Blendtec vs Vitamix Reviews: Which is the Best Blender?

Both Blendtec and Vitamix are household names in the world of blending. They are also both known for producing powerhouse units that are capable of blending just about anything – including iPhones!

The effective ‘will it blend?’ marketing campaign from Blendtec demonstrated the raw power of their blenders in a way which put them on the map as one of the best countertop blender manufacturers out there.

Vitamix on the other hand have always had an outstanding reputation for making reliable countertop blenders that are premium in both price and performance.

Neither manufacturer has shown too much interest in creating more compact personal blenders, traditionally favouring the more powerful countertop variations. Though both do offer a personal blender, in case you were interested in something a little less intense.

An Overview: Blendtec and Vitamix

We’re going to break down the key similarities and differences between the two blender manufacturers and put them in a head to head comparison, but before that, we want to provide a general overview of both Blendtec and Vitamix.

Blendtec

Blendtec is a US-based company that offers a range of kitchen appliances, including blenders for the home and for commercial use.

In terms of its blenders, Blendtec places heavy emphasis on giving you as much control as possible over the end result. Whatever it is you want to make with one of their countertop blenders, you’ll be able to do so to your exact preferences.

This is largely due to their programmable cycles. What this allows you to do is make anything with ease. If you want to make a frozen dessert, there’ll be a button for that. If you’re in the mood for a healthy smoothie, there’ll be a button for that too. All that’s involved on your part is the collection and introduction of the ingredients into the blender. That’s it.

Perhaps what Blendtec is most known for though is how easily their blenders can devour just about anything. And we mean anything. Their hugely successful YouTube marketing campaign ‘will it blend?’ asked the audience whether or not a series of gadgets and tools could be blended in one of their machines. 9 times out of the 10 the answer would be yes. This includes phones, marbles, and Amazon Echo. This is testament to the sheer power of the blender, which of course handles any edible ingredients with ease. This is generally reflected in a 3 horsepower motor, which is unusual even for a countertop blender. Most, like their competition Vitamix, stick to 2.2 horsepower.

Then there’s the patented jars which are featured in most of Blendtec’s blenders. The Wildside+ jar is especially impressive. It has an especially wide base, but more importantly is designed with a narrow fifth side, which facilitates smoother end results. It also prevents frozen ingredients collecting at the bottom and causing the blender to jam. On top of that, it can survive plenty of punishment, including being dropped from height without cracking. These jars are usually coupled with their wing-tipped blades which do a great job of slicing up everything you put in the blender, technology included.

Vitamix

Vitamix is a US-based blender manufacturer with a strong reputation for high performance countertop models.

Their blenders have long been used for a variety of purposes, not just for smoothie-making. Vitamix has advocated the benefits of using a blender to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, and their blenders are ideal for making hot dishes like soups and sauces.

As for some of their defining features, Vitamix products often come with a very generous 10-year warranty, which makes others pale in comparison. Even their close rival Blendtec only offers an 8-year warranty on a lot of models, which makes Vitamix a frontrunner in this regard. Warranty aside, you probably won’t have too many concerns about the durability of one of their blenders in the first place.

For a start you have the low-profile jars, which while they don’t sound like much, are exceptionally resilient. Then there’s the 4-pronged blade which has pointed tips. One quick look at it tells you all you need to know: it’s made to blend well, and blend well it does. There is even a tamper tool within the container that will force thicker liquid back down onto the blade during the blending process, for a smoother consistency.

You also have the typical presets and settings that you would expect from a countertop blender. This includes options for both hot and cold dishes alike. So whether it’s a frozen dessert or a hot soup you want, it will be available at the push of a button. There’s also a very convenient control dial which is not only satisfying to use, but allows for micro adjustments to the speed for even more control over the consistency of the blend.

Related: Best Vitamix

The Breakdown: Which is the Winner?

Now for the breakdown. It’s time we faced Blendtec and Vitamix off against each other to see which better suits your blending needs. I’d like to preface by saying that there is no clear winner between the two brands, since preferences will vary wildly.

 The smallest detail could be enough for you to choose one brand’s blenders over the other, that’s why we’ve broken this breakdown into different factors. That way, you can make an informed decision based on what really matters to you.

Power

First up, it’s one of the most important factors for a countertop blender: the power.

Let me start by saying both manufacturers have a strong reputation for producing highly powerful countertop blenders. Vitamix machines are regularly used to make all kinds of homemade recipes, ranging from the simple smoothie to the sumptuous soup. Blendtec machines also provide the same versatility, as well as being able to blend your favourite gadgets – not something we recommend!

In order to assess which blender has more power, or perhaps better said, which one has better performance, we have to look at how it blends a range of things. To simply state that the Blendtec can blend electronics doesn’t really tell us much if that’s not what we intend to blend. So to get a clear picture, we’re going to compare the two for the two aforementioned food items that you might realistically want to blend: smoothies and soups. One cold and one hot.

Smoothies

Both blender manufacturers are commonly used by smoothie stands which should alone be testament to their ability to whip up a healthy drink, but let’s dig a little deeper.

The Wildside+ jar of the Blendtec is one its biggest assets when it comes to making smoothies. While most people will accept some amount of lumpiness in their smoothie, the easier it is to digest the better. 

This jar takes care of that common smoothie-making problem by drawing thicker parts of the blend back down into the blade to ensure a smooth consistency. Then you have the manual blending buttons which will give you ultimate control over the end result which is crucial for smoothie-lovers looking for the perfect consistency.

As for the Vitamix, the tamper is its best asset. As we touched upon earlier in the overview, most Vitamix blenders are fitted with a tamper that will ensure nothing gets stuck under the blades during processing. This will help you achieve the perfect consistency, especially when coupled with the ability to turn the blender off when you’re satisfied.

Soups

Making soup is generally a breeze with either Vitamix or Blendtec, but there are some things to take into account to determine which does it better.

Blendtec can heat up ingredients in less than 5 minutes, which is impressive. Whereas Vitamix blenders tend to labour a little bit more, and you will likely find that it takes more like 7 minutes for your soup to be piping hot.

Winner: 

Blendtec

Blendtec takes this round by a tight margin. They blew us away with their power demonstrations, but more importantly, they prove that their power has real-life application when it comes to soups and smoothies. 

Related: Best Blender for Protein Shakes

Settings

This is an interesting category, and one in which both Vitamix and Blendtec have plenty to offer.

As you’d expect with a countertop blender, blenders from both manufacturers are packed full of exciting features, settings, and multifunctionality. In terms of multifunctionality, it’s a clear draw between the two. There’s precious little you won’t be able to make with either. The food world is your oyster, whether it’s cold dips or hot sauces you want to make, you’ll be fine with either manufacturer’s blenders.

When it comes to the settings present on blenders from each manufacturer, we should take two specific models to get a straight-up comparison. The blenders we’ve chosen that are similar enough to compare are the Vitamix Ascent A2500 and the Blendtec Designer 675.

First up is the Vitamix Ascent A2500. This blender features as many as 10 different speed settings, which are easily switched between using a dial on the base. It also has 3 preset programs, and a pulse toggle switch. To keep you informed on how long you’ve been blending, you’ll also have a handy digital LCD timer on the base.

The setting options from Vitamix are very easy to switch between. We love the central dial which allows you to manually adjust the speed on the fly with no trouble at all. This makes it very easy to get the blend consistency you’re looking for every time. You also have 3 presets which are for making frozen desserts, smoothies, and soups. This is always convenient, and takes all of the guesswork out of the process.

As for the Blendtec 675 you’ll find a similar LCD timer, but apart from that, everything else is different. While it has 2 less speed settings than the Vitamix model, this blender has an additional 2 presets: whole juice, and a cleaning function. Then you have a button for pulsing, and the speed is adjustable using a slider instead of a dial.

Winner: 

Vitamix

While this might be a matter of preference, we love how user-friendly the Vitamix settings are. The control dial with the extra 2 speed settings gives it the edge for us over Blendtec’s alternative. Smoothie-lovers will know just how important it is to have full control over the consistency of your drinks.

Price

Price is important since it’s worth seeking out a blender that performs perfectly well for your needs for less money. There’s no point splashing out on a hugely expensive model if you aren’t even going to benefit from the extra power or functionality.

In general, Blendtec blenders are more affordable than their Vitamix counterparts. However, that doesn’t automatically make them better.

To get a better idea of which offers better value for your money, it’s worth comparing the models which fit into your price range. For example, if you’re on a budget you might consider the Blendtec classic series, available for approximately $300. Compare this with the Vitamix Explorian series, which you can pick up for around $350.

At the premium end, the Vitamix G series can set you back $719 while the Blendtec Professional series is available for around $800.

As you can see, there isn’t necessarily a clear winner when it comes to price. Both manufacturers offer excellent value for money, and pack as much into their blenders as possible. So it’s up to you to determine which offers a better deal, if you’re looking to pay as low a price as possible.

Winner: 

Draw

While Blendtec models in general might be slightly more affordable, there’s hardly a chasm between the manufacturers when it comes to price. Especially since they both manufacture top-end countertop blenders.

Design

In the design category, we’re not rating the models based on their visual appeal, but based on the build quality and their component parts. This includes the size of the pitchers, the durability of the overall blenders, and the efficiency of the blades.

To briefly touch on power, as we’ve already established, Blendtec edges it with motors in 3.0-3.8 horsepower range compared to the 2.0-2.2 horsepower motors of Vitamix blenders.

In terms of speed, Vitamix has slightly more variability, and can range from as slow as 500 RPM to as fast as 37,000 RPM. They also have 10 speeds which you can switch between on the fly easily with their convenient dial. As for Blendtec, you can expect as many as 10 speeds on some of their models, but their range is more limited. Blendtec blenders operate between around 4000 RPM and 28,000 RPM. This is less flexible than the Vitamix blenders, and means that you might miss out on some of the control which allows you to perfect blend consistency.

With regards to the pitchers, Blendtec offers more flexibility. As well as the Wildside+ jar we’ve already mentioned with its unique design, the manufacturer has other jars that can all be used with all of their blenders. This means you can pick the jar that best suits your preferences, and the one that works for you. This isn’t the case for Vitamix, you are largely restricted to the pitcher that comes with the model. Both manufacturers have created incredibly durable pitchers though, which means you won’t have to worry about dropping them.

Now for the blades. Vitamix blenders are fitted with thick blades that are 4-pronged with pointed tips. They look the part, and make use of a tamper tool to ensure no ingredient escapes their reach. Blendtec on the other hand is equipped with wing tipped blades that don’t require a tamper. They also work in harmony with the Wildside+ jar to ensure everything is blended to a satisfying degree.

Winner: 

Draw.

Another close one, and while it’d be easier to give it to Blendtec since they slightly edge it in power and pitcher design, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Vitamix offers greater control with the speed settings. 

Cleanup

While maybe not the most important factor to consider when it comes to picking between Vitamix and Blendtec, the cleanup process can be very tedious and time-consuming. So the easier, the better.

First, the good news: both manufacturers offer self-cleaning functionality across all of their models. If self-cleaning sounds too good to be too, it’s because it is. If you’re used to taking apart the whole blender and washing all of the individual parts by hand, then you’ll be pleased to know that both Vitamix and Blendtec do away with that frustrating way of cleaning. Instead, all you have to do is pour some warm water and soap into the pitcher, press a button, and you’re good to start blending again.

However, the differentiating factor here is how easy or difficult each manufacturer’s blenders are to clean out after blending sticky ingredients. If you’ve just made a smoothie or soup, the self-cleaning function will take care of everything without a problem. But if you plan on making nut butters, bread doughs or other sticky solutions, then you’ll need to do a bit of scrubbing beforehand.

In this case, we have to give it to Blendtec, purely for safety reasons. As you know, all Vitamix blenders are equipped with blades featuring sharp pointed tips. That’s all well and good for blending, but makes life a little more complicated when you want to get down in there to clean up the mess. The Blendtec blade on the other hand is blunt , and allows you to get your hand in the pitcher without risking injury. Vitamix pitchers also tend to be slightly smaller and more narrow, which makes it difficult for those with larger hands to give them a thorough clean.

Plus all Blendtec pitchers are dishwasher-safe, whereas some models from Vitamix aren’t.

Winner: 

Blendtec

This one’s a no-brainer. While both feature self-cleaning functionality, Blendtec’s blunt blades and dishwasher-safe pitchers make the cleanup process much safer.

Warranty

The last category we’re going to use to compare Vitamix and Blendtec is the quality of the warranty.

Vitamix offers a 7-year warranty on the Classic series, and a generous 10-year warranty on the Smart System series. Blendtec offers an 8-year warranty on all new blenders. As you can see, there isn’t a major difference in the length of the warranties. Vitamix offers the longest warranty, but Blendtec’s warranty is still far better than most blenders’ 1 or 2 year guarantees.

What sets Vitamix and Blendtec apart in this regard is in the smallprint. Vitamix will not only give you a full refund if you don’t like the product after 30 days (like Blendtec), but they will also pay for your return shipping too. This goes above and beyond what most blender manufacturer’s offer, so we have to declare Vitamix the warranty winner.

Winner: 

Vitamix

Vitamix will pay for return shipping if you don’t like their blender after 30 whole days of use. Plus they have one of the most generous warranty offers around.

Related: Vitamix A2300 Review

Frequently Asked Questions About Vitamix vs Blendtec

Which is better: Vitamix or Blendtec?

This is a hard question to answer definitively, since each manufacturer’s blenders excel in different ways.

While Blendtec blenders have extraordinary power, and an easier cleanup process, Vitamix offers slightly better settings and longer warranties on its blenders.

It’s honestly a matter of preference, so it’s worth considering the factors you value most highly, and then pick a blender accordingly.

Does Starbucks use Blendtec or Vitamix?

Starbucks used to use Blendtec, but then switched to using Vitamix in their stores after a while.

Does Jamba Juice use Blendtec or Vitamix?

Jamba Juice has used Blendtec blenders in its stores since 2016.

Is a Vitamix worth the money?

If you’re looking for a high-quality countertop blender, then yes, it’s worth the money.

Vitamix are often considered to be quite expensive, but this is mainly because they focus on premium blenders. The features and functionality you get with one of their countertop blenders is usually good enough to warrant the high price.

If you’re on a budget or prefer a more compact personal blender or bullet blender, then you’re better off looking to other brands. But for countertop blenders, Vitamix is one of the best manufacturers.

Related: NutriBullet vs Vitamix

A Final Word From Energetic Lifestyle

In the ongoing Blendtec vs Vitamix debate it’s almost impossible to pick a clear winner. Both have fantastic countertop blenders that do everything you could want them to do. While you could argue that Blendtec relies more on raw power, Vitamix focuses more on control, so neither one of them has the clear edge over the other.