Best Blender for Smoothies
Smoothies are a great way to unlock vitamins and nutrients fast: throw in a bunch of ingredients, give it a whirl, and in seconds you have a delicious, and healthy breakfast to take with you. Nobody has time to waste, which is why fans of smoothies will want the best blender for the job.
We thought we’d take the chore out of choosing with this article, which reviews the ten best blenders for smoothies in our opinion. We dissect the features along with the positives and negatives in hopes that it helps you find the right blender in as little time as it takes you to make your morning smoothie.
- 250-watts of blending power
- Includes a recipe book for beginners
- Easy to clean
- Compact footprint for saving countertop space, and secure storage
- Flip-top “to-go” bottle lid
- Dimensions: 13.2 x 6.9 x 10.6
- Weight: 4.7 lbs
- 900-watts of power
- On-the-go cup for speed and convenience
- BPA free materials and dishwasher safe
- Crushes ice, seeds, coffee beans, and frozen fruit and vegetables
- Includes a VIP lifetime service guarantee
- Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 14
- Weight: 7.65 lbs
- Maximum 400-watts of blending power
- Crushes ice, and coffee beans
- One-touch blending for ease and convenience
- BPA free materials
- 20 oz capacity sports bottle for on-the-go blending
- Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.7 x 14.9
- Weight: 3.35 lbs
- Comes with a 12-piece accessory set
- 600-watts of power
- Cyclonic action for a smoother blend
- Easy to clean
- Maximum cup capacity 24 oz
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 9 x 13
- Weight: 3.6 lbs
- Such a fantastic price, easily one of the cheapest on the market
- Compact for storage and countertop space
- The bottle fits most in car cup holders
- The ultimate on-the-go blending
- 14 oz cup capacity
- Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.8 x 10.3
- Weight: 2.1 lbs
- 700-watts of power
- Stainless steel blades
- Wave action blending system for smoother results
- 12 blending functions to tackle anything from ice to coffee beans
- 40 oz glass jar
- Dimensions: 14.1 x 8.7 x 12
- Weight: 8.73 lbs
- Comes with a 12-piece accessory set
- On-the-go cups
- Easy to clean after use
- Comes with a 2-year limited warranty
- 21.6 oz maximum capacity
- Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 11
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- BPA free materials
- 300-watts of power
- On-the-go portability
- One-touch operation for ease and convenience
- Maximum capacity 20 oz
- Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 10
- Weight: 3.2 lbs
- 10 variable speed settings
- Aircraft grade stainless steel blades
- Self-cleaning: Just pop in some detergent and water, and switch it on
- Heats while blending
- 48 oz capacity
- Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 17
- Weight: 11.52 lbs
- 1000-watts of power
- Preset menus for ease and convenience
- 7 speed settings
- Dual direction blades for a smoother result
- 6-cup capacity glass jar
- Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.5 x 13.8
- Weight: 9.15 lbs
The Magic Bullet is one of the best-known brands of blender on the market. It fits the niche of personal mixers for busy people on the go. It only has 250 watts of power so is ideally suited to softer blending like fruit and vegetables and may struggle with ice, seeds, or coffee beans. The flip-top lid on the bottle means that you can blend and go without worrying about spillage.
Pros
- Compact for easy storage
- Easy to clean
- Comes with an accessory kit
- Flip-top “to-go” lid
Cons
- Only big enough for one
- Weak motor won’t blend frozen
This Ninja blender packs 900-watts of power so should grind seeds and coffee beans with ease. It also features an on-the-go cup. The removable parts are dishwasher safe, and any plastic components are BPA free. This blender will make great smoothies and even crushes ice!
Pros
- Crushes ice
- Has 900-watts of power
- On-the-go cup
- VIP lifetime service guarantee
Cons
- Very loud when in use
- Vibrates a lot
This Oster model has stylish looks for a blender, and because it comes in 6 colors, it’ll fit any kitchen style. This blender has a sports bottle attachment so you can blend and go, and it can crush ice, with a maximum 400 watts of power. This is another personal blender, designed for busy people who only want nutritious smoothies. It comes with a 3-year satisfaction guarantee and a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- 3-year satisfaction guarantee
- Crushes ice
- One-touch operation
- Blend-and-go sports bottle
Cons
- Hand wash the bottles for longevity
- Sometimes the blend isn’t very smooth
- Only crushes a small amount of ice
This NutriBullet comes with a 12-piece accessory set that includes one tall sports cup and two smaller ones. It packs a punch, with 600 watts of power, and the blades create a unique cyclonic action to ensure the ingredients are drawn downwards for the smoothest result. It’s also easy to clean and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- 600-watts of power
- 12-piece accessory set
- Cyclonic action
- BPA free materials
Cons
- Apt to leaking
- One-touch push action prone to failing
Hamilton Beach has produced an amazingly priced blender that offers the basic features desired in a personal blender. It is compact for storage and its included sports bottle fits most car cup holders, so it’s evident that Hamilton Beach is aiming for the blend-and-go market here.
Pros
- Amazing price
- Compact for small footprint and storage
- One-touch blending
- Ultimate in on-the-go blending
Cons
- Very basic
- The lid doesn’t fit properly
- Poor build quality
This Hamilton Beach blender has 700-watts of power, a unique wave action blending system that pulls ingredients down onto the blades for a smoother result, and 12 blending functions. It has a no-mess pouring spout and comes with a 3-year limited warranty. It handles ice, coffee beans, and seeds, as well as frozen fruit and vegetables.
Pros
- Stainless steel blades
- Unique wave action blending
- 3-year limited warranty
- 700 watts of power
Cons
- Food gets trapped at the base of the unit
- The lid can be difficult to remove
This Bella model is an attractive option that boasts 240-watts of power so it should be able to deliver healthy and nutritious smoothies easily. It has a simple push down one-touch operation, and its accessory pack that includes varying sizes of sports cups means you can blend and go.
Pros
- 12-piece accessory set
- 240 watts of power
- On-the-go cups
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Build quality issues
- Prone to leaking
This Chulux is a dedicated smoothie blender. It has on-the-go cups; it is easy to clean; and best of all, it’s fast and straightforward with one-touch blending action. The accessory pack includes both a 14 oz and a 20 oz size bottle, and it looks good, with modern lines and styling.
Pros
- Dedicated smoothie maker
- 300 watts of power
- BPA free materials
- On-the-go portability
Cons
- Not effective at blending frozen foods
- Build quality issues
This model ranks high in price, but when it comes to blenders Vitamix is hard to beat. It has a 48 oz container and 10 variable speed controls for super-smooth blends. It’s also a self-cleaning model: before rinsing and drying, simply add some detergent and a small amount of water and switch it on to clean the interior.
Pros
- 10 variable speeds
- Aircraft grade stainless steel blades
- Heats while blending
- Large capacity cup
Cons
- Noisy when in use
- Shakes and vibrates violently
- Doesn’t feel as good a quality as other Vitamix models
This Oster has a chopping system that allows the blades to go in reverse. This is especially useful at mixing up the contents in the cup and for unblocking anything that gets wrapped around the blades. It has 1000 watts of power, 7 speed variations, and preset menu choices for convenience. It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty on the Duralast all-metal drive system.
Pros
- 1000 watts of energy
- 7 speed variations
- Dual direction blades
- 10-year limited warranty on the drive system
Cons
- Very noisy during use
- Hard to see the measurement markings on the inside of the jar
Blender for Smoothies Buyer’s Guide
When selecting a blender to make great smoothies, it’s likely that you’ll want to look at personal size blenders first. They’re small, convenient, easy to store away, and very much in the “blend-and-go” bracket. Sure, some larger blenders are great for smoothies too, and with the added wattage comes the power to crush ice and frozen fruit. For a lot of folks, though, it’s the ability just to pick up the cup and place the lid on and go that is appealing.
Some other aspects to consider as you select your smoothie blender include:
Functions
A flip-top lid on ready to use sports bottle is a significant feature as is a machine that’s easy to clean. In short, we want convenience in our busy lives. Some blenders have dual direction blades, while other utilize smart cyclonic action to draw the ingredients towards the blades for a smoother blend.
Power
Expect between 700 and 1000 watts of power on the more substantial machines, while the single-serving blenders utilize between 250 and 600 watts. The smaller blenders are more suited to wet foods and fruit, so don’t need to have a powerful motor, while a family-size blender will give you capacity to handle seeds and ice.
Styling
The compact blenders win the style stakes, with their clean lines and bright colors. Modern blenders have come a long way since their early days, and so too has the styling. Look at your kitchen space and decide what design best fits your taste.
Clever Technology
Having a blender that has dual direction blades or that creates a wave motion to draw the ingredients towards the blades is pretty smart. Clever Tech makes life easier and less hassle, and that has to be applauded.
Product Warranty
Expect 1 to 3-years warranty as an industry standard. Warranties on the drive systems can be more extended, like the Oster Reverse Crush Blender, which has a 10-year limited warranty on the patented Duralast system. So, you can rest easy knowing that you are covered that if anything goes wrong.
Brand Loyalty
When you are selling blenders in the thousands, like Magic Bullet and Oster, you have a loyal following that trust and buy your products. Look at the Amazon numbers, and the reviews to see if the brand you’re considering meets expectations. Anything less than 70 percent 4-star or above reviews probably isn’t going to satisfy you.
FAQ
Can you get replacement parts?
The best way to get replacement parts is to either search on Amazon or contact the manufacturer directly. Most will have them in stock; if not, they can direct you to the right place.
Are the plastic jugs BPA free and dishwasher safe?
They are BPA free, but as far as being dishwasher safe, check with the manufacturer’s guidelines before committing them to a dishwasher. On the whole most are, but check first.
Can you explain what one-touch operation means?
Some blenders have a switch that when you press down on the blender it engages the motor. It’s a lot simpler to operate, and when you release the downward pressure, the unit switches off.
Final Thoughts
Think about the capacity of the blender. Is a personal blender going to be large enough for your needs? It’s true that most smoothie makers are for busy people on the go and usually used at breakfast time. That means it has to be quick, convenient, and, most importantly, easy to use. Does the blender you have in mind fit your lifestyle? It’s worth asking the question.
With that in mind, our favorite has to be the NutriBullet NBR-1201 Blender. It has sold thousands and is the ultimate blend-and-go machine. It has convenient sports bottles with “to-go” lids and masses of power, and because it’s a clever blender, it employs cyclonic action to draw the ingredients to the blades for a smoother blending experience.
