The Best Personal Blenders in 2023 Tested and Reviewed

As single-serve units, personal blenders are particularly good for small batches of smoothies, protein shakes, sauces, and more. When it comes to prepping leaner, greener treats to take with you on the road, many also live up to the hype with their “grab and go” blending cups. From entry-level economy blenders to fancy, high-end ones, there is always something in the market for everyone—including sports enthusiasts and health-conscious folks who are after nutrient-rich drinks, certainly.

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Personal Blender

The best countertop blender for you should be a well-made kitchen tool that fits your lifestyle and looks great in your kitchen. It also should come with a motor powerful enough to get your blending done quickly and with minimal mess. 

In addition to its culinary results, your blender’s ease of use is also very important. No professional skills should be needed to make basic drinks.

1. Motor Power

For most small blending tasks, any personal blender with a motor output of between 175 and 300 watts is more than adequate. Such models are typically powerful enough to give you consistent results in about a minute. And due to advances in blades and motor technology, they get the job done without requiring you to cut your ingredients too small.

However, to ensure longevity and proper functionality, these lower-powered blenders shouldn’t be used continuously for more than one minute at a time. They shouldn’t be used with less than 1/3 of their volume filled with liquid either. Doing so can lead to damaged motors.

There are options on the market that work without these limitations. They’re usually more powerful devices with wattage ratings of between 350 and 900 watts. 

These higher-powered personal blenders can work faster and more efficiently than the weaker ones. They can even puree thick mixtures in seconds without getting hot or letting off a burning scent. They’re thus perfect if you often process tough foods. Just know you’ll pay extra for the privilege.

2. Speed Settings 

Most personal blenders engage the motor when their blending cup is pressed down into the motor base. The motor disengages when you lift the cup up again. That’s why, unlike countertop or immersion blenders, these hand-held devices typically only offer one speed setting.

There are a few personal blenders with pre-programmed settings and a wide range of speeds, but they’re not common and can be quite expensive. And though these models allow for hands-free operation, the variable speed controls are often unnecessary and simply make them more complicated.

3. Size and Capacity 

Since personal blenders are single-serving devices by definition, they really shouldn’t take up much space in your kitchen. Look for a blender with a small footprint that will fit neatly in your cabinet or tuck away in a drawer when not in use.

In general, larger blenders will come with higher-capacity pitchers. For single-serving options, though, it’s usually best to choose a device with a 16-to-24-ounce capacity. This will make the cup about as compact as a travel mug, so you can enjoy your favorite beverages on the go. Often, the blending cup even fits snugly into a cup holder.

4. Cleaning Process

Not only should a good blender be versatile, it must be easy to clean as well. For safety and easy cleaning, consider searching for a machine that has dishwasher-safe lids, blending cups, and blade assemblies.

5. Accessories 

Blenders that come with only a single cup won’t take up much storage space, but multiple blending cups are always handy. You can prepare and store multiple servings without cleaning between every use. Make sure the cups’ to-go lids seal tightly so you don’t have to worry about spills.

Some personal units also come with a grinder cup or a food processor, but don’t expect them to work as well as a purpose-built appliance. Consider these minor bonus capabilities.

How We Test Our Personal Blenders

We performed tests on various types of personal blenders to uncover their efficiency and practicality in real kitchens. To this end, we first researched which functions are the most important to users. It took us several days to complete this process, but the results served as a starting point for designing test recipes.

Test Recipes

At present, we employ four different recipes/tests which were all developed according to the functions that matter most to the average user. They include the Protein Shake, Frozen Fruit Smoothie, Fibrous Greens, and Crushed Ice Cubes tests.

As the person chiefly responsible for recipe development, our own chef Tuyet applied her knowledge of food science to select, source, and portion the ingredients. To make the differences between blenders clearer, she wanted to find ingredients that would challenge them. An assortment of simple ingredients wouldn’t make for a worthwhile evaluation. 

Regarding the Protein Shake recipe, for instance, she chose whole grains, raw nuts, and dried berries because such ingredients are more difficult to process than fresh fruits. While you might prefer fresh fruits at home for a smooth drink, they wouldn’t help us distinguish the mediocre blenders from the champs.

Once the recipes were drafted, our Review, Testing, and Reporting (RTR) Team ran repeated tests on each of them. This process took a considerable amount of time since we had to go through lots of changes along the way, continuously tweaking and modifying the recipe until it made for the perfect test. That is to say, the final results were a combination of thoughtful plans and careful trials; nothing here was spontaneous.

Test Procedure 

To ensure that our blending tests were accurate and consistent reflections of the machines’ performances, and to put each blender on equal footing at the start, we went through a rigorous process. First, we conducted the testing trial, then analyzed the report, improved on shortcomings, and iterated until we found the right testing process. 

For example, if we hadn’t put the fibrous greens test through the trial process, we wouldn’t have noticed it was necessary to cut the veggies into smaller chunks. When we tried whole greens, the bigger pieces blocked the movement of other food and sometimes even stopped the blade from turning.

Words aside, we also communicate our test results with pictures. Given that some blended results looked roughly the same in early photos, the trial process helped us find ways to photograph the differences between results more clearly. Meanwhile, it helped the Media Team decide how to set up backdrops, lighting, and camera angles so that each photo would better reflect what we saw in person.

Test Results 

In this section, we analyzed the blenders’ results to come up with our rating for each of them, but this wasn’t a simple process. We had to spend lots of time deciding which scoring factors truly reflected the blender’s efficiency in each test. 

Eventually, we decided that Blending Time and the Blended Result would be our two primary scoring factors, but not every test would use both of these parameters; some get scored based on only one or the other. We didn’t grade results by flavor because we employ the same recipe for each sort of test—we should get the roughly same flavor out of each blender.

Along the way, we had to decide how important each test was to the average user. Our test scores would all contribute to the overall score, but we decided some tasks were more critical than others and weighted their subsection scores accordingly.

For more details of our testing methodology for personal blenders, check out the complete How We Test Our Personal Blenders article.

How Our Recommendations Are Made

Recommendations are based upon the resulting scores of our testing procedures. We take into account the specialized strengths of a product, the situation it’s best suited for, or the personal circumstances it is likely to best match.

Reviews of the Best Personal Blenders in 2023

Without further ado, let’s move on to our best personal blenders list. It will cover some of the most important characteristics of each unit so as to help you decide which one is right for you.

Here’s our picks for the Best Personal Blenders:

1. Best Overall: NutriBullet Pro Personal Blender

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To beat its rivals, the NutriBullet Pro provides more than just mighty power; it also delivers thoughtfully designed components and user-friendly features to accompany its usability. 

Packing a 900-watt motor, it passed all of the hands-on testing with flying colors. More surprisingly, we never had to pause it to shake or stir the contents. The NutriBullet cleared its own clogs, generating smooth frozen fruit smoothies or even fluffy crushed ice every time without any intervention. 

The only trade-off is that it isn’t intended to run for more than 60 seconds so as to protect the motor from overloading. That’s not a big hit against it, though, since most personal blenders have the same shortcoming. 

The NutriBullet Pro is about two-thirds the size of a traditional blender, at 14.7 inches tall by 5.4 inches wide. It doesn’t take up much space on our counter and is compact enough for easy storage. 

The whole unit is made of high-quality materials which will surely leave a lasting impression. To use the machine, all you have to do is push the vessel and attached blade assembly down onto the base and then gently rotate it to activate the motor. The Lock On Mode ensures your blender will run safely without risk of components separating during operation. 

As for accessories, two to-go lids, two 32-ounce BPA-free cups, and four lip rings are included, making it a convenient way to take your morning shakes on the road.

The set also includes the NutriBullet Pocket Nutritionist and Blasting For Optimum Health recipe books. Sadly, both of them seem to contain a lot of useless information, as noted by several users. Indeed, some reviews suggest that these two books are included purely to advertise the brand rather than provide users with useful recipes or any meaningful health education.

Despite the minor nitpicks, so far, the NutriBullet company has successfully made many versatile, high-quality personal blenders, and this one certainly fits that bill. It is solidly built and can even serve as an ice crusher. If you want to prepare a balanced meal with perfect nutrition, it deserves a spot on your countertop.

Price at time of publish: $87.62

Key Specs

2. Runner-Up: Ninja Fit QB3001SS Personal Blender

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The Ninja QB3001SS carves out a style of its own with a 700-watt motor that is more than enough to break down any food. 

In our series of tests, it was among the select few personal blenders that truly turned frozen fruits into creamy, drinkable smoothies. The patented stainless steel blades are well designed for heavy-duty usage, so the machine itself  also didn’t have much difficulty crushing ice or grinding raw nuts. Don’t be surprised, though, if it sometimes requires a few shakes or stirs to make sure everything is chopped evenly.

Our blender is 4.5 inches wide and 13 inches tall with the cup attached. The cup is quite a bit taller than average, but still compact enough to fit in your fridge to keep your beverages chilly throughout the day. Due to its length and slim profile, however, it may be hard to reach the bottom and clean all the inside areas unless you have a bottle brush.  

Like most other single-serving blenders, the Ninja QB3001SS Fit doesn’t have a typical control panel, multiple speed settings, or even an on/off button. It’s operated by pressing the cup into the base unit. You have to hold the cup down to engage the motor; once you release, it stops. We love the simplicity, but still prefer models with hands-free options. 

As we noted in our tests, prolonged operation didn’t overheat the motor, but even if this does happen, the machine’s safety system will automatically activate a built-in thermal switch to shut off the overloaded motor.

Price at time of publish: $60.22

Key Specs

3. Best for Smoothie: Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ Personal Blender

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The Ninja Nutri Pro lives up to its premium pricing with a sturdy design and exceptionally powerful motor. It also provides a sense of luxury with pre-programmed settings so you can take the guesswork out of making drinks. We don’t think this function is necessary, though—in fact, it strikes us as gimmicky for this type of blender. 

Powering the blender is a ludicrous 1000-watt motor. In spite of the power, it didn’t give us perfect results in all tests but did prove ideal for smoothies, protein shakes, and certain other tasks. Together with razor sharp blending blades, the motor places this blender among the best tools for processing ice cubes, frozen fruits, leafy greens, and more.  

Note that the Ninja Nutri Pro is nearly as bulky a full-size blender, measuring 14.2 inches tall by 6.4 inches wide. At 5.4 pounds, it’s also heavier than most. This heft means your blender is very sturdy and will stand up to heavy use without rocking around on the counter, but it is also harder to move in and out of storage. 

To use the machine, simply place your food into the blending cup, cover it with the blade assembly, and then turn the cup upside down to fit it properly into the base.

Some users have claimed that their cups have begun to leak after a few days of use, but we’re quite certain this is mainly because users failed to read the instructions. The liquid inside needs space to move around, so don’t try to put too much stuff into the unit at once. If you follow the instructions, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Thanks to the simple design, cleaning this blender is also a breeze. With the exception of the motor base which should be cleaned by hand using a damp cloth, all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Just make sure you separate all parts before putting them in the dishwasher. 

The drawback of this blender is its noise—you’ll probably wake your roommates if you make an early breakfast smoothie. We have also noticed that mold gradually builds up on the rubber gasket, leaving behind unpleasant odors. This is not a common occurrence, but can be prevented if you remember to wash the gasket before the first usage and in between uses.

Price at time of publish: $56.94

Key Specs

4. Best Budget: KOIOS Bullet Personal Blender

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The KOIOS Bullet is an above-average personal blender that will meet most needs of individual users, or perhaps two people who are light eaters. In our tests, it handled frozen fruits pretty well, turning everything into a soft-serve consistency in as little as a minute and a half.

When it came to processing fibrous greens, including spinach, kale, and celery, however, the blender itself didn’t draw ingredients toward the blades. For a thorough blend, we had to cut the ingredients into smaller chunks, and the mixture still came out grainy with visible kale bits.

The KOIOS Bullet is also not good at crushing ice cubes, but we expected as much from a mid-range personal blender. Just keep this fact in mind when considering whether to purchase this unit.

In terms of build quality, this blender is made of common materials, but it looks sleeker and sturdier than its rivals. Despite the inexpensive price tag, it also comes with a generous accessory package, including extra blending cups with to-go lids.

Price at time of publish: $60.22

Key Specs

Nearest Competitions

A few quick notes on other personal blenders we tested:

• BLACK+DECKER FusionBlade: This blender sports a low-powered motor (275-watt), so we assumed it wouldn’t deal well with solid ingredients. But surprisingly enough, all of its results except the crushed ice came out more than acceptable. It wasn’t quite as good as our best personal blenders, but was a solid and surprising competitor.
• Magic Bullet: This blender was neither powerful enough to break down frozen fruits nor capable of extracting much value from leafy greens. Moreover, its overall construction looks flimsy with components mostly made of low-grade materials. The Magic Bullet isn’t worth your investment.
• Hamilton Beach 51101AV: An underperformer in our hands-on testing, this blender didn’t make it past even a single task. Its motor was simply too weak while the blending blades were too poorly designed. If you’re searching for a low-priced hand blender, find a better option.
• Oster BLSTPB-WBL: We think most people will find the Oster’s power to be adequate for simple blends. The drawbacks are that its lid locking mechanism isn’t very secure and the blending cup is too narrow to clean properly without a bottle brush.

Personal Blenders FAQs

Why Trust Us

We purchase all the personal blenders of our own accord specifically for testing purposes. We did not receive sponsorships or donations and have no stake in the manufacturers’ reputations. 

This review was conducted to communicate recommendations based on our hands-on testing and evaluations as actual users. The conclusions and opinions we bring to you here are the same ones we’ll be passing on to our own friends and families.

We ran our blenders through a series of tasks to give you different perspectives on their blending performance. Each test reflects one of the most common functions for standard immersion blenders. We apply the same testing procedure to each model to ensure all results were accurate and reasonable comparisons. The testing process is presented to you in photos and videos so you can make the best decision about which product to choose. 

Many members of the Healthy Kitchen 101 crew were involved in this process. Our Research, Testing, and Review (RTR) team is composed of a panel of kitchen tool enthusiasts bent on creating clear, objective, and consistent test procedures. Our professional chef, Tuyet Pham, who has years of culinary experience, offered consultation and helped with taste testing.

Our Expertise 

Tina's journey as a personal blender specialist at Healthy Kitchen 101 started in 2018, where she embarked on a comprehensive mission to find the best-performing products available. To achieve this, she first undertook an extensive deep learning process to gain a thorough understanding of the product. Her dedication was evident in the two years later she spent developing a meticulous testing process and conducting hands-on tests of each model's. 

During her research, Tina recognized the value of collaboration and thus enlisted the help of Chef Tuyet Pham, Consultant Luna Regina, and Test Lead Lap Vo to aid in her process. Through their joint efforts, they have ultimately tested and evaluated 15 different personal blenders, both corded and cordless versions.

Conclusion 

The best personal blenders should make for quick and simple smoothies or protein shakes at home. With thousands of models out there, the NutriBullet Pro stands out from the rest with its compact design and consistent performance. If you’re looking for a decent single-serving blender but don’t want to break the bank, go for this model.