Were you looking to find the best personal blender? You’re in the right place! With nearly a decade of blending experience, we’ll help you pick the right one.
In this guide, expect to learn…
- My picks are the top personal blender options on the market today.
- What makes a good personal blender in the first place?
- You can save money by picking one for the specific tasks you need.
Let’s begin!
Don’t have time to read? Here’s a quick summary of the products we recommend.
| Product Name | Grade |
| Nutribullet Pro 900 | A+ |
| Nutri Ninja Auto-IQ BL482 | A |
| Nutri Ninja Pro 900 | A+ |
| Original Magic Bullet Blender | A |
| Hamilton Beach Personal Blender | A |
| Ninja Mega Kitchen System | A+ |
Best Personal Blender Options
Even though there are five blenders featured in this guide, these are my three favorite personal blenders that I’d recommend to anyone…
Personal Blender Basics
Personal blenders are smaller versions of counter-top blenders with the ability to make smaller servings that you can carry on the go.
The blending usually occurs directly in the cup you drink out of rather than inside a separate jar.
The blades screw onto the cup, which mounts to a base for blending.
Most cups will even include lip rings and/or handles that make them comfortable to sip and convenient to carry.
Read Also: The Top Blenders for Making Nut Butter
If you like spicy Indian cuisine, you might be looking for a way to bring it home. Please take a look at our list of the best blender for Indian cooking.
For more information on blender options, check out our Nutribullet vs. Ninja comparison.
Different Personal Blender Interfaces
There are two primary interface types that you’ll find in personal blenders:
Twist-on Blender Jar With No Buttons
An interface that doesn’t have any buttons. This means the blending cycle is started by pressing on the jar. You’ll mainly find this on blenders like the Nutribullet 900 and 600. The blending cycle starts as soon as you push the jar into the bottom piece. The only way to stop the cycle is to twist the jar back the other way or unplug the base of the blender.
You can also pulse by pushing the jar into the activators and not twisting. The twisting motion looks it in place, but it doesn’t actually start the blades moving.
The downside to this type of interface is that there’s no timer. You cannot safely walk away from the blender while the blades are spinning because it won’t shut off on its own unless the motor burns out.
Buttons and Programmed Blender Settings
You can use an interface with buttons to pulse, control speeds, start timed programs, and start/stop the blending cycle. It’s similar to what you’d expect on a regular counter-top blender.
This style is slightly more user-friendly and has the convenience of a timer on most models. The timer doesn’t only show you how long you’ve been blending for, but it’s also designed to shut it off after a certain amount of seconds have elapsed.
This is super convenient for people who like to do the same recipe every single time. All you need to do is throw the ingredients in, press a single button, and walk away. Because of the timer, you’ll get a consistent result.
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not a huge deal to monitor the blender while it’s going, but some folks may enjoy the extra convenience if they lack time in the morning.
Motor Power on Personal Blenders
Usually, personal blenders have 1/2-1/3 the horsepower of counter-top blenders.
Of course, there are exceptions, but this is true for many big blender brands.
For example, the Nutribullet 900 has 1.2 horsepower, while your typical counter-top Vitamix will have 2.2 horsepower.
This doesn’t mean that personal blenders are “weaker” per se.
The container sizes are much smaller and thus require much less power to pulverize and form a vortex.
I’ve found that my Nutribullet 900 can pulverize things just as well as my Vitamix, assuming I’ve got enough liquid in there, so a tamper is not needed.
As long as you can get the ingredients cycling towards the blades, you’re going to get very similar results.
Tampers are devices that keep the ingredients moving towards the blades during the blending cycle.
Best Personal Blender Reviews
Nutribullet Pro 900
The Nutribullet Pro 900 is one of my favorite personal blenders because it’s so simple, super convenient, and extremely effective.
It’s the go-to blender in my kitchen for small tasks.
It has an extremely simple interface with no buttons. Simply secure the blades, push down, and lock in then the blending cycle begins.
At 900 watts of power, it’s really all you need for a single person.
It also comes with two cups, lip rings, handles, and to-go lids for maximum convenience.
Related Article: Best Blenders for Wet and Dry Ingredients
- Extremely powerful and affordable.
- The interface is easy to use, with no guesswork with which buttons you should press.
- Easy to take off and on if you need to adjust ingredients.
- Cups are enjoyable to eat, drink out of, or spoon ingredients from thick blends.
Cons
- The sealing rings can fall off once in a while – need to make sure they’re in properly.
Read Also: Top Blenders for Frozen Bananas
Nutri Ninja Auto-IQ BL482
The Nutri Ninja Auto-IQ is the latest model in my personal blender line-up, and I have to say I’m very impressed. It’s one of the best Ninja blender models as far as I’m concerned.
It has 100 more watts of power than the Nurtibullet Pro 900 and feels very sturdy and professional.
It comes with buttons to run pre-programmed blending cycles or to pulse the blender.
Personally, I don’t find these things necessary, but I know others that love them.
Just like the Nutribullet 900, it also comes with cups to blend in and drink out of with “sippy lids” that are easy to put on.
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- It’s an extremely powerful personal blender – one of the most powerful besides for the bigger Ninjas like the BL660.
- Very easy to control and pulse with the buttons on the interface.
- Timer and programmed functions are helpful for getting consistent blends.
- It tends to be on the more expensive side.
- The base is on the heavier and larger side compared to the Nutribullet Pro 900.
Nutri Ninja Pro 900
The Nutri Ninja Pro 900 is very similar to the Nutribullet 900. It has the same motor power (900 watts) and interfaces without any buttons.
This means that it’s more than capable of making smoothies with frozen fruit, ice, and other ingredients that would struggle with a weaker model.
Personally, I cannot say I’d necessarily pick one over the other.
But one area where the Nutribullet Pro 900 comes out on top is the range of accessories.
The Nutri Ninja Pro has the cups and two Sip & Seal lids.
This might be all you need, but some people may like the comfort lip ring and handled lip ring that comes with the Nutribullet.
It’s really a matter of preference.
Read Also: 7 Best Immersion Blenders for Almost Any Task
- Simple to use with a lot of power behind it.
- The best value on the personal blender market today.
- Cups with convenient sip and seal lids are great for people on the go.
- Many users report that the silicone gasket is difficult to clean – it starts to smell after some use.
Original Magic Bullet Blender
If you don’t like too much ice or frozen fruit in your smoothies, you might want to consider just getting the Original Magic Bullet.
With only 300 watts of power, it’s not very powerful at all…
But if you’re blending up some quick protein shakes without frozen ingredients, you don’t need anything else.
It’s also good for doing some light chopping or blending salsas.
- It’s one of the most affordable blenders on the market.
- Extremely easy to use and useful accessories such as lip rings, flip tops, and storage lid.
- Not very powerful, struggles with frozen ingredients and ice.
Hamilton Beach Personal Blender
If you’re on a really tight budget or need something you can easily travel with, this Hamilton Beach Personal Blender just might fit the bill.
It’s a weak blender — even less powerful than the original Nutribullet.
But it’s extremely small and easy to carry around. They even designed the cord to wrap around at the bottom of the base.
I personally would not make this blender a household staple, but it’s great for someone who needs something quick and easy.
Recommended Article: Top 8 Best Ninja Blender Models 2020
- It has a very small footprint, a 14-oz blending jar, and an extremely light base.
- It also fits easily in a car cup holder with a convenient lid.
- A 175-watt motor is only capable of handling the light blends.
- Many users complain about motor burnout.
Ninja Mega Kitchen System
The Ninja Mega Kitchen System is so much more than a personal blender. It’s a personal blender with a counter-top blender and food processor capabilities. It has just as much ice-crushing power as the Ninja Auto IQ listed above. However, you have that option when you want to make a large batch or chop in a food processor. What’s amazing is that it’s usually not that much more expensive than the standard personal blender.
Who It’s For: Large families with slightly bigger budgets than the average personal blender.
Check out our guide on the best blender food processor combo if you wanna see other options like this.
- Powerful and extremely versatile.
- It has to-go cups but can also do large batches and be used as a food processor.
- A bit bulkier and slightly pricier.
Top Picks By Application
What’s the Best Personal Blender for the Money?
Out of all the blenders on this list, I think that Nutri Ninja 900 is the best value for the money.
It’s one of the best-selling personal blenders on the market for good reason.
It’s one of the few blenders (besides the Nutribullet Pro 900) that can handle thick blends without breaking the bank.
You’re paying for the powerful motor and solid design rather than buttons or functions which aren’t totally needed.
If you’re looking for cheap above all else – then the Original Magic Bullet is probably the way to go.
At the time of writing this, it’s about one-third the cost of the higher-end personal blenders.
I don’t recommend it if you want to do ice and frozen fruit, but it’s great for thinner smoothies, making sauces, and doing some chopping jobs.
If you’re looking for detailed comparisons for nutribullets, check out my reviews for the best nutribullet options.
What’s the Best Personal Blender for Protein Shakes?
There are two blenders on this list I’d recommend for protein shakes because it depends heavily on what kind of protein shakes you’re going to be making.
Want something that can easily blend some liquid + powder that you can take to the gym locker room? Then go with the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender. It’s light and super easy to carry around.
Do you prefer thicker protein shakes with things like frozen bananas or peanut butter? Go for the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ.
It’s got more than enough power for that and can even make things like protein-shake ice cream.
What’s Best Personal Blender for Travel?
If you’re going to be using your personal blender primarily for travel, the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender is probably your best bet.
It’s small enough to fit into a suitcase and isn’t a burden to use a hotel.
The travel lid makes it easy to go from a hotel to a business meeting or whatever you’ve got planned for the day.
Even though it doesn’t have a lot of power, it’s unlikely you’ll be traveling with bags full of frozen fruit and ice cream.
What’s Best Personal Blender for Hot Liquids?
There aren’t many personal blenders that are safe for hot liquids because they don’t have venting lids. If you need a guide on the best blender for hot liquids, check our list if you’re looking to buy one for your soups, coffee, and hot beverages.
Without the ability to vent, pressure can build up inside the vessel and cause it to explode.
That’s why I’d recommend getting an immersion blended designed specifically for coffee.
The Nutribullet Rx does have a venting lid for making soup, but the manufacturers specifically state you shouldn’t start blending with hot liquids.
What’s Best Personal Blender for Green Smoothies?
When you’re making a green smoothie, you want all the stems and leaves to be completely liquefied.
For that reason, the best choice here is the Nutri Ninja or Nutribullet 900.
Both have the ability to create a powerful vortex that will make quick work of kale, spinach, or other greens.
What’s Best Personal Blender with Travel Cups?
Both the Nutri Ninja and Nutribullet have very nice to-go cups, but I prefer those from the Nutribullet.
The cups on the Nutri Ninja only come with a Sip and Go Lid.
On the other hand, the Nutribullet comes with a bunch of lid accessories, including:
- Sip and Go style lid
- Standard lip ring without handle
- Lip ring with handle.
Both are good, but it’s nice to have the lip rings for enjoying a smoothie in the comfort of your own home.
The “sippy” lids are good for taking things in the car.
Further Reading: Best NutriBullet: Review of Their Top 5 Blenders
Wrap Up
It’s a hard choice, but let’s do a quick recap…
If you’re going for strict ice crushing (with no liquid) go with the Nutri Ninja Auto-IQ Personal Blender.
If you’ve got a little more space and know you’re going to want to do bigger batches AND personal batches, go with the Ninja Mega Kitchen System.
Finally, if you want something small that does a GREAT job at thick frozen drinks then go with the Nutribullet Pro 900.
I strongly believe that you’ll be happy with all of them, so don’t worry too much!
Want to see our current list for the top blenders of the year and different types?
Check out this guide.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
