Last updated: September 2026.
I’ve cooked on the Gozney Arc and the Ooni Koda 2, and the Arc Lite sits directly between the two in terms of what it offers. If you’re choosing between the Arc Lite and the Koda 2 right now, you’re looking at two compact propane ovens that are closer in capability than their different designs suggest. The Koda 2 is the more proven choice with a larger stone. The Arc Lite is cheaper, comes with a longer warranty, and is the better-looking oven by a clear margin.
Here’s how they actually compare.
Gozney Arc Lite — from $349.99
Compact 12″ gas pizza oven · 5-year warranty · Propane
Check Price on Amazon →Gozney Arc Lite vs Ooni Koda 2: Specs Compared
| Gozney Arc Lite | Ooni Koda 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Max pizza size | 12″ | 14″ |
| Max temperature | 500°C / 950°F | 500°C / 950°F |
| Preheat time | ~15 minutes | ~20 minutes |
| Fuel | Propane only | Propane only |
| Weight | ~10 kg | 11.5 kg |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years |
| US price | From $349.99 | $399 |
| Check Amazon → | Check Amazon → |
The Flame Design: Lateral vs L-Shaped
The biggest technical difference between these two ovens is how they move heat across the stone. The Arc Lite uses a lateral flame that runs along the side of the cooking chamber. The Koda 2 uses an L-shaped burner at the back and side. Both approaches work well, but they produce different cooking characteristics.
Having cooked on the full Gozney Arc, which shares the same lateral flame system as the Lite, I can say the heat distribution across the stone is impressively even. The temperature differential from one side to the other is noticeably smaller than on rear-burner ovens. You still rotate the pizza, but the margin for error is wider. The Koda 2’s L-shaped burner is also significantly better than older rear-only designs, but the Arc’s lateral flame has a slight edge for consistent bakes.
For beginners, that means the Arc Lite may produce more consistent results in the early sessions before you’ve learned to read the heat zones instinctively.
Pizza Size: Does the Extra 2 Inches Matter?
The Koda 2 handles 14-inch pizzas; the Arc Lite tops out at 12 inches. In most home cooking situations, 12 inches is more than enough. A proper 12-inch Neapolitan is a generous pizza for one person, and you can run four or five in a session without the oven feeling limiting.
Where the Koda 2’s larger stone makes a difference is when you want to push a bigger base, cook for three or four people and keep each pizza large, or use the stone for things like flatbreads or smaller roasts. If you know you’ll regularly want 13 or 14-inch pizzas, the Koda 2 is the right call. If you’re mostly making classic Neapolitan-sized pies for one or two people, the Arc Lite’s 12-inch stone won’t frustrate you.
Price and Value
The Arc Lite retails at $399.99 but has been available at $349.99 during promotions — making it around $50 cheaper than the Koda 2’s $399 standard price. At the lower price, the Arc Lite is hard to argue against on value: you’re getting a well-made lateral-flame oven with a 5-year warranty for less than the Koda 2’s 3-year-covered competitor.
The warranty difference is worth dwelling on. Five years versus three years at a lower purchase price is a meaningful gap when you’re buying something you’ll cook on weekly for the next several years. Gozney’s quality record with the Roccbox and Arc gives me confidence the warranty commitment is real.
Build Quality and Design
The Arc Lite is a better-looking oven. That might sound like a shallow reason to choose one pizza oven over another, but if it’s going to live on your garden table or kitchen worktop, the design genuinely matters. Gozney’s aesthetic is clean, deliberate and premium in a way that Ooni’s functional stainless construction is not. The Arc Lite inherits the Arc’s design language and looks the part in a way the Koda 2 simply doesn’t match.
Build quality on the Koda 2 is excellent and backed by Ooni’s track record across millions of units. The Arc Lite has fewer long-term user reports given its 2025 launch, but Gozney’s existing products are well-built and the early Arc Lite reviews are positive. I’d call it even on quality with a clear edge to Gozney on finish.
Portability
Both ovens are compact by pizza oven standards. The Arc Lite is slightly lighter at around 10 kg versus the Koda 2’s 11.5 kg. Neither difference is large enough to matter much in practice. The Koda 2 folds completely flat, which makes storage in a bag or cupboard easier. The Arc Lite is compact but doesn’t collapse in the same way, so factor that in if space is tight.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Gozney Arc Lite if you’re cooking 10 to 12-inch pizzas for one or two people, care about how the oven looks on your table, and want to save money with a longer warranty. At $349.99, it’s genuinely good value and the lateral flame gives an excellent, forgiving bake.
Buy the Ooni Koda 2 if you want a larger 14-inch stone, the reassurance of Ooni’s established support network and user community, or you regularly cook for three or four people and want that extra room on the stone.
If you’re also considering the full Gozney Arc, see our Gozney Arc vs Ooni Koda 2 comparison. The Arc adds a 13-inch stone and more cooking power at a higher price. For the Koda 2 vs a larger Ooni, our Koda 2 vs Koda 16 comparison covers that decision in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gozney Arc Lite available in the US?
Yes. The Arc Lite launched in the US in 2025 and is sold through Gozney’s US website and on Amazon. The standard US price is $399.99 with promotional pricing at $349.99 available at launch. It ships to all 50 states.
What size pizza does the Arc Lite make?
The Arc Lite cooks up to 12-inch pizzas. The cooking stone is sized for a 12-inch base. If you want to make larger pizzas, the full Gozney Arc handles up to 13 inches and the Arc XL goes to 16 inches.
How does the Arc Lite compare to the Ooni Koda 12?
The Arc Lite is the modern competitor to the now-discontinued Koda 12. Both cook 12-inch pizzas on propane. The Arc Lite has a lateral flame burner, a 5-year warranty, and newer engineering. At comparable prices, it’s the stronger current-generation choice over a used Koda 12.
Can the Arc Lite run on natural gas?
No. The Arc Lite is propane only. If you need a natural gas connection, the Ooni Koda 16 offers an optional natural gas conversion kit. Neither the Arc Lite nor the Koda 2 support natural gas.
Which is better for beginners?
Both are excellent first pizza ovens. The Arc Lite’s lateral flame produces slightly more even stone temperatures, which is more forgiving while you’re learning. The Koda 2 has a larger user base with more tutorials and documentation online. Either will produce great pizza from the first session. Pick based on budget, pizza size, and aesthetics.
Gear Mentioned in This Article
Paid links — if you buy through these I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Gozney Arc Lite — Amazon
- Ooni Koda 2 — Amazon
- Ooni Infrared Thermometer — Amazon
- Ooni Perforated Pizza Peel — Amazon
About Ian Armstrong
I'm Ian Armstrong, a home cook and pizza oven obsessive based in the UK. Over the past four years I've owned and cooked on a Gozney Roccbox, Ooni Karu, Ooni Koda, and Gozney Arc — putting each one through real-world use in my back garden across all seasons, not just ideal summer conditions. I test dough hydration, preheat times, fuel efficiency, and how each oven handles everything from Neapolitan pizza to sourdough bread and Sunday roasts. Everything on Wood Fired Pizza Gear comes from hands-on experience. No sponsored placements, no guesswork — just honest assessments from someone who's burned a lot of dough getting it wrong so you don't have to.
