Don’t let their small size fool you—the best personal blenders are kitchen workhorses. Though not quite as powerful or versatile as full-size models, these countertop devices can whip up fruit smoothies, creamy pesto and emulsified sauces in a matter of seconds. After testing nine top-rated models over the course of a month, I’m confident the Nutribullet Pro 900 is the best model for most home cooks, thanks to its ease of use, powerful motor and reasonable price.
Five personal blenders impressed during testing, including the Nutribullet Pro 900 and the Beast … [+] Blender.
Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailers
Here are the very best models, based on my testing:
Best Personal Blender Overall: Nutribullet Pro 900
Best Budget Personal Blender: Ninja Fit
Best Upgrade Personal Blender: Beast Blender Tonal
Ideal for smaller portions, personal blenders have a lot in common with standard blenders—they just come in a more compact package. Most models can hold between 16 and 32 ounces and come with multiple cups, as well as to-go lids and other accessories. “It’s my go-to gadget,” says cookbook author Carissa Stanton, who uses a personal blender every day for smoothies (as well as the occasional dip and sauce). “It’s also easy to store when you don’t want to have it out on the counter.” Recipe developer and food editor Fatima Khawaja, who relies heavily on personal blenders as a private chef, appreciates being able to refrigerate pulverized mixtures right in the modest-sized blender cups, then reblending days after if the mixture separates or she wants to make a bit more. Simply put, there’s a lot to love about these pint-sized kitchen appliances. Ahead, find the standout models that impressed me the most during testing.
Amazon
Nutribullet Pro 900
Volume: 32 ounces | Dimensions: 7.7 x 12 x 15.9 inches | Weight: 4.7 pounds | Wattage: 900 watts | Additional pieces: Two blending cups with to-go lids, two handled lip rings, two cup rings, recipe book
Best for:
Powerful, efficient blendingThose who appreciate a simple, straightforward interfaceBlending large servings at once
Skip if:
You want a blender that’s less than $100 You want an extra-lightweight blender
While testing the most popular personal blenders, I wasn’t surprised that a Nutribullet model—part of a brand that considers itself a pioneer in the space—earned the highest marks overall. Featuring a 32-ounce volume, which can accommodate two single-serving smoothies at once, this blender offers great versatility at a reasonable price. Not only did it blend smoothies with ease, but it made a creamy pesto and a lovely vinaigrette.
A smoothie made in the Nutribullet Pro 900.
Rebecca Firkser
Equipped with a 900-watt motor, this blender was one of the least powerful I tested, but I found it to be just as efficient as models with more wattage. It was also a breeze to use. To operate it, fill the cup, screw on the lid with the blades, invert the whole thing and press it into the base, then twist into place to start running. The result: automatic, hands-off blending. What’s more, it’s not difficult to pulse with this blender. Though it doesn’t have a dedicated button, like some newer Nutribullet models, you can easily twist and untwist the blending cup to start and stop the machine. I also found it easy to clean, as the wider cup was especially easy to fit a sponge into.
Alongside the motor base and blades, the Nutribullet comes with two cups, two to-go lids, two lip rings with handles, two cup rings for sipping and a recipe book. Simply put, this Goldilocks of a personal blender would prove a worthy addition to any kitchen. Another nice perk: Whereas most personal blenders come in just black or silver, the base of the Nutribullet comes in more than 10 colors, including both matte and metallic hues. (For more details, check out my in-depth review of the Nutribullet Pro 900.)
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Volume: 16 ounces | Dimensions: 4.3 x 4.3 x 13 inches | Weight 3.1 pounds | Wattage: 700 watts | Additional pieces: Two blending cups with to-go lids, recipe book
Best for:
Pulsed sauces like pestoPowerful, efficient blendingEasily moving from cabinet to countertop
Skip if:
You want to walk away while blendingYou want a quiet modelYou’re looking for a more aesthetically pleasing blender
Affordable and extra compact, the Ninja Fit blew me away during testing, as it kept up with models twice its price. It sailed through every culinary challenge, and the pesto in particular was especially great: It came out evenly chopped and not overly emulsified. Though some might find its 16-ounce volume to be limiting, I was able to make a sizable one-serving smoothie and plenty of crushed ice for a few drinks. It’s also very lightweight, which made it a snap to assemble and get blending.
The main downside to this model is that you have to continuously hold down on the cup to activate the motor—meaning you have to stand over the blender while it runs, which is relatively loud. It’s also not exactly the best-looking, highest-quality option out there. (Its base is made from shiny black plastic, and its overall design isn’t anything special, which is to say the look fits the price of this one.) That said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more powerful, efficient personal blender for less than $60. It comes with two plastic blending cups with to-go lids, two cup rings, two handled lip rings and a recipe book.
Amazon
Beast Blender Tonal
Volume: 33.8 ounces | Dimensions: 4.9 x 4.9 x 15.8 inches | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Wattage: 1,000 watts | Additional pieces: Two blending cups (33.8 ounces and 16.9 ounces), two storage lids, drinking lid, two straws, straw cap, two cleaning brushes, stainless steel bottle
Best for:
Well-emulsified smoothies A one-minute hands-free blending optionBlending large servings at once Making creamy sauces like Caesar dressing and mayonnaise
Skip if:
You want a small, lightweight personal blenderYou’re content making smoothies in your high-powered blenderYou don’t care about extra features
For those who are willing to spend extra for a premium blender that’s as pretty as it is powerful, the Beast Blender Tonal is worth the splurge. Featuring a 1,000-watt motor, this model aced all its tests, producing ultra-creamy smoothies and sauces. I also appreciate that the blending vessels are made from Tritan, an ultra-durable material that’s BPA-free, and that the included accessories are actually useful: Along with two blending cups (33.8 ounces and 16.9 ounces), a stainless steel bottle and various lids, the blender comes with a brush for cleaning the blade, two reusable straws and a straw cleaner.
The Beast Blender is so strong, the pesto is made was almost too creamy.
Rebecca Firkser
What sets this blender apart (other than its sharp look) is what the brand refers to as its “blade with a brain.” Whereas other models with auto-blend settings would run for 30 or 45 seconds and then stop, the Beast’s single one-minute cycle pauses the motor and adjusts as needed to agitate the ingredients, making for a better emulsion. (It also keeps track of the internal temperature.) Among the biggest fans of this function is Stanton, who uses a Beast blender every day to make a smoothie. “Usually, if I’m going to be blending something, I’ll blend it and then I’ll take the lid off and shake it to make sure nothing gets stuck and I don’t have any chunks,” she says. With the Beast blender, that type of intervention is rarely necessary. Not only did it yield a beautiful vinaigrette, as it quickly blitzed the shallot, but the pesto also came out extra smooth, if not a little too smooth. (Here’s my full Beast Blender review.)
Amazon
Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Compact Blender
Volume: 16 ounces | Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.9 x 11.7 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds | Voltage: 7.4 volts | Additional pieces: Two lithium batteries, USB charging cable, plastic cup with travel lid
Best for:
Dorm rooms, offices and other indoor spaces that may not have easily accessible outletsBlending outdoors
Skip if:
You’re more interested in a blender’s performance than whether it has to be plugged inYou want a bigger blending vessel
Designed for on-the-go use, portable blenders have a lot in common with standard personal blenders—the main difference is that they’re battery-powered. They also tend to be less powerful, which is why this Cuisinart EvolutionX impressed me so much during testing. Not only did it make a fine smoothie (though it was slightly icy), but it also crushed ice with ease and produced a very decent pesto. Though it doesn’t have the power of plug-in personal blenders, the perk of this model is that it can be used truly anywhere, from the campsite to the dorm room to the gym.
The main downside to this blender—and all portable models, for that matter—is you have to remember to charge it. The EvolutionX comes with two lithium batteries and a USB charging cable, and to reach full battery, you need to charge it for two hours; once fully charged, it offers 20 minutes of continuous runtime. Though that might not seem like the longest time, just think about how long it takes to whip up a smoothie (not that long). Lastly, whereas the blending jar and motor on most portable models don’t come apart, which makes drinking out of the vessel awkward and cleaning more difficult, the parts on this model detach.
Amazon
Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender
Volume: 20 ounces | Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.4 x 14 inches | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Wattage: 500 watts | Additional pieces: Tritan cup with plastic to-go lid, seal lid
Best for:
Making a quick smoothie with easy cleanup, and taking the cup on the goThose who want to leave their personal blender on the kitchen counterEfficient ice crushing and blending for smoothies and other drinks
Skip if:
You’d rather have something cheaper You’re willing to spend a bit more on the upgrade pick
The Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender is my best-designed pick for two reasons: It’s intuitive to use and good-looking. Straight out of the box, the blender was a breeze to operate. Using the control wheel on the front of the machine’s base, you choose between two straightforward settings: smoothie and pulse. Once you’re done blending, the 20-ounce Tritan cup—which is sleek and modern—is comfortable to grip, thanks to its slim, roughly rectangular design and ribbed exterior. (The interior is smooth.) Lastly, the stainless steel blades on this model are serrated to help cut through tough ingredients.
One important thing to note: The Enfinigy has one of the weaker motors of the blenders that I tested, coming in at 500 watts. As a result, it doesn’t always produce perfectly smooth blends. When I used the auto-blend smoothie function, some ice came out unblended, and a few pieces of kale didn’t come out fully chopped in the pesto. All things considered, though, I still think this is a great personal blender—especially for those interested in an attractive model to keep out on their countertop.
All the winning personal blenders.
Rebecca Firkser
Other Personal Blenders I Tested
I tested four other blenders that didn’t make my winners’ list, though I should note that they all worked decently well. In fact, if you’re drawn to one of the models below and it suits your budget and blending needs, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the ones I tested.
Nutribullet Ultra: Featuring a 1,200-watt blender, the Nutribullet Ultra is the brand’s newest, most advanced model. During testing, I appreciated the blender’s relatively quiet operation, as well as its construction: It’s made from Tritan Renew, a partially recycled version of the ultra-durable plastic. Though I don’t think this model is overpriced, I think the less expensive Nutribullet Pro 900 is just as effective and versatile, which is why it scored slightly higher than the Ultra.
Our Place Splendor Blender: The recently released Our Place Splendor Blender—which costs $125—was neck and neck with the Beast model in every culinary test, performing on par or just below it. The blenders also share somewhat of a similar design: They have an hourglass shape, ribbed container and heavy base to support a 1,000-watt motor. That said, the Beast ultimately outperformed it, as the Our Place model’s pesto was a little chunky, and its smoothie was slightly loose.
Magic Bullet: Like many people, I first learned of Magic Bullet through infomercials, though I’d never actually used one before testing. Though I wasn’t disappointed by this blender, I wasn’t blown away by it either. It made a good smoothie (with some bits of unchopped ice) but not the best pesto: It struggled to chop the ingredients at first, though it eventually overblended them. Still, considering its low price, I think home cooks who want an affordable, easy-to-store model for making smoothies would be happy with this one.
Ninja Blast Portable Blender: The Ninja Blast was one of two portable blenders I tested, and it made a decent smoothie and crushed ice. I found it to be a little awkward, though. The base doesn’t detach from the blending cup, meaning you have to drink from the blender on its base or pour the smoothie into a cup. Lastly, though the blender was fairly powerful, it needed a good amount of liquid to get things going, so it struggled with the pesto test.
How I Tested The Best Personal Blenders
After unboxing each blender, I considered each model’s overall quality and design, as well as the additional pieces included. Then, because personal blenders are typically associated with smoothies, I started by making one in each. I used frozen blueberries, fresh banana, fresh spinach, chia seeds, milk and two ice cubes. I observed how long it took the model to blitz the ingredients into a smooth, drinkable blend. (If the blender had an automatic smoothie function, I used it as many times as needed until it looked blended.) Next, I removed the blade, screwed on the to-go lid and shook the cup to see if it leaked. I then took a sip to test how easy it was to drink from the to-go lid. Lastly, I strained the remaining smoothie through a fine-mesh sieve to see if any ingredients came out large or chunky.
Ice pulverized in the Nutribullet Pro 900.
Rebecca Firkser
Once that test was completed, I made raw kale pesto (with olive oil, toasted almonds, garlic, finely grated Parmesan and lemon juice) to test each blender’s ability to break down fibrous leafy greens and hard nuts. During this test, I noted which models finely chopped the pesto into a uniformly chunky sauce, as opposed to simply turning it into an ultra-emulsified savory smoothie. I then pulsed ice and water in each blender to see which were capable of making crushed ice, which you might want for cocktails or other drinks. To wrap up, I made a vinaigrette in the best-performing blenders, as each expert I consulted said they love using the countertop devices for salad dressing. (I used olive oil, red wine vinegar, shallot and Dijon mustard.)
I also assessed the ease of cleaning throughout. After the smoothie test, I rinsed each blender cup with hot water, then ran the cup (and to-go lid, if listed as dishwasher-safe) through the dishwasher. Then, I hand-washed the blades and other remaining pieces, according to each brand’s directions. After the pesto test, I rinsed each blender cup and blade with hot water, added a cup of room-temperature water and a small pump of dish soap to the cup, screwed the blade back on and then ran the blender again for 30 seconds to “self-clean” the vessel. After rinsing out the soapy water with hot water, I air-dried the pieces. Then, I smelled the cups to see if any had residual garlic odor.
How To Pick A Personal Blender
Thinking of adding one of these compact blenders to your arsenal of kitchen devices? Here are the most important factors to keep in mind as you shop.
Capacity
Most personal blenders can accommodate between 16 and 32 ounces, making them ideal for whipping up small batches of a smoothie, salad dressing, pesto and more. If you want the option to make smoothies for two, for example, opt for a model on the higher end of that range. Just keep in mind that the larger the capacity, the more cabinet space the piece requires. If you’re concerned about storage, ask yourself these questions, offered by Khawaja: “How much space is this going to take on my counter? Is there room in my cabinet? Is it going to be too tall so I’ll have to put it sideways in my cabinet, or does it disassemble in two parts and I can put it side by side?”
Power
“I’ll always look at the wattage,” says food stylist Drew Aichele, who says he’s “pretty brutal” with his personal blender, using it often for blended margaritas and finely grating firm cheese. Most personal blenders fall in the range between 175 watts and 1,000 watts. If you want a blender that can handle ice and other frozen foods, it’s best to opt for a higher wattage. Otherwise, you might need to break up food into smaller chunks or pieces for the blender to process completely.
Ease Of Use And Cleaning
If a personal blender is challenging to put together, annoying to blend or a pain to clean, there’s a good chance you won’t find yourself reaching for it in the kitchen. While most personal blenders operate hands-free (once you lock the cup into place, the model runs), some more basic models have cups that need to be held in place for the machine to work. The latter does offer more control—think of using the “pulse” function on a food processor—though it’s objectively less convenient. Additionally, if you don’t like to hand-wash your dishes, check to make sure the model you’re eyeing has dishwasher-safe parts.
Price
Generally speaking, a personal blender will set you back anywhere between $50 and $150, though some models fall outside this range. (Smeg, for instance, has a retro-inspired model that retails for $170.) Models from direct-to-consumer brands like Beast and Our Place are typically more expensive, as they’re designed with both aesthetics and performance in mind. Less souped-up models from brands like Magic Bullet and Ninja, on the other hand, are comparatively inexpensive. Additionally, the higher the capacity, the more expensive the model tends to be. If you’re just looking for something basic to make single-serving smoothies and the occasional pesto or dressing, you can likely get away with a less powerful and more affordable model.
My Expertise
I’m a writer, recipe developer, recipe tester, food stylist and culinary producer with nearly a decade of experience, and I’ve worked for Food52, Bon Appétit, Epicurious, Taste, the Strategist and NYT Cooking (among other food publications). For Forbes Vetted, I’ve tested and reviewed the best carbon steel pans, and I wrote an accompanying cleaning guide. I also—and this is relevant to this article—have used quite a few blenders throughout my career, from standard versions to immersion blenders.
I also spoke with three experts in the food industry who regularly use blenders in myriad styles. Carissa Stanton, author of the cookbook Seriously, So Good, uses a personal blender every day and has discovered the tool often fits her culinary needs more than upright blenders or food processors. (She loves to make extra-creamy hummus in her personal blender.) Drew Aichele is a food stylist who uses a personal blender for finely grating Parmesan cheese and whipping up crêpe batter. Fatima Khawaja is a chef and food editor who’s gotten to know her way around the countertop device through her experience as a personal chef; some of her clients only own personal models, not upright or immersion blenders, so she’s adapted recipes to fit the equipment.
How Powerful Are Personal Blenders?
Personal blenders are unlikely to be as powerful as upright blenders, especially high-powered models. Because there’s no way to vent a personal blender, they can’t be used for hot liquids like soup, whereas upright blender lids typically have a venting method. That said, personal blenders have their strengths. Because of their small size, they’re typically lighter in weight, easier to store and simpler to wash.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Personal Blenders?
The main difference between standard blenders and personal models is their size: The former have larger capacities, allowing you to make bigger batches of food. Additionally, personal blenders do not offer ventilation, so they cannot be used to blend hot ingredients. Lastly, some models (especially higher-wattage ones) can cost as much as—if not more than—no-frills standard blenders.
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