Ready to mix it up in life? We’re here to point you to the best smoothie blender: the Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender.
You can make smoothies every which way with this one. The competition is fierce out there, but for its size (72 ounces), versatility (it includes two 16-ounce single-serve cups), and affordable price ($100), the Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender is a no-brainer.
Remember the food pyramid? It was the ultimate guide to our recommended daily food intake. Iconic, right? But times have changed—and so has our understanding of nutrition. We’ve been introduced to a new system: MyPlate.
Whereas the food pyramid placed grains and rice as the foundation of our diets (11 servings per day, in fact), MyPlate recommends more fruits and veggies than all other food groups. Basically, we need 2 cups of fruit per day and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day. How are you going to pack all of those fruits and veggies into your diet?
Staying healthy is exhausting, we know.
Luckily, we’ve got one word for you: smoothies. Delicious, fast, and totally easy to hide your leafy greens in.
You’ll need a top-of-the-line blender to keep you on track toward healthy living. Great news! We have the ten best blenders for smoothies below. You can, of course, use your blender for other, less healthy things too. Piña colada, anyone?
The Smoothie Blenders We RAVE About
Blenders: a Dime a Dozen, Right?
Wrong. A blender is one of the most important tools you can have in your kitchen.
It goes beyond smoothie-making. Blenders have enough potential purposes to be used on a daily basis. Your kitchen aesthetic may call for your blender to be tucked away in a cupboard, but a good blender deserves the limelight of your countertop.
If you’re on the fence about making a blender purchase, you’re in good hands. You’ve stumbled upon a cumulative guide to finding the best smoothie blender for your needs. This ranking covers not only the ten best smoothie blenders, but also some key information on which features and gimmicks to look for (and avoid) during your search.
You Pay For What You Get
Smoothie blenders (and their price points) vary depending on their intended purpose. Do you want a single-serve blender or an industrial-sized one? Do you want to keep it on your counter or be able to tuck it in a cupboard? Do you care how noisy it is?
In the blender world, these differences boil down to a few key categories:
- High-performance blenders
- Conventional blenders
- Personal blenders
- Immersion blenders
A high-performance blender is what you’d find in an industrial kitchen… or in the kitchen of someone who means business. This type of blender typically has some real force behind its motor, with anywhere from 900 to 1700 watts of power.
High-performance blenders can take on practically any ingredient—frozen foods, nuts, coffee beans, you name it. These blenders tend to cost anywhere from $200 to $700.
You’ll find that conventional blenders are a step below high-performance blenders in power potential. You’ll find them in most kitchens. They do best with fresh fruit smoothies (rather than frozen fruit) and typically cost $25 to $200.
Personal blenders are increasingly popular because of their simplicity and versatility. These handy smoothie makers double up as both the blending container and the serving container. Personal blenders are smaller, and can easily tuck into a cupboard or sit on your counter without taking up too much space.
The only drawback is that the motors are generally less powerful and can overheat more easily. Most personal blenders sell for $30 to $100.
An immersion blender is almost in a league of its own. It’s essentially a hand-held blender that you put directly into your ingredients. For our purposes here, they’re less useful, but still handy tools to have in any kitchen. Their price usually ranges from $20 to $150.
You’ve Got the Power
Let’s talk about watts. One important thing to check in the product specs of your smoothie blender is how many watts the motor produces. Just to get everyone up to speed: A watt is a unit of power.
There is some validity to the argument that a higher wattage means a more efficient blender. But that’s not always the case. You also have to factor in the blade type, the volume of your container, and the functions of your blender.
Based on our own list below, here’s an idea of how many watts of power each type of blender tends to pump out:
- High-performance blender: 900 to 1700+ watts
- Conventional blender: 500 to 900 watts
- Personal blender: 200 to 250 watts
Plastic or Glass?
The last feature to consider is your blending container. The vast majority of blenders or food processors toggle between just two options: Tritan plastic or glass. Here’s a quick rundown on the pros and cons of each type.
- Tritan Plastic: These days, most conventional blenders are made out of Eastman Tritan plastic. This is a highly durable, BPA-free material that is advertised as shatterproof. It costs less (which is great!) but it is also less tolerant to extreme temperatures. For example, it’s dishwasher-safe, but you should avoid blending hot soup in it.
- Glass: Glass blenders are the old school way of doing things. And for good reason: For one, you don’t have to worry about any weird chemicals seeping into your smoothies. Glass is also safer for mixing up both extremely hot and cold ingredients. The downside, of course, is the risk of chipping or shattering your blender, and it is heavier than plastic.
Hopefully, knowing a bit more about the types of blenders, the power behind them, and the materials of which they’re made will help narrow your search.
Most importantly: Consider your budget, kitchen layout, and intended purpose. The rest is smooth(ie) sailing.
Methodology
It all comes down to data. We built this ranking based on a methodology that considered the qualitative and quantitative features of each smoothie blender. We pored over customer reviews, other review sites, and industry chatter to find out which products are causing a stir.
The heart of our methodology relies on the following data:
- Price of the blender
- Quality of the materials
- Wattage plus volume
The Best Smoothie Blenders
Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender
Hands down, the Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender is the best smoothie blender on the market right now. This 72-ounce blender brings out the big guns with 1100 watts of power behind its blades. It can crush ice and frozen fruit in a matter of seconds.
Above all, this blender gives you options: If you’re entertaining people for brunch, you can make enough smoothies for everyone in one batch. But if you’re just making one for yourself, you can use one of the 16-ounce single-serve Ninja cups. It fits directly onto the blender base and features a screw-on lid.
The Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender is more than just a smoothie blender. Because of its six-pronged blade and high power motor, it can pulverize nuts into nut butter, whip up ice cream or milkshakes, and puree veggies. You’ll find tips and recipes in the back of your manual or on the Ninja website.
Pros
- 72-ounce pitcher
- Two 16-ounce cups
- Variable speed
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Not made for hot liquids
- One speed for single-serve
Hamilton Beach 58148A Power Elite
The Hamilton Beach 58148A Power Elite Multi-Function Blender is ready to take on all flavors, textures, and temperatures. This blender achieves 12 blending options with just four buttons on the console. You can crush, dice, puree, mix, blend, and so much more.
Part of the genius behind the Hamilton Beach blender is its Wave-Action system. This system ensures the contents of your blender are constantly pulled down into the blades. No more ice chunks or uneven texture!
The 40-ounce glass pitcher is not only dishwasher safe, but it can also handle both extreme heat and extreme cold. The flip-top pouring spout on the lid is another cool feature. This Hamilton Beach patented design has been crafted to ensure zero messes.
Pros
- Three-year warranty
- No-spill pouring spout
- Wave-Action system
Cons
- Warranty doesn’t cover glass
- Less effective blade
Oster My Blend
By far the most affordable smoothie blender on our list, the Oster My Blend costs just $25 (although you’ll often find it on sale for less on Amazon and other online retailers). As far as single-serve blenders go, it sets the bar high. You can drink your smoothie in the same 20-ounce bottle you blend it in.
If you start your day with a smoothie, this blender is for you. Blend your smoothie, drink it on the way to work, and then use the same jar as a water bottle—brilliant. You can customize your My Blend smoothie blender by selecting one of four bright colors: orange, neon green, blue, or purple.
The shatterproof BPA-free Tritan plastic bottle is crafted specifically for people who are constantly on the go. The drinking lid is spill-proof and has a carrying loop that makes it super portable.
Pros
- Single-serve BPA-free jar
- Four-point blade
- Replacement parts available
Cons
- Tough to clean by hand
- Not as much power as others
- Only one speed
Magic Bullet Blender
Everyone knows the Magic Bullet! What first started as an infomercial proved to be a truly sell-worthy product. This Magic Bullet Blender set is the perfect countertop companion for your daily smoothies. It is compact, unassuming, and super easy to operate.
The Magic Bullet is more than just a smoothie blender. It’s up to the challenge of chopping, grinding, mixing, whipping, and more in just ten seconds. If you’re interested in what the Magic Bullet can handle, you’ll be excited to discover the free recipe book included in the package.
This blender comes with three blending cups: an 18-ounce Tall Cup, an 18-ounce Party Mug, and a 12-ounce Short Cup. Each cup includes a flip lid, so you can take your smoothie on the go. The cups are dishwasher safe, making cleanup so much easier.
Pros
- Dishwasher-safe cups
- Versatile function
- Recipe book included
Cons
- Lowest power (200 watts)
- Motor heats up quickly
- Doesn’t crush ice well
NutriBullet Pro
The NutriBullet Pro 13-Piece High-Speed Blender Combo System kicks things up a notch. It is powered by a 900-watt motor that breezes through ice, hard fruits and veggies, nuts, and more.
The NutriBullet Pro is all about little features that go a long way. For instance, NutriBullet Pro uses a unique stainless steel Extractor Blade. This is a six-pronged blade that uses Cyclonic Action to break down ingredients into a smooth texture. The smoothie cups also use a flip-top to-go lid that fits on any NutriBullet Pro cup.
Speaking of cups, you’ll receive two with the NutriBullet Pro: the 32-ounce Colossal Cup and the smaller 24-ounce Tall Cup. Both have a screw-on lip ring for smooth, easy drinking. Both cups also fit onto the power base and can be fitted with the blender blade.
Pros
- Nutrition guide included
- Hardcover recipe book included
- Extractor Blade technology
Cons
- Reviewers complain of leakage
- Only one speed
- Blades are hard to clean
AIMORES Blender
The AIMORES Blender takes sleek kitchen appliances to another level. This blender not only offers peak performance, but it also looks good. The blender base is jet black with an LED-lit digital display panel, and the stainless steel blades look good and perform well.
The AIMORES offers six speeds to tackle three main menu items: smoothies, juice, and ice cream. The speed and function controls are intuitive, programmable, and highly effective. And did we mention the power behind this blender? Blending at 1100 watts, the force alone is enough to either heat up soup or whip cold ingredients into ice cream. The 75-ounce pitcher can make up to nine servings per batch.
Along with the basic AIMORES Blender equipment, you’ll also get a tamper that feeds in from the lid, a brush to clean the blades, a blade dismounting spanner, and a recipe book.
Pros
- Digital display panel
- Largest volume capacity
- Tolerates temperature ranges
Cons
- Large and bulky on counter space
- Can be noisy
- Plastic blending container
Oster Classic Series Blender
The Oster Classic Series Blender proves that classic is appealing for a reason. This blender features seven speed settings that range from “pulse” to “max ice crush” with easy one-touch options. The 6-cup blending jar is made with shatterproof Boroclass glass.
The blender blade sets the Oster Classic Series Blender apart from the rest. It uses Dual Direction Blade technology that automatically toggles between forward and reverse to ensure a completely smooth texture. All of the blade parts are made of Duralast metal, which tends to last longer than plastic fixtures.
Oster has been making blenders for over 70 years, and the company is confident in the quality and durability of its products. You’ll benefit from Oster’s ten-year Duralast limited warranty for the blade, as well as a three-year satisfaction guarantee.
Pros
- Good company reputation
- Dual-direction blade
- Shatterproof Boroclass glass
Cons
- Jumpy base at high speeds
- Users complain of noisiness
- Wide pour spout
Jamba Appliances Blender
If you love the smoothies from Jamba Juice, you’re in luck. The company offers a high-performance Jamba Appliances Blender with 64-ounce jar, so you can make the same smoothies at home.
While this blender costs more than most on this list, it also exceeds expectations when it comes to power. The Jamba Appliances Blender reaches 2.4 horsepower at its top speed. That means its blades can reach speeds of over 210 mph—faster than top Nascar racing speeds. You’ll use both a speed dial and pre-programmed button settings to blend to your liking. The pre-programmed settings free you up to walk away and let the blender do the work.
This product also comes with a tamper and an integrated emulsion cup to add ingredients slowly. The Jamba Appliances Blender can pulverize practically anything. It blends hot soups, crushes ice for frozen drinks, and, of course, makes delicious smoothies.
Pros
- Huge power potential
- 150-page recipe book
- 8-year warranty
Cons
- Extremely heavy
- Issues with jar cracking
- Tamper runs a little short
Breville BBL910XL Boss Superblender
The Breville BBL910XL Boss Superblender brings both style and performance. Crafted with sleek, curvy edges and a straightforward control panel, the Breville blender is perhaps one of the most specialized high-end blenders on our list. All of the features bring purpose and finesse.
For instance, you’ll enjoy total blending control with this 1500-watt system. The LED operating panel offers 12 speeds, a pause button, and one-touch pre-programmed options, including smoothie, green smoothie, and ice crush. Your entire operation is overseen by an overload protection system that alerts you if the motor is too hot.
The features just keep coming. You won’t have to worry about any spills with the Breville Assist lid, which is lined with a rubber ring to keep everything cinched in safely. Maybe the best perk? The auto-clean mode runs warm water through the system, and you’re good to go! No dishwashing or hand washing required.
Pros
- 1500-watt power
- Sophisticated control panel
- BPA-free Tritan blender jar
Cons
- Most expensive ($400)
- Tends to wobble at high speeds
- Reviewers complain of noise
KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender
When you picture a blender, you likely imagine something similar to the KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender. This is your standard, no-frills blender—and it’s widely popular for that reason. But the KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender still shows off a few tricks.
For instance, it features Intelli-Speed Motor Control that senses the contents in the blender and maintains the necessary speed to cut through it all. Additionally, the 5-speed control panel gives you the option to stir, chop, mix, puree, or liquefy. You won’t have to worry about running out of space. This blender jar accommodates 60 ounces and is a BPA-free Diamond Pitcher design.
The KitchenAid blender particularly sets itself apart by offering 21 different colors. Whatever color scheme you have going in your kitchen, you’ll find a KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender to match.
Pros
- Color options
- Intelli-Speed motor control
- Die-cast metal base
Cons
- Only 550 watts of power
- Heavy blender
- Too tall for standard cabinets
Related Rankings
How do you make a smoothie?
So you have a smoothie blender. Now what? Making the perfect smoothie is really not that difficult. There are a few things you can do to turn a regular smoothie into a delicious smoothie. If you pack it with the right ingredients (you can follow a smoothie recipe, or freestyle it), smoothies can essentially function as a meal in a jar. Just keep these core elements in mind:
- Liquid base
- Fruits and veggies
- Thickener
- Flavors
Your liquid base can really be anything—water, coconut milk, juice. You typically want just 1-2 cups. Basically, the amount of liquid in your smoothie determines most of the texture.
Next, toss in a handful of fruits and veggies. This is where you’ll get most of your core vitamins, antioxidants, minerals—all that good stuff. You can experiment with flavor combinations. Fruit is a great source of potassium, vitamin C, and more. When it comes to vegetables, most people throw in kale, spinach, or other greens to get that boost in fiber and vitamin A.
To get a delicious creamy texture in smoothies, add a thickener of some kind, such as ice, yogurt, or peanut butter. The thickener ingredient is another chance to sneak in a healthy punch—most likely it will add protein or fat.
Finally, you can alchemize a bit and add other flavors to your smoothie. Popular choices include cinnamon, vanilla, and honey. You can also throw in protein or whey powder to supplement your diet. This is another place where it’s super fun to experiment with flavor profiles.
Once you incorporate all of these elements into your smoothie, you’re bound to whip up something that both tastes amazing and sets you on the path to healthy eating.
What is the best way to clean your blender?
If you’re going to invest in a quality smoothie blender, it’s in your best interest to take care of it. Cleaning a blender involves a few more steps than your average kitchen appliance. But once you know the tricks, it’ll be no more than a ten-minute process.
A sparkling blender is important for more than just aesthetics. Stay on top of cleaning your blender for your own health—it’s super easy for bacteria to build up in all the nooks and crannies.
While some blending containers are dishwasher safe, there are other, arguably more effective ways to tackle the bacteria:
- Cleaning the jar: Pour warm to hot water into your blender and add a couple drops of dish soap. Turn your blender on and let it do the first layer of scrubbing for you. Pro tip: You can add lemon juice or a few drops of vinegar to amp up the effectiveness. These ingredients tend to cut through stains and oils.
- Cleaning the blades: If you can, disassemble and remove the blades from the blending jar and base. Carefully hand wash them. Blades tend to retain the trickiest food residue to remove. Pro tip: If you’re worried about getting cut, put hot water in a bowl and add a few Polident tablets (yep, the tablets your grandma uses to clean her dentures). Let the blades soak in there for an hour or so.
- Cleaning the base: The easiest part! Wipe it down with a damp towel, keeping water away from the control panel. Pro tip: Grab some Q-tips and dip them in vinegar or rubbing alcohol. This is an easy way to scrub out the gunk that gets stuck between buttons or gaps in the base.
What are the best smoothie blenders?
Owning a quality blender is the first step required to make deliciously healthy smoothies (or frozen margaritas, for that matter). But what are the best smoothie blenders?
We sorted through the literally hundreds of options out there to find the best blenders for smoothies. We ultimately decided on ten amazing blenders. They range in style, type, power, and volume, but rest assured, you’re bound to find one among them that fits your needs.
Here are three of them that really stood out:
- Best Overall: Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender
- Best Budget: Oster My Blend
- Best Powerhouse: Jamba Appliances Blender
It’s still definitely worth checking out the other seven blenders, because they might offer the perfect combination of features you prioritize. Our goal is to give you the best information out there and let you make the final decision. In each blender profile, you’ll find a detailed description of the item, a list of pros and cons, and our overall RAVE Meter score.
RAVE Recommends
Let’s not forget that the best part about blenders is what we put in them! We weren’t hard-pressed to come up with a few more specialty items to go with your new blender:
- Moon Juice Supplements: These smoothie additives are out of this world. Made from all natural ingredients, Moon Juice blends can be added to hot water, milk, or smoothies. Choose a blend that targets whatever needs a boost in your life: Beauty Dust, Sleep Dust, Brain Dust, you name it!
- Nutriforce Sports NutriWhey: Athletes among you: Using NF Sports NutriWhey as a protein boost for a pre-workout smoothie will not only charge you up for your workout, but also provide your muscles the building blocks they need to prevent injury.
- Viva Naturals Chia Seeds: If you’re going all in on the smoothie train, you’ve got to pick the best ingredients. Start with chia seeds: Viva Naturals will soon become your first stop to load up on all the yummy, organic goodies that keep your smoothies delicious and nutritious.
- Simple Modern Summit Bottle: Sometimes you have to do smoothies on the go. These Simple Modern Summit Bottles are vacuum-insulated to keep your smoothie cold for up to 24 hours. They also come in lots of size and color options.
