Blenders at Every Budget

At the beginning of the year I started researching some of the different blenders on the market. I was mainly motivated by my own KitchenAid Pro Line Blender, which I use every single day! It's an absolute dream, but it's also expensive. Cooking is my job, so for me, it makes sense (especially when so many of my recipes and even my cookbook utilize a blender!), but I recognize that it's an extremely high price point for a countertop appliance. I wanted to find a blender that I could recommend at a lower price point, so I ordered and tested blenders from every big company (and some smaller ones!). Without further ado, these are my thoughts, feedback, and recommendations for Blenders at Every Budget.

The Great Blender Search: How I Decided on Blenders

I have a background in public health and I'm into all things math and science. Evidence-based information is really important to me in the nutrition information I provide for each of my recipes, and it was just as important to me when shopping! Here's how I conducted a search for Blenders at Every Budget:

• I relied heavily on my Instagram community and did lots of polling and chatting with people about the blenders they were already using and loving. It was really interesting to see the results that most of my followers are getting when they try my recipes with a different blender.
• The blenders I ordered and tested were all the ones that people swore by; the ones they said were high-quality and producing perfect results. I wanted to find the best blenders at each price point, not just tell you which ones not to buy!
• I wanted to test blenders from all of the major brands, but it was also really important to me to find options at every price point. My KitchenAid blender is at the very top, but I found out on Instagram that people were looking for recommendations all the way down to below $100 blenders.
• There are so many blenders out there, and I really wanted to see if spending more money actually gets you a better product. Shopping for a new appliance is overwhelming, and there are literally hundreds of blenders on the market. I really wanted to narrow in on the best options from each brand!
• Unless otherwise noted, I purchased with my own money and this post isn't sponsored; it's truly my honest and unbiased feedback.

My Top Choice: KitchenAid

This blender is the reason I started this whole search! This is far and away my most-used appliance and has become my gold standard for other blenders. I've owned it for over five years now and it still works perfect. It's the blender I use for all of my recipe testing, and I wanted to outline just why I really think it's worth the investment:

• I cannot even describe just how creamy this blender gets my ingredients. Anything I put in this blender gets completely and totally incorporated into the most velvety smooth texture. No other blender even came close to this capability!
• When I'm making dairy-free substitutes, the power of the KitchenAid is so important to achieve the right texture. Most of my creams and sauces are nut-based, so the ability to turn those hard, solid ingredients into cream is a game-changer in vegan cooking.
• It's super sturdy. The top stays on and there's no shaking or rocking. While it works quickly, it's also so stable that I can walk away and let it run for a few minutes if I need to.
• It has so many settings: juice, soup, smoothie, ice crushing (perfect for my Homemade Dye-Free Strawberry Snow Cones!)...so many fun settings to experiment with.
• A tamper is super important to me! It gives me the ability to make sorbet or thick smoothies since I can push ingredients into the blades without stopping the motor or adding extra liquids.
• It holds SO MUCH volume. I can make big batches of soups, double recipes of smoothies, ice cream for the whole family...it has the room!
• It's easy to clean. Since I'm using my blender multiple times a day, cleaning it quickly is a big deal. This one even has a cleaning function.
• KitchenAid's customer service is impressive. They're quick to answer questions or send a replacement part if ever needed, and they really stand behind their appliances. This is obviously important at this cost!
• The chic design is such a bonus! I love how it looks on my counter. I never put it away. It is a counter staple in our kitchen since the day we brought it home.
• Perfect for: The toughest, frozen-ingredient blending! Think Easy Tropical Sorbet, Key Lime Pie Smoothie Bowls, and No-Churn Banana Nice Cream.
• Price: $600-$900 (It was closer to $600 when we first purchased it several years ago (2017), but has since gone up in price. The exact one I have has the thermal control jar for $900. However, for $400 less you can get this version which has the same blades and same motor but just not the thermal control feature (which honestly won't matter for your final results at all). I am always looking for refurbished options to recommend and post in my Instagram story--usually around $300!)

I also tested the KitchenAid Variable Speed. It's not as powerful or fast as my main KitchenAid but did a great job with smoothies, cashew cream, Green Aid Smoothie, and Avocado Chocolate Pudding. It's a GREAT option in the $250 range and I continue to be impressed with KitchenAid products! I will say that if you're shopping in this price range, I really do recommend going for a refurbished KitchenAid Pro Line Blender instead!

Best Blender Under $200: Beast Health Blender Review

I LOVE the look of this one! It’s super sleek and modern looking. It's also really compact, which is nice if you're trying to utilize space in a smaller kitchen. I made Instant Vegan Chocolate Pudding with it on Instagram Live and everyone was impressed by how smooth it was! Overall, this is probably my favorite option at a lower price point and I've been recommending it often on Instagram.

• The Beast container isn't as big as my KitchenAid, but it's still super powerful and creates smooth results. For our family of five it can be somewhat limiting in terms of the size. As a personal blender it works great! I can make two large serving smoothies in it.
• It's dishwasher-safe and really easy to clean. This is a huge bonus if you're using your blender a few times a day like I do.
• The Hydration System makes it super quick to create infused waters! It quickly pulses your ingredients, so it gives water tons of flavor and more nutrients compared to infusing larger pieces. This is a huge summertime win and makes it extra delicious to hydrate!
• This was the quietest blender I tested! It's a muted, lower-volume hum compared to the noise of some blender motors. This was an unexpected perk that I really appreciated (high five to any other moms out there trying to cook quietly during nap time!).
• Like the NutriBullet, the Beast has a smaller container. It makes it really easy to take your smoothies or drinks on the go. And both containers come with lids so you can easily store what you make in them. There is even a lid option with a mouth piece so you can drink from it on the go. And the mouth piece has a handle. Very HANDY! 😉
• Perfect for: Drinks! Green Juice in a Blender, Blender Immunity-Boosting Ginger Turmeric Drink, or Blender Hot Chocolate are all awesome options. I especially love the smaller attachment for hummus, sauces and dressings, or pesto.
• Price: $130

Full transparency: Beast gifted me this blender, and I loved it so much that I've signed on as an affiliate with them. I have a strict policy of only partnering with brands I personally use, trust, and love, and the Beast blender totally falls into that category!

Best Blender Under $100: NutriBullet Blender Review

The NutriBullet might have been the biggest surprise of my blender test! It was by far the cheapest option and just a fraction of the cost of my main blender. This is a great option for smaller batch items: individual smoothies, cashew cream, or sauces and dressings. It did a better job than most higher end blenders I tested and it even passed the chia seed test (no chia seeds left intact after blending!).

• It wouldn't work for larger soup or ice cream recipes since the container is so small.
• The NutriBullet did struggle with larger amounts of ice; I didn't blend with as much ice as I usually would so my end product wasn't as frosty and thick as I would normally make.
• I did have to run it for a longer time, which produced a burning smell that I definitely noticed and didn't love!
• You have to carefully load it and pay attention to the order you put ingredients so ingredients don't get stuck at the bottom of the jar (which gets inverted during blending). I would suggest putting liquids in first to help everything move toward the blade when you lock it into place!
• Perfect for: Recipes in my Ultimate Vegan Sauces, Dressings, & Dips Roundup
• Price: $35-$65 When I purchased it in 2022 it cost me $35 on Amazon. Today on Amazon the listing price is $65. So it might be worth following the price changes)

Blenders I Do Not Recommend

Unfortunately, there were a few blenders that I couldn't recommend at all. I was so bummed to use these ones and see the sub-par results that came from recipes I usually use and love!

• Ninja Blender Review: This is the first blender that I ordered to test after a friend used it to make Speedy Creamy Broccoli Soup. The first thing that I noticed is that it left chia seeds intact in my smoothies! It also left chunks of frozen fruit, blanched almonds, and a good amount of texture that I could see and taste even after two full minutes of blending. I like the potential of the three vertical blades, but I didn't think they worked efficiently at all. And it was difficult to clean. Price: $150
• Instant Pot Blender: I had high hopes when I first unboxed the Instant Pot Blender! I loved how sturdy the blending jar looked. It's glass, heavy, and really solid looking. The blender itself had tons of settings, but I found that even at the highest speed and most powerful setting, I still had chunky smoothies and chia seeds left intact after running it multiple times. Price: $105

The Blenders at Every Budget Search Summary

I really set out to find if any blender at a lower price point compares to my KitchenAid Pro Line Series, and the bottom line is that nothing does! It truly is the best of the best. I did find great options at every price point. If you're shopping under $100, I'd go for the NutriBullet, and a step above that at $130 is the Beast Blender. If you're going to spend more than $200, I would really recommend going for a refurbished KitchenAid Pro Line! Good luck, and happy blending!

One of the reasons I'm so passionate about finding good blenders for you is because I'm also passionate about smoothies! I make and enjoy smoothies every single day. I'm always dreaming up new recipes and combinations. If you want to make smoothies that taste like treats, check out my cookbook Rock Your Blender! It's filled with exclusive smoothie recipes you won't find on the blog. They're all designed to give you plant-based nutrients that taste as incredible as they make you feel.

More Resources For Healthy Eating

• The Ultimate Vegan Sauces Roundup
• How to Make Frozen Spinach Cubes for Green Smoothies (or Kale!)
• Foods That Reduce Waste: Eco-Friendly Vegan Recipes!
• How (and Why!) to Soak Cashews Properly - Overnight and Quick Soak Method
• Vegan Eating Resource Guide: Plant-Based, Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly
• Ultimate Vegan Smoothie Recipe Roundup
• Plant-Based Gluten-Free Meal Prep: Foods I Prep Every Week!
• Ultimate Vegan Soup Recipe Round Up (gluten-free)