In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsThe Bottom LineChoosing a Blender for SmoothiesOur Smoothie Blender TestsWe Also ConsideredCommon QuestionsOur Trusted Expertise
In This ArticleView All
In This Article
View All
Our Top Picks
Reviews
The Bottom Line
Choosing a Blender for Smoothies
Our Smoothie Blender Tests
We Also Considered
Common Questions
Our Trusted Expertise
Photo:EatingWell / Nick Simpson
EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Abreakfast smoothieis one of the easiest ways to start your day whenever you want to stock up on fresh produce but don’t have time to chop and cook. Smoothies are amore filling optionthan grabbing a juice because they include fiber, and the options forhealthy ingredientsare endless.
“An 8- to 12-ounce smoothie with fruits and vegetables can fit in virtually anyone’s eating plan—and can go a long way toward upping the vegetable and fruits in the diet,” saysWendy Bazilian, Dr.P.H., RDN,doctor of public health, dietitian nutritionist and owner of Bazilian’s Health.
As a special diet private chef and nutrition enthusiast myself, I rely on smoothies to pack in the nutrients I need in the most delicious way possible. When choosing a blender for making smoothies, you’ll want to factor in speed, cost, ease of use and cleanup time. We tested dozens of models, from personal to full-sized. Read on to see which fared best, from our choice for a grab-and-go machine to the best investment piece.
Our Top PicksBest Overall:Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz. at Amazon$380Jump to ReviewBest Value:SALENinja Professional 1000-Watt Blender at Amazon$100$80Jump to ReviewBest High-End:Vitamix A2500 Smart Blender at Amazon$600Jump to ReviewBest Personal:Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal Blender at Amazon$80Jump to ReviewAlso Great, Personal:Nutribullet Pro 900 Personal Blender at Amazon$110Jump to ReviewBest Portable:Ninja Blast Portable Blender at Amazon$60Jump to Review
Best Overall:Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz. at Amazon$380Jump to ReviewBest Value:SALENinja Professional 1000-Watt Blender at Amazon$100$80Jump to ReviewBest High-End:Vitamix A2500 Smart Blender at Amazon$600Jump to ReviewBest Personal:Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal Blender at Amazon$80Jump to ReviewAlso Great, Personal:Nutribullet Pro 900 Personal Blender at Amazon$110Jump to ReviewBest Portable:Ninja Blast Portable Blender at Amazon$60Jump to Review
Best Overall:Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz. at Amazon$380Jump to Review
Best Overall:Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz. at Amazon$380
Best Overall:
Best Value:SALENinja Professional 1000-Watt Blender at Amazon$100$80Jump to Review
Best Value:SALENinja Professional 1000-Watt Blender at Amazon$100$80
Best Value:
SALE
Best High-End:Vitamix A2500 Smart Blender at Amazon$600Jump to Review
Best High-End:Vitamix A2500 Smart Blender at Amazon$600
Best High-End:
Best Personal:Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal Blender at Amazon$80Jump to Review
Best Personal:Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal Blender at Amazon$80
Best Personal:
Also Great, Personal:Nutribullet Pro 900 Personal Blender at Amazon$110Jump to Review
Also Great, Personal:Nutribullet Pro 900 Personal Blender at Amazon$110
Also Great, Personal:
Best Portable:Ninja Blast Portable Blender at Amazon$60Jump to Review
Best Portable:Ninja Blast Portable Blender at Amazon$60
Best Portable:
Best OverallBlendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz.PHOTO: Amazon$380 at Amazon$400 at Walmart
Best OverallBlendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz.
Best Overall
Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz.
PHOTO: Amazon
$380 at Amazon$400 at Walmart
What we like:It’s even more powerful than a Vitamix, and it blends faster, too.
What to know:It’s about as loud as a blender could possibly be.
There is a smoothie setting if you’d like to let the machine run itself, or you can use the manual up and down buttons. This blender will make a creamy smoothie in about half the time of a Vitamix, and you can’t hurt yourself cleaning it.
Power:1,560 watts |Capacity:75 ounces |Dimensions:7"D x 8"W x 15.5"H
PHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell KilgorePHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
Best ValueNinja Professional 1000-Watt BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$100$80 at Amazon$80 at Target$80 at WalmartWhat we like:It’s a less expensive option for a large blender and has higher-than-average power.What to know:Far from quiet, it also requires a generous helping of liquid for solids to blend.Straightforward and simple to use, this Ninja can power through copious amounts of frozen fruit—provided you add a solid amount of liquid to the container along with them. We appreciate how well it purees ingredients and how easy it is to clean. With three speeds and a pulse option, this blender offers higher power than conventional blenders but at an entry-level price. It’s also great for frozen drinks and crushed ice, both of which it can create quickly. We did find this blender to be significantly noisy, though, so you may not want to use it while anyone in the house is sleeping.Power:1,000 watts |Capacity:72 ounces |Dimensions:9.48"D x 7.51"W x 17"HPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Best ValueNinja Professional 1000-Watt BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$100$80 at Amazon$80 at Target$80 at Walmart
Best ValueNinja Professional 1000-Watt Blender
Best Value
Ninja Professional 1000-Watt Blender
$100$80 at Amazon$80 at Target$80 at Walmart
What we like:It’s a less expensive option for a large blender and has higher-than-average power.
What to know:Far from quiet, it also requires a generous helping of liquid for solids to blend.
Straightforward and simple to use, this Ninja can power through copious amounts of frozen fruit—provided you add a solid amount of liquid to the container along with them. We appreciate how well it purees ingredients and how easy it is to clean. With three speeds and a pulse option, this blender offers higher power than conventional blenders but at an entry-level price. It’s also great for frozen drinks and crushed ice, both of which it can create quickly. We did find this blender to be significantly noisy, though, so you may not want to use it while anyone in the house is sleeping.
Power:1,000 watts |Capacity:72 ounces |Dimensions:9.48"D x 7.51"W x 17"H
PHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Best High-EndVitamix A2500 Smart BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$600$530 at Amazon$600 at Target$600 at Wayfair
Best High-EndVitamix A2500 Smart Blender
Best High-End
Vitamix A2500 Smart Blender
$600$530 at Amazon$600 at Target$600 at Wayfair
What we like:The wide-mouthed container makes it counter-friendly, and the warranty is a full 10 years.
What to know:It lacks the program settings of other Vitamix models.
This blender is powerful enough that you won’t have to worry when your fruits or vegetables have frozen together into clusters. However, you’ll want to make sure you don’t blend your smoothie for longer than necessary, as its powerful motor will gradually heat whatever is in the pitcher.
Power:1,440 watts |Capacity:64 ounces |Dimensions:11"D x 8"W x 17"H
PHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Best PersonalNinja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$80$70 at Amazon$100 at Walmart$70 at WayfairBlending for one? We think this Ninja Nutri Blender Plus makes a great choice for those who prefer their smoothies in smaller servings. Its compact, space-saving design makes it ideal for apartment dwellers or folks who don’t have a ton of countertop space to work with. Despite its diminutive size, we found that this sturdy little blender packs enough power to pulverize produce—both fresh and frozen—with ease.To use this blender, simply place your ingredients into the blender cup (making sure to include plenty of liquid), then twist on the blade attachment. Turn the cup upside down, set it atop the blender base and press down on the cup to blend your smoothie to perfection. The Ninja Nutri Blender comes with three 20-ounce blender cups, plus three twist-on spout lids so you can take your smoothie with you to enjoy on the go.Power:900 watts |Capacity:20 ounces |Dimensions:4.7"D x 4.7"W x 13.8"HPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-GonzalezPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-GonzalezPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-GonzalezPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-Gonzalez
Best PersonalNinja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$80$70 at Amazon$100 at Walmart$70 at Wayfair
Best PersonalNinja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal Blender
Best Personal
Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus Compact Personal Blender
$80$70 at Amazon$100 at Walmart$70 at Wayfair
Blending for one? We think this Ninja Nutri Blender Plus makes a great choice for those who prefer their smoothies in smaller servings. Its compact, space-saving design makes it ideal for apartment dwellers or folks who don’t have a ton of countertop space to work with. Despite its diminutive size, we found that this sturdy little blender packs enough power to pulverize produce—both fresh and frozen—with ease.
To use this blender, simply place your ingredients into the blender cup (making sure to include plenty of liquid), then twist on the blade attachment. Turn the cup upside down, set it atop the blender base and press down on the cup to blend your smoothie to perfection. The Ninja Nutri Blender comes with three 20-ounce blender cups, plus three twist-on spout lids so you can take your smoothie with you to enjoy on the go.
Power:900 watts |Capacity:20 ounces |Dimensions:4.7"D x 4.7"W x 13.8"H
PHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-GonzalezPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-GonzalezPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-GonzalezPHOTO: EatingWell / Hildara Araya-Gonzalez
Also Great, PersonalNutribullet Pro 900 Personal BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$110$95 at Amazon$80 at Target$78 at WayfairWhat we like:It’s high-powered for its size, easy to use and quick to clean.What to know:It’s not 100% leakproof.More powerful than both theMagic Bulletand the originalNutriBullet, the NutriBullet Pro 900 offers strong smoothie blending power in a convenient package. Inour tests, there were no chunky bits left behind in smoothies, and we found it moderately quiet to use. It comes in a dozen vibrant colors, making it an attractive addition to any countertop.With this blender’s design, you blend your smoothie directly in the cup; sippable, tight-sealing lids are included so you can be out the door moments after blending. There are no speed options for this machine—to turn it on, you simply push and twist it into place. Our smoothies were fully blended within 60 seconds.Power:900 watts |Capacity:24 ounces |Dimensions:7.72"D x 12.01"W x 15.94"HPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick SimpsonPHOTO: EatingWell / Nick Simpson
Also Great, PersonalNutribullet Pro 900 Personal BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$110$95 at Amazon$80 at Target$78 at Wayfair
Also Great, PersonalNutribullet Pro 900 Personal Blender
Also Great, Personal
Nutribullet Pro 900 Personal Blender
$110$95 at Amazon$80 at Target$78 at Wayfair
What we like:It’s high-powered for its size, easy to use and quick to clean.
What to know:It’s not 100% leakproof.
More powerful than both theMagic Bulletand the originalNutriBullet, the NutriBullet Pro 900 offers strong smoothie blending power in a convenient package. Inour tests, there were no chunky bits left behind in smoothies, and we found it moderately quiet to use. It comes in a dozen vibrant colors, making it an attractive addition to any countertop.
With this blender’s design, you blend your smoothie directly in the cup; sippable, tight-sealing lids are included so you can be out the door moments after blending. There are no speed options for this machine—to turn it on, you simply push and twist it into place. Our smoothies were fully blended within 60 seconds.
Power:900 watts |Capacity:24 ounces |Dimensions:7.72"D x 12.01"W x 15.94"H
Best PortableNinja Blast Portable BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$60$55 at Amazon$55 at Wayfair$55 at Wayfair
Best PortableNinja Blast Portable Blender
Best Portable
Ninja Blast Portable Blender
$60$55 at Amazon$55 at Wayfair$55 at Wayfair
When we tested the Ninja Blast, we found that it can produce a decent smoothie in 30 seconds. However, if you let it blend for a full minute, you’ll get a much smoother, almost Vitamix-level result. One small drawback, however, is that the bottom of the blender cup screws directly onto the base, so you’ll either have to drink your smoothie straight from the blender or transfer your smoothie into a separate container before enjoying it.
Power:7.4 volts (rechargeable) |Capacity:18 ounces |Dimensions:3.54"D x 3.54"W x 10.71"H
PHOTO: EatingWell/Elle WignallPHOTO: EatingWell/Elle WignallPHOTO: EatingWell/Elle WignallPHOTO: EatingWell/Elle WignallPHOTO: EatingWell/Elle WignallPHOTO: EatingWell/Elle Wignall
The Bottom Line: The Best Blender for Smoothies
I love myBlendtec Total Classic(view at Amazon) so much, I’ll never own anything else. It’s extremely powerful and fast, no matter what smoothie I make, and it’s incredibly easy to use and clean. For a more compact option, theNinja Nutri Blender Plus(view at Amazon) has strong wattage power for a personal blender and is stronger than other similar blenders.
Take Note of the Design
Intuitive design is the goal for any home appliance. “I think the design for functionality is most important,” Bazilian tells us. “If it’s hard to get the lid off, or hard to clean or scrape down the edges with a spatula, then that’s not a great design to me.” Additionally, if you know that features such as a to-go blender cup will make you more likely to use the machine, opt for that style.
More Wattage, More Power
Blenders can range in power from 500 watts to over 1,500, and the higher the wattage, the better it will be at grinding tough produce. “Power and a good motor help crush ice or frozen fruits better and puree or blend things like seeds and nuts,” says Bazilian. “They may also be able to handle some raw or lightly blanched vegetables or just yield a smoother end result.” To be sure your smoothies will be, well,smooth, opt for a minimum wattage of 700 to 800; those were the models that performed the best in our tests.
Tribest PB-350 Personal Blender($90 at Amazon):Ideal for travel, this blender can make small smoothies yielding just over a cup. We like that it’s light and easy to use, but it took considerable time to blend thoroughly.
Oster Blend Active Portable Blender($29 at Amazon):We like the small size and budget-friendly price point of this portable blender, and at just 50 watts, this was the lowest wattage blender we tested. While it did manage to make a smoothie, we noticed some unblended bits leftover, which knocked it down a peg for us.
Magic Bullet Blender($50 at Amazon):The Magic Bullet is a lower-cost option than the NutriBullet, boasting a similar design and mode of operation. While we liked the included parts, such as the to-go lids and the travel-friendly mug, we ultimately found the Magic Bullet to be less powerful than the Nutribullet, and our smoothie results weren’t as great.
Are fruit smoothies good for you?
Yes! Fruit smoothies are good for you because they’re a quick way to add vitamins and antioxidants to your day. Thanks to their main ingredient—fresh or frozen fruit—they’re naturally sweet and don’t often require additional sweeteners or added sugar to taste delicious. Bazilian suggests spices such as ginger or cinnamon, leafy greens and fresh herbs for even more flavor and nutrition.
What are the best ingredients to put in a smoothie?
To create both Bazilian’s and my ideal version of a smoothie, you’ll want a mixture of fresh or frozen fruit, leafy greens, some healthy fat such as nut butter, a hearty scoop of protein powder (if desired) and unsweetened milk. If you’re unsure how to begin creating a smoothie you’ll enjoy, start simple with ingredients you know you already love. Then, once comfortable, add one ingredient at a time.
Ariane Resnickis a nutrition enthusiast, special diet private chef and bestselling author of five health-oriented books. For this article, she interpreted the results of many tested blenders, utilized her own experience and expertise in the kitchen and consulted withWendy Bazilian, DrPH, RDN,doctor of public health, registered dietitian and owner of Bazilian’s Health.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
