The 9 best blenders of 2022 at every price point

Of course a Vitamix is kicking off the list. A 2016 study by Consumer Reports(opens in a new tab) found that they are indeed worth the splurge: According to data from 30,000 respondents, Vitamix blenders have the lowest problem rate (6%) compared to big names like Breville and Blendtec (15% and 16%). Vitamix also placed the highest in overall satisfaction with reliability, rolling in at a near-perfect 96%. So yeah, they're good.

Now, to figure out which of the 10+ Vitamix models best suits your needs. The Vitamix Professional Series 750 shows up in nearly every "best blenders" list, and it's not hard to see why: With a heavy-duty 1,560 watt-motor and five pre-programmed settings, it's one of the most powerful, straightforward machines out there. Tough veggies and nuts are no match for this machine — the 750 annihilates them.

While cheaper blenders offer two blending speeds and send you off on your own, the Vitamix 750's automated settings (smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purées, self-cleaning) will decrease bouts of trial and error — and ensure that your peanut butter doesn't turn into a peanut butter milkshake. The price is steep, sure, but it's worth every cent.

Sure, a blender with an app is probably overkill if you're only looking to make drinks. But anyone who considers cooking an art rather than a chore will appreciate the craftsmanship of a smart Vitamix, especially if it's something you see yourself using on a daily basis.

Besides the whole "not having to stand at your counter" thing, the true  beauty of a high-tech blender is how customizable food prep becomes. The Ascent series' Blade Base detects the container size, adjusts blend settings accordingly, and stops when it's done. If you want to add your own expertise, variable speed control and a pulsing feature let you fine-tune texture by hand. The machine has five settings built in, but downloading the Perfect Blend app lets you experiment with 17 more programs and over 500 recipes.

The 3500 makes such silky blends, it'd be painful to not take them wherever you go. Luckily, both extra containers come with travel lids — the 8-ounce blending cup can be used for on-the-go baby food or salad dressing, and the 20-ounce blending cup is ace for smoothies in the car cupholder. 

Vitamix actually has an entire line of smart blenders. The Ascent series features four models, two of which don't have a touchscreen — and we assumed that if you were down to splurge $500 on an app-connected blender, you'll want the fanciest one there is.

We love an appliance that doubles as something else. (It's why we're so obsessed with the Instant Pot.) The Ninja Mega Kitchen System is officially a blender and a really powerful one at that, but comes with a separate food processing bowl for more labor-intensive steps like mixing cookie or pizza dough. (Two pounds of dough in 30 seconds, to be exact.)

While most premium blenders max out at a 64-ounce blending container, this Ninja uses an XL 72-ounce pitcher. Even with that filled to the brim, Ninja's 1550 watts and Total Crushing Technology has no problem pulverizing ice, frozen fruit, or stubborn greens. The 8-cup food processing bowl is also clutch for making creamy dips, chopping salsas, and more unique textures.

Getting two appliances in one is a great way to save space in your kitchen or expand recipe possibilities, making it an ideal option for families. Oh, except those with newborns or light sleepers — reviews report that it's loud as shit, regardless of the setting. 

As for the other Ninja Mega Kitchen System models, the only difference is added accessories. This one (the BL770) doesn't come with anything extra. The BL771 comes with some spare bowls, and the BL772 has an extra single serve cup with lid.

Why would you blend something by hand when a machine can do it for you? It's an "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself" kind of thing. Foods where texture matters — like vinaigrette or dressing, chunky salsa, and whipped cream or butter — require extra attention to detail to get the perfect consistency. Pre-programmed settings can do it, but foodies who notice that stuff may prefer to do it by hand with an immersion blender's finer blades. You'll also get similar results with a good stand mixer in most cases, but an immersion blender is much easier to store — and much cheaper.

The Breville Control Grip is the internet's absolute favorite immersion blender. Despite it not being cordless, the ergonomic handle and reduced suction offer seamless directional control, plus a trigger with 15 speeds for you to adjust on your terms. The 280-watt motor pales in comparison to stand blenders, but reviewers claim that the Breville's blades are a beast at crushing ice. It doesn't splatter its pureés, either, so you won't have to worry about flying droplets even with no lid.

Hand blenders on their own have a pretty specific use, but the included attachments up this purchase's versatility. The whisk allows for extra precision for cream, egg whites, or batters, plus there's also a 25-ounce mini food processor. 

If you want a cordless one for max freedom, try the KitchenAid 5-speed hand blender(opens in a new tab).

The NutriBullet(opens in a new tab) has a lower wattage than the newer Nutribullet Pro, but its powerful blades are still able to shred fibrous stalks, tough seeds, pulp, and skin from fruits and vegetables into silky smooth liquids. The blender effortlessly extracts nutrients to make smoothies, juice, and shakes.

There's room for variation when making your concoction as this set comes with two blade types and two different sizes of cups (which include travel lids for on-the-go consumption). You also receive a nutrition guide and recipe book with the NutriBullet, to get the most out of the blender. 

This compact blender only has one speed, and while it needs a decent amount of liquid in it to blend properly, it can handle pretty much whatever you throw at it.

Not every personal blender is super fancy, nor do they all need to be. If you're looking for something simple and inexpensive that still gets the  job done, the Magic Bullet(opens in a new tab) is a solid choice. It's designed to chop, mix, blend, whip, and grind. Designed to handle more than just drinks, this little blender can also be used for omelettes, sauces, and dips.

This 11-piece set includes three different blending cups with travel lids for drinking on the go, one of which has a handle for even easier transportation. Also included is a recipe book for guidance on quick, easy creations.

The Magic Bullet is not as powerful as some of the other personal blenders on the market, but it's also not as expensive. Expect to compromise on some of the more advanced features in exchange for a lower price. The most common buyer-reported drawback of this blender is its inability to chop through large ice or frozen fruits — which is to be expected with a blender that only sports 250 watts of power.

Good looking and smart? This is the blender you want to bring home to your parents. Calphalon wins at kitchen items across the board, but the Auto-Speed blender(opens in a new tab) is one of its most beloved creations. Its powerful 1,100-watt motor will attract experienced foodies who want to make more than smoothies, while the self-adjusting speed and screen interface downs the intimidation factor for newbies.

Instead of guessing the best setting for your recipe, this blender senses the mixture's thickness and automatically applies the appropriate amount of power. (Why don't they all do that?) For even less work on your part, the pulse feature can take care of food prep and chopping — and the reverse pulse feature pulls down ingredients to prevent jams. If you'd prefer more control, four presets let you adjust the speed yourself.

We know it's what's on the inside that counts, but Calphalon found a way to make a stainless steel blender stick out in a sea of stainless steel blenders. A slick, digital screen graces the interface and shows a countdown timer — something most Vitamix blenders don't even have. This blender should be way more expensive than it is, but we're not complaining.

Most folks don't want to spend upwards of $500 for a good blender, and unless your kitchen is a makeshift smoothie and juice shop every morning, you don't have to. For the casual blender user, this KitchenAid model is reliable, a nice size, and a decent price. It only features 650 watts of power, which won't blast through hard vegetables and nuts the way a Vitamix might, but it's ideal for making blended drinks, dips, and soups.

This model comes with three speeds, a soft start feature that begins the cycle with a slow blend, and Intelli-Speed motor control that will adjust speed based on the contents of the blender cup. You'll also be able to crush ice in under 10 seconds — a great feature for making frozen boozy drinks in the warmer months.

Just because fruit smoothies technically have fruit doesn't mean they're healthy. A lot of chain smoothie places add artificial fruit syrups to their drinks, and most of their customers probably don't realize they just consumed a McDonald's meal worth of shitty ingredients. (Smoothie King's "The Hulk" strawberry smoothie reportedly has almost 2,000 calories(opens in a new tab).)

But we totally get the opposition to investing in a Vitamix if you only make those smoothie pit stops a few times a week. Instead, opting for a personal blender like the NutriBullet Pro gives you the option without making a ridiculous amount of leftovers. Just add ingredients, push the button, twist, blend, and sip.

NutriBullets are known for being skinny and easily storable (you know, bullet-shaped). Despite the compact size, the Nutribullet Pro still annihilates stubborn frozen foods and hunts down random floater pieces with 900 Watts of power.

The color selection here is reason enough to want one on your counter. Choose from metallic teal, pink, coral, and seven more.