The Best Personal Blender (2024)

Lesley Stockton, a senior staff writer at Wirecutter, has covered blenders and hand mixers, among other items like chef’s knives and pizza ovens. Lesley has been cooking professionally for almost 20 years.

For the original version of this guide, we brought Matt Shook, founder of JuiceLand, into our test kitchen to get his hands-on opinion, and we interviewed superfood chef Julie Morris, who uses both a full-size and a personal blender for home and work. We also scoured editorial reviews from sources like Food & Wine, Good Housekeeping, and Reviewed.

A personal blender is a convenience item for the dedicated smoothie lover who’s short on time in the morning. If you want to quickly make a morning smoothie and run out the door without having to wash a blender pitcher and lid, a personal blender is for you.

These blenders are more compact than full-size options, so they’re also a good choice if you have limited kitchen space. Some are short enough to fit in cabinets.

Even if you’re not drinking smoothies daily, or you’re happy with your full-size blender, a personal blender can make small batches of sauces and dressings with less cleanup. Think of a personal blender as a complement to your regular blender, the way a mini chopper is to a food processor.

Personal blenders are good for small jobs like smoothies, but their motors aren’t as powerful as the ones found in our guide to the best full-size blenders. This means you’ll need to use more liquid and cut fruit in smaller pieces. Personal blenders also aren’t made for blending hot liquids or for crushing large chunks of ice (although some can; check the manual before attempting). If you want an all-around kitchen workhorse that can puree soups and sauces and make multiple rounds of frozen margaritas, you should consider getting a full-size blender.

The perfect personal blender is powerful and simple to use, and it operates hands-free. We looked for blenders with a small footprint, to suit modestly sized apartments and dorms or people who don’t want a lot of countertop clutter. A sturdy cup with a secure travel lid is a major plus, especially for commuters. To find the best options to test for our 2022 update, we combed through editorial reviews from Food & Wine, Reviewed, The Strategist, Good Housekeeping, CNN, and Saveur. We also checked best-selling models on retail sites like Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Sur La Table, and Williams-Sonoma. Finally, we scoured user reviews to get a read on durability and long-term reliability.

Most importantly, a personal blender needs to make relatively smooth purees in about a minute. In our testing, we found that more-powerful blenders could puree thick mixtures and blend faster. We weeded out machines that walked on the counter or those with bases that got too hot when trying to blend thick smoothies.

All of the models we brought in to test for our 2022 update operate hands-free—once the cup is locked into place, you can take your hands off the machine. This is much more convenient than models with cups that need to be held in place, since a minute can seem like a long time when you aren’t able to step away. Though you shouldn’t leave the blender running completely unattended, you can still multitask while making your smoothie.

The personal blenders that we found the easiest to use were those that had just one speed and powered on by engaging the cup with the base (though we tested several with different settings in 2022). Higher-priced personal blenders offer speed controls and pre-programmed settings. But we appreciate a no-frills user interface, and we’ve found that variable speed dials didn’t improve the user experience. In fact, having to choose a speed or program added an unnecessary step to what should be a simple process.

These are single-serving blenders, so we wanted them to be small enough to leave on the counter, since you’re more likely to use an appliance if it’s in sight and accessible. If you already have a regular blender and you’re looking for a second appliance to handle tinier jobs with less cleanup, a small footprint is even more important.

Cups that are comfortable to hold, with secure travel lids that snap shut, are an added bonus for commuters. Our pick has a lid that seals tight, so the cup can be tossed into a backpack or tote. Although the openings in travel lids are a little uncomfortable to drink from across the board, you can also use a straw for extra-thick smoothies.

To get an accurate read on the longevity of these machines, we sifted through the glut of online reviews to find patterns of wear and malfunction. We’re confident that our pick, when used responsibly and within its abilities, will last for several years (writer Anna Perling used our top pick for over three years).

In our 2022 tests, we made smoothies in each machine, blending frozen berries and bananas, fibrous ginger, and spinach. We noted how long it took for each model to blend a smoothie, and we strained the results to look for remaining berry seeds, leaves, and fibers.

Next we wanted to see how well blenders could handle thicker mixtures like pesto, since some people will use personal blenders for other cooking tasks. We blended blanched kale, nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, noting the grind consistency and how often we needed to stop and scrape down the blending jar.

We also made a hearty shake from dates, frozen banana, and oat milk, straining the mixture to check for unblended bits. Sticky dates are difficult to puree into a smoothie, and our pick fared better than the competition, which left gravely chunks of dried fruit behind.

Finally, we wanted to make sure our finalists could blend ice, so we blended ice cubes, frozen bananas, and oat milk to see whether the blenders could handle the task.

In our original testing, we made fruit smoothies using frozen bananas and berries to see how well the machines blended. To see if they could break up tough fibers, we blended curly kale with water, as well as smoothies with ginger and frozen peaches. We also did a date shake test.

After each smoothie was blended, we attached the travel lid (where applicable) and gave each tumbler a vigorous shake over the sink to check for leaks. We also tried to drink thick smoothies from the openings of the lids.

We took decibel readings of each machine while it was full and running, since we read some complaints about the motors being too loud. All of the blenders ran at around the same noise level, between 92 and 100 decibels measured 5 inches away from the machine. (This is about the noise level of a garbage disposal.) Noise level didn’t account for pitch, though. One of our dismissals was so high-pitched that we winced every time we ran it.

Of the models we tested, the NutriBullet Pro 900 has the best balance of power, ease of use, and price. It blended everything we threw at it without straining. The Pro comes with a secure-fitting travel lid, and the large, 32-ounce cup has a blending capacity of 24 ounces. With a 5½-inch-diameter footprint, it’ll tuck away neatly on most kitchen counters, and its 15-inch height clears standard upper cabinets. The NutriBullet Pro comes with a limited one-year warranty, but for about $15 (at the time of publishing), you can get an additional four-year extended warranty.

Of the blenders we tested, the NutriBullet Pro did the best job of blending thick, spoonable smoothies. Our banana, berry, ginger, and spinach smoothie came out lump-free and with barely any fibers. We did have to stop and shake the blending jar to incorporate some wayward spinach leaves, but this was true of all the blenders. In our original tests, the NutriBullet blended dates well, leaving only a few small, pleasantly chewy pearls in the bottom of the cup, and they didn’t clog the straw. In our 2022 tests, the NutriBullet Pro was still one of the best at blending date shakes. It also made some of the best pesto in our tests: The pesto had a consistent, gravelly grind that wasn’t too pasty. The NutriBullet Pro was good atcrushing ice, oat milk, and frozen bananas. (However, if you frequently blend ice, the more powerful NutriBullet Pro 1000, which the company recommends for blending ice, may hold up better over time because it has a stronger motor.) In our original tests, Matt Shook of JuiceLand was impressed with the force and smooth results of the NutriBullet.

The NutriBullet Pro’s travel lid screws on tightly and has a hinged plastic cap that snaps over the opening, making it easy for commuters to travel without the risk of spilling their beverage all over themselves. We shook the sealed cup over the sink and saw no leakage. The 32-ounce NutriBullet blending cup offers 24 ounces (three cups) of blending capacity, which is plenty of room for creating a satisfying smoothie full of fruits and veggies. By contrast, our previous runner-up pick, the Tribest PB-150, felt too small to fit a handful of greens for a green smoothie.

The NutriBullet Pro is intuitive and simple to use straight out of the box. There aren’t any dials or buttons to navigate. The motor is engaged when you twist the blending cup onto the base, and it has one speed, which we found perfectly sufficient for the range of blending tasks we tried. Some retailers sell versions of the Pro with different sets of accessories. But we recommend the 13-piece configuration, which comes with two 32-ounce jars, two to-go lids, two lip rings (for open-cup drinking), and two lip rings with handles. (Note that the 13-piece description is somewhat misleading. The user manual, warranty, and recipe book are each considered pieces. There are only 10 actual blender parts.) You can get a version of the Pro with a 24- and a 32-ounce cup from Kohl’s, but the set is not consistently cheaper, and it comes with just one style of each lid, rather than two. The blender also comes in 20 colors (Amazon doesn’t offer all of them, but you can see more colors on the NutriBullet site), with matte or metallic options.

The NutriBullet Pro isn’t cheap, but it’s in the midrange of what you can expect to pay for a personal blender. We tested models four times the price and found they didn’t offer much more than speed variation and a die cast metal drive shaft (the part that turns the blade). The drive shaft on the NutriBullet is rubber and plastic, which could be less durable over time. We also looked at blenders that were as inexpensive as $25, but these offered weak motors and leaky gaskets.

We think the Pro is worth the price increase over the original NutriBullet 600-watt model. The original NutriBullet strained a bit with thicker mixtures, and its smoothies had a couple of small lumps. And surprisingly, in our head-to-head comparison of more NutriBullet models, the Pro also beat out the larger, more powerful NutriBullet Rx. It’s all about design: The Pro has six long blades, whereas the Rx has only four shorter ones. That said, the NutriBullet Pro won’t blend berry seeds, which is something that a premium, full-size blender like the Vitamix 5200 (our top blender pick) can do. But most of the personal blenders we tested left whole seeds intact. We also liked the slightly more powerful NutriBullet Pro 1000, which has a smaller footprint, a longer cord, and a more powerful motor. Both NutriBullet models performed similarly in our 2022 tests, but we found the Pro 1000 a little more annoying to use: You have to lock the cup into the base before twisting it to blend, whereas with the Pro 900, you can lock the vessel and begin blending in one fluid motion. The prices fluctuate between the Pro 1000 and the 900, and if the Pro 1000 is on sale, it’s a great personal blender option.

Extra cups, lids, handles, and blade assemblies are widely available for purchase through NutriBullet or Amazon. NutriBullet sells a short, 18-ounce cup (which may work well for baby food or kids’ smoothies) as well as additional replacement parts. NutriBullet offers a limited one-year warranty that protects against manufacturer defects, but be aware that the warranty is honored only if you buy the blender through an authorized dealer, which includes Amazon. For around $20, you can get a three-year extended warranty, to protect your purchase for a total of four years. Misuse and abuse aren’t covered, but with proper use, this blender should hold up through many blending sessions.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Even though we like the tight-fitting travel lid, the spout for drinking is very small, measuring 1 inch by ¾ inch. It’s very difficult to drink a thick smoothie without using a straw. But we prefer straws for smoothie sipping, so this doesn’t bother us one bit.

We’ve noticed over time that the gasket on the NutriBullet can collect gunk, and the blending jar can get a little grimy, especially if you don’t have a dishwasher. NutriBullet recommends blending some warm, soapy water to help clean the blender. We also like using a small, looped brush, such as the one in the OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Brush Set, to get under the blades and around the seal of the gasket.

In 2014, Consumer Reports declared the NutriBullet Pro a “safety hazard” after a piece of the blade broke off due to a stress test: They blended seven large ice cubes and repeated the test 45 times. Later that year, after an initial investigation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded there was no reason for a recall. In September 2016, Consumer Reports restored the NutriBullet Pro to its product rankings, giving it an overall score of “good.” We think a stress test of that magnitude is unrealistic. Personal blenders aren’t meant to crush large cubes of ice over and over again. CNET conducted stress tests on the NutriBullet Pro and found no problems of breakage or malfunction.

Personal blenders are meant for small jobs, such as making single servings of smoothies and small batches of sauces (like vinaigrettes). Be reasonable about what you can put in these blenders. They are convenience machines, not kitchen workhorses. Here’s a list of tips to ensure your blender base and accessories enjoy a long life:

If our pick is unavailable or you want to blend ice often: The slightly more powerful NutriBullet Pro 1000 was priced similarly to our pick, the NutriBullet Pro 900, at the time of writing, and the differences between the two are minimal. In our tests, they made similar smoothies, shakes, and pesto. The Pro 1000 has a smaller footprint, a longer cord, and comes with a 24- and 32-ounce cup. And the company recommends this model if you want to blend ice. (Our pick is able to blend ice. But if you frequently add ice to your smoothies, the Pro 1000’s stronger motor and sharper blades may hold up better over time.) Compared with the Pro 900, the Pro 1000 makes it a little harder to lock the cup into the base before blending. But if this blender is on sale for less than the Pro 900, it does make excellent smoothies.

If you prefer a more slender jar: We like the Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender, and you may prefer it if you want a more slender cup that’s easier to hold onto and will fit into a wider array of cupholders. It made creamy smoothies and date shakes, and its base is sleekly designed. The machine has two settings, if you want to pulse sauces or pesto without obliterating them, and the blender runs more quietly than the NutriBullet. But the Zwilling blender occasionally had some issues connecting to the base (which it must do before you can blend).

If you want a truly tiny blender: The Tribest PB-150 was a previous pick, but after testing it in 2022, we think our pick is more versatile. This personal blender is tiny, which will make it easy to store and clean. But we could barely fit even a handful of greens into it when making smoothies or pesto. It’s also not as powerful as other blenders we tested; it walked on the counter and struggled with chunkier mixtures. That said, if you’d like a small blender just for fruit smoothies, or for making food for babies or kids, this compact blender may work for you.

The Beast Blender was formerly our upgrade pick, and although it performed well in our initial tests, we have some serious concerns about its longevity. We’ve seen a worrying number of Amazon reviews claiming that the Beast Blender fails in less than a year, and after 9 months of using it at home, our tester has started to experience the same issues. They’ve noticed the motor getting weaker, the blender cap retaining water, and most critically, they’re having trouble getting the blender cup to lock onto the base, which is necessary for the blender to run. A representative for Beast told us the company has made improvements to the blender’s design since we first tested it, but we don’t know yet if these improvements successfully addressed these issues. We are testing a newer model of the blender to see how it holds up over time

The Beastmode Blender is a slightly more powerful version of the Beast Blender, with a 1200-watt motor instead of 1000-watts. But while it performed well, it wasn't much better than the original Beast. You’re mainly paying an extra $20 for the dark green color

The NutriBullet Rx is absurdly large for a personal blender, and despite having a higher wattage than the Pro 900, it’s actually less effective. That’s because it has just four short blades (compared with the Pro’s longer six), which left marble-sized chunks of frozen banana in our smoothies.

The ​​Ninja BL480D Nutri 1000 Watt Auto-IQ was the loudest blender we tested in 2022—the pitch was high and whiny, and it growled loudly like a lawnmower. It also struggled with blending chunkier mixtures, and it walked on the counter while blending pesto. It has a larger footprint than our pick as well.

The Ninja Nutri Pro made very high-pitched noises, which made this blender seem louder than the others in our tests. It also had the poorest performance when blending kale, leaving the largest fibrous pieces.

The original, 600-watt NutriBullet wasn’t as efficient at blending frozen fruit or kale as its 900-watt sibling, our top pick. Spend the extra $20 or so for the Pro.

The Bella Rocket leaked from the first test and was disqualified before the second round.

This article was edited by Marilyn Ong and Marguerite Preston.

1. Julie Morris, superfood chef, phone interview, October 26, 2016

2. Personal Blenders, Cook’s Country (subscription required), November 1, 2015

3. Blenders, Consumer Reports (subscription required)