Rated on what matters for smoothies: how smooth greens and seeds get, how well it handles frozen fruit, how easy it is to use and clean, and value.
The benchmark high-performance blender. It pulverizes kale stems, seeds and ice into a perfectly smooth drink, makes thick smoothie bowls with the tamper, and a 7-year warranty means it lasts.
Vitamix’s entry model blends nearly as smoothly as the 5200 with a shorter jar that fits under cabinets. It’s the high-end blender we’d recommend to most smoothie fans.
A huge pitcher and stacked blades that crush ice and frozen fruit easily for under $100. It’s less smooth with leafy greens and seeds than a Vitamix, but unbeatable value for fruit smoothies.
More power than the BL610 plus Auto-iQ programs that pulse and pause for you: press “smoothie” and walk away. Smoother results with greens than cheaper Ninjas.
The main Vitamix rival: powerful, very smooth and run by simple preset buttons. A shorter jar fits under cabinets, and the 8-year warranty is the longest we’ve seen.
A stylish mid-range blender with separate smoothie and green smoothie programs that is noticeably quieter than most. A great pick for early mornings and open-plan kitchens.
Blend, twist on a lid and go. The 900-watt motor handles frozen fruit and spinach well, and personal cups mean almost no cleanup. The go-to personal blender.
Two to-go cups and a 700-watt pulse motor for about $60. Best for fruit smoothies; fibrous greens and seeds won’t be perfectly smooth.
Choose thin, medium or thick and it blends to that texture automatically. The glass jar resists stains and odors, and the included to-go cup covers single smoothies.
The original mini blender. Fine for soft fruit, yogurt and milk, but its small motor struggles with lots of frozen fruit, ice and leafy greens.
A cordless blender that makes surprisingly smooth smoothies from frozen fruit. You drink straight from the jar, which stays on the base, and it charges by USB-C.
Crushes ice and nuts better than most portables and holds its charge for many smoothies. Bulkier than rivals, but the best performer when you’re away from an outlet.
