Vitamix vs. Blendtec: What is the Greatest Blender?

A high-speed blender is among the priciest small home equipment you should buy in your kitchen (costing upwards of $500). It’s additionally one of the helpful. This intersection of value level and performance makes analysis earlier than investing essential. So which blender do you have to purchase? We’ve in contrast bestselling blender manufacturers’ versatility, energy, and key specs, placing them by means of rigorous exams that take into account each a part of a blender—together with motor dimension, blade building, jar capability, and form. There’s, after all, additionally value and guarantee to think about. Overwhelmingly, our exams revealed Vitamix and Blendtec as the highest performers.

In the event you’re waffling between the 2, right here’s how they evaluate to 1 one other.

Blender Comparability: Key Specs

Each Vitamix and Blendtec promote completely different sequence of blenders. Within the Vitamix lineup, you’ll be able to select between the Ascent sequence, which gives sensible expertise and interchangeable attachments; the Propel sequence, which options easy-to-use mixing packages; and the no-frills Explorian sequence. There’s additionally a Legacy sequence, which is made up of Vitamix’s best-known, basic fashions—just like the Skilled Grade 5200, our favourite general blender.

Blendtec gives an entry-level Basic sequence; the extra aesthetically-minded Design sequence that options sensible tech; and the tricked-out Skilled series, which is as near restaurant high quality as you will get at residence, with options like a sound guard and intuitive preprogrammed settings. Each manufacturers make blenders for business kitchens, however for the aim of this text, we’re contemplating the highest performers of their residential classes: the Vitamix 5200, which is a part of their Legacy sequence, and Blendtec’s flagship Designer sequence mannequin.

Motor Energy

Motor capability is what units high-speed fashions aside from funds blenders, though it’s not the one consider figuring out a blender’s general efficiency. Vitamix’s 5200 edges out the Blendtec Designer with 120 volts versus 100. Extra voltage means a better efficiency potential, in addition to runtime and sturdiness. Vitamix’s larger voltage permits it to deal with more durable, harder components with much less potential for damaging the unit; as proof, the product staff at Vitamix grinds pine blocks into sawdust to check the motors on their blenders.

Blade Form and High quality

Though blade sharpness looks like a key component for a high-speed blender, it’s truly an indication of a poorly designed machine. Sharp blades are rapidly dulled by heavy or robust components, and in contrast to your chef’s knives, blender blades can’t be sharpened. Each manufacturers design their blades to be heavy and blunt: They crush and pulverize meals, somewhat than slicing by means of it. 

The Vitamix 5200’s blade is four-pronged, versus the two-pronged Blendtec Designer. We discovered the Blendtec to be higher at crushing ice, whereas the Vitamix excelled at emulsifying and creating smooth-textured mixtures. It’s value noting that though most residential Vitamix fashions include a normal multi-use blade, the model gives a wider vary of blades, with jars made particularly for dry versus moist components; they even have an attachment for creating chilly foam.

Jar Form and Dimension

The Vitamix 5200 comes with a 64-ounce jar that’s tall and slim. The Blendtec Designer is shorter and smaller, at 36 ounces. This makes the Blendtec a pleasant selection for small kitchens and people with restricted space for storing. That mentioned, the dimensions and form of the jar does have an effect on efficiency. Vitamix’s jar is tall and slim, and has 4 raised ridges on either side: These qualities create the “Vitamix vortex,” which pulls components downwards into the blade. In distinction, the Blendtec Designer jar is shorter and wider, with {smooth} sides and it’s much less environment friendly at biking components by means of the blades. The components bounce, somewhat than transfer by means of a cyclone, which causes numerous splashing and sloshing whereas mixing. However the streamlined jar does make cleansing simpler. 

Spout design looks like an unimportant issue till you attempt to pour from the jar right into a bowl or cup. Vitamix’s spout is lengthy and slim, which makes the duty simpler. Blendtec’s jar has just about no pour spout and, unsurprisingly, causes drips and messes when pouring.

Blender Comparability: Value and Guarantee

Regardless of which model you purchase, a high-speed blender goes to be an funding. You’re paying, largely, for the highly effective motor that may deal with much more than primary blenders—and ship smoother, creamier outcomes.

On the time of writing, the Vitamix 5200 retails for $430. The Blendtec Designer prices $450. (Each fashions do go on sale steadily.) Longevity issues for dear home equipment, and each manufacturers provide warranties. Vitamix comes with a 7-year restricted guarantee, though for $75, you’ll be able to improve to a 10-year prolonged guarantee. Blendtec’s customary guarantee is an 8-year restricted. 

Each manufacturers provide used blenders which were inspected and, when required, totally repaired (aka refurbished). These blenders are sometimes returned earlier than getting used (some have been by no means even unboxed), and so they retail for lower than new fashions. If you wish to purchase a used blender, remember to purchase immediately from the model, by means of their Licensed Reconditioned Program (Vitamix) and Licensed Refurbished Blender Program (Blendtec).

Blender Comparability: Makes use of and Capabilities

We ran each blenders by means of a sequence of exams, protecting nearly each job you possibly can ask a blender to do: Making kale smoothies and thick milkshakes, mixing sizzling soup, crushing ice, milling grain into flour, puréeing nuts into butter, and extra. (You’ll be able to learn our full evaluation right here.) The Vitamix 5200 and Blendtec Designer obtained the identical excellent rating on our smoothie take a look at, though the Vitamix carried out higher on nut butter and mayonnaise, due to the jar form and dimension and the above-mentioned vortex.

The Vitamix comes with a neatly designed flat-edged tamper that gained’t roll on the counter and, when in use, helps information meals away from the perimeters of the jar and towards the blade. (The flat-edge design is a more recent characteristic; if in case you have an older Vitamix, the tamper might have spherical edges that roll.) The Blendtec doesn’t have a tamper. Though this isn’t a dealbreaker, it means you’ll must cease the motor, take away the lid, and scrape down the perimeters with a spatula.

If you need a blender with presets, you might favor the Blendtec or one other mannequin of Vitamix; nonetheless, we loved the true analog show of the 5200, which allowed us to start out slowly and progressively ramp up the pace throughout mixing periods. 

Blender Comparability: Aesthetics

You don’t have to go away your blender on the kitchen counter, however owing to the hefty weight, many cooks select to park theirs someplace handy, somewhat than shuttling them out and in of cupboards. If aesthetics matter in your kitchen, that is the place the Vitamix vs. Blendtec debate will get actually fascinating. Contemplating our prime fashions in every model, the Blendtec wins out: It has a modern digital interface with presets that perform on the contact of a display. The Vitamix 5200 gained’t win any type awards. Its lever and knob interface is straightforward to make use of however seems to be a bit dated in comparison with current developments in equipment design. That mentioned, when contemplating each manufacturers’ full scope of choices, Vitamix has the sting. Their Ascent sequence is fashionable and modern, and—relying on which retailer you select—is available in a wide range of colours with gold finishes.

Which Is Higher: Vitamix or Blendtec?

General, we predict the Vitamix 5200 is a greater purchase. It’s a real workhorse that may deal with the best number of duties. Whereas it doesn’t provide too many flashy options, like presets or a digital display, we just like the auto-off characteristic that kicks in earlier than the motor will get overworked and the wide range of speeds. The Blendtec carried out neck-and-neck with the Vitamix on smoothies and soups and was higher at crushing ice, however the nonexistent pour spout and fewer environment friendly vortex put this mannequin in (a really respectable) second place. 

FAQs

Are high-speed blenders value the price?

We expect so. After we in contrast our profitable high-speed and funds fashions side-by-side, the high-speed blenders got here out on prime. We discovered that high-speed blenders have been higher at milling grain into flour, and will sufficiently warmth soup. The upper voltage that high-speed blenders provide makes them a more sensible choice for longevity, too. That mentioned: In the event you not often cook dinner, or solely plan on utilizing a blender for the occasional smoothie, you might be higher off with an inexpensive blender. The Cuisinart Hurricane Blender outperformed the competitors in our evaluation of lower-cost blenders. 

Do you want a high-speed blender if you have already got an immersion blender?

Immersion blenders reign supreme with regards to space for storing and comfort. However they’re not an alternative to a conventional blender. Hand-held blenders are helpful for puréeing soups within the pot, however if you wish to mix smoothies, salad dressings, or sauces, a standalone jar blender is a should. Excessive-speed blenders are additionally extra highly effective than immersion blenders, giving them one other edge.

What’s the very best high-speed blender?

We expect the Vitamix 5200 Skilled Sequence Blender is the very best you should buy throughout most metrics. It has 10 variable speeds and a easy analog interface. If you need interchangeable bases, presets, and sensible expertise, the Ascent sequence will higher fit your wants.

What is the least expensive Vitamix?

The least costly Vitamix blenders will be discovered within the model’s Explorian line. The Vitamix E310 is lower than $400, and will be bought for even much less by means of Vitamix’s reconditioning program.

Why We’re the Consultants

• At Severe Eats, we’ve examined dozens of blenders, evaluating them throughout a wide range of metrics in line with rigorous evaluation requirements.
• Rochelle Bilow is our commerce editor. She has reviewed your entire product lineup of each Vitamix and Blendtec, so we will precisely evaluate each manufacturers.
• She has been testing kitchen gear and writing for Severe Eats since 2021 and has been writing about meals professionally for nearly 20 years.