Best Blenders for Smoothies (4 Picks for Frozen Fruit and Greens)

A smoothie blender has one hard job: frozen fruit. Anything can blend a banana and milk.

The difference shows when you add a cup of frozen berries and a handful of kale. A weak blender leaves chunks and green specks. A good one turns it silky.

The short version: For most people, the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 is the best blender for smoothies. It has a 1,400 peak watt motor, a 72 oz pitcher and smoothie presets, for $89.99. If you blend greens and seeds daily, step up to a Vitamix. Whatever you buy, put liquid in first and frozen fruit last.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best overall value: Ninja Professional Plus BN701Jump to review ↓
• Best for the smoothest texture: Vitamix 5200Jump to review ↓
• Best preset programs: Blendtec Classic 575Jump to review ↓
• Best personal blender: Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro BN401Jump to review ↓

Prices are the makers’ own when we checked, and they change often.

Blender	Power	Container	Presets	Warranty	Maker’s Price
Ninja Professional Plus BN701	1,400 peak watts	72 oz pitcher	3 Auto-iQ	1 year limited	$89.99
Vitamix 5200	2 HP	64 oz container	None, variable speed	7 years limited	$499.95
Blendtec Classic 575	1,560 watts	WildSide+ jar	4 cycles	2 years	$399.95
Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro BN401	1,100 peak watts	Two 24 oz cups	2 Auto-iQ	1 year limited	$109.99

1. Ninja Professional Plus BN701: Best Overall Value

Ninja’s Professional Plus is the easy pick for most kitchens. It handles frozen fruit and ice well, and it costs a fraction of a Vitamix. Ninja listed it at $89.99, down from $119.99, with “Add to cart.”

Ninja uses a tall stack of blades on a central shaft. The blades sit at several heights in the pitcher. So they chop ice and frozen fruit from the middle up, not just at the bottom. That is why it crushes ice so quickly.

The Auto-iQ presets run a timed pattern of pulses and pauses. The pauses let ingredients fall back toward the blades, so you do not have to stop and stir. Press “smoothie” and walk away.

The stacked blade is the weak spot for fine textures. It can leave small bits of berry seeds and kale fiber that a Vitamix would break down. For most fruit smoothies, you will not notice. The stacked blade is also very sharp, so lift it out by the top when you wash it.

Who should buy it: Families and anyone who wants frozen smoothies and slushies without spending much. Our NutriBullet vs Ninja blender comparison covers Ninja’s range in more detail.

2. Vitamix 5200: Best for the Smoothest Texture

The Vitamix 5200 is the classic high-powered blender, and it has been sold for years for a reason. It turns kale, seeds and frozen fruit into a smooth, even drink with no grit.

The secret is a fast blade at the bottom of a tall, narrow container. The shape creates a strong vortex that pulls ingredients down into the blade again and again. Every pass breaks down more fiber.

The tamper is the other key part. It is a plastic stick that fits through the lid. You push thick frozen blends down into the blade while it runs, without touching the blade. That is how a Vitamix makes smoothie bowls and frozen desserts that stall other blenders.

Vitamix listed the 5200 Standard at $499.95 with a 7-year limited warranty, the longest here. It has no presets, so you control the speed yourself. Start low and turn it up.

Who should buy it: Daily smoothie drinkers who use greens, nuts and seeds, and want a blender that lasts.

3. Blendtec Classic 575: Best Preset Programs

Blendtec is Vitamix’s main rival at the top end. The Classic 575 has a powerful 1,560-watt motor and a touchpad with preset cycles. Blendtec listed it at $399.95, in stock in black and poppy.

The Smoothie cycle is the reason to pick it. Press one button and it ramps the speed up and down on its own, then stops. The LCD shows the time left. For busy mornings, that is easier than turning a dial.

The WildSide+ jar has a wide base with a flat side. Blendtec designed the shape to fold ingredients back into the blade without a tamper. The blade is blunt, which makes it safer to clean.

The wide jar needs more liquid than a narrow one to get going. Very thick blends can form an air pocket. Add a splash more liquid if it stalls.

Who should buy it: Anyone who wants high-end power with simple one-touch buttons.

4. Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro BN401: Best Personal Blender

A personal blender blends right in the cup you drink from. You screw the blade onto the cup, flip it onto the base, blend, then swap the blade for a lid. One cup to wash, and you are out the door.

The Nutri-Blender Pro has more power than most personal blenders, at 1,100 peak watts. That handles frozen fruit and ice better than cheaper models. Two 24 oz cups let two people make smoothies without washing in between.

Ninja listed it at $109.99 with “Add to cart.” It also includes a recipe guide with 20 recipes.

The small cup has limits. Very thick blends have less room to move, so they can stall. Keep frozen fruit to about half the cup and add enough liquid. For protein shakes in particular, our guide to the best blender for protein shakes compares personal and full-size models.

Who should buy it: Solo smoothie drinkers and anyone short on counter space. It fits the list in our guide to small kitchen gadgets worth buying when you cook for one.

How a Blender Makes a Smooth Smoothie

A blender does not just chop. It circulates.

When the blade spins, it throws food outward against the walls. The food rises up the sides, then falls back down the middle into the blade. That loop is called a vortex. Each pass through the blade cuts the pieces smaller.

A smooth smoothie needs many passes. That is why power and container shape matter. More power keeps the blade spinning fast even with thick frozen fruit. A good container shape keeps the vortex moving instead of letting food stick above the blade.

When a smoothie stalls, the vortex has stopped. An air pocket has formed around the blade, and the food above it is not falling back in. Adding liquid, stirring or using a tamper restarts it.

How to Make a Smoother Smoothie in Any Blender

The loading order matters more than most people think.

1. Liquid first. Milk, juice, water or a plant milk at the bottom lets the blade spin freely.
2. Soft ingredients next. Yogurt, banana, nut butter and protein powder.
3. Leafy greens. Spinach or kale, packed on top of the soft layer.
4. Frozen fruit and ice last. Their weight pushes everything down into the blade.
5. Start low, then go high. A slow start pulls everything into the vortex before the blade speeds up.

For a personal blender, the cup flips over, so reverse the order. Put frozen fruit in first so it ends up nearest the blade when you flip it.

Out of milk? Our guide to the best substitutes for whole milk lists swaps that work in smoothies. For a creamy dairy-free base, see our best coconut milk substitute guide. Blending fresh coconut? Our guide on how to crack open a coconut shows the safest way.

Smoothie Ingredients and What They Demand

Some ingredients test a blender far more than others.

Ingredient	How Hard to Blend	Tip
Banana, yogurt, milk	Easy	Any blender works
Fresh berries	Easy to medium	Seeds may stay in weaker blenders
Spinach	Medium	Blend greens with the liquid first
Kale	Hard	Remove thick stems, blend longer
Frozen fruit	Hard	Let sit five minutes before blending
Ice	Hard	Use crushed ice or an ice preset
Nuts and seeds	Very hard	Soak first or use a high-power blender

If you want green smoothies without grit, blend the greens with the liquid first. Then add the rest. That gives the tough leaves more time in the blade.

Blender vs Juicer for Smoothies

A blender keeps everything. A juicer removes the fiber.

Smoothies from a blender are thicker and more filling, because the fiber stays in the drink. Juice from a juicer is thinner and quicker to drink, but you lose the pulp. Our guide to the best juicers explains centrifugal and masticating models if you want both. For a commercial-style option, see our best commercial masticating juicer picks.

Countertop, Personal or Immersion Blender?

Each type suits a different routine.

A countertop blender handles big batches, ice and frozen fruit best. A personal blender makes one smoothie in a to-go cup with less washing up. An immersion blender works for single soft smoothies in a tall cup, but struggles with frozen fruit. Our guide to the best immersion blenders covers what they do well.

If you also want to chop, slice or make dough, a food processor does those jobs better. Our guide to the difference between a food processor and a blender explains which to buy first.

Cleaning a Smoothie Blender

The easiest clean takes a minute. Rinse the container right after blending, before the smoothie dries. Then add warm water and a drop of dish soap, and run the blender for 30 seconds. Rinse again.

• Take care with sharp blades. Lift stacked blades by the top shaft.
• Use the Clean cycle if your blender has one, like the Blendtec.
• Check what is dishwasher safe. Many pitchers and cups are, but check the manual.
• Dry the container upside down so water does not pool around the blade.

Blender containers can cloud over time from hard water. A soak in warm water with a splash of vinegar usually helps. The same idea applies to kettles, as our guide on how to clean an electric kettle explains.

Which Features Matter for Your Kind of Smoothie?

Match the blender to the smoothie you actually make.

Your Usual Smoothie	What Matters Most	Best Fit Here
Fruit and yogurt	Any decent motor	Ninja BN701 or BN401
Frozen fruit and ice	Power, blade design, presets	Ninja BN701, Blendtec
Green smoothies with kale	High speed, tall vortex	Vitamix 5200
Nut butters and seeds	Power, a tamper	Vitamix 5200
One cup before work	Blend-in-cup design	Ninja BN401
Family batches	Big pitcher	Ninja BN701

Fruit and yogurt smoothies are forgiving. Almost any blender handles them, so spend less and put the savings into good fruit.

Frozen fruit and ice separate cheap blenders from good ones. Look for strong power and a preset that pulses. Letting frozen fruit sit on the counter for five minutes also takes strain off the motor.

Green smoothies need speed. Tough leaves hold onto their fiber, and only a fast blade breaks them down fully. Prep the greens ahead to save time. A quick chop on an over-the-sink cutting board keeps the counter clear, and a vegetable chopper speeds up the rest.

Citrus smoothies need fresh juice for the best flavor. Our guide on how much juice is in one lemon helps you buy the right amount, and our guide on how to use a lemon juicer gets every drop out.

Blender Noise, Power Use and Storage

Powerful blenders are loud. A high-speed blender at full power is noisy for the minute it runs. If you blend early while others sleep, a personal blender at least keeps the noise short, because a single cup blends quickly.

Power use is small. A blender runs for a minute or two, so even a big motor uses little electricity over a week. Our tips on reducing kitchen energy use in a small apartment cover the bigger savings.

Height is the storage issue. A tall pitcher on its base may not fit under upper cabinets. Measure the gap first. If it does not fit, store the pitcher separately and keep the base on the counter. Our small kitchen cabinet organization ideas and vertical storage ideas show where to keep the extra cups and lids.

Which Blender for Smoothies Should You Buy?

Buy the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 if you want strong frozen blending for under $100.

Pick the Vitamix 5200 if you drink green smoothies daily and want the smoothest texture and the longest warranty.

Choose the Blendtec Classic 575 if you want high-end power with one-touch preset cycles.

Get the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro BN401 if you make one smoothie at a time and drink it on the go.

Short on counter space? Our countertop organization ideas for a small kitchen show how to fit a blender in. For a week of grab-and-go breakfasts, our easy meal prep ideas for one person pair well with a smoothie routine.

Related Guides

• How to Make Bulletproof Coffee Without a Blender
• Best Food Processor Under $100
• Best Small Kitchen Appliances for Cooking for One
• Most Energy-Efficient Small Kitchen Appliances
• Best Ice Maker for Home Use
• Best Airtight Food Storage Containers
• Coolest Kitchen Appliances to Buy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best blender for smoothies?

For most people, the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 is the best smoothie blender for the money. It has a 1,400 peak watt motor, a 72 oz pitcher and Auto-iQ presets for smoothies and frozen drinks, and Ninja listed it at $89.99. If you want the smoothest possible texture with leafy greens and seeds, and a 7-year warranty, the Vitamix 5200 is the step up.

Do you need a high-powered blender for smoothies?

Not for every smoothie. Soft fruit, yogurt and milk blend fine in almost any blender. Power matters when you add frozen fruit, ice, kale, seeds or nuts. Stronger motors spin the blades faster and pull tough ingredients through more times, which is why they leave fewer bits of skin and fiber behind.

What order do you put smoothie ingredients in a blender?

Liquids go in first, then soft ingredients like yogurt and banana, then leafy greens, and frozen fruit or ice last. Liquid at the bottom helps the blade spin freely and start a vortex. The heavy frozen pieces on top push everything down into the blade. For a personal blender where the cup is flipped, reverse the order.

Is a personal blender good for smoothies?

Yes, if you make one smoothie at a time. A personal blender like the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro blends right in a to-go cup, so there is less to wash. It is less suited to big batches or very thick frozen blends, because the small cup has less room for ingredients to move.

Why is my smoothie not blending?

Usually there is not enough liquid, or the frozen fruit has formed an air pocket above the blade. Add a splash more liquid, stop and stir, or use a tamper if your blender has one. Letting frozen fruit sit for five minutes before blending also helps. Overfilling the pitcher past the max line can stall the blade too.