When it comes to blenders, Vitamix is the gold standard. These premium machines feature robust motors, spacious containers, aircraft-grade stainless steel blades, versatile accessories, and an industry-leading warranty for peace of mind. In my professional chef tests, Vitamix consistently excelled. My personal favorite is the Vitamix A3500, which can blend velvety soups, creamy smoothies, frozen cocktails, and rich nut butter – every single time.
There's only one drawback: the price. If a Vitamix is out of your budget, don’t worry – you don’t need to sacrifice quality for affordability. At H&G, our team of expert product testers has evaluated the best blenders on the market to find the best Vitamix alternatives, with lower price tags.
These rivals are large and powerful, with the ability to whip smooth shakes, hot soups and dips. We’ve compared them against Vitamix with some important key criteria in mind: power, capacity, materials, noise levels, cleaning, warranty, and – of course – that all-important price tag. These are the top six Vitamix alternatives of 2024.
The Quick list
If you just want to get shopping already, these are the best Vitamix alternatives at a glance. Scroll down for more specifics.
When we put this affordable Braun blender against the Vitamix A3500, the results were nearly identical. Miraculously, The Braun was actually faster at blending ice and making soup. However, it's very noisy.
If you're looking for signature Vitamix power, this blender has got the wattage. You can blend large-batch, family smoothies and frozen cocktails pretty quietly. It's still expensive, just slightly less pricey than Vitamix.
This is the blender I use at home. It's on the cheap side, but simple to use and great for beginners. It can automatically detect your ingredients and adjust the pace of your blend, whipping up food for a family (albeit quite noisily).
One of our testers, Laura, bought this after she saw how it performed in the test kitchen. For around $150, you can blend perfect, piping-hot soup. Our only issues were with the tedious cleaning process and lumpy dips.
If you want versatility without investing in extra attachments, this multifunctional blender system is your winner. Whichever ingredient you want to puree, chop or blend, the Ninja Kitchen system can do it all with ease.
The stainless steel Smeg blender is the sleekest, best-looking blender on the market – but it's not just a pretty face. The professional controls can whip up smoothies, dips, and crush ice effortlessly. Plus, the vacuum pump keeps blends fresher for longer. A very luxurious alternative.
What are we comparing these blenders against?
The Vitamix A3500 is our best blender of the year. With large capacity, five presets and the ability to make perfect soup, smoothies and nut butters, this excelled in all our tests. It's universally beloved. Below are the gold-standard stats I'll be comparing each Vitamix alternative to.
Vitamix A3500 Blender
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| Container capacity | 2 Litres / 64 ounce | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
| Power | 1500 watts | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
| Materials | Stainless steel blades | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| Speed settings | 10 | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| Modes | Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts, and Self-Cleaning | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| Cleaning | Self-cleaning & Dishwasher-safe | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| Warranty | 10-year full warranty | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| H&G score | ★★★★★ | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| Row 8 - Cell 1 | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
The best Vitamix alternatives in 2024
Best alternative overall
Why it's the best Vitamix alternative: If you’re not familiar with Braun already, today is your lucky day. The brand makes reasonably priced, quality kitchen appliances. It boasts all the functions of a Vitamix, with the considered designs of a Ninja, and the speed and convenience of a NutriBullet. The best part is, it’s cheaper than all of them.
Our expert tester said: 'I’ve tested blenders that are ten times the price and I can put my hand on my heart and say it made the silkiest smoothies I’ve ever made. It was better than any smoothie bar, store-bought, or super techy blender’s results. There was not a grain or seed in sight. It was incredible.'
What we didn't like: There's one small, but important reason why this blender hasn't made it into our best blender guide. It's very loud. There's blender noise and then there's the Braun blender's noise. However, given that it’s speedy and incredible value, I’d be tempted to snatch up the saving and throw some earguards in my shopping basket too.
Who would it suit? The Braun TriForce boasts Vitamix-level capacity, so it’s perfect for large homes looking to batch-blend big servings of smoothies and soups. The sheer convenience and versatility of the Braun TriForce is ideal for busy people. It can make hot soup in five minutes, a silky smoothie in two minutes, and ice cones in thirty seconds. The only catch is the noise that you’ll have to endure whilst this is working. If you live in an apartment, have a baby nearby, or have some particularly fussy neighbors, it might be worth looking at the best quiet blenders instead.
Our tester, Laura, has written a full Braun Triforce review with more details.
| Vitamix A3500 | BraunTriForce | |
| Container capacity | 2 Litres / 64 ounce | 2.01 litres / 68 oz |
| Power | 1500 watts | 1600 watts |
| Materials | Stainless steel blades, Tritan plastic | Stainless steel, Tritan plastic |
| Speed settings | 10 | 11 |
| Modes | Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts, and Self-Cleaning | Soup, Chop, Ice Crush, Frozen Dessert, and Spread |
| Cleaning | Self clean function & Dishwasher-safe | Auto clean function, Dishwasher-safe |
| Warranty | 10-year full warranty | 5 year limited warranty |
| H&G score | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Row 9 - Cell 1 | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
Most powerful alternative
Why it's a great Vitamix alternative: This is the most comparable blender to the Vitamix A3500 in terms of power, capacity and design. It comes with a 1800W motor (slightly more powerful than the A3500's 1480W), but both can handle tough ingredients like frozen fruit, kale, and ice with ease. Plus, we found the Super Q to be quieter. It's still expensive, but overall $150 cheaper than the Vitamix model. It also comes with a personal blending cup, so if you're into small batches, this could be a more savvy investment.
Our expert tester said: 'The Super Q excels at crushing ice and turning it into a fine powder. I'm pretty sure the 'Q' stands for quiet, since this features a fan cooling system to reduce noise. Perfect for party-friendly frozen margaritas.'
What we didn't like: The Super Q has a large footprint (18 inches tall), which might make it difficult to store in kitchens with low cabinet clearance. Unlike the Vitamix A3500, which is also large but slightly more compact. The lid on the Super Q can be very stiff, which could be an issue if you have weak wrists. Also, the warranty is drastically lower than Vitamix's standard – so this might be something to consider.
Who would this suit? The Breville Super Q is ideal for users who value powerful blending and quiet operation. Its larger motor and slightly larger capacity make it an excellent choice for families or people who frequently prepare large quantities of food or drinks.
All the details are in our full Breville Super Q review.
| Vitamix A3500 | Breville The Super Q | |
| Container capacity | 64 oz | 68 oz and extra 24 oz cup |
| Power | 1500 watts | 1800 Watts |
| Materials | Stainless steel blades, Tritan plastic | Stainless steel blades, BPA Free plastic |
| Speed settings | 10 | 12 |
| Modes | Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts, and Self-Cleaning | Soup, Chop, Ice Crush, Frozen Dessert, and Spread |
| Cleaning | Self clean function & Dishwasher-safe | Auto clean function, Dishwasher-safe |
| Warranty | 10 year full warranty | 1 year limited warranty |
| H&G score | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Row 9 - Cell 1 | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
Best budget
Why it’s a great alternative: The Nutribullet SmartSense blender is so simple to use. If you haven't bought a blender before, this is a great starting point. It feels sturdy and modern – I loved the illuminated panel that greets you 'hello' and the automatic 'smart sensor' that detects your ingredient load to deliver perfectly smooth results. With 1400 watts, it's slightly less powerful than a Vitamix A3500, but at just $119, it’s an extremely affordable and effective rival.
Notes from the test kitchen: I've been testing this in my kitchen for a couple of weeks, and I don't want to see it go. Every morning, I've been making a big batch of kale, frozen mango and pineapple smoothie which is very creamy. It can also handle hot ingredients to blend soup. However, I much prefer the pulse function to the auto-detect sensor – it gives much more control over your blends. Also, blending on higher speeds (like 5) can get very noisy.
What we didn't like: It feels much less premium than a professional-looking Vitamix. It didn't excel on nut butter, creating a dry paste rather than a creamy spread. Plus, the plastic container proved a bit tricky to clean, as residue clung to the ridges at the bottom. On the higher settings, it can get very noisy. Also, this is a very new model and I have only had it for a few weeks, so I can't speak to its durability yet.
Who would it suit: Anyone who doesn't want to spend too much money, but wants to blend more than a smoothie. You can make pesto, almond milk, homemade oat flour, dips.... anything apart from crushed ice, so if you're a frozen cocktail fan, go for the Super Q above.
My full review of the Smart Sense blender is coming soon.
| Vitamix A3500 | Nutribullet SmartSense | |
| Container capacity | 64 oz | 64 ounces |
| Power | 1500 watts | 1400 Watts |
| Materials | Stainless steel blades, Tritan plastic | BPA Free plastic |
| Speed settings | 10 | 5 |
| Modes | Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts, and Self-Cleaning | Blend, pulse and 'Smart Sense' |
| Cleaning | Self clean function & Dishwasher-safe | Dishwasher-safe |
| Warranty | 10 years | 1-year warranty |
| H&G score | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Row 9 - Cell 1 | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
Best for soup
Why it's a good Vitamix alternative: The Ninja Foodi Hot & Cold Blender is a great alternative for soup enthusiasts. Its sauté and heating functions allow you to create perfectly piping hot soups, with 'smooth' and 'hearty' settings for customized results. You simply add your ingredients and enjoy a quiet, hands-off cooking experience that gently simmers ingredients for 30 minutes.
In contrast, the Vitamix A3500 uses its powerful blades to generate heat through friction, transforming raw ingredients into steaming hot soup in just 10 minutes. However, this process can reach a noise level of 87 dB, making it significantly louder. If you prioritize a quieter, more traditional simmering experience – for a much lower price – the Ninja is a solid choice.
Our expert tester said: 'The soup I made in this blender was smooth and delicious. The kit costs around $150, so I’d say it’s worth the money. While it can't match a Vitamix on smoothies, ice or dips, I did find it very easy to use and great for beginners.'
What we didn't like: The pitcher is not dishwasher-safe, since such high temperatures will damage the blender’s integrated heating element. There's a self-clean program, but the machine did drip a little when we tried this and the blades got very hot – it isn't up to Vitamix standards. Also, it didn't excel on smoothies or dips. When we tried to make hummus, the tamper tool wasn’t quite long enough to reach through the lid and touch the sides. This design flaw meant we had to stop the machine and remove the lid to reach the chickpeas, then replace the lid before blending again. This inefficiency isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it was inconvenient – not as professional and effortless as a Vitamix.
Who would it suit: If you're set on making soup in a blender on a budget, this could suit you very well – although you might want to consider an immersion blender instead, since they're smaller and cheaper. Otherwise, the Vitamix A3500 Smart Blender makes equally good soups, better dips, and perfect smoothies, while remaining more powerful and easier to clean.
You can read more in our full Ninja Foodi Hot & Cold review.
| Vitamix A3500 | Ninja Foodi Hot & Cold | |
| Container capacity | 64 oz | 64 oz |
| Power | 1500 watts | 1400W |
| Materials | Stainless steel blades, Tritan plastic pitcher | Stainless steel blades, Glass pitcher |
| Speed settings | 10 | 1 |
| Modes | Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts, and Self-Cleaning | Smoothie, Frozen drink, Dessert, Milkshake, Smooth Soup, Chunky Soup, Jam, Sauce, Chop, Sauté, Blend, Cook, Pulse |
| Cleaning | Self clean function & Dishwasher-safe | Self clean function |
| Warranty | 10-year full warranty | 1-2 year limited warranty |
| H&G score | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Row 9 - Cell 1 | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
Best for versatility
Why it's a great Vitamix alternative: The Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System is an excellent option if you're looking for a versatile, 'all-in-one' solution without spending extra on attachments. It comes with a 72-oz. pitcher for blending, a 64-oz. food processor bowl for chopping and slicing, and two 24-oz. blending cups for on-the-go smoothies. Unlike the Vitamix A3500, which requires purchasing a separate food processor attachment (priced around $200) for similar functionality, the Ninja includes all of these tools in one package. There's no question, this is more budget-friendly.
Our expert tester said: 'The food processor function is particularly powerful, easily chopping vegetables like zucchini, celery, and carrots. This versatility is a significant advantage over the Vitamix A3500, which excels at blending but doesn’t offer built-in chopping or slicing capabilities.'
What we didn’t like: During testing, the Ninja struggled with certain tasks, such as shredding cheese, producing chunks instead of fine shavings. Plus, the Ninja's blades are not removable, making it more difficult to hand-wash compared to the Vitamix A3500, which has a self-cleaning function that only requires water and dish soap.
Who would this suit: If you need a hand prepping dinner or whipping up large batch salads, soups and more – this is a great choice. Just make sure you have plenty of cabinet space; this Ninja comes with numerous attachments.
Our Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ review has more details.