We've currently tested 20 Vitamix blenders. This manufacturer specializes in full-size blenders that fall on the higher end of the price range for blenders. They're consistently some of the best-built blenders we've tested, and most are available with a U.S. warranty that lasts between five and 10 years, compared to the more typical one-year warranty for blenders.
Most full-size Vitamix blenders can hot blend and offer great overall performance, so which is best depends on what design and features you prefer. Some models are dishwasher-safe and offer extras like app connectivity and blending programs, while others have a simpler design with just a speed dial and a switch for pulse mode. They rarely come with accessories like personal jars, but depending on the model, you can buy extra jars separately.
Updates
- 11/07/2024 Vitamix Ascent X5 reviewed
- 10/09/2024 Vitamix Ascent X4 reviewed
- 10/07/2024 Vitamix Ascent X3 reviewed
- 10/02/2024 Vitamix Ascent X2 reviewed
- 05/10/2024 Vitamix Venturist Pro reviewed
Best Vitamix Blenders
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Best Vitamix Blender
Multi-Purpose9.3Smoothies (Single Serving)9.4Smoothies (Multiple Servings)9.6Ice Crushing9.6Soups9.5Professional Use9.1The Vitamix A3500 is the best Vitamix blender that we've tested. It's also one of the most expensive, so it's only worth it if you want a blender with all the bells and whistles. These blenders also come with a 10-year U.S. warranty, which is the longest Vitamix offers, although it depends on where you live and buy the blender. The jar and all accessories are dishwasher-safe. This blender does an outstanding job of processing fibrous ingredients, which is important for silky-smooth kale smoothies or pureed broccoli soup. You can use it for hot blending, and it can even heat ingredients. It has no issue crushing ice cubes into snow-like ice. It's decently easy to use for nut butter, although you'll need to use the tamper.
The A3500's controls include a speed dial, five automatic blending programs, and a button for pulse mode. There's also a programmable timer, which not many blenders have. It lets you set the blender to run for a set time before stopping automatically. As part of Vitamix's high-end 'Ascent' series, it works with the widest variety of accessories sold separately, including a food processor bowl. However, Vitamix's 'Ascent' series personal jars have been recalled and aren't currently available new, so you can't buy a single-serve jar for smoothies right now.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Vitamix Blender
Multi-Purpose9.1Smoothies (Single Serving)9.0Smoothies (Multiple Servings)8.2Ice Crushing8.6Soups8.6Professional Use8.7If you want something a bit cheaper, the Vitamix Ascent X2 is the Vitamix blender we've tested in the upper mid-range. Ascent X models differ from older Ascent models like the A3500 because they come with a 48oz jar instead of a 64oz jar. Which is better comes down to your preferences: the 48oz jar is easier to use for thick recipes and takes up less space. The 64oz jar can crush more ice at once and handle bigger batches in general. The new X-series blenders also feature a removable tamper holder that you can attach to the side of the motor base.
The X2 offers a versatile performance. It can make well-blended smoothies, snow-like crushed ice, and smooth, spreadable nut butter or hummus. It can hot blend and heat ingredients. The Vitamix A3500 still blends fibrous ingredients like fruit and kale a little faster. It has a mix of digital and physical controls, with a switch for pulse mode and an LED display that counts down the remaining blending time. There are four automatic blending programs, including ' Smoothies,' 'Hot Soup,' 'Frozen Desserts,' and a self-cleaning mode. It's about as quiet as the A3500.
It has an excellent build quality. However, its jar has a rubber handle cover that slips around when you handle it, which is a bit annoying. Its shell is made of plastic, and if you want a metal version, you might prefer the Vitamix Ascent X4 or the Vitamix Ascent X5, which are more expensive but have stainless steel-wrapped motor bases and more features, like additional blending programs.
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Best Mid-Range Vitamix Blender
Multi-Purpose9.0Smoothies (Single Serving)8.7Smoothies (Multiple Servings)9.1Ice Crushing8.9Soups9.4Professional Use9.2The Vitamix 5200 is a good mid-range option if you care about blending performance but not so much about extra features like blending programs and additional jars. This model stands out from other Vitamix blenders because of its taller and narrower 64oz jar. This design can help with processing very small amounts of ingredients since a smaller volume will cover the blades. It performs similarly to the Vitamix Ascent X2, so it works very well for most blends, even if it's not quite as fast as the Vitamix A3500.
However, there are some downsides compared to pricier models. It's part of the 'Legacy' series of blenders and is compatible with fewer accessories and extra jars than 'Ascent' blenders. It doesn't work with Vitamix's food processing bowl or multi-colored blending jars. It's louder than both previous picks, and its simple controls consist of a speed dial, a power switch, and a pulse switch, with no blending programs or digital display. Its jar isn't dishwasher-safe and its lid is made of solid plastic, so you can't see down into the blender while it's running.
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Best Budget Vitamix Βlender
Multi-Purpose9.2Smoothies (Single Serving)9.1Smoothies (Multiple Servings)8.7Ice Crushing8.4Soups8.8Professional Use8.8Vitamix doesn't really make budget blenders, but if you know you want a Vitamix and want to spend as little as possible, the Vitamix Explorian E310 is a great option. Like the more expensive Vitamix Ascent X2, it comes with a 48oz jar, so keep that in mind if you blend big batches or crush a lot of ice. However, it's a fantastic option for single-serve smoothies, since it makes a nearly perfectly smooth blend with smaller batches of fibrous ingredients just as quickly and easily as the Vitamix A3500. It makes a smooth blend with big batches, and it's particularly easy to use for thicker recipes, just like the X2.
It's much louder than the other blenders listed here. It doesn't have any automatic blending programs, so you'll always have to stop the blender manually. Its power cord is much shorter than the Vitamix 5200's, but its jar is dishwasher-safe for easier cleaning.
Compared To Other Brands
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Incredible build quality.
Vitamix blenders have a premium build with materials that feel solid and durable. Some models have U.S. warranties of up to 10 years. -
Additional jars available.
Many Vitamix blenders can be purchased with additional jars, like personal jars for smoothies. However, make sure your Vitamix model is compatible with the accessory you want. -
Lots of speed settings.
Vitamix blenders have a dial that gives you lots of control over the blender's speed. You can start at a low speed and ramp up to avoid splatters or when you want to prevent over-blending. -
Two-part lid and tamper included.
Vitamix blenders usually come with a two-part lid, so you can add ingredients or use the tamper to stir your recipe while the machine runs.
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Fewer extra accessories included.
Unlike other brands like Ninja, most Vitamix blenders only have a main pitcher, lid, and tamper. Most are compatible with accessories like personal jars that you can buy separately. -
More expensive.
Vitamix blenders are generally more expensive than other blenders on the market, and there aren't any budget-level options.
Vitamix vs Blendtec
Βlendtec is another maker of high-end full-size blenders. The models we've tested aren't as well-built as Vitamix blenders and don't perform as well overall, particularly for recipes like nut butter or hummus. They usually come with a 90-ounce pitcher, while most Vitamix models come with a 64-ounce pitcher. They also have blunt blades that make them easy to clean by hand. For more information, check out our more detailed breakdown of the differences between Blendtec and Vitamix.
Vitamix vs Wolf Gourmet
Wolf Gourmet is a kitchen appliance manufacturer that makes a few high-end blenders. The Wolf Gourmet Pro-Performance isn't as good at processing thick mixtures like nut butter as the Vitamix models in this article. It's not as well-built. Still, its performance is comparable, and it's quiet for a blender.
Vitamix vs Ninja
Ninja makes a wide variety of full-size blenders that are usually cheaper. They generally don't perform as well as Vitamix models if you're using the main pitcher. They aren't as well-built and usually can't hot blend. However, unlike Vitamix, many have extra jars and attachments included, like single-serve jars and food processors. If you don't mind using different jars for different purposes, some can produce similar results to Vitamix blenders. To see what this brand offers, check out the best Ninja blenders.
Vitamix vs KitchenAid
KitchenAid makes a small range of full-size blenders, including high-end, premium, and commercial options. The higher-end KitchenAid K400 offers comparable performance to Vitamix blenders for making smoothies, soups, and crushed ice. It's less expensive than the Vitamix Explorian E310 but isn't as well-built. It doesn't come with a tamper and is much harder to use for recipes like nut butter. The blade design also makes it harder to clean by hand.
Vitamix makes full-size blenders that are very well-built and versatile in their overall performance. They have a wide range of speed settings, so you can easily adjust the speed based on what you're blending. Some of their blenders are Bluetooth-compatible, so you can use the Vitamix Perfect Blend app to access additional preset modes like 'Smoothies,' 'Baby Food,' 'Spice Grinding,' and 'Acai Bowls.'
Lineup
Vitamix divides its full-size blenders into a few categories that offer different controls, features, and warranties and are compatible with different accessories.
Ascent X series: The latest, most expensive lineup, which includes four blenders with an advertised 10-year warranty. These blenders come with a 48oz jar and a removable tamper holder. More expensive models have metal shells, more blending programs, and other features like a tamper indicator. Their jars have rubber handle covers, but they lack cord storage.
Ascent series: Vitamix advertises a 10-year U.S. warranty. Depending on your model, they include features like digital displays and onboard blending programs. They have 'Self-Detect,' meaning the blender can detect which accessory you're using.
Smart System: All Ascent series blenders, plus some other models like the Vitamix Venturist 1200, are 'Smart System' blenders, meaning they have 'Self Detect' and are compatible with the widest variety of accessories, including a food processor jar.
Legacy series: These are 'classic' blenders, older designs that Vitamix still makes and sells new. They have analog controls, a longer power cord, and an opaque lid. The manufacturer offers a seven-year U.S. warranty. The jars aren't dishwasher-safe, unlike Ascent models. There are G-series and C-series Legacy blenders. Some accessories and additional jars are only compatible with one series or the other.
Propel series: These are Vitamix's newest line of blenders, which uses classic design features. They lack digital displays and don't work with 'Self-Detect' accessories. They share the Legacy blenders' seven-year U.S. warranty, longer power cord, and lid design. However, unlike real Legacy models, they have blending programs and come with dishwasher-safe jars.
Explorian series: Vitamix refers to its Explorian blenders as an 'entry' into the brand. They're less expensive, have more basic controls, and have a shorter five-year U.S. warranty.
Other blenders: Vitamix mainly makes full-size blenders, but they also sell the Vitamix Immersion Βlender, meant for blending hot ingredients in a pot or pan, and the Vitamix ONE, a smaller full-size model for smoothies. It has a very different design from other Vitamixes and a less versatile performance.
Recent Updates
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We've made some changes to account for new products and some products being out of stock. Added the Vitamix Ascent X2 as the upper mid-range pick and the Vitamix Explorian E310 as the budget pick. Removed the Vitamix A2500 and the Vitamix Venturist V1200 because they're currently unavailable.
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Aug 20, 2024: We've updated the text with information about the recall of some personal jars sold by Vitamix.
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May 28, 2024: We've reorganized the picks in the article because of price changes. The Vitamix Propel 750 has been replaced with the A2500 because it's quieter and cheaper, and we've removed the Vitamix Explorian E310 because the 5200 is around the same price and offers a better performance.
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Apr 02, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock. There hasn't been a change to our recommendations.
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Feb 02, 2024: We've updated the text and verified that the products are easy to find in stock.
FAQ
How do you clean a Vitamix?
Vitamix recommends filling the jar halfway with warm water and adding a few drops of soap, running it for 30–60 seconds, and then rinsing the jar and lid. This does help clean the jar and blades, but you usually need a sponge or brush to completely clean the blender.
Are Vitamix blenders dishwasher-safe?
Some Vitamix blenders come with dishwasher-safe jars. 'Ascent,' 'Propel,' and 'Explorian' models jars can go in the dishwasher. However, the 'Legacy' blenders have to be cleaned by hand.
How much will a Vitamix blender cost you?
Vitamix makes high-end full-size blenders that cost about $300 U.S. at the low end and $600 for the most expensive models.
Is Costco Vitamix different?
Vitamix makes some blender models that are only available at Costco (U.S.), including the Vitamix Venturist 1200 and the Vitamix Explorian E520. These blenders can have different designs and vary a little in performance from similar-looking models available elsewhere. For example, the Vitamix Explorian E520 is louder than the Vitamix Explorian E310 and has automatic blending programs. However, the Costco models we've tested are similar to other Vitamix blenders regarding build quality and blending performance.
Can you chop nuts in a Vitamix?
Most Vitamix blenders can chop nuts. However, like with many other full-size blenders, if you over-blend, you'll end up with nut butter instead of chopped nuts or flour, so you might prefer a food processor.
Conclusion
Vitamix is a blender manufacturer that makes well-built, premium-looking blenders. They're generally very versatile, which suits many different users. They usually come with a speed dial and some preset modes and can blend hot ingredients. However, most of their blenders don't have many extra features or accessories.