Best Blender for Protein Shakes
If you want to unlock the protein and vitamins from your morning health drink or are seeking a healthy alternative to your typical breakfast that also offers convenience, speed, no mess, and an easy clean, then you are in the market for one of the best blenders for protein shakes.
We put eight of the best blenders for protein shakes to the test so we can give you the low down on just how good they are. We look at all of the specifications and features that are crucial for protein shake satisfaction.
- Comes with a 12-piece accessory set that includes on-the-go bottles
- 600 watts of blending power
- Uses cyclonic action to draw the contents towards the blades for better results
- Easy to clean after use
- 24 oz capacity jar
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 9 x 13
- Weight: 7.65 lbs
- One-touch pulse action for easy use
- 175 watts of power
- The sports shake bottle fits most in-car cup holders
- Amazing value for money
- 14 oz maximum capacity blending cup
- Dimensions: 5.2 x 4.2 x 11.9
- Weight: 1.8 lbs
- 250-watts of blending power
- One-touch operation for convenience and ease
- Sports bottle for on-the-go shakes and smoothies
- 400 watts of ice crushing power
- 20 oz cup capacity
- Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.7 x 14.9
- Weight: 3.35 lbs
- 7 speed settings for the perfect protein shake
- Smart control technology automatically adjusts the settings
- Dual direction blades for greater blending power
- 1200 watts of maximum power (900-watts of ice crushing power)
- 6-cup capacity glass blending jar
- Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.7 x 14.9
- Weight: 3.35 lbs
- 700 watt powerful motor
- Patented 4-tip QuadPro blades technology for impressive blending
- Dishwasher safe removable parts
- Spill-free pouring spout
- 6-cup capacity glass jar
- Dimensions: 8 x 11 x 15
- Weight: 8.25 lbs
- 240 watts of protein shake making power
- 12-piece accessory set with on-the-go bottles and lids
- Just blend and serve
- Great price
- 21.6 oz maximum cup capacity
- Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 11
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- 13-piece set of accessories including sports on-the-go bottles
- 900 watts of shake making power
- Specially designed “to-go” lids
- Cyclonic action for better blending outcomes
- 32 oz capacity blending cup
- Dimensions: 12 x 7.7 x 15.9
- Weight: 10.75 lbs
- 700 watts of blending power
- 12 blending settings for a smoother outcome
- No-mess pouring spout ensures the shake doesn’t drip
- Wave action blending draws the contents toward the blades
- 40 oz capacity jar
- Dimensions: 6.8 x 9.5 x 15
- Weight: 7.72 lbs
This model is one of the originals and is still one of the best. It features cyclonic blending action, which draws the contents of the jar towards the blades, meaning no stirring. It also has an accessory pack that contains on-the-go cups and lids so that you can blend then serve up. NutriBullet also claims to unlock even more protein and nutrients with their blenders to make a healthier shake for you.
Pros
- 600-watt motor
- Cyclonic blending actiona
- 1-year warranty
- Accessory pack includes on-the-go cups
Cons
- Build quality issues
- Prone to leaking
This Hamilton Beach is our budget pick: it may not be the most advanced model in the world, but for less than $20 you get a 14 oz bottle, one-touch operation, and 175-watts of power. It’ll whip you up a high protein shake at a fraction of the cost of the competition.
Pros
- Super-affordable
- 14 oz blending cup
- One-touch operation
- Fits most in-car cup holders
Cons
- Fairly basic for the money
- Emits a smell when in operation
- Blades dull quickly
The Oster MyBlend offers personal blending at a budget price. It really is a little tour de force when it comes to shakes and smoothies. You can blend your favorite protein shake right into the sports bottle and go, and with 400-watts of ice-crushing power, 250-watts for blending, and one-touch operation this blender is ideal.
Pros
- Blend and go
- 250-watts of blending power
- 20 oz BPA free bottle
- 3-year satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Sometimes doesn’t mix all the protein powder
- Bottles warp in the dishwasher
This is the largest blender to feature so far in the list. The Oster Pro has 1200 watts of blending power, and 900 watts of ice-crushing power, so handling protein shakes should be a breeze. It has dual blade technology along with 7 speeds and 3 preset programs, so that you won’t get any lumps of powder clinging to the bottom of the jar.
Pros
- 1200-watts of max power
- Dual direction blade technology
- Pulses feature and 7 speeds
- 10-year drive system warranty
Cons
- Very loud during operation
- The blade assembly is hard to clean
This Black+Decker may not have the same sales figures as others on the list, but it does have 4-tip QuadroPro blade technology along with 700 watts of power to ensure that your protein shake is as smooth as possible. They work by creating a vortex that pulls the contents of the blending jar onto the blades.
Pros
- 700 watts of power
- Glass blending jar
- 4-tip QuadroPro blade system
- Dishwasher safe parts
Cons
- The lid is prone to leaking
- No safety lock
- Some foods get trapped under the blades
This Rocket Blender is excellent for personal blending and comes with 12 pieces to cater for all your shake and smoothie needs. It has two stainless steel blades and the plastic blending bottles are BPA free. It also comes with a 1-year limited warranty and is compact for easy storage.
Pros
- BPA free materials
- Max capacity 21.6 oz
- 12-piece set
- Very competitive price
Cons
- Build quality issues
- Noisy motor
This is the second NutriBullet to feature in the review, and this one is very much the bigger brother. It has a 900-watt motor that pulverizes and unlocks the nutrients in ingredients. Shakes and powders get mixed using the patented cyclonic action, so there’ll be no lumps to tackle. Compared to others in its class, this NutriBullet isn’t cheap. Given the pedigree of the brand, however, you should strongly consider it.
Pros
- 900-watts of power
- Cyclonic blending action
- 13-piece set includes on-the-go bottles
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- No speed adjustments
- Cups are difficult to clean properly
- Expensive compared to others in its class
This Power Elite uses wave action blending to improve on the quality of your shakes. It has 700 watts of power, and a unique no-mess pouring spout, so transferring your protein shake without any fuss should be easy. It also comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Wave action blending
- No-mess pouring spout
- 40 oz capacity
- 12 blending functions and a pulse feature
Cons
- Very loud
- A poor quality lid that doesn’t fit too well
Blender for Protein Shakes Buyer’s Guide
Selecting the best blender for protein shakes is simple: look for power, capacity, and convenience. We featured some countertop blenders in our review to cater for larger batches of protein shakes, but generally speaking, most people want the path of least resistance: to blend and go with minimum mess.
Wattage is vital too if you want to blend protein powder with liquid and fruit. It can be a challenge if the blender is under-powered, creating inconsistent shakes.
You should also keep the following aspects in mind:
Functions
Pulse action is always a useful function to have, especially when trying to break down larger ingredients. You should also look out for special shakes and smoothie functions.
Power
Expect around 400 to 600 watts for the smaller, more personal blenders, and for the larger models, 900 to 1200 watts should be sufficient. It’s worth remembering that larger countertop blenders have to perform many other functions, so they need the extra muscle.
Styling
In the style stakes, the NutriBullet models win through. They reinvented the design by opting for a compact, modern look. Think of the name, and you’ll get what we mean. There are others that have adapted the look slightly, like the Rocket Blender, but on the whole, blender shapes have remained untouched for years.
Clever Technology
Clever technology is all down to the blades and the innovations developed by the manufacturers. There’s cyclonic action, wave action, and vortex action. It all sounds fabulous, but primarily they are all designed to improve the way the machine blends. There are other smart features, like sensor power and one-touch operation, but blade design is what counts the most.
Product Warranty
Most limited warranties are around 3 years for the blenders featured; Oster, though, offers a 10-year warranty on their patented Duralast drive system. Also, be careful of the NutriBullet range: they only offer a 1-year warranty.
Brand Loyalty
There are definitely go-to brands: brands like NutriBullet, and Oster, not to mention Hamilton Beach, sell truckloads of these blenders and, generally speaking, buyers are satisfied. Look at Amazon to get a flavor of what the public thinks. And they don’t hold back if they aren’t satisfied, so you can be sure the reviews are revealing.
FAQ
Are the plastic elements of the blender BPA free?
Generally, yes. Bisphenol A (BPA) plastics and other materials are primarily frowned upon today, so you will struggle to find any blenders that contain any products that contain BPA.
Are blenders noisy?
Some are noisier than others; it really depends, though, on what you are blending. Nuts, coffee beans, and seeds will make more noise in the blending jar than fruit or protein shakes.
What’s the difference between blending wattage and wattage?
Manufacturers often state the wattage of the blender, but that could be the operating wattage of the machine. Look for the blending wattage, and you’ll often find that it is less than the stated machine wattage.
Final Thoughts
As the popularity of healthier lifestyles continues to grow, so too does the market for blenders. Try and settle on a blender that meets both your shake and your capacity needs; a large family isn’t going to get along with a personal blender, and likewise, a 64 oz blender might be too cumbersome for couples and single people. With that in mind, we have chosen the NutriBullet NBR-1201 as our favorite pick. It may not be the most powerful or the cheapest, but it is one of the best, and with over 7000 units sold on Amazon, you can get a strong sense that it performs well.
