Best Blender for Protein Shakes – Top 11 Options

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Best Blender for Protein Shakes

Do you want to know the best blenders for making protein shakes and protein powder-infused smoothies; keep reading.

This guide will look at the top blenders for protein shakes, what to look for in blenders for protein shakes, and offer our opinion on the best blender for protein shakes in several different categories.

Quick Summary

Product Name Grade
Best overall – Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender A+
Best personal blender – Nutribullet Pro 900 A
Most quite blender – Blendtec Professional Quiet Blender A
Best budget blender – Hamilton Beach Personal Blender A
Best blender for juicing – Vitamix Ascent 3300 A+
Best single serve blender – Nutribullet Rx Personal Blender A+
Best blender for smoothies – Blendtec Designer 725 A
Best blender for grinding nuts and seeds – Ninja Mega Kitchen System A+
Best food processor for protein shakes – Oster Pro 1200 Blender with Professional Tritan Jar and Food Processor A+
Best compact blender – Ninja Nutri Pro A+
Widest variety of colors – KitchenAid Diamond Vortex 5-Speed Blender A

Best Blenders for Protein Shakes

Best Overall- Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, Professional-Grade, 48 oz. Container, Black

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Undoubtedly one of the best blenders ever developed, there is little that you could ask of a blender that the Vitamix E310 can’t do. From blending velvety smooth protein shakes and smoothies to cooking hot soup, the E310 is the most versatile blender on the market.

It comes standard with a 48-ounce BPA-free Eastman Tritan copolyester blending jar, stainless steel blades, and a 1380-watt motor that can power through tough ingredients with bogging or stalling.

If you want to go way past simple protein shakes and truly experience all that a blender is capable of, then look no further—crushing ice and making peanut butter or almond milk are not even a challenge.

Like all members of the Vitamix family, this great blender is designed to liquify the toughest ingredients and make their total nutrition available to you.

Best of all, it is self-cleaning. A few drops of dish soap and 30-seconds is all it takes to completely clean the blender and have it ready to go again.

Vitamix E310 Pros

  • 10-speed manual controls
  • Pulse switch
  • 1.4L pitcher with a low profile
  • It goes with a mini tamper to aid in getting uniform textures
  • A 5-year warranty that can be upgraded to 8 years on the Vitamix Website

Vitamix E310 Cons

High initial investment

Nutribullet Pro 900

NutriBullet Special Edition NutriBullet Pro 900 - Watt Blender (6)

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Nutribullet is one of the most recognized names among smoothie enthusiasts. Since the line was first introduced in 2007 as a complement to the less powerful and capable Magic Bullet, the name has become synonymous with quality and durability.

The heart of the Pro 900s effectiveness at mixing a protein shake, grinding coffee beans, crushing ice, or performing any other blending task is its 900-watt motor.

This powerful motor spins the patented stainless-steel extractor blades at up to 24,000 RPMs creating a cyclonic vortex effect. You could think of it as a tornado in a jar that draws ingredients into the spinning blades assuring that even the hardest and thickest materials come out smooth and well blended.

Of course, as the heir apparent to the original on-the-go smoothie machine, the Nutribullet Pro 900 provides convenience to people with a busy lifestyle. 2 32-ounce cups and an assortment of flip-top comfort lip rings with handles.

There is even a handy recipe book to get you started and help you realize what this little giant of a personal blender is capable of.

If you are new to the protein shake world and smoothies in general, then this is one of the best blenders for protein shakes to get you started right.

Nutribullet Pro 900 Pros

  • Power to crush and blend nuts, seeds, leafy greens, ice, and frozen berries easily.
  • Compact size
  • Large blending container
  • Can make a basic protein shake in less than 10 seconds
  • Simple to operate
  • 5-year warranty

Nutribullet Pro 900 Cons

No variable speed control

capacity is limited compared to full-sized countertop blenders

Blendtec Professional Quiet Blender

Blendtec Professional 800 Blender with WildSide+ Jar (90 oz), Sealed Sound Enclosure, Industries Strongest and Quietest Professional-Grade Power, 11-Speed Touch Slider, Self-Cleaning, Black

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The Blendtec quiet line was originally developed for smoothie and coffee shops where maintaining a calm atmosphere was key to keeping customers happy. No one wants to holler over a noisy machine to carry on a conversation or have a grinding noise in their ear when reading.

The great thing is that this same technology can help you maintain a peaceful household. If you have an early riser in your home, there is no longer a need for everyone to be disturbed when they make their morning power shake.

With the lowest dB rating on the market, the Blendtec Professional Quiet Blender, with its soundproof enclose, operates slower than other blenders.

This professional blender offers more than just quiet operation, though. Its 1800-watt motor has the power to spare and can pulverize frozen ingredients into healthy smoothies in an instant. It’s not a challenge for this blender to mix protein powder.

The Blendtec Pro also offers six pre-programmed cycles and an eleven-speed manual speed slider with a pulse button. You can choose a set and forget cycle for convenience or use the variable speed controls for custom blending tasks.

Blendtec Quiet Blender Pros

  • 10-year warranty
  • Professional grade blender with a commercial drive system
  • 11-speed manual control
  • 6 pre-programmed cycles
  • 1800-watt motor
  • Great for nut butter, frozen drinks, protein shakes, and most other blender tasks
  • Quietist blender on the market

Blendtec Quiet Blender Cons

An expensive blender for home use

It doesn’t come with a tamper

Some users have reported that smaller containers wobble and leak at higher speeds.

Hamilton Beach Personal Blender

Hamilton Beach Personal Blender for Shakes and Smoothies with 14 Oz Travel Cup and Lid, Black (51101AV)

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If you are on a tight budget or are one who frequently forgets where they left things, then the Hamilton Beach Personal blender might be ideal for you.

It can’t be recommended for its bells and whistles because it honestly doesn’t have any. It is a single-speed, button-activated personal blender with limited power.

It does have to go for it are simplicity, compactness, and price. Frequently available in the twenty-dollar range and measuring only 5.2 x 4.2 x 11.9 inches, it is ideal as a traveling companion when you wouldn’t want to risk higher-priced blenders or when space in your bags is at a premium.

It does come with a 14-ounce blending mug with a travel lid and has stainless steel blades for easy maintenance.

Hamilton Beach Personal Blender Pros

  • Simple one-button operation
  • A cheap blender by any standards
  • One of the most compact blenders on the market
  • Powerful enough to make a protein shake

Hamilton Beach Personal Blender Cons

It only has a 175-watt motor

Plastic drive parts

Not suitable for tasks beyond preparing protein shakes and soft smoothies

Single-speed

Vitamix Ascent 3300

Vitamix A3300 Ascent Series Smart Blender, Professional-Grade, 64 oz. Low-Profile Container, Black

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There is no better line of countertop blenders on the market that can truly compete with those offered by Vitamix blender for making juice. They are the company that started it all and have stayed dedicated to providing the highest quality, most durable, and technologically advanced juicing blenders on the market.

For proof, you need to look no further than the Vitamix Ascent 3300. This quality blender offers almost too many features to keep track of it.

It can be used with multiple-sized blending containers, but that is a common feature. With Vitamix, the jars communicate with the motor base. Its intelligent blender will automatically adjust blending intensity and times to provide the best performance for the jug chosen.

It has a built-in programmable timer that will automatically turn this countertop blender off at the correct time. Most of us who use a blender regularly have experienced unexpected phone calls or kids interrupting our thoughts, leading to over-blending. This timer eliminates that worry.

Its most advanced feature, though, is the Vitamix perfect blend app. Available for iOS or Android operating systems, this app places 17 programs and 500+ recipes at your fingertips anywhere you have your phone.

The Vitamix Ascent 3300 comes standard with a 64-ounce low profile pitcher to fit under most cabinets, a tamper to make sure all ingredients get properly blended, and a Simply Blending Cookbook to make blending fun and easy for chefs from the novice to the expert.

Vitamix Ascent 3300 Pros

  • It is a Vitamix
  • Longest warranty in the industry
  • Easy to clean
  • 2.2 hp motor
  • Can make hot soups and sauces
  • Liquifies frozen fruit, leafy greens, and hard vegetables easily
  • Rated as one of the most durable blenders available
  • One of the best protein shake blenders for use with juices
  • Made in the U.S.A.

Vitamix Ascent 3300 Cons

High initial investment

It tends to be a little loud

Nutribullet Rx Personal Blender

nutribullet RX Personal Blender for Shakes, Smoothies, Food Prep, and Frozen Blending, 45 Ounces, 1700 Watts, Black (N17-1001)

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When the original 250-watt magic Bullet Blender was first created, I am sure that no one ever dreamed that someday one of its offspring would sport a 1700-watt motor and be the most powerful blender in the personal category.

Yes, this beast can make a protein shake, but it can do so much more than it is almost a shame to use just for that simple task. This beast of a blender can grind and liquefy anything that you could reasonably put in a blender, including tough leafy greens, hard vegetables, nuts, frozen fruit, and ice cubes.

It can even make hot soups and sauces and comes with a 34 oz souper Blast pitcher with a vented cap just for this purpose.

More than just powerful, the Nutribullet Rx is easy to use. There are only two buttons to push, no dials to turn, or anything to hold down. Set it, and when you place the cup or pitcher on top of the motor base, it automatically starts blending at shuts itself down once all the ingredients are properly pureed.

It is truly a set-and-forget blender.

Its secret is in high operating speed in conjunction with the patented extractor blades. They create a powerful vortex that constantly draws ingredients to the bottom of the cup, where they are pulverized and forced back to the top.

This enables this intelligent blender to detect when smooth consistencies have been achieved and shut itself down. This is definitely the best blender for protein shakes in the single-serve category.

Nutribullet Rx Personal Blender Pros

  • Strongest single-serve blender on the market
  • 1700-watt motor
  • Lip rings and flip-top lids for comfortable drinking
  • It comes standard with three different sized blending jars
  • Create almond butter and milk with ease
  • Comes with Nature’S Prescription Book
  • Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
  • The simplest operating system on the market
  • BPA-free

Nutribullet Rx Personal Blender Cons

No manual control of the blending process

Pricey for this size blender

Not as versatile as other blenders

Some users have reported that seals begin to leak with daily use

Blendtec Designer 725

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Are you a smoothie enthusiast that likes your drinks the way you like them? If you are, then you will love the Blendtec Designer 725. 100-speeds give you the ultimate control to achieve your desired texture, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Almost everything about this blender is uniquely designed to make better smoothies, and fruit-infused protein shakes.

The primary blending container is a five-sided affair that helps push food to the blades, and though it has a 90-ounce capacity, it is recommended not to be field past the 36-ounce mark. Yes, that seems like a lot of extra volumes is going to waste, but Blendtec wants to make sure you never have to clean a mess off your counter, even if you forget to secure the lid.

The blades of the 725 are not stamped as in most other blenders but are made of forged stainless steel like a chef’s knife and eighty percent thicker to help guarantee years of trouble-free service even in a commercial setting. Few, if any, blenders have more durable blades than those in the 725.

Blendtec Designer 725 Pros

  • Six pre-programmed cycles
  • 3.8 horsepower motor
  • Most variable speeds of any blender
  • 8-year warranty
  • One of the most durable blenders on the market
  • Quiet operation for its size
  • Multiple blending jar options
  • Lighted control panel in four languages
  • Engineered and assembled in the U.S.A.
  • Dishwasher safe

Blendtec Designer 725 Cons

Some users have complained initial setup and calibration is complicated

Tends to make drinks frothy

On the expensive side for home use

Ninja Mega Kitchen System

Ninja Mega Kitchen System (Blender, Processor, Nutri Ninja Cups) BL770 (Renewed)

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This Ninja Kitchen System gets our nod as the best protein shake blender for adding nuts and seeds because it is so versatile there is little in the way of blending or food processing that it can’t do.

It comes with a 72-ounce blending jar, an 8-cup food processor bowl, and two 16-ounce Nutri Ninja cups with to-go lids to fit any size need you might have in the kitchen.

This variety of jugs, four different specialized sets of blades, and a 1500-watt motor make it ideal for protein shakes and much more. It is one of the few systems that make it possible for you to start with whole grains and seeds and have ready to bake bread dough in less than five minutes with a minimum of effort on your part.

Yes, this is one of the best blenders for protein shakes and smoothies. Beyond that, if you enjoy making nut butter and baking, it could be your best friend in the kitchen.

Ninja Mega Kitchen System Pros

  • Highly durable blender
  • Powerful motor and drive system
  • Works as a countertop blender, processor, and single-serving blender
  • Strong enough for frozen fruits, nuts, seeds, ice, and tough vegetables
  • One of the best systems in the Nutri Ninja family
  • Auto-iQ system
  • BPA free
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Variable speed control

Ninja Mega Kitchen System Cons

Some users report it works better with hard ingredients than softer fresh fruits.

Larger and heavier than most blenders

Oster Pro 1200 Blender with Professional Tritan Jar and Food Processor

Oster Pro 1200 Blender with Professional Tritan Jar and Food Processor attachment, Metallic Grey

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Not surprisingly, our favorite processor for protein shakes also happens to have a blender attachment. While most food processors are capable of mixing protein shakes, they are not the best tool for the job, nor were they ever intended to be.

A food processor is designed for chopping, grating, and kneading. They are not designed for blending. Still, we have to give credit where credit is due and admit that the Oster Blender Pro 1200 does a reasonable job blending fruit and mixing protein powder into a delicious shake.

The fact that it comes with an 8-cup, BPA-free Tritan plastic blending jar and a 5-cup processor cup simply mean you have all the tools you need at your disposal to complete almost any need you might have in the kitchen.

The Pro 1200 comes with a, you guessed it, 1200-watt motor, which makes it a low-powered blender and processor. This is made up for by having dual-directional blades and reversing motor that agitates ingredients and creates smoother blends.

Oster Pro 1200 Pros

  • 3 pre-programmed settings
  • Can crush ice into snowflakes
  • Adequate blender for protein shakes
  • Intuitive controls
  • Stainless steel blades
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Reasonably priced for what you get

Oster Pro 1200 Cons

Can’t handle heavy loads at a time

It tends to be loud and vibrate a lot

Plastic drive parts wear quickly with regular use

It doesn’t have a tamper

Ninja Nutri Pro

Ninja (BN401) Nutri Pro with Auto-iQ, 1100-Peak-Watt, Personal Blender, Cloud Silver

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At the top of everyone’s best blender for protein shakes list is the Ninja Nutri Pro, or Nutri Ninja as it is more often called. This portable blender offers 1100-watts of power in a simple, simple, and maintained package.

Designed specifically for people with bust lifestyles who still demand top performance, it comes standard with 2 24-ounce cups with spout lids and two Auto-iQ Programs that control blending speed, pauses, and pulses to create a perfect smoothie or protein shake time after time.

Ninja Nutri Pro Pros

  • One of the best small blenders for protein shakes
  • Powerful Motor
  • Dishwasher-safe cups, lids, and blade assembly
  • 1100-watt motor
  • Power to crush ice
  • Easy to use and maintain

Ninja Nutri Pro Cons

Very loud

Limited versatility

Why Use a Blender For Protein Shakes

Whether you are looking to lose weight, add muscle, or increase your protein intake, protein shakes are a wonderful addition to a healthier lifestyle. They can be used as meal replacements, metabolism boosters, or to assure that your body receives all the amino acids it needs to stay in balance and keep building healthy cells.

The one issue with making protein shakes is that it can be difficult to get protein powders to mix completely. If you have used a shaker cup, you know they are less than ideal and often leave you drinking a frothy, grainy drink full of lumps.

That is where a blender comes in. A blender makes it possible for you to mix silky smooth shakes and makes it possible for you to creates more nutritious drinks by combining protein powders with your favorite smoothie recipes.

choco banana smoothie

A chocolate banana smoothie or vanilla strawberry mix is a wonderful and delicious way to boost your energy levels or help you recover after an exhausting day.

Before Choosing a Protein Shake Blender

There are a number of things that you should consider before you start shopping for a blender to make protein shakes. These are more about you than the blender but will help you make the most cost-effective decision when you start looking at blenders.

Portability

mixed fruits in blender

Where will you be using your blender? Do you need a blender that you can throw in your gym bag and take with you? If you do, then one of the compact personal blenders may be where you should start looking.

Are you only interested in adding more protein to your morning smoothies? Then portability probably won’t be high on your list of features to look for.

Other Uses

Do you want a blender just for whipping up a simple protein shake, or will you be using it for other jobs? Most blenders, even low-powered units, will work to mix protein powders.

If you also want a machine to crush ice, grind coffee beans, and make green smoothies, you will want a blender with more muscle, and if you are going to use it for cooking meals and baking, you will need a host of added features.

Features

small blender profile

What features are important to you? Are to-go cups with flip-top lids a must-have? Perhaps a self-cleaning feature is high on your list, or you would be happy with any dishwasher-safe blender.

It is best to know what your requirements are before you start to shop. It is easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles that today’s blenders and kitchen systems offer and end up with a machine that costs more than you need to spend but doesn’t fit your lifestyle and needs.

 

Guide to Buying a Blender for Mixing Protein Powder Shakes

small blender on table

Picking a blender for protein shakes is a very personal decision. That is why we began this article with questions you ask yourself when deciding your priorities in a blender for protein shakes. After all, your version of the best blender for protein shakes and someone else’s could be two very different machines.

Now we offer this short guide to the key points you should pay attention to when picking a protein shake blender for your personal use.

Type

Countertop Blenders

large blender

There are many different ways of classifying blenders, but the most commonly used is by size and portability. Larger blenders that require a fair amount of counter space may be referred to as stand blenders, countertop blenders, or simply as blenders.

These are the blenders most people are familiar with and have been with us for decades. They are suitable for most blending jobs, including making a protein shake, but you should be aware that their power level, quality, price, and functionality can vary greatly.

Single Serve

These are blenders with smaller jars or cups designed to make fixing a single smoothie or protein shake easy and convenient. On the smaller side, they include models like the Magic Bullet that created the category and go all the way up to some that blur the line on size, like the Nutribullet Rx.

High-Performance

This can be a slightly confusing class as blenders as it may include models of any size. What they will all have in common are exceptional power and performance characteristics.

The majority of Nutribullet, Blendtech, Ninja blenders would fall into this category, and all Vitamix blenders do. These blenders can mix protein powder, crush ice, liquify vegetables, and some can even heat sauces and soups just with the friction their blades generate.

blending fruit

If you are a true foodie and want a do-everything blender, then a high-performance blender will be your best bet but be advised a powerful blender does not come cheap.

Costs

Cost is always a consideration when purchasing a kitchen appliance. That is one reason we advise examining your needs so closely. There is no need to pay for features and performance that you will never use.

That being said, it doesn’t matter if you are buying a car or a blender. The more you can spend, the more features, power, and higher quality you will have to choose from. Blenders for protein shakes can run the gamble from less than twenty dollars for a cheap blender, too, oh my god.

The best blender for protein shakes for your personal use will cost what it costs based on your lifestyle needs.

Power

Blenders can come with motors that range from less than 200-watts to over three horsepower. As a general rule, the more power a chosen blender offers, the more capable it will be. If you intend to mix a protein shake with water or some form of milk, most any blender will work.

coffee beans blender

If you want to make green smoothies, grind ice or nuts, and coffee beans, you will need a minimum of a 1000-watt model, and that is for a personal-sized blender. You will need to start looking around the 1500-watt range for countertop models.

You may be able to find a low-powered blender that can handle these jobs, but they will be the exception rather than the rule.

Ease of Care

Almost as important as how a blender performs is how easy it is to care for. Most of us have had at least one appliance that was a counter queen simply because it was a pain to wash after use.

Regardless of size, blenders look for models with self-cleaning functions for the utmost in easy care. If there isn’t one available in your size or price range, then make sure it has stainless steel blades and dishwasher-safe jars.

Features

Just listing all of the available features on blenders today would probably take an article close to the length of this one.

There are blenders that you can control with a phone app. There are blenders that turn themselves on and off, and even blenders that talk to themselves and you. Those are some of the most recent developments.

picking blender in market

With the hundreds of available options and the ones that are constantly streaming onto the market, the best we can advise is to shop carefully and avoid things that sound too good to be true.

Only buy blenders with fancy features from companies with a proven track record of quality customer support.

Materials

Generally, when talking about blender materials, the two areas most discussed are blender jugs and blades. Blades are pretty straightforward. Unless they are a specially engineered proprietary material, they should be stainless steel.

Blending containers are a little more difficult. Most will either be made of glass or some form of BPA-free plastic. Glass has the advantage of not absorbing odors or staining as easily as some plastics.

The downside of glass is that it is heavy and may be unsuitable for some people with strength or some health issues.

small blenders

Being lighter is the biggest advantage that plastic jars offer. But they are also more impact resistant and less prone to breakage.

On a final note about blender materials, remember it isn’t only the parts that can be seen that determine the quality of a machine. A blender with a metal drivetrain and ball bearings will run smoother and last longer than a machine with plastic parts. Pay as much attention to the materials inside the blender as to what is on the outside.

Final Thoughts

A protein shake is a wonderful way to boost your amino acid intake and help ensure that your body stays in proper balance and receives the nutrients you might be missing in your diet. Simple shakes can be made using a shaker cup, but as anyone who has walked this path can tell you, the results aren’t the best.

Drinks often come out lumpy, and you are limited to what ingredients you can add beyond powder. A blender can eliminate all of these drawbacks. Personal blenders are great for single servings, and larger blenders work well for batches.

Which blender will work best for you depends on your personal needs and goals? If you want protein-infused green smoothies, you will need more machines than simple protein shakes.

Regardless of your needs, we hope that you have found the information in this guide beneficial. While it is impossible to cover all of the options in blenders for protein shakes, we have tried to include something for everyone.