximum flexibility from one appliance.

2) Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK — £179.00

At around £221 less than the AG551UK, this is one of the strongest value picks in the whole Ninja range. The 9.5L dual-drawer layout is ideal if you want to cook two foods at different temperatures or timings — think chicken in one drawer and wedges in the other, or fish fingers and veg at the same time. For busy households, that ability to sync the finish time is a genuine weeknight lifesaver.

Compared with the AG551UK, you’re giving up the grill function and the probe, but you’re gaining a more straightforward air fryer experience that many people actually use more often. The dual baskets also feel easier to organise than a single grill drawer when cooking separate components. Build quality is excellent, and the non-stick baskets are easy to clean, which matters when you’re using it several times a week. It’s also a strong fit for UK plug-and-play use: standard 3-pin plug, no installation faff, just a solid countertop appliance.

Verdict: choose the AF400UK if you want maximum everyday usefulness for the least money, and you care more about fast family air frying than grilling meat.

3) Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UKCP — £249.99

This Amazon Exclusive version costs about £150 less than the AG551UK, but a little more than the standard AF400UK. The appeal here is mainly the bundle: you get the same 9.5L dual-zone layout plus included tongs, which is handy if you’re starting from scratch or replacing an older fryer. The copper/black finish also gives it a slightly more premium look on the worktop than the standard black model.

Performance-wise, it’s very close to the AF400UK: same core dual-drawer flexibility, same strong Ninja build, and the same practical benefit of cooking two foods at once. The difference versus the AG551UK is still about cooking style. You’re not getting the probe or the grill plate, so meat doneness is less “set and forget,” and you won’t get that charred, grill-like finish indoors. But if you’re mostly cooking chips, chicken thighs, sausages, frozen foods, and meal-prep portions, the dual-zone setup is more useful than a grill for many homes.

Verdict: choose the AF400UKCP if you want the dual-zone format with a slightly nicer finish and a useful accessory bundle, but still don’t need grill-specific features.

4) Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF300UK — £194.99

This is the smaller sibling in the dual-zone family, and it’s a sensible option if you want Ninja quality without paying for the bigger 9.5L models. At just over £200 cheaper than the AG551UK, it’s a much easier buy for smaller households, couples, or anyone with limited counter space in a typical UK kitchen. The 7.6L capacity is enough for 4–6 portions, which is plenty for many homes, and the two drawers still give you the big convenience win: cooking different foods at different settings.

Build quality is again strong, as you’d expect from Ninja. It doesn’t have the sheer capacity of the FlexDrawer or MAX Dual Zone, but it’s a neat, compact machine that feels less imposing on a crowded worktop. The trade-off is that if you regularly cook for four or more people, you may find yourself using it in two rounds. And just like the other dual-zone options, you lose the AG551UK’s grill plate and digital probe, so it’s not the best pick for steak lovers.

Verdict: choose the AF300UK if you want a proper dual-zone Ninja at a more approachable price and size, especially for smaller kitchens or smaller households.

5) Cosori TurboTower Dual Air Fryer 10.8L — £189.99

This is the wildcard alternative, but a very interesting one if you’re trying to maximise capacity without taking over the whole kitchen. At about £210 cheaper than the AG551UK, it offers a huge 10.8L total capacity in a stacked design, which can be a better fit for narrow UK worktops than a wide twin-drawer machine. That vertical footprint is the practical win here: it can feel less bulky while still giving you enough room for full meals.

Feature-wise, it’s aimed squarely at fast, efficient air frying rather than grilling. The Turbo Blaze tech and multi-layer cooking setup are designed to give even crisping and faster results, so chips, chicken, and veg can all come out with good texture. Build quality is solid for the price, though Ninja still tends to feel a touch more refined in hinges, drawer action, and overall robustness. Where the Cosori can shine is value: you’re getting a lot of capacity and a modern cooking layout for far less money. The downside is that it’s less of a known quantity in UK homes than Ninja, and if you want the reassurance of the AG551UK’s grill performance and probe, this isn’t that.

Verdict: choose the TurboTower if you want big capacity in a more space-saving shape and you’re happy prioritising air frying over grilling.

Overall, the biggest decision is whether you actually need a grill or just want a better air fryer. The AG551UK is excellent at what it does, especially for meat lovers who want indoor grilling with precision. But for most UK households, the dual-zone alternatives give more everyday flexibility, better batch cooking, and far better value for money. If your evening meals are more “chips, chicken and veg” than “chargrilled steak and probe-cooked salmon,” a dual-drawer model may be the smarter buy.