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9 Best Smoothie Blenders–comparison, Reviews & Buying Guide
Are you looking for the best smoothie blender?
The thing is, there are hundreds of options out there. There’s the Nutribullet, Vitamix, Ninja, Kitchenaid, and so on. These are outstanding brands with equally amazing products.
If you’re not keeping up with the trend, you might end up with an outdated product lacking some essential features.
Here’s the deal:
We’ve already reviewed all the smoothie machines in the market. We know which ones are the best rated, ideal for making smoothie bowls, efficient at crushing ice or frozen fruits, or the best models for protein shakes, etc.
I don’t want to keep you waiting.
Here are the best blenders for smoothies:
- Best Overall – Ninja TWISTi Blender
- Best Value – NutriBullet Pro 1000-Watt Professional Series Personal Blender
- Best Premium – Vitamix A2500 Ascent Series
- Best Single-Serve – The Original Magic Bullet
- Best for Protein Shakes – The New Nutri Ninja Blender (BN401)
- Best for Ice & Frozen Fruits – Blendtec Classic Total Blender
- Best Cordless – Nutribullet GO
- Best with Glass Jar – Ninja Foodi HB152 Hot and Cold Blender
- Best Quiet Smoothie Blender – Hamilton Beach Personal Creations
- [BONUS] Honorable Mention – Ninja SS101 Foodi Power Nutri Duo Smoothie Blender
That’s the short version of this buying guide. You can read the full review of each smoothie blender by clicking the link above. Or, we can continue exploring all your options down below.
To begin with, let’s see if you might need a full-sized countertop blender or perhaps a more compact smoothie maker.
Personal vs Countertop
As you’ve noticed from the top smoothie blender list, there are quite a few full-sized countertop blenders. Nowadays, most blending machines come with a personal cup accessory such as Vitamix, Ninja, KitchenAid, and other popular brands.
A blender with a big container has more applications than a smaller one. However, if you only need it for your daily dose of green smoothies, you might want to get something more personal. Depending on your needs, you can have a single-serve or a medium-sized model.
What is the best blender for smoothies?
The best smoothie maker is currently the Ninja TWISTi. Its a very capable smoothie blender and its at a very attractive price.
But if it’s not the best for you, read on to see what other options might be best.
Note: If you are primarily interested in protein shakes, check out our rankings for the best blenders for protein shakes.
Top 9 Best Smoothie Blenders
Updates:
- 2/11/2023 – Ninja TWISTi overtakes the top spot from the SS101 Foodi Power Nutri Duo
#1 – Best Overall Blender for Smoothies
A great device for making smoothies, smoothie bowls, frozen drinks, and nut butters. Drizzle cap is great for blending up your own mayonnaise, nut butters, and salad dressings. The built-in tamper on the large pitcher ensures everything is blended perfectly smooth.
The Bottom Line
While not the largest or most versatile blenders, it works extremely well for what it does. It also comes in at a good price point. If you primarily need a blender for smoothies and nut butters, you'll be very happy with this device!
The Ninja TWISTi is the best new blender I’ve seen for some time at this price point. The TWISTi has that dangerous mix of affordability and blending ability that powers its way to the top of this list.
Long-term reliability remains to be the biggest issue I’ve noticed with Ninja Blenders. And while we’ve not had any issues with the Ninja TWISTi, we’ve not had the pleasure of using it for a couple of years either.
But even with that question out there, you can afford to go through a few Ninja TWISTi blenders and still not spend as much as you would on some premium brands.
#2 NutriBullet Pro 1000 – Best Cheap Smoothie Maker
The NutriBullet Pro is not the cheapest on this list, but it still deserves the ‘best cheap smoothie maker’ title. When looking for a budget-friendly blender, the price tag is a poor indicator. You might end up getting a less efficient machine that won’t do justice to your green smoothie.
Let’s take the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender as an example. It’s thrice as cheap as the NutriBullet Pro 1000. However, you’ll be stuck with a 175-watt motor. It won’t be able to handle kale on the same level as high-powered ones.
In summary, the NutriBullet Pro is indeed the best smoothie blender for the money, having a perfect balance of functionality and affordability.
#3 Vitamix A2500 – Best Premium Smoothie Machine
Vitamix A2500 is the second cheapest in the Vitamix Ascent Series. On the contrary, it’s the most expensive on this product roundup. Being the first representative of full-sized countertop blenders, it’s the proper premium smoothie blender.
You can do a whole lot more with large-capacity blending machines. Some models double as a food processor, grain mill, hot soup maker, dough kneader, and so on. All of those are possible with the Vitamix A2500.
Why is it one of the best blenders for smoothies?
Its smart features.
You can hook it up to your phone. Then, you’ll have access to tons of smoothie recipes. It’s more of a guided, step-by-step recipe app. It will tell you if you’ve added enough greens, ice cubes, fruits and if you poured enough liquid.
#4 Magic Bullet – Best Single-Serve Smoothie Blender
Magic Bullet is one of the best single-serve smoothie blenders in the market. It’s also one of the cheapest. If you’re only making individual smoothie serving, its small cups would perfectly compliment your needs.
Included in your purchase are these containers—20 oz ( 600 ml), 18 oz (500 ml), 12 oz (350 ml) cups. And if you want to go even smaller, you can get the Magic Bullet Mini. It comes with a 10 oz (300 ml) cup.
Despite its size, the original Magic Bullet has many applications. It can also help you make sauces and dips, baby food, crush ice, grind coffee beans, etc. There’s a secondary milling blade for grinding beans. Or you can also up your smoothie game by upgrading to an ice-crushing blade.
#5 Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Duo – Best for Protein Shakes
What makes Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Duo the best smoothie blender is its ability to make traditional smoothie recipes and as well as thicker acai bowls. For the record, the latter would only be possible with a full-sized heavy-duty blending machine.
Its ability to handle thicker consistencies lies in its powerful 1200-watt motor and the secondary cup with a rotating tamper. The challenge with processing thick blends is it sticks to the sides. This issue has been elegantly addressed by the unique tamper design.
With that said, it also gained a few other recognitions other than being the best smoothie maker overall.
- Best Blender for Smoothie Bowls
- Best Rated Smoothie Blender
- Best Blender for Acai Bowls
When you purchase the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Duo, you’ll get a pair of 24 oz (700 ml) ninja cups and a 14 oz (400 ml) Power Nutri Bowl. That’s the one with a rotary paddle.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Duo here.
#6 Blendtec Total – Best Blender for Frozen Fruits & Crushing Ice
The Blendtec Total is the most powerful blending machine as far as this top nine list is concerned. It features a 1560-watt motor with 3.0 HP, making it the best blender for frozen fruits and crushing ice.
With 90 oz (2.6 L) capacity, you can make 8-12 servings in one cycle. It’s the best smoothie maker for a big household. Its robust motor can take on tough ingredients such as kale, nuts, and frozen fruits with ease. Best of all? It’s strong enough to heat your soup with friction.
If you simply want a single-serve smoothie, Blendtec also offers a personal cup accessory. And there are also tons of other containers and attachments that you can upgrade to, like Vitamix.
You can read the full review of Blendtec Total Blender here.
#7 NutriBullet Go – Best Cordless Smoothie Blender
Nutribullet started the compact blender revolution. If you must know, the Nutribullet Go is the brand’s latest and smallest entry in their line of personal blenders. IMHO, it’s the best cordless smoothie maker despite being relatively new to the market.
Think about it; it weighs 60% less than your average personal blender. Simply put, it will be effortless to bring with you on camping trips, beaches, gym, and even at work. It is one of the best travel blenders you can have.
Sadly, its battery-operated 70-watt motor is pretty limited. Don’t expect it to work like the Magic Bullet or the NutriBullet Pro. The issue with rechargeable blenders like the NutriBullet Go is power. It’s only suitable for basic smoothie recipes and protein shakes.
#8 Ninja Foodi HB152 – Best Glass Blender for Smoothies
The Ninja Foodi HB152, also known as Ninja Foodi Hot and Cold Blender is the only product in this buying guide that features a glass container. The best thing about a glass vessel is that it’s non-reactive and free from harmful plastic compounds.
Featuring a 64-ounce (1.9 L) capacity, this smoothie machine can produce 4-6 servings of smoothies. With 1400-watt of raw power, it can easily pulverize ingredients. Additionally, it can also make advanced thick recipes such as an acai bowl.
It’s definitely the best glass blender for smoothies.
Furthermore, it also highlights numerous contemporary features such as a timer, 12 walkaway blend settings, auto-clean function, etc. It can even bring soups to a boil with its distinctive heating element. It’s a Hot and Cold Blender for that very reason.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi HB152 Blender here.
#9 Hamilton Beach – Best Quiet Smoothie Blender
If you’re in search of the quietest smoothie maker, the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender can be your best bet.
Here’s the kicker:
Apart from its charming aesthetics, it’s also one-of-a-kind. The unique aspect I’m talking about is the fixed blade that makes it a lot easier to use, store, and clean! It’s like a break from tradition as most personal blenders have separate blade bases.
Sadly, its 175-watt motor isn’t that strong for thick blends. The good news? It’s a lot more silent and for simple smoothie recipes, the Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender will do just fine.
You can read the full review of Hamilton Beach Personal Blender here.
How do I choose a smoothie blender?
Fortunately, picking the best smoothie blender isn’t that complicated. There are just a few factors that you need to keep in mind—budget, blend quality, ease of use, capacity, portability, accessories.
Budget
The cheapest smoothie maker on this list is the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender. It’s just twenty bucks at the time I’m writing this buying guide. Whereas, Vitamix is on the other end of the spectrum.
You certainly won’t need a premium blender if you’re only looking for something that can help you make smoothies.
Generally speaking, full-sized countertop models are more expensive than personal blenders. If you’re looking for more affordable blenders, check out this roundup, best cheap blender.
Blend Quality
Not all smoothie machines are created equal. Only a few models excel at crushing ice, making sorbet out of frozen fruits, and process leafy greens efficiently. The keyword here is power.
Let’s take the Magic Bullet as an example. Its motor is rated at 250 watts. That would work fine for green smoothies and protein shakes, but it’s not the best choice for making acai or smoothie bowls.
This is one reason why the Ninja Smoothie Blender is one of the top blenders for smoothies. It will work fine for basic recipes and as well as thicker blends.
Ease of Use
You don’t want to spend a lot of time figuring out how your smoothie maker works. When it comes to user-friendliness, NutriBullet Pro is the apparent winner. All it takes is a push-and-twist action, and you’re off to the races.
Smart features are sure fun, but the more features it has, the more complicated it gets. A straightforward smoothie blender will be a more ideal choice if you want to make your life easier.
Capacity
Smoothie makers come in different sizes. If you’re preparing healthy drinks for the entire family, something with a larger blender jar would better suit your needs. Blendtec Total has the most capacity, but Vitamix A2500 and Ninja Foodi Glass Blender are also excellent options.
Next in line would be medium-sized personal smoothie machines. Ninja SS101, Nutribullet Pro 1000, Ninja BN401, and Hamilton Beach Personal Blender can make two to four servings of smoothies, perfect for sharing.
If you’re only preparing for yourself, Magic Bullet and Nutribullet Go are the smallest ones available. They are only suitable for individual smoothie serving.
Portability
Aside from being cute, mini smoothie machines are great travel buddies. It can fit your luggage with no issues. Wireless models are also starting to become a trend. That will give you even more freedom and flexibility.
In this category, the NutriBullet Go is the most portable option. It’s battery-operated, and you can charge it with a USB cord. Magic Bullet blender is also a great compact alternative.
Suppose you need something that you can carry around while working out; you’ll be okay with the Hamilton Beach Mini Blender, Nutribullet Pro 1000, Ninja Personal Smoothie Blender, or the new flagship Nutri Ninja Blender.
Accessories
This part would only make sense for full-sized blenders. When you’re getting one, it’s ideal that it comes with a to-go cup, or at least you have the chance to upgrade later. If you don’t need to make multiple servings, a personal cup is way easier to use and clean, plus it’s highly portable.
By the way, the Magic Bullet Blender comes with several cup sizes and accessories that go beyond making smoothies.
Those are the things that you have to know when looking for a good smoothie maker.
Over to You
We’ve already covered all the things that you have to consider when buying the Best Smoothie Blender. And, we’ve also gone thru the top smoothie makers of the year. Now, it’s your turn to make a choice.
So, let me part with you with the best of the best—the Ninja Smoothie Maker.
Or see your buying choices at Ninja Kitchen by clicking this link
