Maghemite and cobalt ferrite anionic magnetic nanoparticles enter tumor cells and can be used as heat sources when exposed to a high-frequency magnetic field. Comparative studies of the two particles enable to unravel the magnetic heating mechanisms (Néel relaxation vs. Brown relaxation) responsible for the cellular temperature rise, and also to establish a simple model, adjusted to the experimental results, allowing to predict the intracellular heating efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles. Hence, we are able to derive the best nanoparticle design for a given material with a view to intracellular hyperthermia-based applications.