Gelato vs Ice Cream: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Gelato has 249 calories and 3.5 g of protein, while ice cream has 207 calories and the same protein amount. Gelato is higher in calories.

Gelato and ice cream are popular frozen desserts that differ in texture and ingredients. Understanding their nutritional differences can help consumers make informed choices.

What Is the Difference Between Gelato and Ice Cream?

Gelato is an Italian-style frozen dessert made with milk, cream, and sugar, known for its dense and creamy texture. It typically contains less air than ice cream. Ice cream is a frozen dessert made from cream, milk, sugar, and often egg yolks, resulting in a lighter texture with more air incorporated. It is commonly enjoyed in various flavors.

Gelato vs Ice Cream: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of gelato and ice cream, highlighting their nutritional content.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Gelato (vanilla)	Ice cream (vanilla)
Calories	249 kcal	207 kcal
Protein	3.5 g	3.5 g
Carbs	22.3 g	23.6 g
Sugar	20.6 g	21.2 g
Fat	16.2 g	11 g
Fiber	0 g	0.7 g
Sodium	61 mg	80 mg

Which Is Better, Gelato or Ice Cream?

For weight loss: Gelato contains 249 calories per 100 g, while ice cream has 207 calories. Ice cream may be a better option for those focused on calorie reduction.

For muscle and protein: Both gelato and ice cream provide 3.5 g of protein per 100 g. Therefore, neither option is superior in terms of protein content.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Gelato has 22.3 g of carbs and 20.6 g of sugar, while ice cream has 23.6 g of carbs and 21.2 g of sugar. Gelato is slightly lower in both categories.

How to Track Gelato and Ice cream Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros in frozen desserts, leading to unexpected calorie intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Both gelato and ice cream contain 3.5 g of protein per 100 g. There is no difference in protein content.

Which has fewer calories?

Ice cream has 207 calories per 100 g, while gelato has 249 calories. Therefore, ice cream has fewer calories.

What is the sugar content in gelato?

Gelato contains 20.6 g of sugar per 100 g. This is slightly lower than the sugar content in ice cream.

What is the fat content in ice cream?

Ice cream has 11 g of fat per 100 g. This is lower compared to the fat content in gelato.

How much sodium is in gelato?

Gelato contains 61 mg of sodium per 100 g. This is less than the sodium content in ice cream.

What is the fiber content in ice cream?

Ice cream has 0.7 g of fiber per 100 g. Gelato does not contain any fiber.

Key Takeaways

• Gelato has 249 calories per 100 g.
• Ice cream has 207 calories per 100 g.
• Both gelato and ice cream contain 3.5 g of protein.
• Gelato has 20.6 g of sugar per 100 g.
• Ice cream has 21.2 g of sugar per 100 g.
• Gelato has 16.2 g of fat, while ice cream has 11 g.