Are you in the market for a new blender? Curious to see how your current blender compares to other options on the market? This 2025 edition of the Best Blenders has options at every price point, with all of my thoughts along the way!

The Blenders in this Review (click to jump)
- KitchenAid Pro Line Series ($599.99)
- BlendTec Original Designer Series ($449.95)
- Vitamix 5200 ($404.66)
- Vitamix E310 Explorian ($379.95)
- KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed ($209.95)
- Beast Health Blender ($165.00)
- Ninja BL660 ($119.99)
- Nutribullet Personal Blender ($58.00)
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 good blender that I could recommend at a lower price point, so I ordered and tested blenders from every big company (and some smaller ones!). These include full-size blenders, standard blenders and personal blenders. So without further ado, these are my thoughts, feedback, and recommendations for blenders at every budget in 2025.
How I Decided on Blenders to Review
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 the blenders to review 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 $100.00.
- 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.
For Larger Budgets: KitchenAid Pro Line Series ($600)
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, tough 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.
- Note: After owning this blender for seven years the jar has cracked. I contacted KitchenAid customer service and they replaced the blender jar. For this reason, I'm excited to have now discovered the Vitamix stainless steel jar that is compatible with my Vitamix 5200. Together, this pair is my other top choice although the base is not as sturdy as the KitchenAid and it is not as wide so the tamper sometimes has to be leveraged more. More on that in the section below on Vitamix.
- Price: $600 (It was $600 when we first purchased it several years ago (2017), but over the years the price has increased to almost $900 although recently it came back down in price to $600 again. The exact one I have has the thermal control jar for $600. However, for $300 less you can get a refurbished version.
Best Blenders Under $500: Blendtec
I was gifted a Blendtec many years ago and thought it was a great option at this price point! The main drawback is that the lid easily comes off as it blends. I actually found that I had to stay nearby and hold it on. It's not as powerful or efficient as my KitchenAid, but it worked well for nut milks, smoothies, and soups.
- BPA-free jar that's easy to wash, feels sturdy, and holds up well over the years.
- The digital touch screen on the control panel is super easy to clean and simple to use!
- The Blendtec has lots of different settings and functions. It's really fun to play around with and test on different mixtures.
- Perfect for: Any of my Smoothie Recipes!
- Price: $450
Best Blenders Under $400: Vitamix 5200, Vitamix Explorian & KitchenAid Variable Speed
UPDATED 2024 PICK: This research is ongoing and after publishing this post in 2022, I tested the Vitamix 5200 and found a new winner in this category! It worked beautifully for "nice" cream, smoothies and blender green juice. It has a very powerful motor - just as powerful as the KitchenAid. The narrow design makes it a bit harder to clean and I had to store the base and jar separately to fit under my cabinets, but it works so well for small batch recipes like oat flour or cashew cream (you can shop a lower-profile jar version here!).
I found it was easiest to put a drop of dish soap and a cup of water into the jar and run it for a minute or two to really clean out the blades. The pour spout drips a little at times after pouring smoothie out of it but that is not a huge deal (just wanted to mention as my KitchenAid does not drip).
The base sometimes moves around on the counter at times depending on what I'm making - not often but it does happen and never happens with my KitchenAid since that base is so heavy. It is also not as loud as the KitchenAid given how powerful it is...that's a big bonus when I need to keep the noise level down and I want a smoothie! The Vitamix 5200 has a simple design without preset functions, which I personally prefer. It's very intuitive to use and extremely powerful!
If you do buy the Vitamix 5200, I highly recommend buying the Vitamix stainless steel jar to go with it. It has a lower profile and because it is not made with plastic I don't worry about it cracking or using for blending hot soups. I recently purchased the stainless steel jar to go with it and I find the top secures on perfectly (whereas the jar lid it comes with is less stable). Because it has a lower profile, it fits on my countertop under the cabinets even when stored affixed to the base of the blender.
Previous Pick: Before I discovered the Vitamix 5200 discussed above, my top pick in this price range was the Vitamix Explorian. It’s a little bit small (I also tested the larger 64 ounce model which had similar results), but for everyday personal blenders I think this is a great value. This is the exact price point I was trying to find. It worked for cashew cream with fully soaked cashews. I did notice some texture when I poured it into cream of mushroom soup, which I don't get with my KitchenAid. I like this scraper accessory for Vitamix blenders, although you really only need it for thick recipes like almond butter or "nice" cream.
- It comes with a tamper and it worked really well for my No-Churn Vegan Banana "Nice" Cream, although I did have to let the bananas thaw just a little bit and added some extra almond milk to help it out. When I used frozen solid banana it timed out when making "nice" cream and I had to wait 10 minutes for it to start working again, which didn't happen with any of the other blenders I tested.
- Perfect for: Baked goods! I made Dye-Free Green Muffins and saw no bits of spinach after blending, which I think is a good test! It would also work well for Sweet Potato Blender Muffins.
- Price: $405 (technically not under $400 but close enough!)
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, this Green 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
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 small 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 is a little blender and therefore 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 are even to-go lids 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: $165
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
The NutriBullet might have been the biggest surprise of my blender test! It was by far the most inexpensive blender at just a fraction of the cost of my main blender. This is an excellent choice for smaller batch items: single-serve 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 cubes; 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 (December 6, 2024) on Amazon the listing price is $49.88. While there are some drawbacks, it is a solid blender for those on a tight budget.
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: $120
- Instant Pot Blender: I had high hopes when I first unboxed the Instant Pot Blender! I loved how sturdy the jar looked. It has a glass jar and is 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: $115 (no longer available)
The Best Blender 2025 Search Summary
I really set out to find if any blender at a lower price point compares to my KitchenAid Pro Line Series ($600), and the bottom line is that nothing does! It truly is the best of the best due to the powerful engine and extremely sturdy base. The only downside is that over the years the blending jar has cracked but Kitchen Aid customer service replaced it for free when I called.
In very close second place and for $400 is the Vitamix 5200. It is powerful and I love using it for any recipe (thick smoothies and super creamy cashew-based sauces). The downsides mentioned in the article above can all be solved if you pair it with the stainless steel jar which I purchased (July 2024) and have been absolutely loving. Again, it isn't made of plastic so it won't crack and can handle hot soups without any concern. The lid secures tightly and it doesn't shake or ever come off. It also doesn't drip when pouring. It just may be my new favorite honestly due to the stainless steel jar.
I did find great options at every price point. If you're shopping under $100, I'd go for the NutriBullet as the best cheap blender but don't expect it to work for large batches of thick smoothies. A step above that at $130 is the Beast Blender which is an individual-sized compact blender as well. 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)
Leave a Reply