Middleweight · $799–$800

Grills, Smokers, and Pizza showdown

Ooni Koda 2 Pro vs Gozney Arc: The Middleweight Pizza Oven Showdown (2026)

A tiled dome pizza oven glowing at night in an outdoor kitchen, with pizzas baking inside

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad Smith · Independent, no paid placement · Updated November 2, 2026Prices checked November 2026

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How we scored thisfull methodology →

contenders compared: 2
owner ratings · Ooni + Gozney: 609
verified pull-quotes: 2
data last verified: 2026-11-02

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Two gas pizza ovens. Same price within a dollar — $799 for the Ooni, $800 for the Gozney. Same peak heat — 950°F, hot enough for a 60-second Neapolitan pie. So when the sticker and the temperature are a dead heat, what actually separates them?

This is the fairest fight in pizza ovens: dollar for dollar, Ooni’s 18-inch workhorse against Gozney’s beautifully built 14-incher. A straight head-to-head — two ovens, one winner. Here’s who takes it, and for whom.

The short version:

🏆 Best overall: Ooni Koda 2 Pro — at the same $799 it’s the bigger oven (18” vs 14”), with dual independently-controlled burners. More pizza for your money.

💎 Best build & easiest to use: Gozney Arc — a more premium build, a digital thermometer in the base, a higher owner rating, and the smoothest handling. The refined pick at the same price.

Expert consensus

We read 4 expert reviews so you don't have to

Synthesized from Food & Wine, Serious Eats, TechGearLab, and Tom's Guide. Here's where the experts agree — and where they don't.

Also quoted, not counted as expert reviews: The Strategist (Michael Zhao tested the Koda 2 Pro beside the bigger Arc XL, not this Arc, so its figures are labeled and not counted) and Pala Pizza Ovens (enthusiast reviewers, one on each oven, not counted as credentialed tests).

Where they agree

Both are about $800 gas ovens rated to 950°F, and Food & Wine tested both: the Koda 2 Pro is its Best Large Propane Pizza Oven and the Arc its Best Small Propane Pizza Oven.
The Koda 2 Pro is the steady big oven. Food & Wine says the temperature at the front and back 'varied by no more than 50°F', and that for a gas oven kept at home 'you can’t beat the Koda 2 Pro for its consistent results, straightforward heat control, and versatile size.'
The Arc is the easy one. TechGearLab scored it 95 of 100, ranked it #1 of 8 and wrote 'We were amazed by how easily we were able to bake restaurant-quality pizzas with the Gozney Arc.' Tom's Guide calls it 'easy to use, makes great pies, and looks fantastic in your backyard.'

Where they split

Size vs. refinement: the Ooni is 4 inches bigger (18 vs 14) for the same money; the Gozney counters with a thermometer built into the oven and the tester record on ease of use.
Crust: testers disagree on the Arc. Food & Wine says 'the bottom of every pizza looked pale'; TechGearLab reports 'fully cooked bottom crusts' and Serious Eats 'leopard spotting on the bottom'. Food & Wine's Arc pizzas took no more than 4 minutes, its Koda 2 Pro pizzas about five to five and a half.
Note the evidence base: we found no published head-to-head of these two exact ovens. Food & Wine gave each its own role rather than ranking them, so we corroborate with owner ratings rather than lean on a single verdict.

Bottom line: Same price, same 950°F rating — the Ooni Koda 2 Pro gives you more oven, while the Gozney Arc gives you a more refined, easier-to-use cooker. Size and value, or build and polish.

Quick comparison

Model	Best for		Max temp	Time to temp	Cooking size	Thermometer	Price
Ooni Koda 2 Pro	Best overall	Not scored yet	950°F	~35 min to 940°F stone (tester); Ooni claims 20 to 950°F	18 in	Digital hub (incl.)	~$799typical at OoniIn stockread 2026-11-01Check price →
Gozney Arc	Best build & easiest to use	Not scored yet	950°F	~38 min to 900°F stone center (tester); Gozney prints none	14 in	Built-in digital	Check price →

Prices move constantly — any Amazon price shown is as of the date noted and subject to change; tap through for today's number.

Time to temp = what the maker claims and what testers measured. The temperatures differ, so read these as ranges rather than a race. Weather and wind move every number, and the first cook of the day runs longest.

How fast each one heats up

When the price and peak temperature tie, preheat is the natural tiebreaker, and here it doesn’t break the tie. We found no test that timed these two exact ovens together, so here is what each number actually measures:

Ooni Koda 2 Pro: Ooni claims 20 minutes to 950°F. Pala Pizza’s tester took about 35 minutes to bring the stone to 940°F on a warm summer day.
Gozney Arc: Gozney prints no minutes. Serious Eats timed the stone to 900°F in about 27 minutes on the burner side and about 38 at the center. Food & Wine measured 750°F in 24 minutes. Tom’s Guide saw 45 minutes on the first run and about 20 to 30 on later tests.
The closest side-by-side: The Strategist ran the Koda 2 Pro beside the bigger Arc XL, not this Arc. The Ooni’s stone led by 68°F at 15 minutes, both read 830°F at 30 minutes, and both passed 900°F at 40.

So plan on 30 to 40 minutes for either oven at full Neapolitan heat. These are real tester numbers, and they swing with the weather: a cold, windy evening adds minutes to both. The first cook of the day always runs longest, and once the oven body is warm, both recover much faster between pizzas.

Best overall: Ooni Koda 2 Pro

If you want the most oven for your $799, this is the one.

The Koda 2 Pro’s headline is simple math: it cooks an 18-inch pizza for the same price the Gozney Arc charges for a 14-inch one. Behind that are dual independently-controlled G2 burners that throw intense, even heat (Pala Pizza calls it “a monster of an oven”), and the included Ooni Connect Bluetooth hub for reading the oven’s air temperature and probing your bake from the app. For most backyard cooks, more cooking surface is exactly where the money should go.

What you give up versus the Gozney: the build and finish are a notch less premium, there’s no gauge in the oven body itself (you use the included Connect hub), and it’s bigger and heavier on your patio. The other catch is recovery: in The Strategist’s test beside the bigger Arc XL, the Koda 2 Pro handled two or three pizzas in a row and then needed a few extra minutes between pies, while the XL ran six. Serious Eats timed this smaller Arc back to 900°F in a little less than two minutes. None of that outweighs getting a materially larger oven for the same money.

Winner

Our top pick

Ooni Koda 2 Pro

Best overall

Showdown Score™

Not scored yetThe owner ratings is not read yet

See what has been read

Scored 2026-11-01

Owners534 Ooni ratings, read November 2026Not read yetFailure record10% of ratings are one or two stars3.2Hands-on testFood & Wine tested it and recommends it.+1.0

Too close to call with the Gozney Arc. It holds "Best overall" because the evidence is level, and the crown holds on our call.

How the score works

950°F · 18-inch · dual-zone burners · same $799 as the Arc

Your pick if you want the most cooking space at the $799 sweet spot — an 18-inch chamber and dual-zone burners; temperature reads via the Bluetooth hub, and the finish is a notch below Gozney's.

4.5 · 534 owner ratingsacross Ooni · 2026-11-01

~$799typical at Ooni · checked 2026-11-01In stocklisting read 2026-11-01

Check price at Ooni →

Picked before we checked what this link pays us.

Also at: Amazon

Verified owner · Amazon

“Overall this is a nice pizza oven. I only put 4 stars because sometimes the oven won’t stay lit after multiple tries.”

— G.N, Amazon

Pro review Food & Wine

“If you’re looking for a gas pizza oven to keep at home, you can’t beat the Koda 2 Pro for its consistent results, straightforward heat control, and versatile size.”

— Mary Claire Lagroue, Food & Wine

Ooni Koda 2 Pro

Best overall

Your pick if you want the most cooking space at the $799 sweet spot — an 18-inch chamber and dual-zone burners; temperature reads via the Bluetooth hub, and the finish is a notch below Gozney's.

4.5 · 534 owner ratingsOoni · 2026-11-01

“Overall this is a nice pizza oven. I only put 4 stars because sometimes the oven won’t stay lit after multiple tries.”— G.N, Amazon · Verified owner

Pro review “If you’re looking for a gas pizza oven to keep at home, you can’t beat the Koda 2 Pro for its consistent results, straightforward heat control, and versatile size.”— Mary Claire Lagroue, Food & Wine

Pros

18-inch cooking surface — 4 inches more than the Gozney Arc for the same $799
Dual independently-controlled burners (G2 tech) for even, edge-to-edge heat
Ooni claims ~20 min to 950°F; one tester took ~35 min to 940°F on a warm day
Includes the Ooni Connect digital thermometer hub with two food probes

Cons

No oven-body gauge — temperature reads via the included Bluetooth Connect hub
Build and finish a notch below the Gozney's premium feel
Bigger and heavier (~66 lb) than the 14-inch Arc
Owner rating (4.5) edges below the Arc's, though from far more reviews

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Two safety reports and a flame that will not stay lit. A verified buyer says the oven "caught on fire the very first time I used it" (September 2025); an unverified buyer reports burns and blames "little or no insulation" (September 2026); the third critical review, plus one 4-star review, says the flame goes out after lighting.

3 written critical reviews on Amazon (one to three stars, recent sort) as of 2026-11-01; the histogram puts 10% of the 39 Amazon ratings at one or two stars · critical reviews read 2026-11-01

~$799typical at Ooni · checked 2026-11-01In stocklisting read 2026-11-01

Check price at Ooni →

Also at: Amazon

✓ Safety: no active recallGas appliance — use outdoors only, keep clearance from walls/overhangs, and shut off the propane at the tank after cooking. No CPSC recall for any Ooni product (recall API checked 2026-11-02, RecallTitle, ProductName and Manufacturer queries, with a Wybotics control returning recall 26372 the same sitting). Owner reports, not a recall: two of the three written critical reviews on its Amazon listing (39 ratings, read 2026-11-01) are safety reports — a verified buyer whose oven 'caught on fire the very first time I used it' and needed an extinguisher (September 2025), and an unverified buyer reporting burns, blaming 'little or no insulation' (September 2026).

Best build & easiest to use: Gozney Arc

The Arc is what you buy when how an oven is built and how it feels to use matter as much as the spec sheet.

It hits the same 950°F, but the experience is more refined: a precision digital thermometer is built right into the base, the two-layer insulated body holds heat well between pies, and reviewers single it out for being effortless — Pala Pizza calls it “the easiest pizza oven I ever used,” and it rates higher with owners. It reads 4.8 across 75 on Gozney’s own page and 4.6 across 23 on Amazon. The Ooni reads 4.5 on both. It’s also a genuinely handsome, compact oven that looks the part on a patio.

The catches at this price: it’s the smaller oven (14” vs 18”), its single rolling-flame burner means a little more pizza-turning than the Ooni’s dual burners, and Food & Wine got pale crust bottoms, though TechGearLab and Serious Eats did not. If build quality, ease, and design win you over, it earns the same $799 a different way.

Gozney Arc

Best build & easiest to use

Showdown Score™

Not scored yetThe owner ratings is not read yet

See what has been read

Scored 2026-11-02

Owners75 Gozney ratings, read November 2026Not read yetFailure record7% of ratings are one or two stars3.4Hands-on testTechGearLab scored it 95 of 100, and recommends it.+1.5

How the score works

Your pick if you care most about build quality and ease — Gozney's 14-inch gas oven hits 950°F with a built-in thermometer at $799; the catch is the smaller stone.

4.8 · 75 owner ratingsGozney · 2026-11-02 · early data

“Outstanding pizza oven. Big hit with the family. Heats up in about 15 minutes and cooks Naples style pizza in 90 seconds.”— James, Amazon · Verified owner

Pro review “We were amazed by how easily we were able to bake restaurant-quality pizzas with the Gozney Arc.”— Mallory Paige, TechGearLab

Pros

Built-in precision digital thermometer in the base
Premium Gozney build, insulation, and heat retention
Rates above the Koda 2 Pro on its maker's page and on Amazon, and praised as the easiest to use
Compact design, and Food & Wine called its results some of the most consistent in its tests

Cons

14-inch chamber — 4 inches smaller than the Koda 2 Pro at the same $799
Gozney prints no preheat time; one tester took ~38 min to 900°F at the stone center
Single rolling-flame burner — a bit more pizza-turning than the Ooni's dual burners
Owner rating is strong but from a smaller review base

What owners complain aboutCapability limit

One owner, on 'precise temperature control': the only control is the flame, and it tends to overheat, which makes several pizzas in a row hard — and they would rather have saved the money on a Roccbox.

1 written critical review on Amazon (the critical filter's count, recent sort) as of 2026-11-01; the histogram puts 7% of the 23 Amazon ratings at one star · critical reviews read 2026-11-01

Check price at Amazon →

Sold by Gozney, shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-11-01

✓ Safety: no active recallGas appliance — use outdoors only, keep clearance from walls/overhangs, and shut off the propane at the tank after cooking. No active recall found (checked Jun 2026). CPSC re-checked 2026-10-16: no recall naming Gozney, Ooni, Uuni or Roccbox (RecallTitle, ProductName and Manufacturer queries empty while a Wybotics Manufacturer control returned recall 26372 the same sitting). CPSC re-checked 2026-11-02: no recall naming Gozney, Ooni or Roccbox (RecallTitle, ProductName and Manufacturer queries empty while a Wybotics control returned recall 26372 the same sitting).

How to choose between them

Skip the spec sheet and answer two questions:

Do you want more oven, or a nicer oven? For the same $799, the Ooni Koda 2 Pro gives you more cooking surface; the Gozney Arc gives you a more premium build, a built-in thermometer, and the smoothest handling.
How many pizzas in a row? For one big pie at a time, the Ooni’s 18-inch stone is the draw. For a run of 14-inch pies with less fuss, the Gozney is a joy to use. Preheat won’t decide it: plan on 30 to 40 minutes for either.

For most people reading this, that’s the Ooni Koda 2 Pro — more pizza for the money. If build quality and ease of use are what make you smile, the Gozney Arc is worth the same money.

Cooking for a crowd, or want the flagship experience? Step up to the Heavyweight pizza showdown (Ooni Koda 2 Max vs Gozney Arc XL). On a tighter budget? The Lightweight showdown covers the best compact ovens under $500. Leaning Gozney? Every Gozney oven, ranked by division.

Want to cook on wood rather than gas? The 16 in Ooni Karu 2 Pro sits near this price, burns wood or charcoal, and takes gas with a separate burner — it is in our wood-fired vs electric showdown.

What to look for in a gas pizza oven

Real pizzeria heat (900°F+). Below that you’re baking, not cooking Neapolitan pizza. Both of these clear the bar at 950°F.
Preheat time. Faster to temperature means pizza sooner and less propane burned waiting — a real, often-ignored difference between ovens.
Cooking size that matches your pies. A 14-inch oven (Arc) fits most pizzas; an 18-inch one (Koda 2 Pro) gives you room to spare and easier launches.
A way to read the heat. Built-in gauge (Gozney) or an included digital hub (Ooni), plus an infrared thermometer for the stone itself — don’t launch a pie blind.
Even heat / burner design. Dual or wrap-around burners mean less rotating and fewer burnt edges.

FAQ

Is the Ooni Koda 2 Pro or Gozney Arc better?

They're the same $799 and both hit 950°F, so it comes down to what you value. The Ooni Koda 2 Pro gives you more oven for the money — an 18-inch cooking surface (vs 14) and dual burners. The Gozney Arc counters with a more premium build, a thermometer built into the base, the easiest handling, and a higher owner rating. Ooni for size and value; Gozney for build and polish.

How long do these pizza ovens take to heat up?

Plan on 30 to 40 minutes for either one at full heat. We found no test that timed these two exact ovens together. Ooni claims 20 minutes to 950°F, and Pala Pizza's tester took about 35 minutes to bring the Koda 2 Pro's stone to 940°F on a warm day. Gozney prints no minutes for the Arc; Serious Eats timed its stone to 900°F in about 27 minutes on the burner side and about 38 at the center, Food & Wine measured 750°F in 24 minutes, and Tom's Guide saw 45 minutes on the first run and about 20 to 30 after that. The closest side-by-side is The Strategist's Koda 2 Pro against the bigger Arc XL: the Ooni's stone led by 68°F at 15 minutes, both read 830°F at 30 minutes, and both passed 900°F at 40. Cold or windy days add time to any of these.

How big a pizza can each one cook?

The Ooni Koda 2 Pro takes pizzas up to 18 inches; the Gozney Arc up to 14 inches. For the same $799, the Ooni gives you noticeably more cooking room.

Do both have a thermometer?

Yes, both give you a digital temperature read, but differently. The Gozney Arc has a precision digital thermometer built into its base. The Ooni Koda 2 Pro includes the Ooni Connect Bluetooth temperature hub (the same one the Koda 2 Max uses). Ooni says its display gives 'real-time ambient temperature and food probe readings', so it reads the air inside the oven rather than the stone. The stone heats more slowly than the air, so an infrared thermometer aimed at the stone still tells you when to launch (Ooni's page read 2026-10-26). That goes for both ovens: Food & Wine found the Ooni's ambient reading skewed low, and Pala Pizza's tester found the Arc's display read far below the stone during preheat.

Are these pizza ovens gas or wood?

Both are propane gas (the Ooni also offers a natural-gas conversion). Gas means they heat fast, run clean, and are easy to control — you trade away the wood-smoke flavor some people want for convenience.

Should I step up to a bigger or premium pizza oven?

Only if you cook for crowds or want the largest ovens. For most people these $799 ovens are the sweet spot. If you want to feed a party or go flagship, see our Heavyweight pizza showdown (Ooni Koda 2 Max vs Gozney Arc XL).

Update history

November 2026 (2026-11-02) — AUDIT. Prices and owner reads refreshed. CORRECTED the preheat comparison: we had said the Ooni preheats a bit faster, but no test we found timed these two exact ovens together, so the page now prints what each tester measured, including The Strategist's side-by-side with the bigger Arc XL. CORRECTED the Arc's preheat range, which had no source behind it, and the line that called the Arc's body heavier (it is 47.5 lb against the Ooni's 66 lb). REMOVED a leftover line saying the Ooni hub reads stone temperature. ADDED Food & Wine, which tested both ovens, and TechGearLab's 95 of 100 for the Arc.
October 2026 (2026-10-26) — CORRECTED the thermometer FAQ: we had said the Koda 2 Pro's Ooni Connect hub reads stone temperature. Ooni's own page says it gives 'real-time ambient temperature and food probe readings', so it reads the oven air, not the stone.

The ladder

Every Grills, Smokers, and Pizza showdown, by division

Same fight, different budgets. The head rulings first, then each weight class as the price climbs.

Pound-for-poundGozney's Best Pizza Ovens (2026): Every Division the Champ Holds
CatchweightOoni Karu vs Ninja Woodfire: Wood-Fired or Electric Pizza Oven? (2026)
Lightweight · Under $700Gozney Roccbox vs Solo Stove Pi Prime vs Ooni Koda 2: The Lightweight Pizza Oven Showdown (2026)
Heavyweight · $1,000–$1,299Ooni Koda 2 Max vs Gozney Arc XL: The Flagship Pizza Oven Showdown (2026)

Ooni Koda 2 Pro vs Gozney Arc: The Middleweight Pizza Oven Showdown (2026)

Quick comparison

How fast each one heats up

Best overall: Ooni Koda 2 Pro

Ooni Koda 2 Pro

Ooni Koda 2 Pro

Best build & easiest to use: Gozney Arc

Gozney Arc

How to choose between them

What to look for in a gas pizza oven

FAQ

Is the Ooni Koda 2 Pro or Gozney Arc better?

How long do these pizza ovens take to heat up?

How big a pizza can each one cook?

Do both have a thermometer?

Are these pizza ovens gas or wood?

Should I step up to a bigger or premium pizza oven?

Every Grills, Smokers, and Pizza showdown, by division

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Get the full build lists