Best Blender on a Budget
Everyone needs a blender in their lives, but not everyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-end model. Spending less can mean compromising on performance, but that doesn’t mean you should accept second best in a bid to save money.
This article looks at some of the best budget blender options to see how good they actually are so that you can streamline your search, and in the process, we name the Black+Decker Fusion Blade Blender as our HowToHome pick.
- 12 speed settings
- 550-watt motor
- Stainless steel fusion blade system
- 6-cup glass blending jar
- 2-year limited warranty
- 14 speed settings
- 700-watts of peak power
- Patented mess-free spout
- 40 oz glass blending jar
- 3-year warranty
- 600-watt motor
- Patented cyclonic chopping action
- 12-piece set of accessories
- 24 oz capacity
- 1-year warranty
This Black+Decker model has a patented fusion blade system that both improves the smoothness of the blending and decreases the time that it completes the task. It has 12 speeds, including a pulse feature, and 550 watts of power.
For a budget blender, it is packed with features like a pulse setting, a 48 oz heavy glass blending jar, slip resistant rubber feet, dishwasher safe elements, and a handy cord storage compartment in the base.
Given that this is only a few dollars more than our HowToHome Budget Pick, the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher, it’s no wonder that we had to crown this model our favorite.
On the downside, the glass jar feels heavy, so may be too weighty for some, and the lid and cap feel cheaply made meaning that the blender could be prone to leaking if filled to capacity.
Aside from a couple of gripes, this blender has a large capacity, it has a quality glass jar, and is packed with features.
Pros
- Packed with features
- 48 oz capacity
- Good quality glass blending jar
- Slip resistant feet
Cons
- Glass jar may be too heavy for some
- Lid and cap feel cheaply made.
This Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher model uses a patented wave action system to draw the contents of the blending jar towards the blades. This ensures that there is less stirring and a smooth final result.
It also has patented ice Sabre blades that crush ice and other more robust ingredients easily, so coffee beans, frozen fruit, seeds, pulses, and even your favorite margaritas should be a breeze to blend.
And you would think with all this patented technology, that this blender would cost way more than it does!
Operating this blender is about as easy as it gets; the large black buttons are located on the front panel and have simple to understand labels. The whole set up feels a little retro if we’re honest.
It also has a 700-watt motor, 14 speed settings, a 40 oz blending jar, and a unique mess-free pouring spout on the jar lid.
On the downside, in order to get smooth blends, you have to cut the ingredients into small chunks, which can be a pain when your are short on time, and the blending jar is designed in such a way that not all the ice, or tougher ingredients get crushed.
Putting the negatives aside, the price of this blender is the reason why it is so popular, and for that, we heartily recommend it.
Pros
- Easy to use buttons
- Patented technology
- Great capacity
- Great price
Cons
- Design flaws with the blending jar
- For the best results, cut smaller chunks
This NutriBullet is probably the entry-level model, but it still has a 600-watt motor, and because it employs cyclonic blending action, it gives a better blend outcome. It comes as a 12-piece set, which means the accessories will come in handy, and the plastic bottles and lids are top rack dishwasher safe.
This model sells in the thousands on Amazon, making it one of the best selling blenders on the market, and is probably one of the easiest to use; simply fill the jar, attach to the blender and push down to engage the motor.
It is the smallest blender featured, but you should still get five servings from one smoothie blend, and because it has an array of accessories, you can blend and go for those with busy schedules.
And don’t be fooled by its size; this thing will rip through fibrous stalks, cracks seeds, and rips apart pulp, so those nutritious shakes in the morning will be easy to prepare.
On the downside, due to its 24 oz capacity, it won’t cater for larger families, and it only has one speed, making it less versatile than others in its class. Also many have complained of build quality issues surrounding the gasket, the base, and the blades.
The NutriBullet is one of the original bullet-style blenders and remains one of the best. If you want to blend in small batches, this thing is hard to beat.
Pros
- Compact and easy to use
- Huge array of accessories
- Dishwasher safe components
- Perfect for on-the-go blending
Cons
- Only has one speed
- Build quality issues
- Not designed for large batch blending
Comparison Chart
| Black+Decker Fusion Blade Blender | Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher | NutriBullet NBR-1201 | |
| Speed settings | 12 | 14 | 1 |
| Capacity | 48 oz | 40 oz | 24 oz |
| Watts | 550 | 700 | 600 |
| Special features | Fusion blade system | Wave action blending | Cyclonic action blades |
| Accessories | X | X | 12-piece set |
| Crushes ice | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| Dimensions | 9 x 11 x 7 | 9.4 x 7 x 14.7 | 12.9 x 9 x 13 |
| Weight | 7 lbs | 7 lbs | 3.6 lbs |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 3-year | 1-year |
Buyer’s Guide:
Blender on a Budget
Final Thoughts
Seeking a budget blender doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality. You’ll be surprised at what your money will get you!
You’ll also be amazed at the features a budget blender has, which is why we named the Black+Decker Fusion Blade Blender our HowToHome pick. It has 12 speed settings, pulse action, and a patented Fusion blade system that makes ice crushing a breeze.
For the cheapest option, look no further than the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender. It has a unique wave action that ensures the blend is smooth and more efficient, and with 700-watts of power and ice-crushing Sabre blades, this blender will tackle almost any tough job you give it.
And while the NutriBullet NBR-1201 didn’t quite make the top slot, it is our best pick in the small batch blending category.
Whichever model you choose, what we’ve shown is that you don’t need to buy the most expensive blender out there to feel like you are getting the best, because sometimes it’s all about the best value for money.
Buying a budget blender needn’t mean settling for second best: We review four budget-friendly blenders to see if they are an investment worth making.
