Best Blenders at Every Price Point

You’re finally moved in to your new home – woohoo!! – and in the spirit of “new year, new home, new me!”, you’ve committed to a healthier lifestyle. First step: Tackling a nutritious breakfast each morning. Smoothies should be easy, right? They’re healthy and quick to make.

But now you’re faced with a new challenge: Which blender do you get? There are many choices out there, and the prices vary wildly. Lucky for you, we have the ultimate guide to the best blenders at each price point.

Blenders Under $50

Want to be the fitness influencer who makes a quick smoothie before a 5 a.m. OrangeTheory workout? Snag the $20 Oster My Blend. The pitcher on this 20-ounce, single-speed model is also a portable sports bottle, meaning you don’t have to worry about transferring your smoothie after it’s blended. Hamilton Beach also has a 14-ounce personal blender for just over $20, if 20 ounces feels like too much for one serving.

Looking for something stronger? The Ninja Personal Blender hits 700 watts and comes with two cups and two travel lids; however, it’ll also cost you about $30 more than either of the above options.

But perhaps instead of fitness inspiration, you want to captivate the masses with your culinary skills. A budget-friendly option for beginner chefs is the 400-watt Ninja Blender and Food Processor. This little machine (the motor itself isn’t very big) is only $35 and comes with a 48-ounce pitcher and 16-ounce chopper bowl. Personal experience: I’ve been using one of these for nearly 10 years without issue (my cooking skills haven’t improved in that time, but that’s beside the point). The next step up is the $50 Ninja Master Prep Professional, which adds a 40-ounce prep bowl and upgrades the motor to 450 watts.

Another piece of advice from personal experience: Ninja motors are loud, so be ready for your kids and pets to skitter out of the kitchen when you use ‘em.

Blenders Priced $50 to $200

If you’re a nutrition-conscientious person who wants to get the most out of their meals – and have a little extra room in that blender budget – there exists the $65 NutriNinja Blender with FreshVac Technology. It comes with an 1100-watt motor, two 24-ounce cups, and the one-touch FreshVac Pump, which preserves nutrients and heightens overall drink quality by removing oxygen before blending. This personal blender is great for drinks with a smooth consistency.

Another fancy-schmancy smoothie maker? The $100 NutriBullet Balance, which will weigh and log portions and nutrients, which is great for portion control. You also get access to the NutriBullet app, featuring tons of step-by-step recipes.

For our culinary clientele who want to invest in a reliable blender for uses other than smoothies, the $100 KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender is a great choice. The 60-ounce pitcher has, as you likely guessed, five speeds to stir, chop, puree, or liquefy, as well as a pulse function. If that isn’t enough, there are 24 colors to choose from; have a totally color-coordinated kitchen with a Majestic Yellow, Truffle Dust, Guava Glaze, or Bird of Paradise KitchenAid blender.

If you weren’t traumatized by Disney Channel Original Movie Smart House (1999), you’re probably not opposed to a smart blender that takes the human factor out; Calphalon has you covered for just under $200 with their ActiveSense Blender. The 1200-watt motor, five food settings, and an “Add Liquid” indicator allow you to blend any combination of ingredients to the exact consistency you want without having to check the mix every few seconds.

Blenders $350+

Looking for the top of the top of the line for your blending game? Let’s start with a Vitamix 5300 Blender, which comes in at $375. This low-profile blender – a notorious challenge with Vitamix products, as they’re often too powerful to contain in a small product – has blades made from aircraft-grade stainless steel and a self-cleaning feature. The 2.2-horsepower motor (because measuring in wattage isn’t enough for this bad boy) has variable speed controls so you can get just the right texture.

Want smart tech features? Hit up Vitamix’s Professional Series 750 Blender, which is similar to the 5300 model except that it has automated blending features. It’s $500 and has a 7-year warranty, making it an ideal investment.

Finally, the two highest rated blenders in this category. First, the Breville Super Q Blender, a professional-grade appliance with 12 speed settings. What makes this worth $500? Its shockingly quiet motor, which is hard to find in such a powerful blender.

The only competitor to the Breville Super Q is the Vitamix A3500. This smart blender has touchscreen controls, WiFi connectivity, and a programmable timer so you don’t risk of over-blending any recipes. It’ll cost you $600, but it’s low-profile, so you can store it on a countertop (why not show off that fancy appliance, eh?).

Any other “best for your budget” appliances you want to hear about? Leave a comment, or tag us on social media!