Popsmith vs. Dash SmartStore Popcorn Maker: A Detailed Comparison

If you’re serious about making great popcorn at home, you’ve already ruled out the microwave. Now you’re looking at real popcorn makers, and two names keep coming up: the Popsmith Popper and the Dash SmartStore Stirring Popcorn Maker. They’re both popular and well-reviewed. But they perform quite differently, and those differences affect your overall popping experience. 

Here’s the full breakdown:

At a Glance: Popsmith Popper vs. Dash SmartStore Popcorn Maker

The Popping Method

Before anything else — before design, before durability, before price — there's the question of how the popcorn actually gets made:

The Popsmith Popper

The Popsmith is a stovetop popcorn popper with a spinning mechanism. You preheat it on the burner, add oil and kernels, and crank the handle clockwise as they pop. When the popping slows to one or two seconds between pops, you pull it off the heat immediately and pour the popcorn into a huge bowl.

Benefits:

• Full control over temperature from start to finish, as you can dial up heat to get the batch moving or lower it a notch to prevent scorching

• The hand crank keeps every kernel in constant contact with hot oil, resulting in a low rate of unpopped kernels

• Oil coats kernels more completely throughout the pop, creating richer, crispier, more flavorful popcorn — the kind that doesn't need anything added to taste great

• Works on any stovetop, including induction

• No electric components, no coatings, nothing to degrade

• Easy to clean — let it cool, then rinse and wash with warm soapy water (it's also completely dishwasher safe)

Trade-offs:

• Requires a bit more attention — you're cranking, adjusting the flame as needed, and removing it from the burner at just the right moment

• Needs a working stovetop (gas, electric, or induction)

• Slightly longer learning curve for stovetop popping beginners, though our step-by-step Popsmith Popper tutorial makes it easy to get right 

Dash SmartStore Stirring Popcorn Maker

The Dash SmartStore is an electric popcorn maker. You add a little oil and kernels, press a button, and a motorized stirring bar keeps everything moving while a fixed heating element warms the pot from below at a fixed temperature. When heating slows, you flip the machine over and the clear cover becomes your serving bowl. 

Benefits:

• Virtually no learning curve — just plug it in, press a button, and it’s done

• Mostly hands-off, so you can do other things while it runs

• Fun to watch the kernels pop

• The integrated bowl means one less dish to wash

• Consistent enough results for everyday snacking

Trade-offs:

• The heating element runs at a fixed temperature, so you can't respond to how the batch is developing

• Because heat comes from below only, kernels can sit in uneven hot and cool zones

• You can't pull it off the heat instantly when popping slows, which increases the risk of scorching the last few kernels

• Cleanup is cumbersome — oil and salt can get stuck in the grooves, and the counter it sits on stays oily

Build Quality and Durability

What something is made of tells you a lot. We'll let the details speak for themselves:

Popsmith Popcorn Popper

• Premium stainless steel construction with a multi-clad metal bottom

• No coatings to degrade

• No electrical components to fail 

• Works on all heat sources, including induction

• Simple design with no moving parts beyond the hand crank

• Built to last decades with proper TLC

Dash SmartStore

• Plastic housing and bowl that can crack or warp over time

• PTFE non-stick heating plate — effective when new, but non-stick coatings degrade with repeated high-heat use

• Electric motor and wiring that can fail

• Realistically, a 2–4 year appliance for regular users

Design

Both poppers have thoughtful designs, but they take different approaches. Popsmith prioritizes the quality of what ends up in your bowl, while Dash SmartStore prioritizes convenience and clever storage.

Popsmith Popcorn Popper

There’s no doubt that the Popsmith is gorgeous. But beyond looks, it was built to make the tastiest popcorn you’ve ever had. And every detail reflects that.

This stovetop popcorn maker’s stainless steel body is durable, non-reactive, and a breeze to clean. The multi-clad metal bottom combines the heat conductivity of aluminum with the strength of stainless steel, so your kernels get a consistent, even cook every time. Then there's the patented spinning mechanism that keeps kernels moving so nothing burns or goes unpopped.

Dash SmartStore

The Dash SmartStore has a clever design. Its lid doubles as a serving bowl and a measuring cup — two genuinely useful features. You can also stack the lid and base together for convenient cabinet storage, and the clear bowl lets you watch kernels pop, which is a nice touch. 

Pricing

The Dash SmartStore ranges from $39-49, while the Popsmith Popper starts at $199. That’s a significant difference, but price and value don’t always tell the same story. 

With the Dash, you're getting a solid, no-fuss popper at a low upfront cost — easy to justify, easy to replace if it gives out. With the Popsmith, you're making a longer-term investment. Here's what that gets you:

• Better popcorn, every single batch

• A popcorn popper that won't need replacing in a few years

• Induction compatibility and stovetop precision

• A design worth leaving on the counter

Who Each Popcorn Maker Is For

Choose Dash SmartStore if:

• You want oil-popped popcorn with minimal effort and a low upfront cost

• You pop popcorn a few times a month and don't need gourmet-level control

• You prefer a hands-off, plug-in experience

• Counter space or aesthetics aren't a priority

Choose the Popsmith Popper if:

• You want movie theater-quality popcorn at home 

• You want a popper that lasts decades

• Design and aesthetics matter to you 

• You’re buying a gift for someone who loves to cook and entertain

The Final Verdict

The Dash SmartStore is a genuinely good electric popcorn maker — better than most at its price point, and a solid step up from an air popper or the microwave. If convenience is the priority and budget is tight, it deserves a place on your countertop.

But the Popsmith Popper is the best popcorn maker in this comparison, and it's not really close. Better heat control, better materials, better popcorn, better design — and a tool that will have a permanent place of honor on your stovetop. 

Ready to take movie night to the next level? Grab your Popsmith Popper here and see what stovetop popcorn is really capable of.