Best Vitamix alternatives – brilliant blenders at lower prices

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 Vitamix is out of your budget, don’t worry – you don’t need to sacrifice quality for affordability. At Homes & Gardens, 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.

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.

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.

The best Vitamix alternatives

Best alternative overall

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Why it's a great Vitamix alternative: This is a brilliant, five-star blender that will suit most people. Striking a perfect balance between power, usability and sleek design, it's one of our most recommended appliances. The 64-ounce capacity is ideal for families. It also has a self-cleaning function to rival the top Vitamix models. To top it off, it's quieter and more beautiful than any Vitamix model we've seen. This is a better choice for stylish kitchens.

Our expert tester said: 'Along with the smart control panel and easy-lift jug design, I was really impressed with the sheer blending power of this machine. I made perfectly creamy smoothies, even when blending tough ingredients like frozen berries and leafy kale. Zwilling is known for its high-quality knives, and it's clear that the blade in the Zwilling Enifigy Power Blender has the same high quality. The five-year warranty instills confidence, too.'

What we didn’t like: The pulse mode isn't precise. When you press the button, there is a bit of lag. When I made guacamole in the test kitchen, I found it tricky to control the blend and I ended up with a dip that was too smooth when I was aiming for something chunky and authentic.

Who would this suit: Most people. It is easy to use, with a range of functions that can blitz perfect smoothies, frozen cocktails, and even ice cream. The capacity and ease of use suit families (even children can get involved with this safe, simple design) and the aesthetic is a dream for anyone who wants to keep the blender on the counter. The price is pretty irresistible too, especially for such a high-quality appliance.

However, if you want to heat soups, you're better off looking at the Ninja Foodi below, or splashing the cash on a multifunctional Vitamix A3500 that can heat raw ingredients with its fast-spinning blades.

Our Zwilling Enfinigy Countertop Power Blender review has more details.

Runner up

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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 isn't the overall winner of this 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.

Most powerful alternative

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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.

Best budget

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Why it’s a great alternative: The Nutribullet SmartSense blender is simple to use. If you haven't bought a blender before, this is a nice 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 and duller blades, it's less powerful than a Vitamix, but at just $119, it’s extremely affordable. The two travel pitchers (which are also compatible with the base) add even more value for money.

Notes from the test kitchen: I tested this in my kitchen for a couple of weeks. Every morning, I made a big batch of kale, frozen mango and pineapple smoothie which was always creamy and consistent. However, I preferred using the pulse function to the auto-detect sensor – I found that the auto setting invariably rocketed up to the highest speeds, which became very noisy. My hummus test was a bit of a fail; you need to add plenty of liquid to ensure the Nutribullet whizzes smooth dips.

What we didn't like: It feels much less premium than a professional-looking Vitamix. It's a little plasticky. On the higher settings, it can get very noisy. It can't crush ice and the hummus was dry and lumpy – and tricky to clean around the plastic ridges at the bottom. The kit gives you flexibility, but you'll need some cabinet space to store all the single-serve cups.

Who would it suit: Anyone who wants to blend big batches of smoothies on a budget, and wants the flexibility of various pitcher sizes. Since it struggles it can't blend crushed ice, so it's not one for frozen cocktail lovers.

There's more detail in my full Nutribullet Smart Sense blender review.

Best for soup

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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, Emilia, 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.

Best design

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Why it's a great Vitamix alternative: The Smeg is leagues ahead in terms of aesthetics. The simple design of the Smeg is sleek and smart, making it a great choice for style-conscious kitchens. Its minimalist controls and intuitive icons (like ice cubes for ice and fruit for smoothies) reduce the need for extensive manual reading. It crushes on performance too, with 1800 watts of power compared to 1500 watts on the Vitamix. The results of our testing were flawless, delivering exceptionally smooth textures, obliterating seeds, spinach traces, and ice crystals. It's slightly cheaper than a Vitamix, but it feels like an aesthetic upgrade.

Our expert tester, Laura, said: 'I was very impressed with the Smeg blender. When I blended a protein shake, it left no lumps or powder pockets and even whizzed raw onions into nothing for a smooth guacamole. It's professional by name and by nature.'

What we didn't like: If you're after capacity, the pitcher is actually 13 ounces smaller than the Vitamix A3500 – but it's still very tall. The best thing you could do is embrace the size and style this as a smoothie station on your countertop. It's also expensive.

Who would this suit: The aesthetics and sheer height of the Smeg blender tailors it to large, stylish homes. Unlike most big blenders, this could still appeal to single-users, especially those who batch blend. There's a useful vacuum seal, that will slow how quickly your smooth oxidizes, so you can make huge quantities and store them in the refrigerator and they'll stay fresher for longer.

You can read more in our full Smeg Professional Blender review.

How we test blenders

Every blender in this guide has been tested hands-on and reviewed by members of the Homes & Gardens team. We have a series of three standard tests that all of our blenders go through: making smoothies and protein shakes; whipping up dips, especially hummus; and crushing ice.

Smoothies: For this task, we select the toughest ingredients. We'll look for seeded, frozen berries, especially big strawberries, which can get stuck on blades. We'll also throw in fibrous kale and spinach, which can be tough to blend into a super smooth texture. If a blender has tackled both of those well, we'll also throw in protein powder and creatine, to check whether the blender can fully incorporate the powder into a smoothie, or whether it leaves it a little lumpy.

Dips: We normally make a hummus and a guacamole. Hummus has a small liquid content and tough chickpea skins. Guacamole requires the blender to finely chop onion, and whizz up tomatoes, and avocado. We'll look at the texture of both, checking whether the blender can crush ingredients, even with minimal liquid.

Crushed ice: which is tough work for every blender. Generally, blenders will either whizz these into powders or leave them as big cubes crashing around. We'll let you know all the details.

Soup: Where a blender claims to be safe for use with hot ingredients, we also make soup to put this to the test. When making soup we typically include ingredients that are prone to staining such as turmeric, taking into account if the pitcher was left stained. We'll also test root vegetables, which take longer to cook and can be tougher to blend too.

Cleaning: We give extra points to blenders that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. However, some (like Vitamix) also come with self-cleaning settings that can prevent ingredients from sticking to the blades of the pitcher. We cleaned every blender by hand to see how easy this was, and if it felt safe.

Design & capacity: Once we've covered the practicalities, we will step back and take a look at the blender. We'll think about how the capacity and extra functions work and which homes they're best suited to. It's also important that the blender is attractive as well as fully functional. We'll check whether it fits under wall cupboards and under shelves too.

Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our process.

Blender FAQs

Why are Vitamix expensive?

Vitamix are expensive because of its materials and ability. They use high-quality steel and BPA-free Tritan plastic. This in turn means a high-quality, very durable product that is genuinely far better than a lot of the competition, so they can charge a premium. The problem with that is not all of us can afford it.

How much does a good blender cost?

Budget really comes down to how much you’ll use the blender. If you’re only an occasional user, then a budget model ($100 to $150) makes sense. At this price, you’ll get decent controls but you may find that your results aren’t quite as smooth.

If you use a blender every day, then you need to move up the scale. Spend over $200 and you’re likely to get more accessories and programs.

If you want the best results then you’re looking at spending $400 or more. At this price, you’ll get the fastest motors, more control, and, often, a wider range of automatic programs to make your job easier.

For those who just want a personal-sized blender, one of the best portable blenders we have reviewed will suit you better.

How do I choose a great blender?

It all depends on what you want to make in your blender, and how often you want to use it. With that said, there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a blender.

If you're looking to blend frozen fruit or harder produce, then you'll appreciate a machine with a more powerful motor. To make larger servings of smoothies and shakes, you'll need a pitcher with a large capacity. For more control, look out for blenders with a pulse function. These machines will blend while you press the button and stop as soon as you release it. If you're sensitive to noise, you might want to shop for one of the quietest blenders.

Final thoughts

While all these blenders are great, the Vitamix is still our number one. However, I'm hoping that if you're looking for a more budget-friendly blender to see you through cozy soup evenings and summery smoothie mornings, you'll have found a solid alternative on this list.