The 6 Best Blenders For Smoothies - Summer 2024 Reviews

The Vitamix 5200 is the best blender for smoothies we've tested. his high-end blender might be overkill if you just want a basic machine for simple smoothies, but it's worth considering if you want the smoothest blends and maximum versatility. It has no issue blending fibrous fruits and veggies in its 64oz jar, so it can do a fantastic job basically any smoothie recipe. The narrow jar shape helps it blend smaller volumes of ingredients more efficiently, and it works equally well for personal smoothies and bigger batches.

It's very well-built and has a long seven-year warranty (depending on where you buy it). The controls are simple, consisting of a speed dial and a switch for pulsing. That's all you need for any recipe, but it means you have to stop the blender manually when it's done, so you may find it less convenient than a blender with automatic blending programs. There's only one jar included, so if you want a personal jar for smoothies, you'll have to buy one separately from Vitamix.

If you want blending programs, other full-size blenders from Vitamix are strong choices. The Vitamix Venturist V1200 is a good option that avoids some of the downsides of the 5200: it comes with a personal jar and resealable lid, so you can easily blend a single-serve and bring it on the go. While it doesn't have dedicated blending programs, its controls include a programmable timer, so you can set the blender to run for a set amount of time before stopping automatically. However, it's much louder than the 5200.

The KitchenAid K400 is a cheaper option with a comparable performance when it comes to blending common smoothie ingredients like leafy greens and fruits. It's not as well-built as the Vitamix 5200 and has a much shorter one-year warranty (again, depending on where you buy it). Still, it blends fruit and vegetables into a smooth puree, whether you're blending small volumes for single serves or using the jar's full 56oz capacity for multiple servings. Its controls also include a few blending programs, so the blender can stop automatically when it's done.

It's more challenging to clean by hand than the Vitamix since it can be difficult to reach under the blades. However, that's most noticeable with sticky ingredients, and it's less of an issue if you're mostly making liquidy recipes like smoothies. Like the Vitamix, it only comes with one jar, but KitchenAid also sells separate personal jars for single-serve smoothies. If you want a blender that comes with personal jars included, the NutriBullet Triple Prep System is a good option for around the same price. It can blend silky-smooth drinks using any of its jars, which include a 72oz pitcher, a 32oz jar, and a 24oz jar. The KitchenAid still makes a smoother blend when you're working with big batches, however.

The Calphalon ActiveSense is the best budget blender for smoothies we've tested. This cheaper model isn't as well-built as the previous picks. Some parts of it feel a bit flimsy, like the buttons on the motor base, but it comes with a 24oz personal jar included, so you don't have to buy one separately. In either its 64oz main jar or 24oz personal jar, it quickly blends common smoothie ingredients like kale. The result is almost as smooth as the KitchenAid K400, with just some tiny unprocessed bits left over. It's also a fantastic ice crusher.

You can use its manual blending mode or the 'Smoothie' blending program to stop it automatically. You can customize the blending program by selecting the consistency you want for the final product, 'Thick' or 'Thin.' However, if you use it for something like a spoonable smoothie bowl, you'll probably need to stop and stir a few times. The blender is easy to clean by hand, especially since the blades are removable from the jar. Both jars and lids are dishwasher-safe as well.

If you'd like to see more inexpensive blenders, you might find what you're looking for on our list of the best budget blenders.

If you want to spend as little as possible on a good smoothie blender, consider the Black+Decker Quiet Blender with Cyclone Glass Jar. This inexpensive blender is available for well under $100, but it's not as well-built as the previous picks. However, it's great for making smoothies, whether you're making a single-serve or a big batch, since it comes with a 48oz glass main jar and a 24oz personal jar. Using either one, it makes a mostly smooth blend with fibrous fruits and vegetables.

It's easy to clean since the blades are removable from the jar, and it's significantly quieter than the Calphalon ActiveSense. However, even if you work with a small batch of about six ice cubes, it struggles to create uniform crushed ice, making it not ideal for slushies or smoothies with lots of ice and frozen fruits. While it does an excellent job of processing big batches of fibrous ingredients, the Calphalon makes a somewhat smoother blend with stubborn leafy greens. That said, adding ice as part of a smoothie recipe isn't an issue, and it can still do a very good job with most kinds of smoothies.

If you want a quiet blender and to avoid the pitfalls of cheaper options, the Hamilton Beach Professional Quiet Blender is the best blender for smoothies. Unlike the Black+Decker Quiet Blender with Cyclone Glass Jar, it's very well-built. It also offers a better performance when blending common smoothie ingredients like fruit or leafy greens. It uses a plastic dome to muffle noise, making it marginally quieter than the Black+Decker despite its more powerful motor. It also does a much better job of crushing ice, so it's more suitable for recipes like slushies or blended margaritas.

However, it's not ideal for bigger batches since its main jar only has a 32oz capacity. You can use the noise dome as a serving pitcher but not for blending. This blender also isn't ideal for thicker recipes like smoothie bowls since the ingredients can get pushed to the corners of the jar, and you have to remove the noise dome to use the tamper. That said, it'll easily handle most smoothie recipes, and it's very easy to clean either in the dishwasher or by hand.

If the noise level is a priority, you can also check out other options on our list of the best quiet blenders.

Personal blenders are designed to blend individual-sized smoothies. If you don't need a large capacity jar and mainly use your blender for smoothies, the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO is a fantastic option. Its short, compact motor base makes it easy to bring in and out of a cupboard or store on your counter. The pair of 24-ounce personal jars can create a velvety blend with smoothie ingredients like leafy greens and berries. Like the Vitamix 5200, it can quickly produce a nearly perfectly smooth mixture. You can drink your smoothie from the same jar since each has a matching spout lid.

While its smaller capacity limits you, it's versatile. The 14-ounce Smoothie Bowl Maker jar has rotating arms that help a lot with thick mixtures, which is nice if you like making spoonable smoothie bowls with frozen fruits. It also easily crushes ice, meaning you can add a few ice cubes to your smoothie with no worries. However, it's very loud. If you're looking for a quiet personal blender for smoothies, the Beast Health Blender makes much less noise and offers a similar performance. However, it's more expensive, and not all its components are dishwasher-safe.