Living in the age of technology that we do now have made life in the kitchen easier and healthier. Owning a quality and high-performance blender can make cooking much easier, especially with a meal as important as breakfast. Yet, not everyone can afford a top of the line, professional grade Vitamix blender, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits and qualities of a Vitamix blender!
We decided to compile a list of the best Vitamix alternatives that the market has to offer. There is plenty of high tech or even minimalist options out there, meaning there is a budget-priced Vitamix blender alternative available for everyone.
Best Blender Alternatives to Vitamix
Cleanblend Commercial Blender – High Power Pick
Black+Decker PowerCrush Blender – Budget Pick
Blendtec Total Classic Blender – Pro’s Pick
Ninja Nutri Pro – Personal Pick
Ninja BL610 – Best Overall
Best Vitamix Blender Alternatives – Reviewed
Cleanblend Commercial Blender – High Power Pick
This blender is our high power pick for a reason. With 1800 watts of power, the blending the Cleanblend delivers is powerful and effective, just like a Vitamix blender. Even on Ellen, it was featured destroying a phone with no problem! Don’t believe me? We’ve got the video down below! The 8 stainless steel blade system also helps to achieve that smooth finish making all types of drinks and sauces possible. The only real drawback featured is its weight and bulkiness and the 5-year limited warranty. The extra heftiness will make it harder to clean and move around.
What We Liked:
- 1800 watts of power
- 5-year limited warranty for most everything
- Maximum processing with eight stainless steel blades
What We Didn’t Like:
- Lack of preprogrammed settings
- Large and hefty with fast speeds
Black+Decker PowerCrush Blender – Budget Pick
If you just need a Vitamix alternative blender for personal smoothies on the go and one other persons needs, then this Vitamix alternative could be perfect for you. It is our budget-friendly Vitamix alternative pick due to the low price tag as well as its reliability. It only has four speeds and two of those are pulsing functions. Otherwise, there are two low settings and two high settings. Due to the lack of variability in speeds, power, and sharp stainless steel blades this blender will do the minimum. If you are on a budget then this minimum is all you need! Just something to cut up your fruit, get you out the door, without too much fuss when it comes to cleaning and using it again. This is one of the best Vitamix alternatives without the high price tag.
What We Liked:
- Bargain priced
- Easy and simple to use
- Has pulse functions
What We Didn’t Like:
- 700 watts of power, makes it harder to get a smooth consistency
- Smaller stainless steel blades make it best for blending up one serving
- 2 year warranty
Blendtec Total Classic Blender – Pro’s Pick
Maybe you’re not against paying a high price for something professional-grade like a Vitamix blender, but still want to save a couple hundred bucks. Then Blendtec can be the perfect Vitamix alternative for you! This is a blender similar to the best Vitamix blender that offers advanced blender technology whilst still being a powerful tool. It has 1560 watts of power with many blending modes and variable blending speeds. Everything about the technology speaks to the varying blending speeds and outcomes you can have for your food. Keep in mind, it’s still one of the pricier Vitamix alternatives and the complete opposite of budget-friendly. Also, that which comes with power also comes with plenty of noise, so if you don’t live alone, be sure not to blend at night!
What We Liked:
- 1560 watts of power, on par with Vitamix blender
- 6 blending modes with 10-speed manual control
- Has the ability to warm your food through blending as well
- 8-year warranty
What We Didn’t Like:
- Highest price point on this list
- Hefty and loud, be ready for that noise!
Ninja Nutri Pro – Personal Pick
This is the perfect Vitamix blender alternative for those who are always on the go, but still like experiencing fresh smoothies and drinks. The container for blending becomes your cup, making it practical and environmentally friendly all in one. It’s a budget-friendly price and yet, still a reliable blender that can deliver a little more than expected. Be aware of the cleaning you have to do with every use. There is a gasket under the seal that will need hand cleaning! If you do not, then a smell will begin to form on the gasket with even the possibility of accumulating mold. It doesn’t have to be a battle to get into the seal, just something thin and sturdy to pop it open, and then you can get to cleaning. Other than that, this Vitamix alternative blender is perfect for use and one of the most reliable Vitamix alternatives on the market.
What We Liked:
- Super easy to use
- Comes with to-go containers
- Compact and able to go with you anywhere!
What We Didn’t Like:
- You need to remove and clean the gasket, otherwise, a smell will form!
- A little on the loud side as expected from a powerful motor
- 1- year limited warranty
Ninja BL610 – Best Overall
It’s powerful, reliable, and big enough to suit a family or a group of friends, which makes this blender our top Vitamix alternative pick. It has a 72-ounce, 64-ounce liquid maximum capacity which leaves enough room for a round of margaritas around the table. It also features 4 different blending modes with powerful stainless steel blades to ensure you achieve a well-rounded amount of possibilities. From smoothies to sauces, this Vitamix alternative blender can get you there quite smoothly.
What We Liked:
- Affordable price tag
- Dishwasher safe
- 1000 watts of power
What We Didn’t Like:
- Less versatility compared to counterparts
- Less muscle than the Vitamix offers
How to Pick the Best Vitamix Alternative Blender for You
Why Do You Need a Blender?
No kitchen is complete without a blender. It’s one of those tools that help you to achieve all kinds of smoothies, drinks, and sauces. Which also makes it a proponent of a healthy lifestyle. The question that really needs answering here is what kind of blender fits your healthy lifestyle. Surely, a family of six will need a different blender than a bachelor in a single apartment.
Handheld Blenders
This type of immersion blender is never used solely and exclusively alongside a countertop blender. They are perfect for making purees or smoothies and offer a personal touch to the variability of speeds. Plus, they’re compact, cordless, and rechargeable making them easy to be stored away in your kitchen.
Countertop Blenders
These types of blenders will live squarely on your countertop, hence the namesake, and can’t be stowed away. This is due to their size and weight, leaving counter space to be considered. They share a likeness to high-performance blenders with modes of speed and power, but they are the inexpensive option.
High-Performance Blenders
These are the top of the line when it comes to blending technology. They offer what countertop blenders offer, but much more. They have plenty of power and variability in modes, which can leave anything to be blended. With power comes a hefty price, and these blenders, like the Vitamix blender can run upwards of $400 to $600 dollars!
Personal Blenders
Like the namesake, these blenders are exclusively made to serve one person. This makes these perfect for college students and single, independent living. Also, the container used for blending will serve as the cup from which you can drink from. Personal blending is all about practicality and saving enough money, but not compromising power or reliability. If you’re someone who doesn’t do much cooking, but loves to have breakfast in a cup, then this type of blender might be for you!
Speed and Having Options
The next questions you’ll want answered are: how quickly can it blend? And how many blending options are there? The first is a simple answer. A good blender won’t take ages to blend your food. Timeliness comes with sharp stainless steel blades and a powerful motor as well as the assurance that lumps won’t be left behind.
Many countertop and high-performance blenders will come with blending modes and speeds that you can use to your liking. The more options available means the more ability the blender will have to blend your food to the right consistency. Of course, reliability doesn’t necessarily have to come with many modes, but it sure doesn’t hurt.
How Big Should it Be?
One size does not fit all and that’s a good thing! You don’t want to pay more for something that you just won’t take full advantage of. That’s why personal blenders can be a better fit for those who don’t have the time to cook big meals and rather like to have things on the go. With that being said, there are certain sizes to be aware of.
Standard size
Astandard size blenderwill usually come in the form of a countertop blender such as the Cleanblend Commercial Blender and the Ninja BL610. They offer limited modes, but nonetheless have the power to carry out many means. Given their standard size they offer the ability to be put away.
High-performance
A high-performance blender like the Blendtec Total Classic Blender has a professional-grade power to it meaning its size is going to reflect the sentiment. These types of blenders have a stockiness to them that make it harder to find storage. Instead, you’ll most likely have to opt for some counter space and leave it on display to make the room for it.
Personal blender
A personal blender is focused on blending up one serving size of drinks, like the Ninja Nutri Pro. They’re compact and simple to use, making them very easy for storage. The individual serving size will usually reach about 8-12 ounces. This can be a very nice option for those who are just living by themselves and don’t spend that much time in the kitchen anyway.
Needless to say, the size of your blender will depend on your reason for having it in the first place. Whether it’s for blending up servings for a family or just two college roommates who want to have the necessities, you can be assured that there is a right size blender for you and your needs.
Special Attachments
Sometimes blender packages can come with extra attachments and size containers. This is usually only typical for specially priced blender packages and not simple, standard blenders. On this list, the Ninja Nutri Pro is the only blender that will come with different sized containers that also function as cups. This is due to its individual-sized capacity allowing for more capability. If you don’t mind paying a bit more money for a Vitamix alternative just for the extra accessories it can come with then be sure to do your research and shop around.
Ease of Cleaning
In our modern society cleaning has become a universal chore that we wish could be quicker and easier. Any product that takes this into consideration is deeply appreciated. When it comes to blenders, a general rule of thumb is that the bigger it is, the more difficult it will be to clean.
Yes, high-performance blenders are great when it comes to getting the job done, but then comes clean up. Heftier items are just harder to clean depending on your dishwasher, might need a hand washing. Washing your blender by hand is totally fine, but just be sure to watch out for the stainless steel blades. There is a way to make it easier. Just add water and liquid soap to the blender, let it run, rinse it out, and now you have a self-cleaning blender.
Not all blenders will be able to go into the dishwasher or become completely clean. This is where reading your manual can save you a detrimental and costly mistake. Nothing is worse than paying a good price for your blender only to mess it up by not reading the instructions.
Does it Need Advanced Technology?
This is not so much the question of whether a blender needs to be technologically advanced, but a question of whether you will take full advantage of that technology. This is a moment you can take to be entirely honest with yourself. Many modes and features are nice and can even be helpful, but do you have a need for them? If you’re the type of person that just likes to blend morning smoothies and nothing more than maybe something simpler will give you the best bang for your buck.
For those who know they want more from a blender than just the bare minimum, could benefit from varied blending modes and speeds and even manual control. Cooking aficionados can be assured that they can achieve the perfect blend with whatever they try to make. Of course, with more options and control, means more money you may have to spend. Just be sure to ask all these questions to yourself and then you will be able to figure out which blender technology is worth it for you.
Noise Level
Believe it or not, there are blender brands that care about this aspect of blending. A blender that can achieve optimal blending without creating ear-splitting noises, is one to consider for sure. Of course, sometimes it can’t be helped. We found that the more powerful blenders will produce the most noise, but higher-end blenders try to combat this with sound dampening materials incorporated inside the blender. Which ultimately can have higher-end blenders giving off noises akin to their less expensive counterparts.
If you care about this aspect there are ways to ascertain the levels of noise before purchasing your blender. You can watch videos of people testing the blender to help gauge the level of noise. Another way is to be vigilant on reading the reviews that come in. Reading reviews can be a good way to even see what people love and hate about this product. One last way you can go about is, is researching the product on its company website. There you can find specs on the product, including the decibels at which the blender emits noise.
Warranty
These you should read carefully and thoughtfully. Especially so, if you have a higher end blender. This is a written promise from the company to protect your purchase and ensure no extra costs when things break down. Be warned, sometimes you’ll get what you pay for when it comes to your blender. Often times blenders will come with limited 1-2 year warranty, that may not cover everything.
When it comes to less expensive blenders, their blenders will have shorter than 2 year warranty periods and maybe less coverage overall. Even though a 3 year limited warranty may sound good, it may not cover everything you need it to. Just like with expensive blenders, their warranties can last upwards of ten years. There is a balance and the sooner you understand it, the sooner you can make a decision. Keep in mind that with different blenders the warranties can cover different aspects of blenders with different lengths of time. Try to look for complete coverage instead of some year limited warranty. Even a 5 year limited warranty can be useless. Some companies will try to get away with not covering important mishaps that can occur. This is where reading things thoroughly will come in handy.
Deciding Your Blender Budget
From individual blenders to simpler countertop blenders and then higher-end ones, blenders can come in varying prices. The cheapest blenders can be found at the store with prices as low as $13 dollars. The most expensive blenders can be bought around $700 dollars and can even reach $1,000 dollars. Being honest with what you can afford is essential before buying any high-end product.
The good thing about blenders, is that you can’t go wrong with blenders in the price range of $60-$150 dollars. Usually, these reasonably priced blenders are reasonable in their execution. They have reliable technology and enough varied possibilities that you can ensure that the blending meets your needs. If you have the means to treat yourself to something nice, and a blender is what you want, then, by all means, go for it! Just know that quantity does not have to ensure quality and you can find a good blender at a price that you can afford.
Wrapping Up
The Ninja BL610 came out on top as the best Vitamix alternative, in our opinion. Its price point as well as its ability to blend with different modes, was enough to make it a worthwhile blender in our eyes. Of course, there will always be a better model, but at a higher price and if you have the means you should explore those options.
For those on a budget who wish to save even more money should check out the Black+Decker PowerCrush Blender.
One blender certainly does not fit all, and people are going to value different things in their blender. The one thing that every blender should seek to do is blend, and blend well. The bottom line is a smooth consistency and no chunks left behind. Anything else is extra and accounted for as a plus. With all the different Vitamix alternatives on the market, you are sure to find the one for you.
