Best Blender for Smoothies
While you might think it’s redundant to pick out the best blenders for smoothies (since every blender can make them), but there’s actually quite a lot to it.
Smoothie-lovers out there will recognise that not all blenders are made equal, especially when it comes to making their favourite drink.
You will have your preferences, and you’ll need to consider which blender best caters to them. The worst thing you can do when it comes to buying a new blender is get one which doesn’t quite satisfy your criteria. It’s better to do some research first, so you don’t end up wasting money on the wrong model.
Whether it’s being able to crush ice for an extra refreshing end product or the ability to take on the toughest of ingredients, there’s plenty to keep an eye out for when it comes to good smoothie-making blenders.
Let’s dive into the best blender for smoothies! Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Smoothie Blender Picks
- Best of the Best: Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
- Best on a Budget: Magic Bullet
- Best Premium Option: Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Blender
Best Smoothie Blender Reviews
Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender (👑 Top Pick)
The best smoothie blender in our opinion, the Vitamix E310 Explorian offers everything you need to make great smoothies, without being too expensive.
This blender is powerful enough to compete with the premium models, but affordable enough that you shouldn’t need to break the bank.
The size of this blender is very satisfying. With a 48oz pitcher you’ll get plenty of smoothie with each session, and the smaller base makes for quick and easy storage.
One big feature we love about this model is the 1,380-watt motor and 2.0 horsepower motor which is more than enough to take care of any ingredient you could possibly want to add to your smoothie.
As for control, the consistency of the smoothie is completely in your hands. This is due to the ten different speed settings which give you an unrivalled ability to whip up the best texture for your drink.
Aircraft-grade blades don’t just sound good, they are robust enough to provide you with many happy years of smoothie-making.
Last but certainly not least is the clean-up. The least enjoyable part smoothie-making is cut short with this blender as it features a satisfying self-cleaning function. Simply add water and dish soap and let it do its thing. In less than a minute it’ll be good as new.
Features:
- Variable speed control
- 1,380 watt-motor
- 2.0 Horsepower
- Pulse feature
- 48oz pitcher
- Aircraft-grade blades
- Self-cleaning function
- Includes accessories
- 5 year warranty
Blendtec Designer Series WildSide Blender
The Blendtec Designer Series blender is a reasonably-priced countertop blender that can give Vitamix a run for their money at the top-end of blending.
Designed for larger batches, if you want single-serve smoothies from your blender, then this one probably isn’t for you.
However, if you are interested in making a lot of smoothie in one go, and various settings, then you’ll be very impressed with this model.
You read that right, this blender has 6 different programs, which are easily cycled through with the convenient touchscreen. Exceptional smoothie-maker though it may be, it also has time to serve all of your other cooking-based needs.
These extra programs allow you to make fresh hummus, salsa, hotsoup and pancake batter to name just a few things.
There are also 8 speed settings so you can make your smoothies with the perfect consistency every time.
As if to sweeten the deal, this model has noise reduction technology to keep it at a hum. That means smoothies in the morning are on. It also has self-cleaning functionality, which is a big deal for anyone who’s always in a rush.
Features:
- 8 speed settings
- 1,560-watt motor
- 6 pre-programmed cycles
- 36oz blending capacity
- Stainless-steel blades
- Touch interface
- Noise reduction technology
- Self-cleaning functionality
- BPA-free
Magic Bullet (💸 Best on a Budget)
The Magic Bullet is a staple in the world of blending.
There’s a good reason why this instantly recognisable blender is still an Amazon bestseller eight whole years since it was first made available on the website- it provides incredible value for money.
One of the cheapest blenders you can get your hands on, the Magic Bullet has everything but budget performance. In fact, it outperforms many of its competitors on a variety of levels.
First, to invest in this model is to invest in a 13 piece set. This is just one way you get great value for money. Included in the set are several different-sized cups, various lids, blades, and even a recipe book.
Next, you have the power of this compact blender. With a 250-watt motor you’d think it wouldn’t be able to blend hard ingredients like nuts or ice, yet it can. It will even work with leafy greens so you can make your smoothies extra healthy.
The other area in which it excels is in its size. The Magic Bullet is tiny, and as a result, very easy to carry around. Not only is it simple to store in your kitchen, but you can also take it with you to the gym for example.
Features:
- 13 piece set
- 250-watt motor
- Portable design
Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Blender (💎 Best Premium Option)
Vitamix is a very well established blender brand, and the A3500 Ascent Series model is proof that they are at the top of their game.
There’s a strong argument to be made for this model as the best blender for smoothies, in addition to being the best premium option.
We chose this as our best premium blender because it ticks all the boxes when it comes to making great smoothies.
Let’s start with the power. A 1200-watt motor makes this a formidable model capable of blending pretty much anything.
Then there’s the family-friendly design. By that I mean you can make huge batches of smoothie. The large 64oz pitcher should be plenty enough to have enough liquid goodness to last you a day or two.
The settings are the real USP of this countertop blender though. You have five different programs at your fingertips, each serving a different function. If you love making smoothies but occasionally enjoy a one made other liquids like soups or dips, then fear not, as each of these has its own option.
Finally you have the option of linking the machine up to the Vitamix Perfect Blend app. The app has 17 programs you can play around with, as well as more than 500 mouthwatering recipes to browse at your leisure.
Features:
- 1200-watt motor
- 64oz pitcher
- 5 program settings
- Touchscreen controls
- Variable speed control
- Programmable timer
- App support
- Includes Simply Blending cookbook
What to Look for in a Smoothie Blender
So what exactly are the most important factors when it comes to picking the right blender to make smoothies?
1. Ease of Use
While this may not be as important to smoothie-making pros, most of us prefer the blending process to be as easy as possible.
The easier it is to blend, the more time you’ll free up to make the most of your morning.
This is especially true of those blenders which feature smart technology that allows them to operate alone without risk of overheating.
Another key feature to look out for in this regard is the settings on the blender. Some models will give you buttons depending on what you want to make, or various speed settings.
2. Control
The ability to control the process will give you greater flexibility in how your smoothie ends up.
One way in which you can have more control is with various speed settings or the ability to pulse, which allow you to affect the consistency of the smoothie.
If you prefer to drink your smoothies a certain way, then you’ll definitely recognise the need to have full control over the texture.
Some more advanced models will feature smart programming that allows you to dial in exactly your preferences so you know you’ll get the same great results every time.
3. Power
Always an important factor when selecting a blender, power is even more significant when it comes to making smoothies.
Why?
The higher the wattage of the motor, the higher the probability that the blender will be able to make light work of any and all ingredients you feed it.
If you like to be ambitious with your smoothies and make all kinds of exciting combinations, then you’ll really need to ensure you have enough power to blend even the toughest of leafy greens.
A 600-watt motor should suffice for this purpose, with some exceptions.
If you want to go a step further and introduce ice to your smoothies for a refreshing taste, then you’ll need to check that the model can handle it. Not all blenders are good at blending ice, so this is an important quality to look out for if you value ice cold smoothies.
4. Speed
Closely linked to the power of a blender is the speed.
Of course you want a blender that makes smoothies quickly so that you can get on with your day, but there’s another compelling reason to opt for a faster machine – the quality.
If a blender takes a while to grind down the ingredients, then there’s a good chance that it will oxidise them and reduce the nutritional value of your smoothie.
Slower blenders that generate heat will also make your smoothies less fresh than they could be. This means they won’t last as long.
5. Clean-up
One of the inevitable parts of making smoothies is cleaning up the multi-coloured mess that you make.
Fortunately, some models make the cleaning process relatively painless, reducing the time you have to spend washing up.
Dishwasher-safe parts and easy disassembly are good things to look out for if you don’t want to spend more time cleaning than is absolutely necessary.
If you’re especially averse to the clean-up though, choose a blender with self-cleaning functionality. Yes, that’s right, there are blenders that allow you to add water and dish soap so they can take care of the aftermath without you needing to get involved.
6. Accessories
Lastly, you want to consider the accessories that come with the blender.
One of the most important extras is normally the cups.
If you imagine yourself wanting to drink your freshly-made smoothies while you’re out and about, then it’d be beneficial to get a blender that comes with a few cups.
While it’s not a big deal to go and get some, it’s always nice when you get everything you need in one go.
Some blenders will be portable themselves too, opening up the door to travel with them should you wish to.
Related: Best Blender for Juicing
Get Your Free "Fight Club Physique" Checklist 
Frequently Asked Questions About Smoothie Blenders
What is the best blender for making smoothies with ice?
If you want ice in your smoothies for a low price, then look no further than the Magic Bullet blender.
You might not expect a tiny model with a 250-watt motor to handle ice well, but it does!
Another great option for a bigger budget is our top premium blender pick: the Vitamix A3500. This model will handle much larger quantities in case you want an extra cool batch to last you a while.
Related: Vitamix A2300 Review
Can I use a normal blender to make smoothies?
Absolutely.
Due to the generally soft ingredients used in smoothies, it shouldn’t be a problem to use a normal blender.
As long as you make sure there is enough liquid in the blender to keep things moving, you should be fine.
What is the best personal smoothie blender?
The best personal smoothie blender is the NutriBullet Pro in our view.
The NutriBullet Pro is a high-powered personal blender with a 900-watt motor. This makes it great for smoothies with all kinds of ingredients, both soft and hard.
It also excels at grinding down ice, and comes with a couple of extra travel-friendly mugs so you can make your favourite smoothies wherever you are.
What are the healthiest things to put in a smoothie?
In general, anything green will add a lot of nutritional value to your smoothie.
This includes leafy greens like spinach and kale, and cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and broccoli.
Aside from greens, you can get a lot of health benefits from adding healthy fats to your smoothie in the shape of nut butters and seeds.
Then there’s the antioxidant properties of berries, and the protein you can get from Greek yoghurt or milk for example.
A Final Word on Smoothie Blenders
Whatever kind of smoothies you most enjoy making, we hope you’ll find the best blender for the job in this guide.
There are some fantastic options at both ends of the scale, whether you’re on a budget, or have a lot of money to spend.
Related: Best Blender for Bulletproof Coffee
