The Best Vitamix Blenders for Every Kitchen, According to Our Tests

Since its inception in 1921, Vitamix has become the go-to for chefs and in-the-know home cooks who want the best blender on the market. If you are reading this, you might have a hunch that Vitamix is the right brand for you, and you may need help deciding which is best for your morning smoothie or making almond butter.

Why are these blenders so popular? The answer lies in the container, designed to create a vortex that draws the ingredients into aircraft-grade stainless steel blades. The tamper plunges the contents to eliminate air pockets and blend more smoothly without exhausting or overheating the motor. The metal drive system improves the lifespan and enables the machines to make smoother blends. This is all to say — Vitamix is unparalleled in efficiency, power, and durability for blender tasks.

The company now boasts some 20-something types of blenders at various price points, from $150 to $900. We tested 11 top options in our lab to find the best for smoothies, soups, and nut butters. Since Vitamix is so prevalent in professional kitchens, it is no surprise that they all performed well in our tests. We narrowed down a winner for three categories to make it more useful for those navigating the extensive catalog and to find the best blender for your needs.

Our Top Picks

Best Vitamix for Beginners: Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

Pros: It performed better than the Vitamix One, and the wide container makes scraping and cleaning easier.

Cons: It is on the less powerful end of the Vitamix scale, so the motor smelled overworked at the end of the smoothie test.

The Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender has many great features for a lower price than other Vitamix models. It could be better for nut butter, but it's an excellent blender for beginners because it easily handles tough ingredients like ice, kale, or grains. We also love how compact the blender is versus other models making it easy to store when not in use. Even though it is a more straightforward design and more entry-level model, it still comes with ten speeds making it a substantial improvement on that bargain margarita machine you got in college. Testers found that the Explorian performed better than the Vitamix One, which is a similar price. Peanut butter still had some chunks, and it didn’t blend as smoothly as some other models. But it does the trick quickly and efficiently for basic blender functions, and you can't beat the price for a Vitamix. 

Price at time of publish: $290

• Jar capacity: 48 ounces
• Weight: 10.5 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 18 inches

Best Smart Blender: Vitamix A2500 Ascent Series Smart Blender

Pros: The smoothie was very well blended and frothy, and the program options are helpful for soups.

Cons: The peanut butter clumped up on the sides, and it was challenging to tamp down at smaller volumes of nuts. 

The Vitamix A2500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is our favorite of the four Ascent models we tested. Out of 11 Vitamix blenders at every price point, it performed the best overall. The A2500 is our favorite smart model for many reasons. It’s excellent for tech-savvy cooks who want features like an LED screen, wireless connectivity, and many different blending programs and settings. It’s our favorite of the Ascent models because it makes quality smoothies and purees, though we wouldn’t recommend it for nut butter due to its wider jar. 

Price at time of publish: $550

• Jar capacity: 64 ounces
• Weight: 11.86 lbs
• Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 17 inches

Best Professional Grade Vitamix Blender: Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender

Pros: Testers said the quality of the high-density plastic plunger is better than other models, and the more narrow container is great for nut butters and smoothies alike. 

Cons: The container is more tricky to clean, given the narrow shape, and it has fewer extra features than Ascent models. 

Testers loved the Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender for many reasons. Compared to blenders with wider containers, the tapered blending jar of the 5200 creates the powerful vortex Vitamix is known for. It’s less about all the bells and whistles — this is a straightforward appliance that gets right to the point with power and speed. You can easily puree anything from smoothies to nut butter to nut milk and know the results will be smooth and consistent every time. It’s the right choice for professionals and cooks who don’t need the extra smart programs, and it’s a favorite in our test kitchens. 

Price at time of publish: $550

• Jar capacity: 64 ounces
• Weight: 10 lbs. 9 ounces
• Dimensions: 20.5 x 8.75 x 7.25 inches
  

Types of Vitamix Blenders

Vitamix has five categories of blenders, including handheld models, their most basic entry-level model (the Vitamix One), and the three most robust categories (which include our three winners): Ascent, Explorian, and Legacy.  

Beginner Vitamix Blenders

For some people, a blender is simply a vehicle for a smoothie. If you need a few features, digital touch screens, and presets, you can find plenty of entry-level options from Vitamix. They'll be less powerful than more pricey models, but they do the trick. Many come with smaller tampers. The Explorian models are the perfect entry-level blenders for most households. With ten variable speeds, a 48-ounce container, and a pulse feature, most cooks will find the Explorian blender more than enough. Its high-powered motor will make easy work of any ingredient and is adequate for nearly every cook who isn’t looking for a more professional-grade motor.

Smart Vitamix Blenders

Some households want something more than a manual dial. As you can imagine, Vitamix has updated its features to include digital screens and Bluetooth, so there are some advanced features to break down. The Vitamix's Ascent series models we tested ranked at the top of our results. While the blenders are pricier, they boast much more control and flexibility, like the mix-and-match "self-detect containers" for personalized blending programs. The Ascent technology can detect your chosen container and adjust the settings accordingly. It also comes with various controls, from switches to touchscreens, so you can tailor the machine you choose to your lifestyle.

Classic Vitamix Blenders

Most professional-grade blenders offered by Vitamix have few bells and whistles. The main draw is power and capacity, which are the mixers for you if you need to do bigger jobs. The Legacy blender containers are perfect for everything from soups to milling whole grains. They come with pre-programmed settings for smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purees, and self-cleaning. The commercial-grade 2.2-peak horsepower motor makes easy work of robust tasks, and the 64-ounce container can handle large recipe batches.

The Tests

To test how the blenders performed at different speeds, we made peanut butter from roasted unsalted peanuts and smoothies with kale leaves, frozen pineapple, and orange juice. We evaluated the performance regarding noise, motor performance (e.g., were there any strong smells as it ran), the consistency of the smoothies and nut butter, and also how easy the units were to maneuver and clean.

Factors to Consider

Containers

Containers are a consideration for Vitamix machines from capacity to type of container. Check the specifications for a blender that works with every Vitamix container and attachment. Some only work with the standard container. The brand recommends a grain container to grind things like flour. Our testers found that blenders with wider jars struggled more with the peanut butter test, even with the assistance of a tamper. If making nut butter is vital, look for a Vitamix with a more tapered container. 

Controls

Vitamix offers numerous controls, from old-school dials to digital touch screens with all sorts of smart features. If you are more of a Luddite looking for a straight utilitarian model, opt for a more classic knob style in the variable speed dial. Specific Vitamix controls have preset blending programs for recipes like smoothies, hot soups, and more. You can also control the blades' speed with most models, so presets are only necessary if you are a set-it-and-forget-it kind of cook. 

Motor

Each model has different features, including motor speed and power. If you need more power, make sure to check the specifications. Sometimes you need to make a smoothie when the rest of the household is asleep, so check the decibel levels on each model. The variations may seem minuscule, but even a few make a difference.

Weight

Vitamix bases are sometimes difficult for some to maneuver in and out of storage if you need help lifting heavy items. If you have such concerns or mobility issues, check the weight of the unit you are considering to make sure you can use it without a problem. Most Vitamix blenders weigh between 10 and 13 pounds, and the lighter models are generally Explorian and Legacy options.

FAQ

How do I clean a Vitamix? Are Vitamix blenders dishwasher-safe?

Many Vitamix machines have a self-clean setting. If you have such a machine, you must fill the container halfway with warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap and run the clean function. Pour the dirty water out and then air dry upside down. If you don’t have a clean setting, do the same, but gradually increase the speed up to the maximum setting. Turn off and dry. You can put the container in the dishwasher, but the brand advises against it if you want to extend the life of your machine.

Where are Vitamix blenders made?

Vitamix blenders are made in Olmstead Falls, OH. The company was founded in 1921 as The Natural Food Institute but renamed Vitamix in the 30s.

How long do Vitamix blenders last?

Vitamix machines should last up to ten years with proper care. They don’t come with a lifetime warranty, so following care instructions is essential.

Can you use a Vitamix as a food processor?

Vitamix blenders can perform food processor functions like blending and chopping but can’t slice or do more controlled tasks. Some Vitamix models come with interchangeable attachments if you need food processor functions.

Our Expertise

Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a former restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, and Thrillist. She wrote this story using testing data, research, and culinary expertise.