Solo Stove vs Ooni: Which Pizza Oven Should You Buy? (2026)
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Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Fuel | Max Temp | Size | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solo Stove Pi Solo Stove | Best looks & beginner-friendly wide mouth | Wood or gas | 900°F | 12-inch | $$$ | 4.4 | View → |
 Ooni Karu 12 Ooni | Lighter, cheaper, more sizes | Wood · charcoal · gas | 950°F | 12-inch | $$ | 4.5 | View → |
Prices are approximate and subject to change. Always verify current pricing before purchasing.
The Quick Verdict
Buy the Solo Stove Pi if your patio is part of the fun — it's a round, polished-steel stunner with a big, wide mouth that makes launching pizzas feel easy, even for nervous first-timers. Buy the Ooni Karu 12 if you want a lighter oven, a lower entry price, and access to Ooni's whole family of sizes and fuels.
The Pi is the showpiece that happens to cook beautifully. The Karu is the practical favorite that goes anywhere. Both are wood-or-gas capable, so this is really about looks and portability versus price and range.
Looks, Mouth & Beginner-Friendliness
The Solo Stove Pi wins the beauty contest hands down — it looks like sculpture sitting on the patio between pizza nights. More importantly, its wide, round mouth gives you room to slide and turn pizzas without panic, which is exactly what a first-timer needs.
The Karu 12's opening is a bit narrower front-to-back, so launching takes slightly more practice. Nothing a floury peel and one calm breath won't fix — but if 'easy to learn on' tops your list, the Pi's big mouth is a real edge.
Heat, Fuel, Price & Dad's Final Answer
Both burn wood or gas (with the right burner, sold separately on each) and both cook a proper 12-inch pizza in about 90 seconds on the Pi or 60 on the Karu. Heat and pizza quality are close enough that dinner won't tell the difference.
The Karu 12 is lighter and usually cheaper to get started, and Ooni offers bigger 16-inch ovens if you outgrow it. Dad's final answer: get the Pi if you want the prettiest, most beginner-friendly oven and it's staying on the patio; get the Karu 12 if you want to spend less, carry it more easily, or grow into a bigger Ooni later. You knead to pick the one that fits your yard.
