NutriBullet or Ninja? That's the big question on my mind, especially ahead of the summer sales season. Both brands feature in our best blender guide, praised for their efficient, powerful blenders that come in a range of sizes and designs. But which brand is the best buy?
NutriBullet blenders are famous for their compact, bullet-style design, which provide single-serve convenience. With just a twist, the best Nutribullet will have your morning smoothie ready in seconds.
Ninja blenders offer great single-serve options, too – the Ninja Blast actually just rocketed to the top of our best portable blender guide. But they're more famous for their larger kitchen systems that do it all – blending, processing, chopping, and shredding.
Of course, there is a lot of cross-over between Ninja and Nutribullet – so I picked the top products from each brand (from personal blenders to large, multi-functional models) and I'll talk you through the differences in detail. With the help of my team, we've even carried out head-to-head comparisons in the test kitchen.
NutriBullet vs Ninja: Personal blenders
When it comes to personal blenders, the Nutribullet vs. Ninja rivalry dominates the market. Nutribullet is known for its signature ‘twist-and-blend’ bullet design, while Ninja offers push-button models. Here’s how they compare.
Power: 900W
Cup Capacity: 32oz.
Modes: 1
Colors: 17
RRP: $109.99
This Nutribullet is sleek, slender and easy to operate; all we had to do was twist on the lid and lock it into place to start blending. We whizzed up the smoothest, creamiest smoothie in seconds. It only has a single speed, so if you want to get creative with a recipe you might be a little stuck.
When we tried it on hummus, it left a little to be desired. It lacks the control of pulse settings. When we were cleaning up, we found that the blades weren't dishwasher safe, but they're easy enough to rinse under the tap.
Read more in our NutriBullet Pro 900 Blender review.
Power: 1000W
Cup Capacity: 24 oz
Modes: 3
Colors: 1
RRP: $79.99
With 1000 watts of power and three speed settings, the Ninja has a bit more bite and control. It's also cheaper, but in our tests we saw less refinement. When we blended single-serve smoothies, we noticed tiny bits of kale in the blend. The pulse setting worked really well on hummus, but struggled on dry seeds and nuts. It was also quite noisy.
Overall, it offers a good mid-range blender – high power and a pretty low price. One thing I would say is that the Nutribullet is much more attractive – I'm not so keen on the bulky Ninja design.
Full Ninja Nutri-Pro review coming soon.
NutriBullet vs Ninja: the smoothie test
Ninja vs Nutribullet ready to blend a tropical smoothie
We put two blenders side-by-side to directly compare the results of two identical smoothies. We added the same amount of frozen mango, fresh pineapple (with the tough core included), curly kale, yogurt, and water to each cup, but because of the narrower cup size, the Ninja blender filled up far more.
We added the blending lids and twisted both into the bases before pressing down the NutriBullet and pressing the 'Blend' button on the Ninja.
Ninja vs Nutribullet after 50 seconds of blending
The Ninja had a preset time of 50 seconds, and it pulsed multiple times to incorporate the fresh and frozen ingredients with no difficulty. The NutriBullet, by contrast, simply had a continuous blend cycle which we also left for 50 seconds.
NutriBullet warns that its Pro 900 blender cannot be used for more than a minute at a time, presumably out of fear that the engine can overheat. However, we have used it for over a minute in the past and it did not have any issues.
Neither blender had trouble slicing through the kale, frozen fruit, and pineapple core, and they came out very similar in color.
Ninja vs Nutribullet the results of blending the tropical smoothie
However, there was a difference in the texture. The Ninja smoothie had more visible patches of green where the fibers of the kale had not completely been broken down, whereas the Nutribullet smoothie came out much more finely blended and it tasted very smooth.
Overall, it was a better drinking experience. The smoothie was creamier and every ingredient had clearly been broken down, whereas in the Ninja there were small specs of kale that could have used more blending.
Winner: Nutribullet created a creamier texture, winning the NutriBullet vs Ninja smoothie test.
NutriBullet vs Ninja: small portable blenders
A finished protein shake in the Ninja Blast and Nutribullet portable
Portable blenders are perfect for people who are always on the go. Both NutriBullet and Ninja make excellent compact and cordless options. We've tested both models below – and loved them. Here's our comparison in the NutriBullet vs Ninja tests.
Ninja's portable blender weighs 1.74 lbs and holds 18 oz. It's tall and slender, slotting well into backpacks. Compact and colorful, it features a sip lid for easy use on the go. It smashes through frozen fruit and protein powders, though it can struggle with tougher ingredients like fibrous veggies and seeds. We have tested it for a year and the leakproof lid actually works.
Read more in our full Ninja Blast review.
The Nutribullet is slightly smaller and lighter, weighing 1.56 lbs and containing 16.7 oz. It's not as powerful; the Ninja is much more effective on frozen fruit. However, we actually prefer the ergonomics of the Nutribullet. It's nicer to hold and easier to fit in a handbag. Also, it is much cheaper.
Read more in our Nutribullet Portable Blender review.
Winner: tie – they're both good options. Ninja has more versatility and power, but the lighter, wider NutriBullet is ideal for carrying around in handbags.
Ninja vs Nutribullet: Large portable blenders
In the last year, both brands have released larger, more powerful portable blenders. Our test kitchen experts have put the Ninja Blast Max and the Nutribullet Flip head-to-head, here’s how they stack up.
The Ninja Blast Max builds on the success of the original Ninja Blast, but ups the size and power. Unlike Nutribullet's offering, it is amazing at making dips, such as hummus and pesto, as well as frozen drinks, thanks to its solid ice-crushing ability, especially when you add a little liquid. The sleek design includes a comfortable carry strap, and it's still relatively lightweight at 1.7 lbs. While it doesn't keep drinks cold like the Nutribullet Flip and the plastic construction feels a little less premium, it is more budget-friendly and versatile.
Full review coming soon.
If you prioritize cold smoothies throughout the day, the Nutribullet Flip is the standout. It features a stainless steel, insulated cup that keeps drinks cool for up to 24 hours – a rare feature in this category. During testing, it delivered powerful performance with no leaks and a durable, trustworthy design. However, it can't blend dips, crush ice (frozen margarita fans, take note), and at over 3 lbs, it is heavier and bulkier than the Ninja option – not ideal for small bags or hands.
Read more in our Nutribullet Flip review
Winner: Ninja – again, it's horses for courses on this round, but we think the Ninja Blast Max is a better option overall. Its versatility is unrivalled, making light work of any smoothie you like, as well as dips like pesto and hummus.
NutriBullet vs Ninja: Large multi-functional blenders
Chopped vegetables in the Ninja Professional Plus system
To test out the larger, multi-serve NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders, we started with the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ. The versatility on this one was a big winner. It has a very powerful food processor attachment, with two levels of chopping blades that effectively cut through onions, dough, and more. Most importantly, the blending worked very well, even on soups.
To test NutriBullet vs Ninja, we also tried the latest NutriBullet Triple Prep System. It was a very strong contender, just slightly more expensive, bigger and not quite as consistent.
Power: 1400W
Cup Capacity: 72oz pitcher, 64oz bowl, two 24oz cups
Modes: 5 preset speeds
RRP: $219.99
With 1400 watts of power and five preset modes, this blender boasts some serious power and capacity. It was faultless across all our tests, so if you want an appliance that can do it all, look no further. Just note, this is huge.
The package includes a large 72 oz pitcher, a 64 oz food processing bowl, and two 24 oz cups, making it perfect for both family-size and single-serve portions. Fantastic value for money.
The attachments are dishwasher-safe. However, the bulky design requires more storage space. Also, if you want to take a smoothie on the go, the lids don’t very close securely.
Read our Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System review for more details
Power: 1500W
Cup capacity: 32 oz bullet; 24 oz bullet; 64 oz blending pitcher; 7 cup food processor
Modes: 11 speeds
RRP: $229
Nutribullet recently released this sleeker, more expensive rival. It's a seriously good contender, so this is one to look out for in the sales. It's a brilliant blender, whizzing up perfect smoothies, soups, dips, and ice cones. It comes with a family-sized pitcher, single-serve cups and a food processor attachment for chopping, shredding, and pureeing effortlessly.
However, it faltered on smaller quantities. The food processor is so big that when I added one small onion, it rolled around and didn't get thoroughly chopped. The Ninja is slightly more consistent, since the blades sit at different levels, meaning that it achieves more thorough results, even as the bowl fills up. This is where the Nutribullet slipped up.
Read our full Nutribullet Triple Prep review here
Winner: Ninja - their all-singing, all-dancing kitchen system is more consistent and thorough across the board, pipping Nutribullet's Triple Prep Blender to the post.
Which is better: the NutriBullet or Ninja?
For ultra-smooth, single-serve smoothies, choose a NutriBullet. Having tested NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders head-to-head, the NutriBullet came out on top; it was able to cut through kale stems, tough pineapple core, and frozen chunks of fruit with absolutely no difficulty. If you need more guidance on which Nutribullet to buy, I've rounded up the top six here.
If you're after a portable, lightweight, and leak-proof blender, choose a Ninja Blast. While we appreciate the budget-friendly Nutribullet Go and love the cooling insulation of the Nutribullet Flip, the Ninja Blast models stand out overall – they handle everything from icy smoothies to homemade pesto and hummus with ease.
For large portions, soups and food processing attachments, choose a Ninja blender. The Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ has multiple speed settings and functions, which can handle pretty much any task you throw at it.
How we tested NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders
We've had hands-on testing time with all the NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders. When reviewing we crushed ice, blended frozen fruit into thick smoothie bowls, and made green smoothies from fibrous kale and spinach.
Cleaning a blender is a very important part of the user process, so we give props to blenders that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. However, some 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.
You can find out how Homes & Gardens tests blenders in our dedicated page. Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our process.
-
Keep squirrels out of the garden for good with an easy-to-grow flower they can't stand – but you'll loveHad enough of squirrels digging up your precious flower beds? Here's how to repel squirrels using just one beautiful flower
-
Looking for a unique way to style flowers? Martha Stewart and Meghan Markle's vase alternatives will make you rethink conventional vesselsI was looking for a fresh way to style flowers in my entryway for summer 2025; then I came across Meghan and Martha's vase alternatives in the same week
-
How to make a slushie in a blenderSlushies are a classic summer drink, and while most people think you've got to get them from a movie theater, here's how to make a slushie in a blender.
-
I dried orange slices in an air fryer – it's a super speedy way to give Christmas decor a hand made lookIt is so easy to dehydrate fruit in an air fryer, and it's less expensive than buying them from the store
-
Which Ninja blender should I buy? The best Ninja blenders, tested and compared by the expertsIt can be hard to work out which Ninja blender to buy. After rounds of testing, here's our definitive breakdown of the options
-
How to decorate Christmas baubles – 6 elegant DIY baublesFrom marbled makes to fabric-covered designs, we share our favorite ways to decorate Christmas baubles
