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Best blenders for smoothies: top smoothie makers, as recommended by Mumsnet users
Have a morning smoothie or lunchtime shake ready in moments with one of these top blenders for smoothies.
By Tammy Jacks | Last updated May 10, 2023
Personal blenders, also known as bullet blenders, can whip up a healthy smoothie in seconds, allowing you and your family to front-load your day with a hefty shot of fresh fruit and veg, and add extras such as nuts, yoghurt and seeds.
They’re also great for making frothy milkshakes and desserts, and even small portions of baby food, sauces and dips.
In fact, they’re such a versatile kitchen tool, it’s no surprise Mumsnetters rate them highly, with one mum saying, “I make a smoothie every other day for breakfast (I make enough for two days and store in the fridge) with seasonal organic fresh fruit and ground almonds.”
Not all blenders for smoothies are created equal, so we’ve scoured the Mumsnet forums and trusted reviews for the best personal blenders to buy right now.
Mumsnetters are huge fans of gadgets and appliances that save time, money and faff in the kitchen and as such, we've compiled handy buying guides to the best blenders, the best soup makers, the best waffle makers, the best ice cream makers, the best pasta makers and the best popcorn makers, all featuring tried and tested products, as recommended by Mumsnet users.
Best blenders for smoothies: Editor's picks
1. Best overall blender for smoothies: NutriBullet 600 Series Blender
Price: RRP £60 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Power: 600W | Capacity: 0.68 litres
What we like
- Blends tough ingredients
- Works fast
- Has rubber feet to secure it on countertop
- Dishwasher-safe parts
What we don't like
- Noisy in use
- Can't be used to crush ice
What Mumsnet users say
“I bought one last year and I still love it. Initially, I loved making smoothies with it, and liked that I could hide a lot of food I would not have eaten. Now I also use it for soups, to blend baby food, crush ice for our Friday night cocktails, make breadcrumbs, grate cheese, make almond ground from whole almonds and probably more that I can't remember” - tried and tested by user1471523870.
Our verdict
The ever-popular NutriBullet range never seems to disappoint. We’ve picked the 600 series as our favourite for its affordable price point and its ability to power through fibrous veg and deal with nuts and seeds with ease. If you’re serious about smoothies, this is a great buy as it's fast and copes well with anything you throw at it, giving you a fabulously smooth smoothie in under a minute. Smart technology means it magically knows when to speed up and slow down.
We love the NutriBullet’s sleek design and neat footprint, which means it’s easy to store, but you’d be equally happy to have it out on display on your work surface. It has rubberised feet which help it to stay stable when in use, and the blade housing is quick to clean. With no set-up required and one simple twist-and-go mechanism, the NutriBullet 600 is a real winner for most households.
2. Best budget blender for smoothies: Cookworks 2-Piece Personal Blender
Price: RRP £20 | Buy now from Argos
Key specs
Power: 250W | Capacity: 0.55 litres
What we like
- Very reasonable price
- Dual speed setting for hard to blend ingredients
- Easy to clean
- Comes with two Tritan jugs
What we don't like
- Less powerful motor than some
- Limited capacity (0.55 litres)
- No measuring markings on the jugs
Our verdict
It's the cheapest blender on our list but the Cookworks 2-Piece Personal Blender certainly doesn’t compromise on quality or efficiency. The 250-watt motor is powerful enough for a variety of smoothie ingredients including most fruits and vegetables thanks to the double-action blade that cuts both vertically and horizontally and purées foods well enough for weaning purposes.
We like the slim, sleek design and the shatterproof Tritan jug (that’s considered safer than glass), plus the fact that this personal blender comes with a second Tritan jug and BPA-free bottle. This blender isn’t ideal for tougher ingredients like coffee beans and ice cubes but it can be used for hot foods like soup or stews.
3. Best smoothie maker for families: Salter NutriPro Extractor
Price: RRP £65 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Power: 1200W | Capacity: 1 litre
What we like
- Powerful motor
- Large capacity
- Can crush ice effortlessly
What we don't like
- Wider footprint than some
- A bit noisy
- Some say it can leak if not assembled correctly
What Mumsnet users say
“I have the Salter NutriPro. Cheaper than NutriBullet and I find it less messy than a handheld – particularly when using frozen stuff. We use it at least four times a week with frozen fruit etc and it’s still going strong two years later.” Recommended by BigMouseLittleHouse.
“I have this Salter NutriPro. I have also found that small freezer bags fit the right amount of fruit/veg for the small beakers, so I spend Sunday chopping all the things to go into my smoothie, line the beaker with a freezer bag and then fill it up. In the morning, I take one bag out and put it into the blender cup, add liquid and then blend. Done” Tried and tested by DandelionAndBedrock.
Our verdict
If you want to make smoothies for the family but don’t want the expense and storage issues a jug blender brings, this Salter model will do just the job.
Its one-litre capacity makes enough smoothies for the whole family to have a glass with breakfast, and it has a really powerful 1200 watt motor that copes well with all manner of fruit and veg.
It comes with two 800ml travel cups with lids, which are dishwasher-safe, and has some great features, including suction feet that keep it steady, and a non-drip cup. It can also be used for blending soups and sauces.
4. Most versatile blender: Philips Daily Collection Mini Blender
Price: RRP £45 | Buy now from Asda
Key specs
Power: 350W | Capacity: 0.6 litres
What we like
- Quiet in use
- Great value – extras included
- Has a multi-chopper for herbs, onions, nuts and meat
What we don't like
- Smaller than some other models
- Only blends small amounts of ice
- Useful cord storage
Our verdict
The great-value Philips Daily Collection is a personal blender as well as a mini chopper, which is ideal if you don't have a food processor as it can chop vegetables, herbs and even meat. It comes with a glass jug as well as cups to give you extra flexibility.
Although less powerful than other blenders on our list, it makes really good smoothies with a good consistency provided you add enough liquid and some softer fruits or veggies too, and has no trouble with tough ingredients. The jug, blades and cups are all dishwasher-safe, and the machine has a really small footprint. A great choice for a first home or if you’re low on kitchen space.
Read next: The best ice cream makers to buy, as recommended by Mumsnetters
5. Best small blender for smoothies: Ninja Nutri Slim Blender
Price: RRP £50 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Power: 700W | Capacity: 0.47 litres
What we like
- Can crush ice
- Slimline
- Cup has measurement markings
- Has a pulse function to control speed
- Easy to use and wash
What we don't like
- You have to apply pressure to blend so you can’t press a button and leave it to work on its own
- Doesn’t have as much capacity as other models
- It’s a little noisy
What Mumsnet users say
"I use my Ninja Nutri regularly" Margomyhero
"Nutri ninja slim has a lot more power if you can stretch the budget" - Ollivander84
Our verdict
This small but powerful blender is ideal for compact spaces, sitting neatly in a worktop corner or kitchen cupboard for storage. The 700-watt motor means it has little trouble blitzing tough ingredients and it also crushes ice – something even NutriBullet models don’t claim to do. We also like that it’s easy to attach and remove the cup, which has measurement markings so you can decide how to much to make beforehand.
The blender comes with two cups and two sip-and-seal lids, so you can make smoothies for yourself and a family member in the morning, and be out the door with them in moments. The cups are dishwasher-safe and the blade housing rinses and washes really easily.
Read next: The best popcorn makers to buy, as recommended by Mumsnet users
6. Best blender for on-the-go smoothies: Sage The Boss To Go
Price: RRP £139 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Power: 1000W | Capacity: 0.5 litres
What we like
- Powerful motor
- Made with kinetic blades for smoother consistency
- Easy-to-lift loop on lids
- Quiet in use
What we don't like
- At the pricier end of the market
- Wider base and cup, not ideal for smaller hands
- Can be hard to unscrew cup from blade unit
What Mumsnet users say
“I have a Sage The Boss To Go. It's great and can take frozen fruits without any trouble.” PurpleCrazeHorse
Our verdict
This is another powerful blender with a 1000-watt motor that makes short work of fruit, veg, nuts and seeds. A kinetic blade and bowl system works to constantly pull the ingredients down towards the blades so that you don’t have to stop and shake it to ensure everything is blended. It produces a really fine smoothie with a light, bubbled feel.
The Sage has a smart chrome casing and a squat design that sits solidly on any work surface. It comes with a recipe book to give you some inspiration, as well as two tough Tritan dishwasher-safe sports cups and lids, with the ‘Sage Assist’ loop that makes the lids easy to remove.
7. Best blender for frozen fruit and veg: Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ
Price: RRP £79 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Power: 1000W | Capacity: 0.7 litres
What we like
- Good value for money
- Has additional Auto-IQ features
- Quiet in use
- Powerful motor
What we don't like
- Shakes about a little on the work surface when in use
- Powerful motor makes it a little noisy
- Not the easiest to clean
What Mumsnet users say
“I've broken a Kenwood and a Bosch stick blender making smoothies so now I have a giant Ninja contraption and it's amazing!” Ihavepatrick
Our verdict
Another great offering from Ninja, this blender is more powerful than the Ninja NutriSlim with a 1000-watt motor that blends almost anything. In fact, it’s the best blender for whizzing up a wide variety of frozen smoothie ingredients including both soft and hard fruits and vegetables. If you want to make smoothies that include lots of tough stemmed greens, like kale, and want to invest in a Ninja bullet blender, then it may be worth paying extra for this one.
It has ‘Auto IQ’ – two different one-touch blending programmes that allow you to blend at different speeds according to the ingredients you’ve used and the consistency you want. There’s also a pulse function to give you more control and let you gently blitz things like pesto and guacamole. The machine is neat, with a small footprint, and looks stylish enough to have on display, but is also small enough to pop easily into a cupboard if you prefer.
8. Best blender for food prep: Breville Blend Active Personal Blender
Price: RRP £23 | Buy now from Argos
Key specs
Power: 300W | Capacity: 0.6 litres
What we like
- Versatile
- Can crush ice
- Affordable
- Extras included
What we don't like
- Tall cup is tricky to wash
- Shakes a little in use
What Mumsnet users say
“We have a Breville Blend Active Blender. So easy to use – just chuck in some fresh or frozen fruit, veg, ice, fruit juice, yoghurt or even ice cream. Once blended, you just pop on the drinking lid, so not much washing up either.” Oldkeywest
Our verdict
The simple but effective Breville Blend Active Pro comes with a blending cup, a grinding mill for spices, nuts and coffee, and a food processor cup for chopping veg, meat and breadcrumbs. It’s small, so isn't a total replacement for a food processor, but if what you want is a good personal blender with the capacity to occasionally whizz up a spice blend or some breadcrumbs, then this is a great buy.
It creates a snow-like consistency when crushing ice and is also handy for puréeing small batches of baby food, as well as whipping up dips like hummus and pesto. It’s very easy to operate with just one simple button (plus a pulse button for controlling speed), and cleans up well, though you might want to get a bottle brush to clean the tall smoothie cup.
9. Best portable personal blender: BlendJet 2 Portable Blender
Price: RRP £50 | Buy now from Currys
Key specs
Power: Not listed | Capacity: 0.47 litres
What we like
- Can be used to blend anywhere
- Entire unit is waterproof
- Crushes ice with ease
- Great for iced coffees and protein shakes too
What we don't like
- Fairly small capacity
- A little heavy to carry around in a small bag
- Self-clean function – just add water and detergent
- Long battery life
Our verdict
The nifty BlendJet 2 is a genius product if you want a smoothie at lunchtime but like it to taste really fresh. You can put all your ingredients into this leak-proof travel blender (that’s also made with BPA-free materials), take it out with you and then blend the ingredients into your smoothie whenever you’re ready for it. It lasts for 10 blends without needing to recharge, but you can plug it into any USB to charge it up too.
The cup is dishwasher-safe, but you can clean it simply by whizzing up soap and water, and we like the safety features such as the auto shut-off to help prevent accidents. As well as being great for smoothies, this blender will be handy for weaning, letting you blitz up cooked or raw fruit and veg for your baby on the go. We really like that the blender comes with three speed settings and a pulse function too.
What is a smoothie blender?
A blender for smoothies (or a personal blender) does a similar job to a jug blender, but is typically used for smoothies and for blending smaller amounts, offering speed and convenience.
Personal blenders can also be used for making pesto, hummus and sauces. But, generally speaking, they aren’t for blending hot ingredients like soup. However, the CookWorks Two Piece Blender can be used to blend soups, so be sure to check the instructions on your blender before buying. Some also come with attachments that allow you to grind coffee and ice, and to chop nuts.
They're most useful if you want to take a smoothie with you on the go in the mornings, or if you’re on a health kick and having smoothies for more than one meal a day.
How to choose a good blender for smoothies
Other than ensuring it will fit on your work surface and do all the jobs you need it to, here are a few things to look out for:
- Dishwasher-safe parts for ease of cleaning
- Good power – the higher the wattage, the smoother the blend
- Decent blades – stainless steel is generally best
- Automatic programmes that allow you to push a button and leave the blender to get to work on its own
- Different speed settings to give you more control
- A solid base and rubberised feet to stop it from moving around
- Spare cups and sports lids
- Extra features such as an ice crush button, and a container for chopping nuts, seeds and more
What's a good wattage for a smoothie blender?
Most standard blenders use around 500 watts which is sufficient for general smoothie ingredients such as bananas, apples, carrots, yoghurt etc.
The higher the wattage, the more powerful the blender and the smoother the result. This will also determine the price of the blender. However, bear in mind that blenders with a higher wattage are generally noisier, as has been reported with some Nutribullet models which use 1000 - 1200 watts.
Do I need a smoothie blender?
As with any kitchen gadget, a personal blender is handy as long as you use it regularly. If you only plan to make a smoothie once a month for you and your family members, then a jug blender will give you more versatility.
A personal blender does, however, take up a lot less space on the kitchen countertop than a jug blender, so if you don’t need a large capacity, then a personal blender is far easier to store.
Are portable blenders worth it?
Mini or portable personal blenders are designed to be taken on the go. A drinking cup with a blade at the bottom, you simply load up your ingredients into it before you leave the house and then blend when you’re ready for your smoothie.
They’re great if you want to have a smoothie in the office or for weaning when you're on the move. But if you’re mostly having your smoothie first thing in the morning, you'll be better off with an ordinary personal blender that comes with additional travel cups should you need them.
The best portable blender to buy is the BlendJet 2 Portable Blender, which is compact, leak-proof and great value for money.
Is a Nutribullet better than a blender?
This depends on your personal preferences. A Nutribullet is generally smaller than a blender, so although it takes fewer ingredients, it’s ideal for smaller kitchens. It also liquifies most hard, thick ingredients including root vegetables that many standard blenders can’t. The Nutribullet is pretty versatile as it comes with a separate milling blade (at no extra cost) that can grind coffee beans, nuts and grains like whole oats if a recipe calls for oat flour.
However, it’s advised not to put hot ingredients like soups or stews in the Nutribullet as the steam can cause a build-up of pressure in the machine, unless of course you go for the top of the range Nutribullet Rx Blender that has been specifically designed to blend hot foods.
What is the best Ninja personal blender?
Ninja is enormously popular in the blender market and makes two blenders, both of which we feature here. If it’s within your budget, the Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ is the best Ninja personal blender to buy for its power and useful blending programmes. For those looking for a slim-line blender, the Ninja NutriSlim Blender is the better option.
What is the best cheap blender?
We looked at several budget personal blenders and the one we think offers the best value for money is the Cookworks 2 Piece Personal Blender, which comes with two Tritan jugs, makes a mean smoothie and is priced at under £20.
Which blender is best for home use?
After carefully assessing the latest blenders, we believe that the Nutribullet 600 Series Blender is the best for home use. It has ultra-sharp Japanese blades and can pulverise the toughest ingredients within minutes. It also gets star ratings for being easy to use and easy to clean.
The cups are dishwasher safe and the size and flip-top lids make them ideal for on-the-go smoothies.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real parents
As always, we scoured the Mumsnet forums for recommendations and also made a note of any products that hadn’t impressed Mumsnetters. For instance, some blenders can only take a limited capacity and are fiddly to use and wash, while others aren’t powerful enough to crush ice or coffee beans but work well with most fruits and veggies.
Expert reviews
We also researched which personal blenders had aced tests with organisations, such as Which?, been awarded accolades with other reviews websites, and had impressed customers in product reviews.
Consumer feedback
We also spent hours scouring the internet for consumer suggestions and real recommendations from those who have personally bought and used the products themselves, paying special attention to features like value for money, the look and style of the product, its durability, power and capacity, ease of use and number of buttons/controls, plus additional accessories like jugs or cups with seal-proof lids.
Best products
We took all that information and made up a shortlist of personal blenders that had cropped up time and again in our research. For our final recommendations we picked the 10 best personal blenders from our shortlist that we felt offered the best range in terms of style and price, ensuring there was something there that would appeal to everyone.
Why you should trust us
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Prices and availability checked and updated by MNHQ on 10th May, 2023.