Best Blender Guide: Ninja, Vitamix and Personal Models

On this page (11 sections)

1. What is the best blender for your needs?
2. Should you choose a pitcher blender or a personal blender?
3. Which of these blenders should you buy or skip?
4. How do Ninja and Vitamix pitcher blenders differ?
5. What can you make in a full-size blender?
6. What should you consider before buying a personal blender?
7. How should you set up and load a blender?
8. How do you compare blender cleanup and storage?
9. Which common blender mistakes should you avoid?
10. Sources and further reading
11. Which best blender should you choose for your kitchen?

The best blender for family smoothies and frozen drinks is the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 if you want preset cycles. Choose the Vitamix 5200 for manual texture control and thick mixtures, or a personal blender when your main job is making one drink to take along.

Your usual recipe matters more than the biggest motor number. A shared breakfast batch, a thick dip and a shake for the commute call for different containers and controls.

This guide compares 2 pitcher models and 2 personal models. Start with the amount you make, then choose the controls, cleanup method and storage arrangement you'll use comfortably each day.

What is the best blender for your needs?

Choose a pitcher for shared batches and a personal cup for individual drinks. Within those groups, decide whether you prefer a programmed cycle or direct control over the blend.

Use your most common week as the guide. An occasional party doesn't make a large pitcher the right choice if nearly every other blend is a single breakfast drink.

The reverse also applies. Making separate cups for several people means repeating the loading, blending and blade-cleaning steps, which can outweigh the convenience of drinking straight from the cup.

Write down your 3 most common recipes before comparing models. Include the number of people, the texture you want and whether the finished food stays home or travels with you.

If nearly all those recipes are drinks, our best blenders for smoothies guide narrows the choice further. For a step-by-step look at container design and controls, see how to choose a blender.

Should you choose a pitcher blender or a personal blender?

Choose a pitcher blender when several servings belong in one batch. Choose a personal blender when separate portions and a drinking lid save you work.

A pitcher lets you pour from one shared container into several glasses or storage containers. That suits households making the same recipe, but you'll still need to wash the pitcher after serving.

Personal cups work well when people want different ingredients. One person can have a fruit smoothie while another makes a protein shake, without mixing both recipes in a shared pitcher.

Spare cups don't remove every step between drinks. A shared blade assembly still needs appropriate cleaning, especially when switching ingredients for someone with a food allergy.

Match the container to the finished recipe

Choose capacity by usable fill space, not the container's largest printed number. Ingredients need room to move, and frozen fruit or leafy greens can take up space before they break down.

The amount of liquid you pour in isn't the same as the final drink volume. Fruit, yogurt, powders and ice all contribute, so plan the whole recipe before filling the container.

A larger cup also doesn't require you to make a larger drink. It can offer useful room for bulky ingredients, provided the batch meets the model's operating instructions.

Very small recipes deserve attention too. A little dressing spread across a large container may need a different approach from a full pitcher of smoothies.

Don't choose extra capacity on the assumption that it improves every task. Match the vessel to the batches you repeat most often, then check whether less common recipes can fit within its limits.

Our what size blender do I need? guide helps translate serving habits into a practical container choice.

Which of these blenders should you buy or skip?

Buy the model whose container and control style solve your regular task. Each of these 4 options has a clear use, and each asks you to accept a different compromise.

Ninja Professional Plus BN701: for shared frozen drinks

The Ninja Professional Plus BN701 suits households that want to make smoothies and frozen drinks in one pitcher. Its 3 Auto-iQ programs combine timed blending, pulsing and pauses, so you don't have to choose every change in speed yourself.

The pitcher holds 72 oz, with a marked 64 oz maximum liquid capacity. Keep that difference in mind when scaling a recipe for several people.

Choose this Ninja if family drinks are a regular job and you prefer selecting a cycle to managing a dial. Its Total Crushing blade assembly also makes it a relevant choice for recipes built around ice.

Skip it if your main goal is a drink made directly in a travel cup. This package centers on a shared pitcher, so individual servings require pouring into another container.

Also favor the Vitamix below if an included tamper is central to your plans for dense mixtures. A thick recipe needs ingredients to circulate, and more running time won't help when food stays above the blades.

For this Ninja, build recipes within the manual's amounts and liquid requirements. A preset controls the cycle; it doesn't correct an overfilled pitcher or an unsuitable ingredient balance.

Vitamix 5200: for cooks who adjust texture

The Vitamix 5200 suits people who want to control the blend as a recipe changes. It has 10 variable speed settings plus High, a 64 oz container and an included tamper.

The tamper helps push thick ingredients toward the blades while keeping the mixture moving. Use it only as directed with the correct lid arrangement.

Choose this model if you make a mix of smoothies, sauces, purées and thicker recipes. The controls let you respond to the texture you can see rather than depend on a timed program.

Skip it if you want an automatic drink cycle or a blending cup that becomes your travel cup. Its appeal is direct control in a full-size container.

Vitamix also supports hot soup made through blade friction, which gives this model a role beyond cold drinks. Follow the soup directions carefully, including the instructions for the lid and hot contents.

Vitamix backs the 5200 with a 7-year limited warranty. Read the terms before buying, particularly if warranty coverage is a major reason for your choice.

Ninja Nutri-Plus Personal Blender BN301: for separate daily drinks

The Ninja Nutri-Plus Personal Blender BN301 suits a one-drink routine with spare cups ready for later. It includes three 20 oz cups, two spout lids and one storage lid.

Its push-to-blend control gives you direct control over when the motor runs. That suits people who prefer short manual pulses to an automatic cycle.

Choose it if equal-size cups work for your breakfast or shake routine. Having several cups can help when one is being washed or another holds a prepared drink.

Skip it if you regularly need a shared batch or want different cup sizes in the box. Repeating several individual blends can become more work than using a pitcher.

The included lids have different jobs, so decide which cup needs a drinking lid and which needs storage. Three cups don't mean three spout lids.

For busy mornings, portion suitable cold ingredients ahead of time and keep them refrigerated as needed. Leave the blade assembly off until you're ready to blend, and stay within the cup's fill markings.

nutribullet Pro+ N12-1001MK: for flexible personal portions

The nutribullet Pro+ N12-1001MK suits people who want a choice between 32 oz and 24 oz cups. It includes two to-go lids and lip rings, so you can choose a cup around the recipe.

A pulse function helps with chunky textures, while the hands-free 60-second blend cycle provides an automatic option. Automatic shut-off ends the cycle, but you should remain nearby during use.

Choose it if your personal recipes vary in size or you prefer starting a cycle instead of holding a push-to-blend control. The pulse function also gives you a way to stop short of a fully smooth mixture.

Skip it if several people want the same drink at once. A larger personal cup still leaves you working in a cup format rather than pouring from a family pitcher.

Don't use the longer cycle by default for every recipe. Stop when you reach the texture you want, and follow the manual's operating limits rather than restarting repeatedly.

This model is built to North American and Canadian electrical standards. If you plan to use it elsewhere, confirm that your electrical supply meets its requirements before buying.

How do Ninja and Vitamix pitcher blenders differ?

The Ninja BN701 is the better fit for programmed frozen-drink routines, while the Vitamix 5200 suits cooks who want to manage texture themselves. Choose between those approaches before comparing motor figures.

A programmed cycle is useful when you repeat a recipe with similar ingredients. It reduces the number of control choices, though you still need to load the pitcher correctly and check the finished texture.

Manual controls help when the goal changes during preparation. You might stop a sauce while it still has body or keep blending a purée until the texture is uniform.

Neither approach fixes a recipe that can't circulate. If the blades run beneath a pocket of air, stop and correct the mixture according to the instructions.

Read Ninja vs Vitamix for a broader brand comparison. If the Vitamix appeals to you, is a Vitamix worth it? helps weigh its features against how often you'll use them.

What can you make in a full-size blender?

A full-size blender suits smoothies, frozen drinks, sauces and purées when the recipe allows ingredients to circulate. For chopping, slicing or dough work, decide whether a different appliance better matches the job.

Smoothies and frozen drinks

For a drinkable smoothie, balance frozen ingredients with enough liquid to keep the mixture moving. Start with a recipe suited to your model, then adjust future batches in small steps.

Add ice with a purpose. Frozen fruit already thickens and chills a drink, while extra ice can make it too thick to circulate and dilute the flavor as it melts.

If crushed ice is your main reason for buying, focus on models intended for that task. Our best blenders for crushing ice guide covers that narrower choice.

Sauces, dips and chunky mixtures

For sauces and dips, decide on the finished texture before starting. Short pulses give you more chances to stop while pieces remain, whereas a long blend moves the mixture toward a purée.

Thicker doesn't always mean better. A sauce needs enough movement to blend evenly, and adding all the dry or dense ingredients at once can leave pockets that never reach the blades.

A blender also won't replace every food processor task. Read blender vs food processor if you want diced vegetables, sliced ingredients or several food-prep jobs from one appliance.

Soup and hot ingredients

Use model-specific hot-food instructions before putting warm or hot ingredients into any blender. Heat creates pressure concerns, particularly in sealed personal cups.

Vitamix says the 5200 can heat soup through blade friction. That capability doesn't carry over to another blender just because both can make a smooth purée.

For a Ninja recipe, check the permitted ingredient temperature first. Our guide to hot liquids in Ninja blenders explains the precautions to consider before making soup.

Is more wattage always better when choosing the best blender?

More wattage alone doesn't identify the best blender. Power, container design and ingredient movement work together, and the control style still has to fit your recipe.

The Ninja BN701 has a 1400 peak-watt motor, while the Vitamix 5200 uses a 2 HP motor. These descriptions don't provide a like-for-like comparison of blending results.

The Ninja BN301 has a 900 peak-watt motor, and the nutribullet Pro+ has a 1200-watt motor. Don't turn those numbers into a ranking without considering their different measurement terms and the cup format you need.

A motor can't blend ingredients that remain stuck away from the blades. Correct batch size and loading matter even when a blender has a large power figure.

What should you consider before buying a personal blender?

Choose a personal blender around portion size, lid use and how you start the motor. Those details affect a daily drink routine more directly than collecting spare cups you'll rarely use.

Think through the complete trip from ingredients to cleanup. Blending in a drinking cup saves a transfer, but you still need to remove and wash the blade assembly before heading out.

Consider where you'll carry the finished drink too. Measure a narrow bag pocket or cup holder if fit matters, and follow the lid instructions rather than assuming every to-go container is leakproof.

A personal blender can work for 2 people with different recipes. For several people drinking the same blend, the repeated assembly and cleaning steps become a stronger reason to choose a pitcher.

Cup capacity also needs to match the recipe's bulk before blending. A pile of frozen fruit and greens may reach the fill line before you've added the rest of the ingredients.

For more choices, see best personal blenders. Our Ninja vs Nutribullet comparison is useful if you've settled on the cup format and are choosing between those brands.

How should you set up and load a blender?

Set up your blender on a dry, level counter with room to assemble it safely. Read the quick-start instructions before the first recipe, then wash the removable food-contact parts as directed.

Check the parts before starting

Make sure the container, lid and blade assembly are the correct parts for the model. Inspect them for cracks, damage or trapped food that could prevent proper seating.

Seat each part fully without forcing it. If the blender won't start, check assembly and lid position before repeatedly pressing a control.

Keep the cord clear of the sink, hot surfaces and the counter edge. Place the base where vibration won't move it toward a drop.

Follow the correct loading order

Use the model's loading directions because upright pitchers and inverted personal cups differ. A personal cup changes position when attached to the base, so a loading rule for a pitcher may not apply.

Cut large ingredients into pieces that fit comfortably. Don't wedge a solid block of frozen food into the container and expect the motor to pull it apart.

Keep the lid secure and observe all fill lines. Extra headroom is especially useful when ingredients are bulky or a mixture expands and foams.

Correct a stalled mixture safely

Stop the motor when ingredients stop circulating or the sound changes without visible blending. Continuing to run the blades beneath stuck food wastes effort and can heat the mixture.

Disconnect power before using a utensil to move ingredients, following the manual's directions. Never put a spoon or spatula into a running blender.

Use only a model-approved tamper in its proper lid opening. A kitchen tool that seems long enough can still reach the blades or damage the container.

How do you compare blender cleanup and storage?

Compare the blade-cleaning steps, dishwasher instructions and assembled height before buying. These details determine how easy it is to put the blender away after an ordinary weekday recipe.

Follow each model's cleaning method

The Ninja BN701 pitcher and stacked blade assembly are top-rack dishwasher safe. The Ninja BN301 cups, lids and blade assembly are also top-rack dishwasher safe.

For the Vitamix 5200, Vitamix gives an in-container cleaning method using warm water and a drop of dish soap for 30–60 seconds. Inspect the lid and container afterward and address any remaining food as directed.

For the nutribullet Pro+, wash the removed blade with soap and water and place the cups on the dishwasher's top rack. Don't assume the blade shares the cups' dishwasher instructions.

Rinse soon after use so residue has less time to dry around the blades, rim and lid. Keep fingers away from cutting edges, and never leave a loose blade assembly hidden in a sink of dishes.

Wipe the motor base according to the manual and keep it out of water. Let washed parts dry fully before closing containers for storage.

Measure the place where it will live

The BN701 is 17.5 inches tall, and the Vitamix 5200 is 20.5 inches tall. The BN301 is 13.8 inches tall, while the nutribullet Pro+ is 14.4 inches tall.

Check more than whether the assembled blender fits beneath a cabinet. You also need room to remove the container, open the lid and load ingredients without awkward lifting.

If you'll store the container separately, make sure the shelf can hold it securely. Keep sharp assemblies where they won't be grabbed by the blade end or knocked loose.

Leave space for lids and spare cups too. A small base can still create cabinet clutter when its accessories have no assigned place.

Which common blender mistakes should you avoid?

Avoid overfilling, running a stuck mixture and choosing features for recipes you rarely make. These mistakes affect everyday results more than a small difference in a motor number.

• Buying around an occasional event. Choose for your regular breakfast or meal prep, then decide how to handle the rare larger gathering.
• Confusing capacity with safe fill volume. Follow the markings for the recipe rather than filling a container to its rim.
• Adding too much frozen food at once. Start with the manual's recipe guidance so the mixture can circulate.
• Expecting pulses to produce even diced pieces. Ingredients reach the blades at different times, so some pieces may break down before others.
• Restarting a stalled blend repeatedly. Stop and correct the cause instead of treating another cycle as the solution.
• Using a personal cup for hot ingredients. Follow temperature limits, especially with sealed containers.
• Treating an automatic cycle as a reason to leave. Stay close enough to notice movement, leaks or an unusual sound.
• Putting every removable part in the dishwasher. Check care instructions for blades, lids, seals and cups separately.

Also avoid choosing on nutrition claims alone. Blending combines and breaks down ingredients; your choice of fruit, vegetables, protein sources and other foods determines what goes into the drink.

A bigger cup doesn't automatically make a better breakfast either. Build the portion around what you intend to drink, then use the cup that gives that recipe suitable working room.

Sources and further reading

Use the manufacturer's instructions for your exact model to confirm assembly, operating limits and care. The resources below provide a starting point for the 4 blenders covered here.

• Ninja Professional Plus BN701
• Vitamix 5200
• Ninja Nutri-Plus Personal Blender BN301
• nutribullet Pro+ N12-1001MK

Which best blender should you choose for your kitchen?

Choose the best blender for the recipe you repeat most often, then check that it fits your counter and cleanup routine. A feature earns its place when it saves work during that regular task.

Pick the Ninja BN701 for shared smoothies and frozen drinks with programmed cycles. Pick the Vitamix 5200 when adjusting texture and keeping thick mixtures moving are central to your cooking.

Choose the Ninja BN301 for separate drinks in matching cups with manual push-to-blend control. Choose the nutribullet Pro+ if different cup sizes and an automatic cycle better fit your routine.

Before ordering, write down your usual recipe, serving count and available cabinet clearance. If you've settled on a brand, compare the best Ninja blenders or best Vitamix blenders to confirm the model choice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best blender for most people?

The Ninja Professional Plus BN701 is the best fit here for people making family smoothies and frozen drinks who prefer preset programs. Choose the Vitamix 5200 for manual texture control and a tamper, or a personal blender if you mostly make individual drinks and want fewer containers to wash.

Is Ninja or Vitamix better?

Choose the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 for programmed drink cycles or the Vitamix 5200 for variable speed control and thick mixtures that benefit from a tamper. The choice comes down to your recipes and preferred controls; neither brand name alone tells you which container or operating style suits your kitchen.

Should I get a personal blender or a full-size blender?

Choose a personal blender if you mainly make one drink at a time and want to drink from the blending cup. Choose a full-size blender when you regularly serve several people or make shared batches of sauces and purées; count separate blending and washing steps when comparing the two styles.

How much blender wattage do I need?

There isn't one wattage target for every recipe because container shape, blade design and controls also matter. Compare power figures only when their measurement terms match; our guide to what blender wattage you need explains how to read those numbers without letting them outweigh cup size or recipe fit.

Can a blender crush ice?

Yes, a blender designed for ice crushing can handle ice within its operating limits; the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 has Total Crushing blades for this job. Follow the manual for quantities, liquid requirements and cycle length, and stop if ingredients stop moving instead of repeatedly running a stalled mixture.