Is Cold Plunge Better Than Active Recovery

I have seen everyone on social media jumping into ice baths and I am wondering is cold plunge better than active recovery for reducing muscle soreness. It looks absolutely miserable but people swear by the anti inflammatory benefits. I am currently just doing some light walking and stretching on my off days.

I have heard that cold water immersion can actually hinder muscle growth if you do it too soon after a workout because it blunts the inflammatory response that is needed for hypertrophy. I am wondering if it is better to save the cold plunge for days when I am not trying to build muscle or if I should just stick to active recovery.

What is your take on the whole cold water therapy trend? Have you noticed a big difference in how you feel compared to just doing light activity? I am in the US and I am considering buying one of those portable cold plunges for my garage but I want to be sure it is worth it first.