This KitchenAid Stand Mixer Review is a side-by-side, feature comparison of the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and the KitchenAid Professional 600 Stand Mixer. I’m stacking the features of these two particular units because they happen to be two of the top-selling stand mixers. Come see which one is right for you!
KitchenAid Stand Mixer Review: Artisan Stand Mixer vs. Professional 600 Stand Mixer
KitchenAid mixers come in several modes, shapes, colors, and sizes.
This can make it tricky to make buying decisions, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, or upgrading a very old stand mixer.
I previously owned the 4.5 quart KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer and made all the things one dreams of making in a stand mixer.
Eventually, I found it not powerful enough, primarily for my desire to knead bread dough.
As an upgrade, I purchased the Artisan Stand Mixer (5 quart) and was later gifted the Pro 600 Stand Mixer (6 quart).
This is precisely why I have two stand mixers in my kitchen for the comparison video I made (see below).
Both models are very popular upgrades to the 4.5 qt KitchenAid Classic.
I’m happy to report that neither of these stand mixers disappoint.
But, this outcome may vary based on your needs, which means I recommend trying to anticipate your needs are before buying one.
For me, what’s not to love about both units?…after all, they’re both made by KitchenAid…and we all know they make superior products.
Be sure to watch the full video to find out which model is my go-to here at The Kitchen Girl headquarters.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer [5 Quart Tilt-Head]:
- stainless 5 Quart Bowl With Handle
- attachments: Wire Whip, Dough Hook, Flat-Beater
- plastic Pouring Shield
- 10 Speed Settings
- front Reservoir for pasta maker, food grinder
- 47” 3-prong 110V power cord
- 325 Watts
- tilt head
- 13.9” inches tall / 18” with tilt-head lifted
- weighs 26 lbs
Artisan Stand Mixer DESIGN
- tilting head more convenient for scraping bowl/attachments
- short height = more countertop storage options
- several color options
- front reservoir not on a hinge (so don’t lose it)
- glass bowl with lid purchased separately
KitchenAid Professional 600 series stand mixer:
- stainless 6 Quart Bowl With Handle
- attachments: Wire Whip, Dough Hook, Flat-Beater
- plastic Pouring Shield
- 10 Speed Settings
- front Reservoir for attachments (pasta maker, food grinder, etc)
- the power cord is 47” 3-prong 110V
- 575 Watts
- lift Stand – Stationary motorhead
- 16.5” inches tall
- weighs 29 lbs
- soft start feature (delay motion = safety/reduce splashing)
Professional 600 Series DESIGN
- lift stand (stationary) stable but restricts scraping movement
- taller height – not good with shorter cabinet height
- fewer color options
- hinged front attachment reservoir (won’t lose it)
(Note: In the video, I briefly talk about small vs. large batch prep)
KitchenAid Stand Mixer [popular models]:
- KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer
- KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Qt Stand Mixer
- KitchenAid Artisan DESIGN SERIES (Includes glass bowl, not stainless)
- KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Classic Series Stand Mixer
KitchenAid Stand Mixer Attachments:
- KitchenAid 5-Qt. Glass Bowl with Lid & Measure Lines
- KitchenAid 6 Quart Glass Mixing Bowl with Accessories
- KitchenAid Pasta Roller and Cutter Set
- KitchenAid Citrus Juicer Stand Mixer Attachment
- KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment
- KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment
- KitchenAid Spiralizer Attachment with Peel, Core, and Slice
Hope you found this review helpful! Feel free to use the comment section below to ask me questions!
As always, thanks for hanging out with me.
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Travis says
Can you comment on the relative loudness of these two models? In reviews I’ve read, the 600 is a bit of a loud beast. Thanks!
Traci Antonovich says
I’ve never noticed a difference in volume or noise between these two machines. I think they sound similar, actually.
Delores says
I love my Pro 600! I love the power as I mix double the recipes for all my bread, cookies, and mashed potatoes! I am in the kitchen all the time and having a tool as basic and gray as my Pro 600 makes me confident I can whip up anything in my kitchen. I had thought about the Artisan but I didn’t like the wattage or plastic attachments. Thanks for the review, it has solidified my decision to go with the Pro 600.
Traci Antonovich says
Yay Delores! I’m so glad to have helped you make the BIG decision. The 600 is definitely great for double batches of ALL the things. Thanks so much for your feedback…much appreciated 🙂
Crystal says
I don’t like the ridge in the bottom of the bowl on the artisan. I feel like the powder ingredients get trapped. Does the glass bowl have the same ridge and does the 600 have the ridge.
Thanks
Traci Antonovich says
Hi Crystal, I have not noticed this with the Artisan or the 600. But then again, I always stop a few times in the mixing cycle to scrape down bowl sides and press dough together (bread dough). It might seem counterintuitive since it’s an electric mixer, but it’s what works the best for my dough. Hope that helps answer your question.
Yvonne says
Wonderful review!! I’ve spent so long debating which one I wanted. And it was kind of coming down to colours hahaha. But after watching your review I’m sure I want an artisan <3 thank you!!!
Traci Antonovich says
Yay! So glad to hear it, Yvonne. Hope you love it, and feel free to pop back in and let me know 🙂 Thanks for the feedback, btw!
Kat says
This wholeheartedly convinced me to buy the Artisan. Thank you!!!
Traci Antonovich says
Wow awesome!!! Even though this video is old (and my first ever video LOL)…I’m so glad it did what it was supposed to do 🙂 Thanks SO much for this feedback. Hope you love that mixer…and I’m always here for Q & A.
Gill Sever says
I have been reading reviews that in the 6 qt the beaters do not reach the bottom of the bowl which makes thorough mixing difficult. Do you find this at all? This could be the deciding factor for me between the 5 or 6 qt.
Traci Antonovich says
Hi Gill, I’ve found that any model can have trouble mixing ingredients if the ingredient volume is too small. That said, the 5 QT bowl is taller with a narrower base, which works well for my ingredient volumes (standard sized batch of brownies or cookies). If a job is too small for my stand mixer (like beating an egg white) I use the hand mixer.
Jerome says
There are no video reviews. I clicked on the two separate images and it opened an identical page?
Traci Antonovich says
Hi Jerome! You’re so right…and I just fixed it. You’ll find the video near the bottom of the post. Thanks! Hope you find it helpful 🙂
Steve P says
Hi,
I’d like to buy one of these for my wife as a birthday gift. she makes bread all the time. Price aside – would the artisan get the job done? To me, the wattage is night and day on both models.
Thanks.
Traci Antonovich says
Hi Steve…apologies for my delayed response. Will the Artisan get the job done? It sure does, but in slightly smaller batches than the Professional 600. So, your decision might come down to which mixer fits best in your space. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions 🙂
Starla says
I’m debating even after the video because I’ve had problems with my bowl getting stuck after making bread – the lift wouldn’t get stuck. Great video, thanks for the info!!!
Traci Antonovich says
Hmmm, are you saying the bowl lift gets stuck? I’m not sure I understand. I’m glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂
Justine says
Hi Traci, my husband and I are interested in using the meat grinding and pasta making features. Did you happen to try them on these two models? We just assumed the higher wattage of the Pro 600 would have the better performance.
Traci Antonovich says
Hi Justine, great question! I did try both attachments on both models. To be honest, I didn’t find any difference between the two in terms of performance. Here’s where they will differ. The Artisan is a tilt head (that locks) and the Pro is a unibody (no locking required). Because of this, you simply have less one less task to remember before you turn the machine on (if using the Pro). Otherwise, some people just love the feeling of the Pro b/c it doesn’t rely on a hinge and a lock. Hope that helps! Don’t forget to visit my Kitchen Tools page to window shop mixers and accessories…and please do let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
chicho says
nice video what about the 8 qrt and the artesan thanks
Traci Antonovich says
Hey thanks! Haven’t reviewed that one because I don’t own it. But, maybe one of these days 🙂
Heather says
Thanks for the straightforward and informative video. The Artisan has been my first choice but I found the Pro 600 for $30 cheaper and was tempted! I’m sticking with the Artisan, thanks for the information!
Traci Antonovich says
Omgosh, you’re soooo welcome! I love it when someone can make a buying decision based on my review. Please don’t hesitate to ask more questions (here in the comments is fine). Hope you love your purchase!
Kat says
Thank you for this. I’ve decided on the Artisan. 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Can’t even tell you how happy this makes me…I always love to hear when my content tips the scale for someone. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Shonna says
Thank you so very much for this video! I am currently about to purchase the Artisan model, which I love, but wanted to double check I was making the right decision over the Pro 600. This video answered all my questions! Thanks again!!
Traci says
Shonna, you are so very welcome 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and letting me know…your feedback is incredibly helpful! I’ll be doing more reviews like this, so be sure to either subscribe to my newsletter (https://thekitchengirl.com/tkg-subscribe/) or to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/thekitchengirl). You’ll get notified through either. Thanks again!
Lora says
Thanks a lot for your amazing thorough review , i have been debating. Between both for months now! I was always convinced of the artisan but some people said it is flimsier than the pro and weaker
This answers a lot!
Do you have any updated tips ?
Thanks a lot
Traci Antonovich says
You’re SO welcome, Lora! Oh, and you like to overthink purchases too, do ya? 🤣🤣 So, nothing has changed in my mind since I made this video (way back in 2015). When making a purchase like this, I really have to factor in: size, functionality, and budget. Any one (or all) of those things can be deal-makers, or deal-breakers. The “flimsy” or “weaker” comments…are truly matters of opinion, because how you use the mixer will determine how it handles the jobs. You can overwork the smaller mixer with too big of a job, and the bigger mixer can underperform on smaller jobs. It all depends on what jobs you’re doing. Hope this helps! Lemme know 🙂