Best portable blender 2024: for your daily smoothies, dips, and drinks

In the last few years, gym bunnies, campers, and people with compact kitchens have discovered just how useful portable blenders can be. Cordless models don't need any connection to an outlet; they are compact enough to fit in most handbags and backpacks; and they'll be able to tackle making smoothies, juices, dips, salad dressings, sauces, batters, and more. How do I know? I've tested them all.

Alongside a team of experts, I've put the best portable blenders through exactly the same tasks as the best standard blenders on the market. I don't think you should have to make any compromises when you downsize, so the models in the list below can make a silky smoothie (even if you add lots of fibers and seeds), delicious dips, and lump-free protein shakes.

After using models from Ninja, BlendJet, Nutribullet, and Cuisinart, I've found the best six on the market. Our top pick is the Ninja Blast, which also happens to be one of the cheapest, but we've got the details of the best ones for every kind of task. And, if you like the idea of space-saving appliances, make sure to check out our guide to the best immersion blenders, which can still tuck into a drawer, but they have a bit more power too.

The quick list

Best portable blenders 2024

Best portable blender overall

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It takes a lot to earn the top spot in our buying guide and the Ninja Blast has recently taken the crown from Cuisinart's Evolution X. Why? It has a bigger capacity, liquid measures on the pitcher, it's lighter, smaller, and better value.

When we first opened this in the test kitchen, our experts were struck by how well-designed the NInja is. It's slim enough to sit in any water bottle holder ( both in backpacks and cup holders), available in a range of attractive colors, and has a useful flip-top lid that doesn't drip or dribble.

We put it through our standard range of tests. We made a smoothie with fibrous green spinach, seedy frozen raspberries, bananas, and tough frozen blueberries. The results were smooth, although we did find the odd lump of frozen strawberry leftover.

Alex, one of our experts, has been using this in his home ever since and says that it's remained consistent and impressive. He regularly adds a scoop of protein powder and creatine to his smoothie mix and the Ninja doesn't struggle to keep the mixture silky rather than lumpy.

What our experts are most excited by is the ice-crushing capacity. Given the shape, size, and power of the Ninja, we didn't initially have high hopes for how well the Ninja could handle ice, but this did a great job both in our tests and back at Alex's home. It crushed ice to a slushy consistency, with just a few seed-sized pieces left swilling around. It's one of the few portable blenders that we'd actually trust to make an ice cone.

Overall, it's easy to use, with a handy system of colored lights around the power button that lets you know when you can use the blender. It's easy to clean – you just add a little dish soap into the blender with water and press start, and it does a pretty good job cleaning up, even if you've left shake residue in there for a couple of hours. It has a blade cap to cover up the blades when the motor housing is uncovered, which is a great safety feature. Alex also liked the screw-on bottom, which means you can take shakes on the go without taking the blades and motor with you. This also passed our commute test.

However, it's definitely not perfect. Like most portable blenders, it struggles to process seeds. It's also not as good as a full-sized blender for making dips; it made a serviceable hummus, but not a great one. It's also fairly tall, so while it's actually a little more compact than the Evolution X, it's definitely better suited to a backpack than a handbag.

There's more information in our Ninja Blast review.

Best portable blender for the gym

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If you'll mostly be using your blender for protein shakes, it's important that it can a) make a good smoothie and b) incorporate powders into said smoothie without it going lumpy. Of all the models that we tested, the BlendJet was easily the best.

Whilst the Ninja did a good job of protein shakes, the BlendJet takes the edge on creating an ultra-smooth texture. It's also smaller, slimmer, and easier to fit into your gym bag and car cup holders. We gave it a test for how well it fares in backpacks during peak commuting time, throwing a full blender around in the bag and it didn't leak a drop. So, all your electricals will be safe beside it.

Our smoothie test is also tougher than the average and the BlendJet sped through it. We gave it fibrous spinach, frozen, seedy berries, ice, and oats, all of which whizzed away to almost nothing. If we're being picky, there was a hint of blueberry skin textures left behind, but it wasn't any more than we would expect from a portable blender. When we added a scoop of BlendJet's protein powder we made the perfect protein shake. There weren't any lumps at all. We also used it to make pancake batter, again a mix that risks getting lumpy, and it excelled. The only thing to note is that this might need a little shake as it blends to make sure that all the drink is reaching the blades.

The fact that there's also a pulse setting means you can use it at home to make dips with thicker ingredients. We tested it with half a can of chickpeas, tahini, a squeeze of lemon, and some cumin. That's some tough stuff for a blender to get through, but this was silky. Our experts used it for pesto, salsa, and guacamole. All turned out well, although we did need to take the bottle off and give the mix a stir, because the thicker ingredients can get stuck under the irremovable blades.

If you need some more power, I'd opt for the BlenderX. It's motor crushes ice much more effectively and consistently, but it's heavier, bigger, and clunkier. 

Our BlendJet 2 review has more information.

Most powerful portable blender

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This isn't the classic portable blender: it's bigger than a water bottle, needs to be plugged in, and it's a lot more powerful. We've included it in this guide because Nutribullet sends sip-style lids that screw onto the blending cups, transforming them into a bottle that you can take with you on the go.

I've had the Pro 900 for years and I honestly can't ever see myself switching. It fits neatly into my compact kitchen, is available in a range of colors, and it feels more versatile than any of the other models in this guide. Not only does the sip-style lid make it easy to travel with your smoothie, but the blending cups come with 18 oz, 24 oz, and 32 oz capacities. You can make a small serving for yourself, or a bigger portion that you store in the refrigerator with the help if Nutribullet's screw-on lids.

We put this through our classic smoothie test, which tells us how well the Pro 900 can handle tough spinach, frozen, seedy strawberries, tough blueberries, oats, and almond milk. I've thrown kale, seeds, and nut butter into my smoothies too and it's never let me down. Every smoothie I make is super smooth and expertly blended. It's arguably the best of the bunch, but the reason it's below BlendJet and Ninja is because it's so much bigger and heavier. This is the blender for people who put performance first.

Although simple to operate, the bullet-style blender shape can be a little limited on less watery mixes. For example, this can make good hummus, salsa, nut butter, and guacamole, but it's not always consistent across them all. I don't have to interfere with making salsa and guacamole, but the nut butter and hummus always need me to lift the blending cup, mix the ingredients around, and then set it running again.

When you're done with the Pro 900 everything but the blades themselves can go through the dishwasher, and it's easy enough to clean the blades under running water after your drink is finished. The only thing to note is that this isn't a blender that you can take with you on the go. What's more, it only has a single speed, so if you want to get creative with a recipe you might be a little stuck. We also found that when we tried it on sauces and dips like hummus it left a little to be desired.

Our full NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender review has more details.

Best portable blender for dips

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Cuisinart was at the top of the game for portable blenders and the EvolutionX once sat in the top spot for our buying guide for a long time. It's completely cordless, looks really premium, and tackles tough ingredients without breaking a sweat. We gave it weeks of testing, making smoothies, frappés, frozen cocktails, and even hummus and salsas. It's arguably the most versatile of the selection, so if you want an option to replace your standard blender in the kitchen, this is perfect for you.

We quickly learned that, whilst this is thorough, it does require a little more prep than all the other models. We tried blending half a frozen banana in our smoothie test and it just got stuck. You'll need to chop some of your fruits into inch-sized chunks before throwing them in. Once your ingredients are in the blender, it's brilliant – especially for more complex, ingredient-rich recipes like dips. We made pancake batters and protein shakes, both of which can get a little lumpy if not well mixed. The EvolutionX was fantastic, even though it only has a single-speed, each mix was silky smooth. The travel lid is airtight and leak-proof. Even in a handbag, jostled around on the subway, our protein shake didn't leak or spill. I found the lid especially useful for making pancakes. The lid sits back and out of the way, ensuring a steady, even pour into the saucepan. It gets a proper chef's kiss.

What we were most surprised with was how well it crushes ice. This rivals the Ninja Blast (which is in our top spot right now) for its power. In fact, these are in the select few portable that can actually handle big ice cubes. It was unexpected given the preparation that fruits needed for blending, but we won't complain.

The final thing to note is that this won't work when it's charging, so you have to plan out when you'll use it ahead of time, and while the twenty-minute charge was great for occasional use, you might find it a little lacking for everyday use.

Our Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Blender review has more information

Best budget portable blender

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Not only is it seriously budget-friendly, but the NutriBullet GO Portable is capable of blending most fresh fruits with ease. It was great at taking on berries and soft fruits when we were making smoothies, but as we added in kale, ginger, and seeds it struggled a little. If you're not big on those ingredients and you're more into berries and bananas, you'll be fine. It's a good for first-timers who aren't sure how much they'll use personal blenders, but if you know it'll be a daily staple, I'd recommend opting for the Ninja instead.

Whilst the GO lacks a little power, it's a compromise that Nutribullet makes for a reason. This is as quiet as an electric toothbrush. If you work early shifts or head out to the gym with sunrise, you'll appreciate how silent this is.

It also has plenty of great safety features. The Nutribullet GO won't blend unless it is attached securely to the base, and it needs two presses of the on button to work, which will prevent it from switching on in your backpack or if it gets jostled when the car goes over a pothole. However, one of the safety features might be a little inconvenient: it switches off automatically after a 30-second blend, so if you need to blend for a longer period of time, you have to start a new cycle.

What's more, it can't crush ice. The motor is a tiny 70w, more than 20 times weaker than some of the blenders we've tested. It couldn't even put a dent in an ice cube, so if you want something for frozen drinks, try the next blender on this list. That also means it's not great for thicker meals like hummus or dips like pesto. You should also be aware that it's not dishwasher-safe, so you need to wash it by hand.

Our Nutribullet GO Portable Blender review has more information

Best portable blender for camping

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The BlenderX totally outperforms the competition when it comes to power, battery life, and ice-crushing. The BlenderX is clearly designed for holidayers and campers. The model comes with a convenient carry bag that can keep it separate from your clothes when you're packing for breaks away and a screw-on top to keep your blades safe when they're not in use. Couple those features with a 20. oz plastic cup and this is close to perfect. You can make frozen margaritas in the middle of a field, without a power outlet, and they'll be blended perfectly. We've tried it, many times, for research purposes, of course.

It's easy to use too. All you have to do is screw on the plastic cup and start blending. We made smoothies with kale, spinach, frozen strawberries, seedy currants, and tough nuts and there wasn't a fiber left in sight. Even when we added a scoop of protein powder to the mix, it was lump-free and wonderfully drinkable. It made light work of hummus, even though the liquid content is much lower, and could crush ice like no other portable blender. Its performance is powerful and impressive and – even better – it's not actually very noisy. Even on our ice-crushing test, this was one of the more quiet blenders on the market.

However, our main problem is the weight of this blender. While understandable that a blender this powerful needs a bigger motor, it weighs in at 4.62 pounds, so it's not the best choice for commuting. Though the 20z capacity is great, combined with the motor this blender is more than a foot tall, so it isn't something you can slip in your handbag on the way to work. Though the carry bag is great, the wide base means that it's hard to store this blender.

How we test portable blenders

We're proud of how we test blenders. Our on-staff reviews team tests in both our test kitchen and in their own homes, and not just over the course of a day, but over weeks. Often, we're lucky enough to keep the products, which means we can continually update our buying guides with comments about longevity.

We have a series of tests that we carry out to help us gauge which kind of user each portable blender would suit. We'll keep making these tests harder and harder until the blender can't cope. It's important to know the limits of your model, even if they're extremely high.

Test 1: smoothies

For this portable blender guide, we first tried blending smoothies. We tried a mix of frozen and fresh fruits, mixed with spinach or kale, and regular or nut milk. We'd note down how well each ingredient was blended, how quickly it was done, and how loud it was in the process. If the blender has an automatic shutoff we made a note of how many tries it took to get the smoothie to the perfect consistency.

Test 2: dips

We also tried making hummus pesto in our portable blenders, which allowed us to see how they handled less wet ingredients. Here, we looked around the blades, checking whether any residual ingredients were left behind, resulting in a more 'chunky' dip. This test also helped us see if any odors would remain inside the blending cup after use.

Test 3: crushed ice

Finally, we made crushed ice to see if the blenders could handle a few ice cubes. This is a big challenge for a portable blender since it's not shaped very well for blending ice cubes. You generally need a lot of space and a wider blending pitcher if you want properly crushed ice but some surprised us with how well they did. This can be a noisy, long task, so we made sure to note how long each model took to crush ice (if it could) and how loud it was).

After these tests, we'll group together to think about the value, how the model compares to other similar blenders in the market, and we'll consider who it suits. Here, we'll let you know how noisy it is overall, how well-built it is, whether it's well-designed for small bags, whether it leaks, how easy it is to use, and how straightforward the clean-up is too. Then, we put all the information together to let you know exactly what we thought.

We tested both corded and cordless personal blenders because while a cordless blender is rarely as powerful as a corded one, the very best can manage what most of us want from them: well-blended smoothies we can make on-the-go.

Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our processes, and our testers for this guide are listed below.

How to choose a portable blender

Portable blenders (also known as travel or personal blenders) are typically designed to make smoothies directly into travel mugs. They’re built for quick, grab-and-go operation, and are designed to be easier and quicker to use than their full-sized models.

There are lots of different models and no right choice, as it depends on how you want to use the blender. If you travel a lot and want a blender that you can throw in your luggage, then size is all-important. Look for a smaller, lighter blender, even if you have to compromise on a smaller travel mug as a result.

If you’re going camping a lot and won’t have power, then look for a battery-powered model that you can charge and use when you’re out.

Smaller blenders tend to have lower-powered motors, so will work well with soft fruits and for making most smoothies, but you’ll find they struggle with (or can’t handle) ice or frozen ingredients.

If you mostly make smoothies at home, then you can get a model with a bigger base and a larger motor. With a bigger motor, you’ll be able to make a wider variety of drinks.

For home use, you may find it useful to get a blender with different accessories, such as a chopping bowl for preparing ingredients for cooking, or a grinder for dealing with spices.

Meet our expert testers

Millie Fender

Millie Fender is Senior Homes Editor at Tom's Guide and has been reviewing blenders for our magazines since 2019. She specializes in cooking appliances and is a whizz when it comes to blenders. She used these blenders both in our dedicated testing kitchen and in her day-to-day life at home. When it comes to smoothies, she's tested the best of the best.

Lindsey Davis

Lindsey oversees lifestyle and home eCommerce content at a range of publications. She's been working with home product testing for more than a decade. Specializing in everything homes and gardens-related, Lindsey tests the latest in greatest in small appliances and power tools as well as managing our team.

Laura Honey

Laura is our Kitchens Editor. She's been testing blenders for us for years and has been an avid smoothie maker for even longer. Laura takes a portable blender with her to the gym and to work, so she's hot on the spill and leak tests that we run. Nobody likes a laptop coated in protein shakes.

Alex David

As Head of eCommerce, Alex makes sure our readers find the right information to help them make the best purchase. After graduating from Cambridge University, Alex got his start in reviewing at the iconic Good Housekeeping Institute, testing a wide range of blenders and kitchen appliances. He takes the Ninja Blast with him almost everywhere he goes. Just ask him.

FAQs

How much does a portable blender cost?

As they’re smaller and aren’t as powerful as full-size blenders, prices are much lower. An entry-level blender should cost under $50, and give you basic smoothie making with softer fruits.

At the high-end, you can spend up to $150 on a model with more accessories and more powerful motors to give you more flexibility.

Is a portable blender as good as a full-size blender?

A portable blender is different from a full-size one. Most portable models are designed to be quick and easy to use, with one-button operation and single-speed motors. They’re typically as good as large models for smoothies.

Travel blenders are generally quite limited, though: you can make smaller quantities, they’re not built to run for as long, and they don’t have the controls of a full-size model.

You usually can’t use hot liquids in personal blenders, either, as the travel cups are made from plastic that could be damaged by the heat.

If you want to vary what you can make, and have more control over the process, a full-size blender makes sense and, as our guide showed, you can always add a travel cup to your model to give you that blend-and-go convenience.

Of course, while these portable blenders are great, they simply can't match bigger blenders for power, speed, or capacity, so it's worth considering a traditional style. What's more, blenders can only handle liquids. For dry chopping, you should research the best food processors.