What on earth are the best blenders for smoothies in 2017?

There are blenders that turn green juice into green pulp, and there are blenders that turn green juice into, well, green juice.

Am I right?

Here’s my two cents on some of the top rated and best-selling blenders of 2017, as well as some of the good and bad qualities behind them.

The Best Blenders for Smoothies in 2017

Just a quick heads up, these are not ranked in terms of my favorite or what I think “is best.”

Each of these blenders has their own pros and cons, and the prices are wildly different.

The lowest is around $70, and the highest (and top rated) is in the $300-500 range.

Blender #1: The Vitamix 5300

First up?

The highly rated Vitamix 5300.

Let’s start with the obvious – it is one of the most highly rated, highly starred blenders on the market.

With over 618 Amazon reviews and an overall rating of 4.5 stars,

Pros

• Big, better motor that runs cool so it doesn’t overheat
• Breaks down frozen foods quickly, if you’re throwing berries or ice cream in your blender
• The ability to make soups (if you want that, in addition to your smoothie) in 10 minutes – there’s that much power in the blades
• It can grind nuts no problem
• This thing says, “POWER” and doesn’t look or feel like it’ll burn out on you (like the blenders for <$70)

Cons:

• It’s large, definitely larger than the average blender and may not fit under counters
• For some people, the price (which is often $300+ depending on the model you get)

Check out the Amazon reviews of the Vitamix 5300 blender right here.

Blender #2: The Nutri Ninja Pro

Next up.

The Nutri Ninja Pro Blender.

The Nutri Ninja pro is one of the highest rated blenders on the lower end of the market.

It comes with several cups and a small recipe guide as well.

Pros:

• It’s a very simple blender the imitates the nutribullet-style blender – put stuff in, flip it over, screw in
• Much cheaper end of the blender market, for <$100

Cons:

• Don’t overfill it, as most of the negative reviews surround this
• Clean the seal regularly
• Noticeably weaker/cheaper motor than the Vitamix

Check out the Amazon reviews of the Nutri Ninja Pro here.

Blender #3: The Nutri-Bullet

Third up.

The Nutri-Bullet 12-piece blender.

The Nutri-bullet is the blender I personally use for creating green juices and some kinds of smoothies.

Primarily, the nutribullet works for a few reasons, and here’s what I personally see as the advantages:

Pros:

• Easy cleanup. Unlike a normal blender that you have to remove all the pieces from, you just throw everything in this, seal it, and put it upside down
• It’s fast. Like I said, throw your jug full of stuff, screw on, screw off, drink.
• Easy to clean. You literally only have one piece – the blade and the lid are attached (one and the same)

Cons:

• It seems like based on some of the reviews that It can burn out quickly (less than a year)
• Sometimes it can get messy, if it’s overfilled it’ll spill out and mess up the sealing ring
• If the cap is too tight, it can cause issues. But I personally haven’t had this issue

Check out the Amazon reviews of the nutri-bullet right here.

Blender #4: The Aimores Commercial Blender

Fourth up?

The Aimores commercial smoothie mixer.

The Aimores blender is currently one of the top up and coming blenders as far as reviews go on Amazon.

In addition, right now there’s a $10 off free coupon, with all the details right here.

Pros:

• Extremely powerful, in fact, some of the top Amazon reviews cite just how strong it is (comparing it to a Vitamix)
• 6 blades to make it easier to break up chunks (and ensure there are no real chunks)
• Much bigger blender jar size (75 oz) versus some smaller ones like the nutribullet

Cons:

• Less portable and convenient vs. something like the nutribullet
• Building off of the above, if you want to travel with a blender to make smoothies, the nutribullet is a better bet
• Slighter more mid-range than the other blenders ($139)

You can check out all of the Amazon reviews on the Aimores blender here.

Blender #5: The Blendtech Total Blender Classic

Next up?

The Blendtech total blender classic.

The blendtech is definitely in the higher end of the marketplace, and isn’t quite as highly rated as the Vitamix listed above, however this is one of the bestsellers in its class.

Let’s talk about some of the differences with this blender here.

Pros

• It’s a 1,560 watt blender, which is one of the highest blenders I’ve found online. That means no ice cubs, chunks, or plant stems that won’t break down
•  There’s also a really cool way to pre-program your blending settings, with a digital touchpad
• It’s listed BPA free
• It also has a 7 year warranty

Cons 

• There are some complaints about the jars themselves leaking after a year or two
• It’s a bit less “high end” feeling versus the vitamix
• One of the top pieces of negative feedback is that somehow a piece of black plastic (the ring lining?) comes off and blends into the food in a small number of devices

Overall it’s a solid, high-end blender with a couple unique features the Vitamix doesn’t have.

You can check out the reviews of the Blendtech blender right here on Amazon.

Blender #6: The Vitamix Professional Series

The sixth blender here is another one from Vitamix, which has crazy reviews online.

One thing here – this is the most high-end blender that is highly rated, and interestingly enough, almost has the highest reviews of any blender I’ve seen so far.

Let’s talk a bit more about this high-end vitamix.

Pros:

• Because it’s at the high end of the marketplace, it consistently has some of the highest quality ratings (and even just holding it feels noticeably different)
• It has a huge motor but is fairly quiet
• Frequently cited as the “blender to end all blenders,” other people have cited in the Amazon reviews that they replaced their old XYZ blender and just bought this
• A 7 year warranty, and paying for quality over time. The temptation is to buy a $100 blender, but when you need a new one each year, it makes you won’t what’s really worth buying

Cons:

• It’s a pretty large blender, so you’re not exactly going to travel with it
• Loud
• Very expensive

Check out the glowing revies of the Vitamix Professional Series here on Amazon.

Blender #7: Jamba Appliances Blender

And the last blender on the list?

The Jamba Appliances 2.4hp blender.

There are a few things interesting about the Jamba appliances blender here.

First, it definitely falls into the more affordable category, after looking at a $500-700 Vitamix at the top of the market.

Pros:

• The Jamba appliances blender is obviously much more affordable
• It has amazing reviews and glowing feedback considering how cheap it is
• It’s smaller and a bit more compact, generally it will fit under the counter or in the cabinet
• Includes a recipe book and an 8-year warranty (longer than most blenders)

Cons:

•  A bit cheaper feeling than some of the high-end blenders
•  Not as many options as far as controls and speed goes

You can check out all the reviews of the Jamba Appliances blender here on Amazon.

The Best Blenders in 2017: Bottom Line

Ultimately, the best blender for you in 2017 is going to be based on what your goals are.

Do you need a powerhouse for cooking, smoothies with ice, ice cream, or tough plant material?

Do you need a portable blender for traveling?

If so, you might want something more convenient like the Nutribullet.

If you need something that definitely will get the job done, every time, with a long-term warranty, then the Vitamix series might be best.

Which blender do you use personally? Comment below.