The 6 Best Blenders For Smoothies - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Vitamix 5200 is the best blender for smoothies we've tested. This sturdy, premium blender might be overkill if you want a blender for simple smoothies, but if you're looking for a durable machine and the smoothest blends, it's a great option. It has a 64-ounce jar to accommodate big batches and smoothly blends difficult, fibrous ingredients like leafy greens and fruit skin. Unlike many full-size blenders, it processes small batches for single-serves just as well as bigger batches. If you want a smaller jar for single-serve smoothies, you can purchase a personal-sized blending jar separately from Vitamix.

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 stop the blender manually when it's done. If you want features like automatic blending programs, Vitamix is one of the best blender brands, and many of its full-size models are strong choices, like the Vitamix A3500.

As part of Vitamix's 'Ascent' Series, it's a more expensive option, but it's packed with extra features, including five blending programs and a companion app that you can use to access more. The pricier A3500 is much quieter, and its jar is also dishwasher-safe, unlike the 5200's. If you're willing to spend more on additional jars, you can purchase a smaller pitcher or personal jars for single-serves.

The KitchenAid K400 is a cheaper option with a similar performance when blending common smoothie ingredients, like fruit, leafy greens, and ice cubes. It's not as well-built as the Vitamix 5200 and has a much shorter, one-year warranty. Still, it blends fibrous ingredients like fruit and leafy greens just as well, whether making a personal smoothie or using the blender's full capacity for multiple servings. Like the Vitamix, it only comes with its main jar, but KitchenAid sells personal jars for single-serve smoothies separately. 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, it's most noticeable with sticky ingredients, and it's less of an issue if you make liquid recipes like smoothies. It doesn't include a tamper and isn't easy to use for thicker recipes like hummus or nut butter. Again, that's fine if you only use your blender for smoothies, but if you care about overall versatility, it's worth keeping in mind.

If you're looking for a cheaper option (with an arguably more entertaining name) and mainly use your blender for smoothies, you might prefer the Breville the Fresh & Furious. It's less versatile than the KitchenAid K400 or Vitamix 5200 since it can't hot blend, but it can make an equally well-blended smoothie, even with stubborn ingredients like leafy greens. It has no difficulty crushing ice cubes, and its controls include 'Smoothie' and 'Green Smoothie' blending programs. It's also quieter than the KitchenAid and easier to clean by hand since its design makes it easier to reach the bottom of the jar and clean around the blades.

While it's well-built overall, it feels less premium than the more expensive picks. It has a slightly smaller capacity than the K400 and takes more blending time to produce similar results. Also, Breville doesn't sell personal jars for single-serve smoothies. This blender is well-suited for blending small batches in its main jar, but if you want personal jars, you might prefer the Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System. It comes with a 72oz main pitcher, a 24oz personal jar, and a 14oz 'Smoothie Bowl Maker' that's helpful for thicker recipes. It has a lower maximum blending speed and doesn't match the Breville blender's performance in puree-ing fibrous ingredients, so smoothies with kale will have more grains left over.

The Oster Pro 1200 is the best budget blender for smoothies we've tested. Unlike the rest of the picks, this blender doesn't feel very durable. Its 48oz main jar is also the smallest, which might be an issue if you usually blend multiple servings. That said, it comes with a 24oz jar and to-go lid, so you don't need to spend extra if you want a personal blending jar that doubles as a travel cup. When it comes to making smoothies, it doesn't quite match the virtually perfectly smooth texture you get with all of the previous picks, but it'll still do a fantastic job with most recipes.

It easily crushes ice, but the manufacturer says not to add more than six ice cubes at once, while most full-size blenders can handle twice that. You can remove the blade assembly from the main jar, making it easy to clean by hand. However, it only comes with one blade assembly instead of one for each jar, so you need to disassemble and reassemble it when you switch jars. Some parts of the blender feel flimsy and not very sturdy, but you can get it with a three-year U.S. warranty (depending on where you buy it), which is long for a blender.

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.

You can't avoid the fact that blenders make some noise, but you can avoid the loudest models if your roommates or family are usually asleep when you're blending. The best quiet blender for smoothies that we've tested is the Hamilton Beach Professional Quiet Blender. It uses a plastic dome to muffle noise, making it much quieter than most blenders we've tested. It's also well-built, easy to clean by hand, and has an automatic program for smoothies. Like all the blenders listed here, it's superb for making silky-smooth drinks with ingredients like leafy greens and ice. However, it has a smaller capacity than the similarly-priced Breville the Fresh & Furious since its jar only holds 32 ounces. You can use the noise dome as a serving pitcher but not for blending.

You might prefer the much pricier Wolf Gourmet Pro-Performance if you're concerned with versatility. It doesn't have a noise dome and isn't as quiet as the Hamilton Beach, but it's still very quiet for a full-size blender. It's better suited for multiple servings since it has a 64oz jar. This premium option is sturdier and works better for multi-purpose use since it can smoothly blend thick recipes like nut butter.

If the noise level is a priority, check out our options for the best quiet blenders.

Personal blenders are designed for blending up individual-sized smoothies. If you don't need a large capacity jar and don't care as much about having multiple speed settings, 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 produce a nearly perfectly smooth mixture quickly. You can take your smoothie in 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 similarly fantastic smoothies. Not all of its components are dishwasher-safe, and most variants only come with one jar, but it's better built and has a modern aesthetic you might prefer.