6 Best Personal Blenders for Smoothies, Tested by Experts
Our top pick is Ninja's Nutri-Blender Pro personal blender.
Tested by Eva BleyerHome & Kitchen Appliances Reviews Analyst
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A personal blender is a versatile kitchen appliance that can blend most things that a full-sized blender can — while taking up significantly less countertop real estate. The smaller blending cup also comes in handy for emulsifying a creamy salad dressing, whipping up one or two servings of blender pancakes and pulsing salsa.
If the motto “a smoothie a day keeps the doctor away” applies to you, a personal blender can streamline your mornings by removing an extra vessel to wash. Just blend your goodies in the cup, pop on its to-go lid and head out for the day. Some models even include multiple cups for partners, roommates and kids — or when yesterday’s cup is still sitting dirty in the dishwasher.
Our top picks:
Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab have tested over 100 blenders — including full and personal-size models — with green smoothies, vanilla milkshakes, frozen margaritas and coffee beans to help you find the one that’s worth the money and fits your particular needs and recipes. According to Lab testing, in-home use and vetted online reviews, these are the best personal blenders you can buy.
At the end of this guide, you can learn more about how we test personal blenders in our Lab and read our tips for buying the best personal blender for your needs and lifestyle. If you're searching for more kitchen appliances to pulverize and blend ingredients, check out our guides to the best coffee grinders and best immersion blenders.
Ninja BN401 Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto-iQ
Pros
- Excels at making smoothies
- Easy to store
- All pieces are dishwasher-safe
Cons
- May have to purchase more cups if you have a large family
You can't beat the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro when it comes to making single-serve smoothies and protein shakes. It made the best smoothie in our Lab testing. We were impressed with how smooth it came out, going through the fine mesh sieve completely.
This blender comes with fewer pieces to store, so it's great for smaller kitchens or even the office if your workmates don’t mind a little noise. Since this only comes with two cups, we recommend purchasing more if you have several people making smoothies at the same time.
If you prefer to have the option of both a smoothie and a smoothie bowl, then the Ninja Foodie Smoothie Bowl Maker & Nutrient Extractor might be the better pick for you. This personal blender's jar features a built-in tamper and doesn’t need as much liquid to blend ingredients to a smooth, thick consistency. In our tests, this model tackled smoothies with ease with super smooth results.
| Weight | 1.5 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.34 x 6.93 x 14.29 inches |
| Jar Capacity | 24 ounces |
| Wattage | 1100 watts |
Magic Bullet Blender
Pros
- Wide variety of fuctions
- Includes three blender cups with multiple lids
Cons
- Includes more pieces to store
Though it's the most affordable pick on this list, this personal blender holds its own. Magic Bullet’s hardworking machine does more than whirl smoothies — it also conveniently chops chunky salsas and grinds nuts thanks to an extra-small blending cup that comes with the 11-piece set. One of the three blending cups has a handle for optimal portability and multiple lids allow you to make full use of all the functions without having to wash or transfer any chopped goods to other storage containers.
While the Bullet itself doesn't take up much countertop space, testers lamented the extra storage required for all the accessories. Only the blender cups are dishwasher-safe.
| Weight | 3.37 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.19 x 6.93 x 10.63 inches |
| Jar Capacity | 22, 16 and 12 ounces |
| Wattage | 250 watts |
Pros
- Stylish
- Blending vessels are dishwasher-safe
- High-powered for such a slim blender
Cons
- Heavy blending system
The Beast Blender is a personal blender that crushes ice; blends small batches of dressings, sauces and soups; and creates one to three servings (depending on vessel size) of drinks like smoothies, shakes and margaritas. To help with blending efficiency, the Beast Blender’s ultra-thick Tritan plastic vessels feature a 12-rib design (for comparison, most blenders have about four ribs within a blender jar). Did we mention this blender also looks like a piece of art on your countertop with its unique design?
In Lab testing, we found the blender to be easy to use with powerful performance thanks to 1,000 watts of power. When we blended up green smoothies, all ingredients passed through the sieve and the margaritas it produced were light and fluffy with no large ice crystals or any grit from lingering sugar. When we crushed ice with it, the powerful motor transformed it into powdery snow. (For context, many personal blenders aren't able to crush ice this finely or evenly.)
Our Lab tester has been using the Beast for over a year and it's still performing well. Keep in mind that this blending system is on the heavier side and not great for portability, but the blending vessels themselves are lightweight and come with lids for easy transportation.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: I Tested the Viral Beast Personal Blender
| Weight | 12 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.92 x 4.92 x 15.75 inches |
| Jar Capacity | 25.4 ounces and 11.8 ounces |
| Wattage | 1000 watts |
NutriBullet Ultra Personal Blender NB50500
Pros
- Powerful yet quiet motor
- Makes quick and delicious green smoothies
Cons
- Berry smoothie contained a few seeds
Don’t let its size fool you — NutriBullet’s little blender packs a powerful punch thanks to its 1,200-watt motor. In our Lab test, it blended up thick and delicious smoothies with great body in 1.5 minutes. The tester definitely noticed the extra boost in power. It got the kale smoothie very smooth but there were a few errant seeds in the berry smoothie. This model is NutriBullet's most powerful single-serve blender and the brand claims it also happens to be its quietest.
The set comes with three blending cups and two lids; one cup has a handle for easy carrying.
| Weight | 2 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.9 x 5 x 4.75 inches |
| Jar Capacity | 32 and 24 ounces |
| Wattage | 1200 watts |
Pros
- Sleek design
- Makes smoothies quickly
Cons
- Comes with only one cup
If you're looking for a blender that can add to your kitchen's aesthetics, then this Zwilling model is worth considering. It has a ribbed Tritan jar and a sleek base that looks as pretty as the morning smoothies you’ll make with it. Although it may not have as high wattage as some other models on this list, it can still whip up smoothies quickly. Our Lab testers appreciated the blender’s design and ease of use. The blender comes with a 20-ounce jar and a to-go lid.
| Weight | 5.12 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.5 x 5.25 x 5.75 inches |
| Jar Capacity | 20 ounces |
| Wattage | 500 watts |
Cuisinart CPB-300 Personal Blender
Pros
- Largest array of cups
- Includes a pulse feature
Cons
- Larger than other models
Though bigger than other personal blenders, this machine is still compact enough to be included in the category. In Lab tests, it was very good at grinding coffee beans and blending fruit smoothies. If you make smoothies frequently or regularly serve more than one to two people, the Cuisinart is a great choice: It comes with a 32-ounce jar, complete with measurement markings on the side, to make those bigger servings. You'll also get four 16-ounce portable cups with tight-fitting lids, so each person can grab theirs and go — or create their own personalized smoothie without the need to wash anything but the blade between users.
While having various cups is helpful, this also requires extra storage. And the larger dimensions mean a larger footprint on your counter or in your cabinet.
| Weight | 6.53 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.12 x 15.75 x 10 inches |
| Jar Capacity | 32 and 16 ounces |
| Wattage | 350 watts |
How we test the best personal blenders
We have tested more than 100 blenders over the years, including numerous immersion blenders and personal blenders, to find the best high-performance models. We test each with the same standardized recipes to see how they stand out among the rest. When we test personal blenders, we adjust the recipes accordingly.
To help mimic how a home consumer would use a blender, we make green smoothies, vanilla milkshakes and frozen margaritas as well as broccoli-leek soup, if the blender is equipped to blend hot ingredients. (A blender must have vents in order to safely blend hot ingredients, and you should avoid blending hot liquids in a personal blending cup, which could potentially cause burns upon opening.)
During Lab testing, we weigh the final product and strain it through a mesh sieve to evaluate whether all ingredients are blended and that each grind or puree is uniform.
We also evaluate how well blenders can handle hard ingredients: We grind coffee beans, and we include frozen strawberries and ice cubes in our tests.
We evaluate each machine for operation and functionality, including the helpfulness of the manual and ease of use for assembling the blade parts, positioning the jar on the base, using the controls, reading markings on the jar and cleaning the blender. We also consider how loud each blender is while operating and how well it fares in the dishwasher if it's dishwasher-safe.
What to consider when shopping for a personal blender
✔️ Weight: Some heft is important to keep the blender in place while you're using it. Look for heavier blending systems (or suction cups) to ensure that your blender stays put on your counter while blending, otherwise you may have to hold it down while blending. Still, you'll want it to be light enough to maneuver easily from countertop to cabinet for storage.
✔️ Jar capacity: Though our top picks include options between 12 and 32 ounces, a 16-ounce cup seems to be a sweet spot — it's big enough to hold a meal-size smoothie but not too bulky to carry. If you like blending up anything from a small salad dressing to a large protein smoothie, many personal blenders come with a few different cup sizes to meet your various needs.
✔️ Cup style: If portability is important to you, be sure to assess cup style. Is it slim and easy to hold? Does it fit into your vehicle's cup holders? Does it have a lid that seals well? Does it have a spout or sports lid?
✔️ Wattage: Higher wattage blenders handle more difficult-to-blend foods, like ice-filled beverages. (For context, the blenders we tested ranged in wattage from 250 to 1,200.) It's important to note that higher wattages don't always perform better. The shape of the cup and the ability to pulse help with blending too.
✔️ Ease of cleaning: If you're short on time and don't feel like taking a bottle brush to your personal blender, ensure it's dishwasher-safe.
Who are portable blenders best for?
Personal blenders are ideal for blending smoothies, shakes or other beverages that can be sipped straight out of the blending cup. They come with blending cups that include a secure to-go lid and some blenders come with multiple cups. Personal blenders are best for smaller households and individuals who lead an on-the-go lifestyle such as busy professionals, students or fitness enthusiasts.
How to clean portable blenders
“They’re actually quite easy to clean,” says Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. “I like to rinse my blade as soon as I use it so it’s ready for next time or I pop it in the top rack of the dishwasher. I find that a bottle brush works great when hand washing the cups. And while adding soap to the blending cup and running it works well for a full-size blender, it’s unnecessary for the personal blender and almost cumbersome.”
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Eva Bleyer has tested everything from ranges to juicers to kitchen scales to blenders. Eva conducted the most recent side-by-side testing of 25 blenders. As a trained chef from the Natural Gourmet Institute with a background in health-supportive cooking, she has a great deal of experience using blenders. As a commuter, she especially understands how valuable a high-quality personal blender is.
Perry Santanachote is a freelance writer and editor with over 15 years of experience testing and writing about consumer products, including blenders and other kitchen accessories and gadgets.
Perry Santanachote (she/her) has more than 15 years of experience in service journalism, specializing in food and consumer goods. She tests and reports on kitchen appliances and cooking tools. She also evaluates food products and cleaning supplies. She’s an experienced writer, product tester and recipe developer who has worked in labs, test kitchens and media organizations, including Thrillist and Consumer Reports.
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