Is a smoothie maker different from a blender?
Usually not. “Smoothie maker” is mostly a name for personal, tumbler, bowl-maker or portable blenders built around one drink, not soups or nut butter.
4 types personal, tumbler, bowl maker, portable
Smoothie maker or blender? What each type does best
Which one should you buy?
A smoothie maker is usually a personal or tumbler blender built around one drink. For most people the best smoothie maker is the NutriBullet Pro 900 at home or the Ninja BlendBOSS on the go. If you also want bowls or chopping, a Ninja Foodi system adds those; for soups and batches, buy a full-size blender.
Smoothie maker: the ranking at a glance
8 picks, best first. Price bands are from Amazon as of Oct 24, 2026.
- NutriBullet Pro 900Best personal blender for a small kitchenUnder $100Check price
- Ninja BlendBOSSBest for protein shakes on the goUnder $100Check price
- Ninja SS101Best for thick smoothie bowlsCheck priceCheck price
- Ninja SS351Smoothie maker that also chopsUnder $100Check price
- Ninja SS401Biggest bowl makerUnder $100Check price
- Ninja BlastBest cordless portable blenderCheck priceCheck price
- Breville Bluicer ProBlender and juicer in one$100 to $250Check price
- Vitamix E310Best Vitamix for one or two people$250 to $500Check price
What buyers actually worry about
Do I need a big pitcher, or is a personal cup enough?
For one smoothie a day, a personal blender is enough and quicker to clean. Very thick or frozen blends may need a shake or more liquid.
About 1 month Wirecutter’s payback estimate for the NutriBullet Pro if you’d otherwise buy a smoothie on the way to work
Are portable and personal blenders safe?
Mostly, if you check recalls and skip hot liquids. The BlendJet 2 recall covered 4.8 million units, and the maker has since gone out of business, so its free fix is gone. NutriBullet warns against blending hot ingredients in sealed cups.
329 reports of blades breaking on recalled BlendJet 2 units. Source: CPSC
The picks, in detail
1
Best personal blender for a small kitchen
NutriBullet Pro 900
The classic personal smoothie maker: push, twist, drink from the cup.
This listing comes with the 900-watt base, a 32-ounce cup, a 24-ounce cup, a flip-top travel lid and the extractor blade. Twist the blade off and rinse it; the cups go on the dishwasher’s top rack.
Buy it ifYou make one smoothie at a time and have little counter space.
Skip it ifYou want thick smoothie bowls. The Ninja SS101 has a bowl maker with a built-in tamper.
Sources: Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, Saveur, The Gadgeteer
2
Best for protein shakes on the go
Ninja BlendBOSS (DB351)
The tumbler-style smoothie maker. Blend in a 26 oz travel tumbler.
In the box: 1,200-peak-watt base, the 26-ounce tumbler, a leakproof lid with chug spout and detachable straw, and the CrushBlade assembly. Three Auto-iQ programs (Smoothie, Ice Crush, Blend). Parts are BPA free and dishwasher safe.
Buy it ifYou want to blend and walk out the door with the same cup.
Skip it ifSomeone is asleep when you blend. Look at the NutriBullet Ultra.
Sources: RTINGS, Tom’s Guide
3
Best for thick smoothie bowls
Ninja Foodi Personal Blender & Smoothie Bowl Maker (SS101)
Not yet independently testedThe bowl-maker style: a cup for drinks and a 14 oz bowl with a built-in tamper.
Listing: 1,200-peak-watt base, 24-ounce cup with to-go lid, 14-ounce smoothie bowl maker with built-in tamper and storage lid, Hybrid Edge blades, dishwasher-safe parts.
Buy it ifYou want spoon-thick bowls and protein shakes from one small base.
Skip it ifYou want lab-proven results. See the BlendBOSS.
Specs from the Amazon listing; no independent lab test found yet.
4
Smoothie maker that also chops
Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor (SS351)
Not yet independently testedSmoothie maker that also chops.
Listing: 1,400-peak-watt smartTORQUE motor, six Auto-iQ programs, variable speed, 72-ounce pitcher (64 ounces liquid), cups and bowl with lids.
Buy it ifYou want blending and chopping on one base.
Skip it ifYou only make smoothies. The BN751 is simpler.
Specs from the Amazon listing; no independent lab test found yet.
5
Biggest bowl maker
Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor System (SS401)
Not yet independently testedThe SS401 adds an 18-ounce XL smoothie bowl maker with a built-in tamper and a feed-chute processing lid to the SS351 idea. Not yet independently tested.
Good for families who make bowls and shred vegetables; overkill for one smoothie a day.
Listing: 1,600-peak-watt motor, 72-ounce pitcher, feed-chute lid with discs, 18-ounce XL bowl maker, 24-ounce extraction cup, seven programs.
Buy it ifYou want the largest bowl maker plus food processing.
Skip it ifCounter space is tight. See the SS101.
Specs from the Amazon listing; no independent lab test found yet.
Check today’s price on AmazonUnder $100
6
Best cordless portable blender
Ninja Blast Portable Blender (BC151)
The portable style: cordless, 18 oz, charges by USB-C.
Listing: 18-ounce vessel, ribbed vortex design, stainless BlastBlade, 7.4V rechargeable base with USB-C charging, 30-second self-clean.
Buy it ifYou want smoothies at work or the gym without an outlet.
Skip it ifYou want more than 18 oz. See the Blast Max.
Sources: RTINGS, Global News The Curator
7
Blender and juicer in one
Breville 3X Bluicer Pro
Not yet independently testedOne base that blends, juices or does both into the same 50-ounce jug. Not yet independently tested by our sources.
Buy it only if you want juice too; as a smoothie-only blender it costs more than better choices.
Listing: 3.5-inch feed chute, Smoothie and Green Smoothie programs, Ice Crush, 10 speeds, 50-ounce jug, 3.2-quart pulp bin.
Buy it ifYou want juice and smoothies on one base.
Skip it ifYou only blend. Get the E310.
Specs from the Amazon listing; no independent lab test found yet.
Check today’s price on Amazon$100 to $250
8
Best Vitamix for one or two people
Vitamix Explorian E310
If you outgrow a smoothie maker, this is the small full-size blender to step up to.
In the box: motor base, 48-ounce container, lid and tamper. Ten speeds plus pulse, hardened stainless steel blades, and the same 30-to-60-second self-clean with warm water and dish soap.
Buy it ifYou want Vitamix texture for one or two servings at a lower price than the 5200.
Skip it ifYou blend for four or more. The 5200 holds 64 oz.
Sources: RTINGS, Reviewed, The Gadgeteer
How do they compare?
| Blender | Type | Main jar | Cups | Tamper or bowl tool | Fits 18 in cabinets | Warranty | Price band | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NutriBullet Pro 900 | Personal | 32 oz cup | 32 + 24 oz | No | Yes | See box | Under $100 | One smoothie a day |
| Ninja BlendBOSS | Personal tumbler | 26 oz tumbler | Tumbler | No | Yes | See box | Under $100 | Commuters, gym |
| Ninja SS101 | Personal + bowl | 24 oz cup | Yes | Bowl maker | Yes | See box | Check price | Smoothie bowls |
| Ninja SS351 | Blender-processor | 72 oz | Yes | Bowl | Check | See box | Under $100 | All in one |
| Ninja SS401 | Blender-processor | 72 oz | 24 oz | Bowl maker | Check | See box | Under $100 | Bowls + prep |
| Ninja Blast | Portable | 18 oz | Vessel | No | Yes | See box | Check price | Cordless |
| Breville Bluicer Pro | Blender + juicer | 50 oz | No | No | Check | See box | $100 to $250 | Juice + smoothies |
| Vitamix E310 | Full-size | 48 oz | No | Tamper | Check | See box | $250 to $500 | 1 to 2 people |
“Check” and “See box” mean the listing doesn’t say. Price bands come from Amazon as of Oct 24, 2026; prices change.
Which kind of smoothie maker fits you?
| Type | What it is | Good for | Not for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal blender | Blend in a cup, swap on a lid | One smoothie, small counters | Soup, big batches | NutriBullet Pro 900 |
| Tumbler blender | Blend in an insulated-style travel tumbler | Commutes, gym | Thick bowls | Ninja BlendBOSS |
| Bowl maker system | Cup plus a bowl with built-in tamper | Acai bowls, nut butter | Families | Ninja SS101 |
| Blender-processor | Pitcher that also chops and makes dough | One appliance for everything | Tiny kitchens | Ninja SS351 |
| Portable | Cordless, battery base | Travel, office | Hot liquids, heavy ice | Ninja Blast |
| Blender + juicer | One base, two jugs | Juice and smoothies | Small budgets | Breville Bluicer Pro |
Smoothie maker: questions, answered
What is the difference between a smoothie maker and a blender?
A smoothie maker is usually a personal, tumbler or bowl-maker blender built around one drink. A full-size blender handles batches, soup and nut butter.
Is a smoothie mixer the same as a smoothie maker?
Usually, yes; people use smoothie mixer for the same personal blenders. For powder-only shakes, a shaker bottle is a third option.
What is the best smoothie machine for home?
The NutriBullet Pro 900 for one person, the NutriBullet Full-Size Combo for a family on a budget, and the Vitamix 5200 if you blend greens daily.
Can a smoothie maker crush ice?
Most cup-style smoothie makers handle a few cubes with liquid. Tumbler models like the BlendBOSS list an Ice Crush program.
Smoothie maker or juicer?
A blender keeps the whole fruit, pulp included; a juicer separates juice from pulp. The Breville Bluicer Pro does both on one base.
Are cordless smoothie makers any good?
For one drink away from an outlet, yes. See our portable blender guide and check recalls first.
What is the best blender for acai bowls?
For spoon-thick bowls, the Ninja SS101 has a 14 oz bowl maker with a built-in tamper, but it has no independent test yet. Among lab-tested machines, the Vitamix 5200 tamper pushes thick acai mix into the blades while it runs. Use less liquid and frozen packs, and tamp as you go.
Blender vs juicer: which is better for smoothies?
A blender. It purées whole fruit and vegetables, so the fiber stays in the drink. A juicer pushes the liquid out and leaves the pulp behind, so it can’t make a smoothie on its own. If you want both on one base, the Breville Bluicer is a blender and juicer in one; it has no independent test yet.