The AeroGarden Bounty Basic Indoor Garden is hands-down my favorite system. This system was tested in our lab and at home for three months, and my biggest takeaway is that it is the best system for enjoying a variety of herbs and veggies. Plus, you’re guaranteed to see growth in just a few days (we grew nine plants in total), making it perfect for experienced gardeners and beginners alike.

I think the AeroGarden is low-profile enough to work in most homes, though you do need to devote a bit of counter space to it. It’s equipped with 30-watt LED grow lights to provide full spectrum light, so don’t worry if you don’t have the sunniest window to position it near.

If you are new to gardening (or want an effortless way to garden), this system makes it easy to begin. Setup takes less than 15 minutes, and maintenance and upkeep are easy, too. Only a few minutes are required to trim back our plants and add water and plant food (if needed). I love that each seed pod is marked with the expected height—short, medium, tall—so you know where to plant them in the unit.

It comes with seed pods for Genovese basil, curly parsley, Italian parsley, and lots of other herbs, but AeroGarden offers numerous other options as well as empty seed pods so you can add your own. I grew a specific yellow cherry tomato in mine with lots of success!

I should note that the light can be distracting (it comes on for a few hours, depending on how you set it) so make sure this isn’t in a sensitive space like an office or bedroom where the light will bug you.

Also to note: this system requires specifically AeroGarden seed pods, but as mentioned, you can buy empty pods and use your own seeds. I no longer need to buy fresh herbs, which is a perk!

_{Dimensions: 16.5 x 14.5-30 x 11.25 to 24 inches | Plant Capacity: 9 | System Type: Hydroponic}

I know the AeroGarden indoor garden systems are pricey, but that’s why I love this less-expensive (yet still great) iDoo Hydroponics Growing System. Although this is a no-frills setup, it performed great in our Lab tests. It is easy to maintain (aside from some initial confusing setup instructions) and is fairly compact, so I don’t think it will take up too much room on your kitchen counter.

This system does not come with any seeds or pods, which is a downside for me, but you can purchase any herb, flower, or vegetable seeds that you like as long as you stick with varieties that do not grow taller than 15 inches (the limit of the grow lights).

The grow lights have two settings: one for fruit/flowers and one for vegetables. You cannot alter the timer, which keeps the grow lights on for 16 hours after you plug in the system, and then shuts them off for 8 hours before repeating the cycle, so keep that in mind when considering placement.

Other than the seeds, the system comes with everything you need, including fertilizer. The seeds sprouted and grew quickly into healthy, green plants during our testing, and while not the most elaborate indoor gardening system, I highly recommend this offering from iDoo for anyone who’d like to grow herbs without spending a bundle.

_{Dimensions: 10.8 × 6.5 x 10.2 to 15 inches | Plant Capacity: 8 | System Type: Hydroponic}

I just moved into a townhouse with very limited counter space, and I think the Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 is perfect for fellow small-space dwellers. This system was tested for over three months in the Lab and six months at home, and we loved the easy use and maintenance.

The Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 includes three basil pods to get you started. Despite its compact size, the lights are adjustable to accommodate taller plants. The LED grow lights are on a timer with one setting: 16 hours on, 8 hours off. You can set it to correspond with your typical bedtime/waketime—when we tested it, we didn’t find the light objectionable.

One potential downside to the system is that the lights don’t extend completely out to the end, meaning that the pod on the far end might not get as much light exposure as the rest (but we haven’t found any issues with this to date).

The water reservoir has a small gauge that shows when the level is dropping low, so keep an eye on it so your plants don’t get too thirsty. We also found no way to clean the water tank, although we haven’t had any issues with it.

I wish you could buy a multipack of different herbs instead of nine of the same herb, especially since you can only grow three at a time. However, similar to our best overall AeroGarden, you can use your own seeds (using the Grow Anything Plant Pods) if you choose.

_{Dimensions: 9 x 4.9 x 12.5 to 19 Inches | Plant Capacity: 3 | System Type: Hydroponic}

I’m obviously already a fan of AeroGarden (which doesn’t make this pick surprising), and I love this compact, six-pod model specifically for growing herbs. Through six months of use, we found this system very easy to set up and maintain—and bonus, it doesn’t take up too much counter space.

Like most AeroGarden systems, this one has full-spectrum grow lights that closely replicate natural sunlight. The 20-watt bulbs were quite bright, and one downside for me is that the lights cannot be dimmed. Still, we found a spot where the lights weren’t bothersome at night, which got rid of the issue.

Each included herb comes with an estimate of its sprouting time, and they’re quite accurate. The two varieties of basil sprouted in just a few days, but the other herbs weren’t far behind. All of the plants were healthy and green, although we didn’t trim them as often as we could have.

I also love the easy-to-read digital display and the attractive stainless steel finish, both of which give the system a sleek, modern appearance. This is a great way to keep healthy, fresh herbs on hand to liven up your cooking.

_{Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 10.9 to 17.4 inches | Plant Capacity: 6 | System Type: Hydroponic}

Now I know at first glance, the Farmstand Nook looks large, but it delivers impressive results that a countertop garden just can’t, making it our uncontested favorite option for growing lettuce (and more). We were able to start harvesting basil, cilantro, and parsley within a month of planting, and the rest of the veggies were ready by the end of the sixth week.

One great thing about the Nook is that it uses established seedlings instead of seeds like other systems. New seedlings are more expensive than seed pods, but the seedlings have a huge head start, and there’s no chance of seeds failing to germinate.

The Nook comes with a waterproof mat to avoid damaging your floor, so you can safely place it on surfaces like carpet and hardwood, and we didn’t notice any drips or leaks.

The Farmstand Nook is a large and pricey indoor gardening system, but after three months of testing, we think it’s ideal if you’re looking for a year-round supply of lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, and other veggies. We recommend something much smaller, like our best for herbs pick, if you just want to grow some herbs to punch up your home cooking.

_{Dimensions: 18.6 x 18.6 x 55 inches | Plant Capacity: 20 | System Type: Hydroponic}

I have yet to see a prettier countertop indoor garden than this option from Rise, making it a worthwhile upgrade over other indoor gardening systems. On top of its good looks, it was easy to set up during our testing, full of useful smart features and includes an advanced nutrient system to keep plants thriving.

Setting up this system was as easy as setting the trays in place, adding water, and turning it on. After that, the Rise app made maintenance a breeze, with controls for the full-spectrum LED lights, reminders about when to add water and nutrients, and helpful hints about your plants’ car. You can even control the system through your Alexa—how cool is that?

The garden comes with an eight-pod starter kit that includes a variety of herbs and vegetables, including lettuce, parsley, basil, and cilantro. You’ll need Rise pods to refill your garden, but they sell a wide range of herb, vegetable, and flower pods on their website.

While not a compact system, this is also not an oversized garden, so I think most can find a suitable space to house their growing greenery. Note that unlike most other systems, the grow lights cannot be raised or lowered, but at a height of 16 inches, you can grow a wide range of plants without crowding.

_{Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 16 inches | Plant Capacity: 8 | System Type: Hydroponic}