Nutribullet vs Vitamix - which blender brand is best?

A good blender will make it easy to whizz together fruits and vegetables into healthy drinks. As holiday deals roll into the after-Christmas sales, many of us will be in the market for a new machine, and two big brand names stand out. But when it comes to Nutribullet vs Vitamix, which blender brand is best?

On the one hand, Vitamix is synonymous with quality. They're such good blenders that they're used in commercial settings. There's a fair chance that if you sneak a peek over the counter at your local smoothie place you'll find a Vitamix making your favorite drinks. On the other hand, there's Nutribullet - a household name offering budget-friendly blending. However, they're more often associated with infomercials and quick, unfussy blending. 

Thanks to hands-on experience from our expert testers, I'll set out the important differences between two of the best blenders on the market, and crucially, which one you should buy. 

Nutribullet vs Vitamix - what's the difference?

Nutribullet focus on personal blenders. These blenders make a single portion of a smoothie straight into a bottle, saving you prep time. 

Vitamix, on the other hand, make large, pitcher-sized containers designed for blending big portions, crushing ice, and even mixing hot soups. 

Because of this, it's not much of a fair comparison between the two brands - they do different things at very different price points. Nutribullet blenders tend to cost around $100, where most Vitamix models will run you upwards of $300. That said, there's a couple of models that we can put head-to-head. 

Which should you buy - Nutribullet or Vitamix?

WINNER: Vitamix Ascent A3500

The Vitamix comes with an enormous 1500W of power, which beats the 1200W of the Nutribullet. It comes with five automatic programs for smoothies, hot soups, dips, frozen desserts, and cleaning, so you hardly have to think about your blending. While the Nutribulllet also has five programs, these aren't labelled for specific dishes - just 'low' or 'high', so it might take some getting used to. 

The Vitamix also has a built-in timer so you’ll never overdo it. When you want to take a little more control, the Ascent has a a sleek touch screen that will let you adjust the speed and pulse ingredients. If you buy Vitamix pitcher attachments, your the blender base will automatically recognise them and adjust its power and speed for smaller portions or more delicate food. However, these aren't included.

The standout feature of the Vitamix is that it can make hot soup. While the pitcher of the Nutribullet combo is suitable for blending hot liquids like soups, the Vitamix goes one better, making hot soup for you right in the pitcher. This isn't just a gimmick, either - our Head of Reviews, Millie Fender, said that the consistency was 'the best I've ever had with homemade soup', and that the tomato soup she made was 'restaurant-quality'.

So far, so straight forward. However, while the smart display of the Vitamix is easy to use, the Nutribullet has some simple features that offer great ease of use. It's suitable for both right and left handers, and the accessories are dishwasher-safe. The same can't be said for the Vitamix, which is also far noisier - Millie recorded it reaching 87dB, which might become a little irksome when running 10-minute programs like making soup.

Though it doesn't have the automatic programs of the Vitamix, the Nutribullet offers a little more versatility. With a little practice, you can make all the same drinks, but comes with a big 64oz pitcher - matching the Vitamix - as well as a 32oz cup and a 24oz cup with a handle, so you can make smaller portions and take them on the go. 

There's also no escaping one of the most important differences. Depending on the deals on offer - the picture might look a little different around Black Friday or the after-Christmas sales - the Vitamix will cost you at least $300 more. Both machines can make the same amount of smoothie, and the Nutribullet comes with It's up to you and your budget whether these features are worth it.

In short, pound-for-pound, the Vitamix Ascent is a better blender. It's more powerful, easier to use, and offers better performance, allowing you to whip up fresh, homemade soup on the spot. However, if budget is a consideration, the Nutribullet Blender Combo is a good choice.