Choosing the best blender can feel overwhelming. There are so many models to choose from and prices are all over the place. Buying a blender should be fun and exciting, not stressful!
I wrote this page to help you determine which blender is right for you, and to make the best blender selection based on your budget. I’ve included budget-friendly options in the mid and lower price ranges.
Here are the 3 top features to look for when shopping for a smoothie blender:
Powerful Motor (1000 watts or better!)
Good Warranty (5+ year recommended.)
Large Pitcher (40 oz or better.)
Okay, let's get down to finding the best blender for your needs!
There are quite a few to choose from, so I've categorized our recommendations below by budget: High-End, Under $250, Under $150, and Under $50.
THE Best Blender: Vitamix
Vitamix 780
Our absolute favorite blender is the Vitamix.
We feel that the Vitamix is THE best blender for absolutely liquefying anything you put into it. It is the ultimate green smoothie blender!
With a 7-year warranty and a reputation for longevity, a Vitamix will be the cornerstone of your healthy kitchen for years to come.
You can also make hot soups, nut butters, sauces, and so much more!
There are a LOT of different Vitamix blender models, but you won't go wrong with whichever model you choose.
We started with the classic Vitamix 5200, which is their most affordable model, and it blended many, many of the recipes on our website. Now we have the 780 model, which features a touch interface, upgraded motor, and redesigned pitcher.
Affiliate Disclosure: The links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you purchase a blender using the links on this page, our website will earn a small commission. Thanks for your support.
Best Blender Runner Up: Blendtec
Blendtec Designer Series Blender In Champagne Metalic
Blendtec also makes high-performance (typically 1500-watt or greater) blenders that are comparable to Vitamix as far as blending silky smooth green smoothies. They come with an 8-year warranty.
I’ve used their classic Total Blender to make the green smoothies on my website from 2009 until I moved to a Vitamix in early 2012.
I have also used their Designer series blender and they are wonderful as well.
Vitamix vs. Blendtec: Here is an in-depth comparison between Vitamix and Blendtec blenders.
Best Mid-Range Blenders: $250 and Under Price Range
There are clear advantages for buying either a Vitamix or Blendtec. They are top-quality blenders, built to last, and American-made. If they are out of budget, both Vitamix and Blendtec offer big discounts on factory reconditioned blenders (which I would not hesitate to buy myself).
However, if these high-end blenders are simply out of budget, there are a few other blenders that I can point you toward.
1) BlendWorks Pro-Series Blender
The BlendWorks Pro-Series is a more recent addition to the sub-$250 blender field, but it's one of the better ones. And you can get it for under $200 from Amazon.com.
My green smoothies are blending up every bit as smooth and creamy as they do from my $700+ Vitamix.
The BlendWorks Pro-Series boasts a 1500-watt, 2.0 peak horsepower motor, 70-ounce BPA-free pitcher, 3-year warranty, a 20-ounce travel cup, and a silicon spatula.
94% of reviewers on Amazon.com give this blender a 5-star rating! Read my own review here.
OmniBlend V 3HP Blender
2) JTC OmniBlend V 3HP Blender
It’s on sale right now for just $257 USD (w/ free shipping). It’s almost as powerful as the Vitamix and Blendtec, but requires slightly longer blend times to make a creamy smoothie (35-40 seconds vs. 20 seconds in a Vitamix). It also comes with a 7-year warranty.
Both of my sisters-in-law have one and have been happy with them over the past 5 years of use. You can read my in-depth review of the OmniBlend V here.
See The OmniBlend V In Action!
Here I am demonstrating the capabilities of the OmniBlend V blender.
Jamba Appliances 2.4 hp Blender
3) Jamba Appliances 2.4 hp Blender
If the name sounds familiar, perhaps you’ve ordered a juice or smoothie in a Jamba Juice before?
The Jamba Appliances 2.4hp Blender features a 2.4 peak horsepower motor and 5-year warranty. The blender features Pulse mode, a speed dial, and 4 Pre-Programmed settings – including a setting that makes hot soup!
It also has a 64 ounces jar, which is the ideal size for a blending container. Reviews are positive, with 93% giving it a 4+ star rating.
Bottom Line: Both the Blendtec and Jamba blenders are great deals right now. Blendworks is a solid choice. OmniBlend has the best warranty (7 years).
Best Blenders Under $150
Once you get under the $150 price point for blenders, long-term warranties all but disappear and you may not be able to thoroughly liquefy ingredients like kale, frozen strawberries, raw carrot and pineapple core. You’ll get bits of raspberry seeds, and chia seeds won’t be fully pulverized.
These blenders will not approach Vitamix-quality. However, these blenders can still make delicious, nutritious green smoothies and will get you started on transforming your health.
Here are some of the top-rated sub-$150 blenders for green smoothie making:
1) Jamba Appliances 1.6 hp Blender w/ Quiet Shield
The Jamba Appliances Quiet Shield blender comes with a 1.6 peak horsepower (HP) motor and features a 32-ounce pitcher in the $125-150.00 range. For a little extra, you can get a 20-ounce blending cup bundled with it.
The blender comes with a sound enclosure to dramatically cut down on noise, and offers a 5-year warranty. Of the 150 customer reviews on Amazon right now, 96% give it a 4+ star rating.
Oster Pro 1200
2) Oster Pro 1200 Blender
Usually hovering in the $55-$70 range, the Oster Pro 1200 blender features a 1200-watt motor, which is unusual for blenders at this price. It also features a glass pitcher, and a 3-year satisfaction guarantee and 10-year “all metal drive limited warranty”.
This blender has excellent reviews on Amazon.com with 78% giving it a 4+ star rating. Some of the reviews specifically mention its good performance when blending kale (a good thing to look for when reading blender reviews).
NutriBullet
3) NutriBullet Pro 900 (900-watt)
I have the standard, 600-watt NutriBullet which I use as a travel blender. Yep, I stuff mine in my carry-on bag when I fly (it freaks out the TSA every time, but they always let me go with it). While excelling at portability, the 24-ounce container can be a little on the small side for some meal-replacement green smoothie recipes.
The newer NutriBullet Pro features a 900-watt motor, and 80% of reviewers on Amazon give it a 4+ star rating. Despite what many people say, it simply does not perform as well as a Vitamix (no blender in this price range does), though the NutriBullet Pro 900 should have a performance edge on the standard NutriBullet, which struggles with kale, carrots, and frozen strawberries.
Save a little more money with a Certified refurbished NutriBullet Pro 900 for $74.99 with 1-year warranty. The standard NutriBullet (600-watt) sells for $79.99, with certified refurbished models going for $54.99 with 1-year warranty.
Bottom Line: Look into either the Jamba 1.6 hp blender or the Oster Pro 1200. Or save up a little bit longer to get a blender in the $200-$250 price range.
Best Blenders Under $50
I do not recommend spending only $50 or less on a blender for making green smoothies unless financial circumstances require it.
If you can afford to, or save up money, buy a mid-range or high-end blender because it will be less expensive over the long term. A sub-$50 blender with a 1-year warranty is not going to stand up to daily use. You will end up replacing it often vs. a higher quality blender with a 5-7 year warranty.
Plus, a higher-powered blender will unlock more nutrients and make your green smoothies more flavorful (and smooth).
If circumstances require a $50 or less blender budget, there are a few standouts in this price range. They are:
1) Oster 2-Speed Beehive Blender – 600-watts, glass pitcher and 80% give this blender a 4+ star rating.
2) Oster 12-Speed Blender – Under $30, 450 watts, 92% give this blender a 4+ star rating.
3) KitchenAid 5-Speed Blender (Certified Refurbished) – Another option in the under-$50 price range is to find a decent $100+ blender that has been refurbished. This KitchenAid usually sells for $139, but is currently (as of 2/2/2016) on sale for $39.99 (Certified Refurbished) with 1-year warranty.
One other option is to consider getting a certified refurbished NutriBullet, which Amazon.com sometimes sells for $54.99.
Ultimately, the best blender is the one that helps you drink a daily green smoothie. So whether you are ready to upgrade to a Vitamix or you are simply looking for something better than your grandmother’s 20-year old blender, the important thing is to make delicious green smoothie recipes! You can do that in any blender!
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About Davy & TracyHey there! We're Davy & Tracy Russell, the husband-and-wife, green smoothie-loving team behind this website. We have helped thousands of people lose weight and transform their health with our green smoothie and plant-based Reset 28 Cleanse!