Which Blender Is Best For You?

My husband and kids like to tease me about how many blenders I have.

Four. I have four blenders. Hey, there are worse things I could do.

To be fair, I only purchased one of them (the Vitamix). I was lucky enough to get the other blenders as samples or through work projects.

I sometimes get asked about which blender I recommend. So in case it’s helpful to you, I wanted to share the blenders I have and what I do (and don’t) like about each of them. Keep in mind that this post isn’t meant to be a definitive blender buying guide. Most of these companies have various models and styles beyond what I show here, so I encourage you to check out their full lines. (Also, the prices are what Amazon had listed when I wrote this post, so those may vary.)

I’m also hosting a giveaway for one of the blenders, so be sure to scroll all the way down to enter that!

Here’s my blender lineup:

Blender #1: Vitamix 5200 Series Blender

Cost: About $450

What I like: This is the classic! It’s also the first high-powered blender I owned, purchased several years ago at Costco for about $375. I used it almost daily until about a year ago when I got a Ninja, so it’s been through a lot and held up like a champ. I mostly used it for making smoothies and pureeing soups. I find the tamper really useful. It’s not shown here, but it’s a wand that fits down inside the blender that you can use for stirring or shifting ingredients as it’s blending, especially useful for big pieces of frozen fruit or leafy greens stuck to the side.

What I don’t: This blender is TALL. It likely won’t fit on your counter under the cabinet. I’ve also grown to prefer the models that have individual blending cups instead of one big pitcher (Vitamix does have models like that!). I also wish the pitcher was dishwasher-safe. Over the years, my pitcher has become so cloudy I can barely read the measurements on the side.

Blender #2: Nutri Ninja Blender Duo With Auto-IQ

Cost: About $190

What I like: I love that this blender “knows” how long to blend my smoothies–so I can just push the button and walk away. Truth be told, sometimes there’s still a piece of frozen banana that didn’t get completely pulverized. But for the most part, it blends really well. Some people say they don’t use pre-set functions on blenders, but I do! There are buttons for smoothies with frozen drinks, smoothies with leafy greens, and drinks with hard ingredients like carrots and seeds.  I also like that it comes with three different cup sizes, so one of them is always clean. I keep the pitcher in the basement, since I use it so infrequently.

What I don’t: This blender is L-O-U-D, especially for sensitive, barely-awake a.m. ears. My husband literally cringes when I turn it on in the morning.

[Tweet “The pros and cons of four top blenders:”]

Blender #3: Nutri-Bullet Pro Hi-Speed Blender

Cost: About $95

What I like: It’s small and lightweight, making it the perfect travel blender! I used to lug my heavy Vitamix on vacation, but I plan to use the Nutri-Bullet now. It also takes up very little room on the countertop and makes quick work of both frozen fruit and greens. The price is nice too.

What I don’t: The blender cups don’t have measurements marked on the side, something I use and like about the other models. This one also doesn’t come with a pitcher, so if you see yourself making large batches of drinks or blended soups, you’ll want something else.

Blender #4: Jamba Quiet Blend Blender

Cost: About $150

What I like: I love the noise-reducing shield because now I can make a smoothie downstairs without disturbing the sleeping kids upstairs! It’s still loud but by far the quietest of the four I have. This blender also fits neatly on the counter under the cabinets, which I like. All parts (except the base and the pitcher) are dishwasher safe.

What I don’t: Although he appreciates the muffled sound, my husband is not a fan of the noise-reducing shield because it takes up a lot of space. Unlike the Ninja and the Nutri-Bullet, there is also an additional part to keep track of (a removable collar that holds the cutting blade in place) but I just keep it under the shield when it’s not in use. This model only comes with one cup, so I wash it every day.

Which blender do YOU have? Tell me what you love (and don’t love) about it!