Blendtec vs. Vitamix {Which Blender is Best?? An Unsponsored Review}
Today it’s Blendtec vs. Vitamix! Two of the most popular high-powered blenders go head-to-head in this closeup {unsponsored} look to figure out which blender really is the best!
Disclaimer: this is an unsponsored post (i.e. I haven’t been paid to talk about these blenders); this post contains a few Amazon affiliate links for products I’ve bought there. As always, feel free to shop around for the best price!
I fully realize I may be diving into controversial waters today, but it’s finally the day where we talk openly and honestly about blenders.
I know. Hold onto your hats.
Just like the Kitchenaid vs. Bosch debate (over 400 comments on that post!), I am inundated with emails, comments, questions about if I own a Blendtec or Vitamix, and ultimately, which one would I recommend.
I have strong feelings on the matter. This should not surprise anyone who even remotely knows me. {Spoiler alert: I have strong feelings on everything, particularly kitchen appliances. Also, I probably need to get a life.}
As I already mentioned, no company has ever sent me a free blender. Blendtec and Vitamix could probably care less who I am and what opinions I have (it’s ok, no hard feelings, guys).
Here’s a quick back story of my blender history: in about 2010 or thereabouts, my mom gifted me a Blendtec for a Christmas gift. I was stoked. Blendtec was my go-to blender for about 7 years (several models as I had two of them “die” and get replaced through the warranty). A little over a year ago in 2017, I gave my faltering, on-it’s-way-out Blendtec to my sister (I’m so nice like that) and bought a Vitamix at Costco. I’ve been using it exclusively for over a year now. Incidentally, the Blendtec is still working out pretty well for my sis, too (I borrowed it for the pictures in this post, actually).
I know there are many, many other blenders (high-powered or not) on the market, but because Blendtec and Vitamix are the ones I get the most questions about, and they are the only ones I’ve owned and used, they are the ones up for closer inspection today.
Additionally, there are a lot of different models available for both Blendtec and Vitamix. For today’s discussion, I’m comparing two fairly lateral models from each brand – mostly because they are similar to the ones I’ve owned: Blendtec Classic 575 and Vitamix 5300.
Let’s take a quick look at a few side-by-side comparisons.
You can see that at least for these two models, cost is fairly comparable (in addition, certified refurbished blenders for both brands can be found at a discount). The sky is the limit with these blenders, though. Both brands have professional series blenders that are upwards of $800!
Now let’s go a bit deeper into some of the pros and cons I’ve experienced with each blender.
Performance + Noise
From the above chart, the horsepower of the two blenders is pretty comparable. Keep in mind that the power given for most appliances is the peak power, and the blenders usually never operate at that highest level. Misleading and annoying? Yes.
But operationally, both the Blendtec and Vitamix, for these models, operate at right around 1,400 to 1,500 watts (right around 2 hp). So there aren’t any significant differences in power.
I can only speak from my experience, but although the Blendtec is slightly higher in horsepower, I have enjoyed using the Vitamix much more based on how effectively it blends.
Can you get a deliciously smooth milkshake with either blender? Yes. Smoothie? Yes. Neither blender skyrockets higher than the other in terms of actual output.
The difference is in how that creamy milkshake or smoothie is achieved. In my experience, the Vitamix blends more quickly and more efficiently than the Blendtec.
I would constantly have to repeat the smoothie cycle on the Blendtec to get our morning smoothies just right, whereas with the Vitamix, I swing the dial up to a 5 or 6 and let it blend for 30-45 seconds, and we’re good to go.
I think this difference boils down to three factors: the design of the jar, the preprogrammed functions, and the tamper.
Although I do feel like there are several cons with the design of the Vitamix jar(s) – more below – the fact that the low-profile, 64-ounce jar is wider and squattier (for lack of a better term) than the Blendtec jars earns a few points in blending functionality.
The wider surface area at the bottom of the jar makes for easier blending with large batches, in my very scientific opinion.
The tamper that is provided with the Vitamix is the source of a lot of controversy (Blendtec blenders don’t have this). Some people love it, some people hate it.
I don’t love that it’s one more piece to clean, but the upside is that I also don’t use it every time I blend food in the Vitamix. I only pull it out for extra thick mixtures (like if I add too much frozen fruit to our morning smoothies or am craving a perfect chocolate milkshake), and it really does make a world of difference for that ultra-thick smoothie or milkshake or ice cream.
Whereas the Blendtec often has to be stopped and stirred with a spoon or spatula so the thicker bits at the bottom transfer up to the top, the Vitamix tamper does the job for you while the blender is running (don’t worry, there’s a safety edge that prevents the tamper from hitting the blades).
And a quick note about noise: both blenders are loud. There’s no getting around it. I’m sure in super scientific tests, there’s a difference between the two, but in my experience, it’s not significant. THEY ARE LOUD!
Options + Ease of Use + Jars
Like I mentioned above, the Blendtec definitely has more options available in terms of blending and preprogrammed cycles.
The model pictured in this post is a little older than the current Blendtec Classic blenders, but preprogrammed cycles are still available on the new models.
The Vitamix is plain and simple. You’ve got yourself a pulse button, start/stop switch, and a speed dial.
Having used both, I think of the Blendtec as the quick, little, strong, whippersnapper of the two, while the Vitamix is a gentle, rumbling, hard working giant.
And yes, I’m weird.
While I really like the design of the 64-ounce Vitamix jar, I also don’t think it’s a very practical size for smaller families or individuals. It’s huge! For us, it’s great because I have a large family and make almost everything in bulk, but it’s not very useful for someone who might want to blend smaller batches of salad dressings and sauces – the smaller batches don’t blend as well in the low-profile jar.
A major plus of Blendtec is that very often, the blender packages come with two jars: the classic jar (32 ounces) and the wild side jar (36 ounces). I also had the twister jar when I owned my Blendtec, and I used it for smaller batches (sauces, salad dressings, graham cracker crumbs, etc). I loved that little jar.
When I bought my Vitamix, it only came with the wider 64-ounce jar. I later bought the 32-ounce jar – I’m often using my blender for multiple things, and so for me, it’s been worth it to have both jars. However, it is an additional expense (I wish Vitamix would add it to their blender packages!).
One note I’ll add in this section is that the Vitamix is definitely heavier, bigger, and bulkier. You can see that just from the pictures. The base is taller and wider. I keep the base and the jars in a kitchen cupboard, and it definitely takes up more cupboard space now that I have a Vitamix instead of a Blendtec.
Cleaning
In my experience, both blenders clean about the same. My mom swears by adding warm water and a drop or two of dish soap to the blender and pulsing or running it on medium speed and then rinsing. I hardly ever do that because I’ve usually put the base back in the cupboard already.
So I do the old-fashioned hand wash action, and it’s fine. Honestly, it takes less than a minute to clean either Blendtec or Vitamix. The jar configurations and lids don’t make a significant difference for cleaning, in my opinion.
However, I will say that I have found the Blendtec splashes around much, much more while blending. The Vitamix doesn’t seem to be quite as…well…energetic (see my above “gentle giant” comment).
For example here are the lids after blending identical batches of smoothies. Now certainly some of this boils down to size and configuration of the jars, but it still may be a helpful visual.
Durability
While I think both Blendtec and Vitamix blenders have their merits (and downfalls), one thing I can speak to from specific personal experience is that over the 6-7 years of owning a Blendtec, the motor burned out two separate times.
This was with fairly average daily use. I never store liquids or food in my blender jars (either brand) overnight, I rarely make ice cream or other ultra-thick concoctions in the blender (milkshakes are another matter), and I always twist the bottom of the driveshaft that spins the blades before using (a tip I learned from a Costco salesman years and years ago).
UPDATE: several of you in the comments have asked for details about this so I took a quick picture of what I mean. Basically, when I pull the jar out of the cupboard, I give a little twist to the metal driveshaft extending out of the bottom of the blender. You might notice it sticks a bit as you twist it – and that’s exactly why it’s important to give it a good spin before blending anything. The way the “blender professional” 🙂 explained it to me is that pre-twisting it with your fingers before blending keeps the driveshaft and blades from sticking while blending which will in turn keep them in tip top spinning shape. A simple step, but one I do out of habit now.
Blendtec always came through with a refurbished warranty replacement (although I did have some sketchy and frustrating experiences with their customer service line once or twice), but after my last Blendtec replacement started having display issues and a burning smell while making our smoothies, I decided to cut ties with Blendtec and try a Vitamix.
I’ve only had the Vitamix for a little over a year, so I can’t say right now that it is more durable than a Blendtec, but I haven’t had any issues so far. My dad has had a Vitamix for several years with no issues.
Conversely, I have many friends who have had Blendtec blenders for many years, also, with no issues.
But in my experience, my Blendtec wasn’t nearly as durable and long lasting as I had hoped and anticipated.
In Summary
Well, if you’ve gotten this far (bless you), you might be wondering – with all this information, which blender really is best?
Obviously this is going to boil down to many personal factors: budget, the exact model you want, size of family (for jar size), room for storage (remember, Vitamix is slightly bigger), desire for preprogrammed settings, etc.
But for me, after using a Blendtec blender for 6+ years and now having experience with a Vitamix blender for the last year or so, I can easily say that the Vitamix wins for me.
It blends better, it’s easier to use, I love the tamper provided to aid in quicker/more efficient blending, and even though the specifications may not agree, it feels much more powerful than the Blendtec blender.
Overall, it’s the blender I would recommend! However, I also know it may not be the right blender for everyone.
And because I know you might also have strong opinions about this, comment below and let me know if you own a high-powered blender, which one you own, and why you love (or hate) it!
Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
271 Comments on “Blendtec vs. Vitamix {Which Blender is Best?? An Unsponsored Review}”
Had our blendtec classic over 7 years now. When following their directions, have had NO PROBLEMS! Banana bread, smoothies, soups, and more. We only have the wild side jar but even grinding a few peanuts worked out pretty well. (Not supposed to use a wild side for nut grinding). Yes after 7 years we spin the blade as mentioned. Wash up with pulsing water and 1-2 drops dish soap. Price at Costco was too good to pass up, especially when we had ice cream made for us. Being pensioners, cannot afford a vitamix. . We love our blendtec. P.S. never have had any smells of burning that has been mentioned. No motor smells. BUT.. A VERY GOOD REVIEW WAS GIVEN.
Thanks for your honest and funny review. Sounds like I’m going to be getting a Vitamix in the future.
Hi I just saw your comparative post AFTER I ordered a Blendtec 575 from Bed Bath and Beyond online. It was 380 at first came down to 330 and with my 20 percent off coupon it was 263 something that I could not even find on Amazon at that price. I have been wanting a high end blender but I have a Ninja Fit and my older HB just didn’t grab me anymore so i placed it for the the thrift store. (It is sturdy and heavy and will last a while more.) Doing intensive review readings on all websites and all kinds of blenders and asking myself for my 2 smoothies a day do I really need a massive piece of structure on my small counter area and won’t the newer osters with the higher wattage do the same and so went to store after store to see actual sizes, measuring height etc. Then thought of the mid range ones KitchenAid K400 (again massive base) Cuisinart Hurricane, Instant Pot Blender, Ninja Foodi, Breville Fast and Furious and even the 100 dollar 1200 watts nutribullet as it was the smallest among all of the above.
Was going to pull the trigger (to get on with life as I was getting obsessively analytical of all ) on a Vitamix 5300 new, but took one last look at the actual size of the “low profile” model and the massive base and decided to buy the Blendtec as it would do as good a job as vitamix for my iced smoothies and blending of soups and with the the 8 year warranty, I wouldn’t go wrong. And MOST Importantly, it would fit under my kitchen cupboards at 15 inches in height, the cupboards hanging at 17 inches, and will not look incongruous in my tiny kitchen. So I am hoping for the best and I do wish that I had the space for BOTH gadgets! (And the money!)
Listening to frequent replacement of the Blendtec jars are causing me to worry though.
Recently purchased the Blendtec 575 for 219$ on Amazon. Currently, this model in white is 209$.
It’s an awesome blender. Here are things I’ve made in it thus far (wildside 90 oz jar): hummus, lemon curd, soup, hot chocolate, coffee dringks, smoothies of every sort with frozen fruit, fresh fruit, fresh veg (carrots, celery and such), flax seeds, lots of greens. It’s performed every task brilliantly, no tamper, no scraping. Smoothies smooth as silk. The lemon curd was to die for…imagine, mixing and cooking it in a blender! I also ground almonds for flour which worked very well!
After 10+ years, still living my VitaMix.
I hope you will keep us updated as the years tick by. If you still feel the same after 6 plus years of blending with the vitamix. Enjoyed the review very much!
Ugh the burning smell is my current Blendtec problem. I can only blend on low or pulse while using my smallest jar and hope it doesn’t make my food taste like an oil refinery. Their customer service was such a nightmare I’m thinking of not bothering with the warranty and splurging on a Vitamix. Thanks for the post.
I bought a Vitamix (5200 series) in 2011, and it is still going strong, after nearly daily use throughout the spring and summer (can’t do frozen smoothies when it’s cold outside!), and occasional use for peanut butter, cream soup recipes, and, for a while, cat food for a cat (that left me a year or so back) with health issues.
Just gearing up for spring use now, and this chocolate smoothie recipe is the first new one I’m going to try! (My favorite is one Whole Foods gave me sometime back: a banana, handful of spinach or kale, half cup each frozen dark cherries and blueberries, and a cup of coconut water. I usually add a tablespoon or two of chia seeds or flaxseed meal, plus a smidge of cinnamon and turmeric, just for taste.)
I have had a Vitamin 7500 for five years and it is a workhorse for me. I plant 80 peppers and 80 tomato plants and make many gallons of spicy tomato juice and hot sauce every Fall. The recipes say you have to pre cook the onions, carrots, celery and garlic then add the tomatoes and peppers. I mix everything together and simmer for awhile and then add to the Vitamix and blend. After 30 seconds everything is a liquid with no solids of any kind.
I used a Kitchen Aid blender for years and had to strain the mixture as it was always full of small pieces of vegetables not so with the Vitamix.
I hope to get the smaller bowl this summer which will work better when making small batches of hot sauce.
I’m in the midst of this decision! Thanks for your comparison – most of the reviews online are designed to get people to buy through the website so they are very wishy-washy (well, we like the Blendtec better, but actually the Vitamix is better, well… they are both good. Buy either here!) I had decided on the Blendtec because of the price (and placed the order at Costco), but durability is really important to me and the comments about decades old vitamixes are hard to ignore. Also, your long experience with both of them is such a valuable data point!
Thanks again! Here’s hoping for some good black Friday deals on the Vitamix…
Hi Mel! Just a quick, dumb question…your tip about twisting the drive shaft on the bottom of the pitcher before each use–does it matter if you twist clockwise or counter-clockwise? I love this tip! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hey Kim – doesn’t matter just as long as you give it a good twist! 🙂
Hi Mel! I know you have a beautiful grain mill that you use, but have you tried making flour in your Vitamix? I’m thinking of splurging and getting one and I can better justify it if I can get that extra use out of it. I want to start grinding my own wheat, but just haven’t taken that step yet. I know make most of the bread we eat because of you and your recipes!
I’ve never tried grinding flour in my Vitamix…but I know a lot of people say it works great!
I have both…one at home and one at the lake cabin. I love them both. I prefer the blentec.
1. I don’t like the tamper stick. It drips all over and is one more thing to clean and store. I never need to stir anything in my blentec. It just blends without needing a tamper stick.
2. I like the slightly smaller size of the blentec base. It allows me to store the whole thing under my cabinet. The vita mix I have to store with the jar removed from the base, which bugs me. It takes up more space on my counter top and doesn’t look quite as tucked away because it’s stored in two pieces instead of one. Seems simple, but that is a big con for me.
Both have run well and are dependable and have not needed to be replaced
We have had a similar experience. I have owned both. The Blendtec seemed to perform well, but burned out once within the warranty period and again right after it ended. The Vitamix we also owned for several years and gave to a relative is still going strong.
I notice you did not comment about the blade assembly which would be my only con. I have a Vitamix blender and researched quite a bit before deciding to get it and am overall pleased although I do find some blended products difficult to get out of the base. My daughter has a Ninja blender where the blade assembly can be removed from base. I notice that some Vitamix bases now can also be removed from the blade assembly. My sister in law has had her Vitamix for 30+ years and it is still working great. One reason that tipped the scales in favor of a Vitamix was the reviews I read that if you ever did have a problem and needed a replacement or repair that Vitamix service was great. I have not had to have service on mine in the 5 years that I have owned it.
My husband “inherited” his Grandma’s vitamix, and it is still going strong more than 20 years later. Meanwhile, his dad has been through 5-6 Blendtech blenders. We are a Vitamix family for life!
I have a Kitchenaid Proline blender with the thermal control jar, it is AMAZING. I was torn between that and a Vitamin, but ultimately decided on the Kitchanaid and I am not disappointed. It has a smoothie setting, a soup setting (it heats the soup) and a clean setting, along with all the regular blend functions.
After growing up with a mom who had one of the early vitamix models I tried out the blendtec when it first came out- I didn’t like how it whipped my smoothies till frothy and yet there were still lumps! I was more than happy to return it after 2 years when it started smoking. LOVE my vitamix!!
I have a Ninja—I hate it. It actually makes me angry.
I’ve had my Vitamix for 13 years and use it EVERY day and not a single problem! Uh oh, have I just jinxed myself???
I’m a Vitamix person for the past 10 years. I love it as it blends so very well, particularly soups that turn out “creamy” without any cream in them (roasted butternut squash). I too wish there was a smaller jar for my particular model, as I’d like to make salad dressings, etc. and the jar that came with it is much too big for that. So I use a Magic Bullet for that job. Love the Bullet as well for very small jobs.
I have a Blendtec and I wish I had purchased the Vitamix- for similar reasons- I’ve already had to use the Blendtec warranty because of problems.
Ohhh this deserves an update on your “favorite things” page, aka my kitchen wishlist. I’ve wanted a high power blender but couldn’t make up my mind. You just did it for me!
We’ve had a Blendtec (with the regular and wild side jars) for 5 years and recently passed 1,000 blends! We have had no problems, ever—it is my favorite appliance and is so easy to clean by doing a soapy water blend. Sometimes frozen fruit (which I hardly ever use) needs to be blended twice but everything else comes out dreamy. I always follow the liquids first and ice last rule. I like that it is short enough to fit on the counter under a kitchen cabinet.
Vitamix girl here, 6 years and going! I bought it refurbished, had one engine repair covered by the warranty with excellent customer service and love love love it!
Does anyone else have trouble making thick things like nut butters in their vitamix? For me, when I put nuts and/or dates, it gets too gummed up. Am I doing something wrong? Love my vitamix otherwise.
Are you using the tamper immediately for nuts and dates? If not, try that. I make peanut butter regularly and the Vitamix does great 🙂
I have a bosch blender with my mixer. I’ve been using it for 14+ years and love it!! Never had an issue other than very occasionally needing a larger container. Thanks for the comparison! Very informative.
I’ve had my BlendTec for about 5 years (i think) and my mom has had hers the same amount of time. Both or blender motors burned out around the same time and we both got new jars with the warranty. Customer service wasn’t an issue for us. I’ve loved my blendtec but it doesn’t like to blend very small amounts. The twister jar is perfect for that but it costs like $99. I think I’ll try a Vitamix next when mine finally dies.
I have had my Vitamix 5200 for about nine years now and I LOVE it. I use it almost daily and it’s still going strong!
I LOVE my Vitamix! One of my favorite functions is the dry blender – I had never attempted to use those huge bags of wheat in my food storage before I got it, and now I grind my wheat constantly! (Btw – My family loves your pizza dough recipes with whole wheat!)
I really feel like my Vitamix has promoted healthy eating for this used-to-be (and occasionally still is) junk food junkie. 🙂
From the moment I saw Vitamix on QVC I was in love…I had to have one. At an average price of $400 I had to wait until the time was right. Every time I saw the demos I was in awe. Finally, I was able to order it from Costco. Mine came with the 64 and 32 ounce containers and variable speed up to 10. It’s my most cherished kitchen appliance ! After reading how much you love your IP I bought one and it is amazing but I have an emotional attachment to my Vitamix haha.
I have had my Blendtec for almost 8 years, and I have had to use the warranty to replace it at least 4 times (I kinda lost count) for various reasons. Since the warranty is now expired, I keep saying next time it breaks down I’m getting a vitamix! Thanks for this post, it’s so helpful!
I love my VitaMix that I bought from Goodwill for $13!
I agree with your post. I have a Vitamin and love its power and ease but not that it won’t blend small batches. I had a Magic Bullet for that but it has died on me 🙁 To clean mine, I do what your mom says and add a drop of dish soap and blend it. When it stains, I have used a Magic Eraser to clean it. Thanks for the tip on the gear shaft. You are the best.
Vitamix ALL THE WAY!!! I loooove it! That thing is a workhorse. The only downside is like you said, it doesn’t do small batches of things very well so whenever I do salad dressings I at least double it. But I have a lot of kids so it works for us!
I bought my Blendtec because I liked the way it looked better than the Vitamix! I wanted a blender that would fit under my counter and the Vitamix just didn’t cut it. I have enjoyed my Blendtec but don’t use it that much. I guess I need to get in on the morning smoothie thing that I see so many comments about!
I have used our Vitamix almost daily for 13 years. The front plate started to peel off after year two. I contacted the company. They had great customer service. They had me send it to them. I told them I could only part with it, for them to repair when we went on vacation. They sent it back in a timely manner after we returned. There was even a hand written note hoping we had a great vacation! I still remember this and it has been 11 years ago. I LOVE my Vitamix. I say it’s the key to healthy eating, my daily green, oatmeal shake. I have since then only replaced the liquid blender container. It’s an amazing machine!
I had a Blendtec for many years which I purchased at a state fair. It worked for years very well, but did walk all over e counter, and I noticed that after a while it just wasn’t working as well as it did in the beginning. I also had replaced the glass twice. Besides the programs kinda bother me, so we purchased a Ninja with all the attachments. It doesn’t have the same power as the Blendtec when it comes to blending things but my husband loves the food processor and the small cups for smoothies. I do miss having power for making soups. I make tomato soup and the Blendtec work pretty well on the tomatoes in getting them smooth. Thinking very seriously about a Vitamix blender. Have made lots of your recipes, and love your blog,, you are a delight!
My Dad used to make parts for Blendtec (those little drive shafts at the bottom? yep.) until they outsourced some of their parts to China. Boo. The old Blendtec that my parents had from back in the day (before said outsourcing) was awesome. They still own it and it’s going strong! However, my own Blendtec blender was a newer model and the most frustrating kitchen appliance! We had many of the same problems mentioned – burning smell, the bottom of the jar leaking and even leaving black bits in our smoothies! After replacing the jars repeatedly, and trying out my friends’ Vitamix, we made the switch and have never looked back! It’s awesome!
(By the way, both Blendtec and Vitamix claim to be “made in the USA,” but Blendtec definitely outsources some of their parts, so I’m not sure if Vitamix is 100% made in USA or not.)
I haven’t verified this, but the Blenctec rep at Costco recently told me that they are now making all parts in house. Because of this, the old problems are gone and the quality is higher. Maybe no longer outsourcing to China? I hope that’s true.
Both Blendtec and Vitamix get almost of their parts made in the USA, but a small percentage are outsourced. Blendtec definitely gets their drive shafts made in the USA because my son’s company manufactures them. Perhaps Angie’s dad was told by his company the parts were being outsourced to China when in reality the contract was just going to a different US company. Both Blendtec and Vitamix have excellent warranties and the competition between the two companies is a win-win for all us consumers.
I’ve had a Blendtec for several years (I bought it before my son’s company got the contract for the drive shafts) and used the warranty to replace the jar for free. The new one arrived just two days after I called the company. I would love to have both brands just to do side-by-side comparisons, though each brand has several different models. I’ve had no difficulty with making smoothies in my Blendtec and never have to stop and scrape the sides. I bought the Blendtec because it was a couple of hundred dollars less than the Vitamix at Costco and the lower profile fits in my cupboards. If and when it dies, I will once again consider multiple high powered brands before buying a replacement.
I am glad you wrote about this. I currently have a Ninja, and i chose it (from Costco as well), because it came with the food processor, the extra cups, the shredder, etc. However, i’ve had to return it 3 times, due to some issue or other. For example, once, a little plastic tab broke, and without it, it never turned on. Silly things like that.
I’ve been playing with the idea of upgrading to a vitamix, but i do have concerns that i’ll loose my ability to
1. make a small batch of something…like a morning shake, or blending your BBQ sauce.
2. i won’t have a food processor (though some sites swear that you can process food there).
My question to you is: Have you ever tried to use it as a food processor: i.e. for your tortilla recipe, or shredding carrots for your carrot cake? I am sure you have a dedicated food processor but my CFO at home, won’t let me buy more gadgets. lol. Just curious.
Thx.
I wonder about the food processor aspect too! I also have a Costco Ninja and need to return it because the food processor no longer works (and tbh never didn’t a great job anyway).
I make hummus and a chunky salsa—two things that have varying degrees of thickness. I know a vitamix will liquify but what if I don’t need that all the time?
Thanks for your post, Mel!
I make hummus a lot in my Vitamix. If you get the model with variable speed you can use it to ” rough chop” by keeping it on a lower speed. They have tons of recipes on their website. Myself, I like watching the demos on QVC..I’ve gotten so many ideas.
Check Crate and Barrel’s website, they have a vitamix with small jars that they say are used for food processing, even a drink jar like the Ninja.
I haven’t used my Vitamix as a food processor, but I can make a single serving (16 oz) smoothie in it even with the large cup.
We got a Vitamix for a wedding present and it’s been going strong for 13 years. No, we don’t use it daily but certainly often and any appliance that lasts that long with continual use deserves recognition!
Woah! After reading through the comments and hearing about 20, 30 and 40 year old Vitamix blenders, I guess mine is just getting warmed up!
I’ve had my Vitamix E320 for a week now, and love it so far. My kids used to only tolerate green smoothies made in my KitchenAid blender, but they are so smooth and tasty when made in the Vitamix. No chunks of spinach!
We bought our at Costco, because I knew for some reason if I got it home and didn’t like it, that I could return it easily and go with the Blendtec. Plus, they were demoing the Vitamix (and it’s on sale for $270), so I got to sample before I bought. The seafood guy was stationed across from the demo and kept telling customers walking by how amazing the Vitamix was.
I have both blenders, the Vitamix Pro 500 and the Blendtec Designer Series. They are both great blenders, but I do think Vitamix does a better job. I tend to use my Blendtec more, though, because it’s more convenient. It fits under my countertop, and the Vitamix doesn’t (because of the tall jar). So I use my Blendtec for every day smoothies (I do have to use the smoothie button twice sometimes for it to blend everything), and if I’m blending something that’s much thicker, I’ll pull out my Vitamix because the tamper rocks! The Blendtec doesn’t blend frozen fruits as well as Vitamix. I’ll have to push the food down with a spatula before blending it again. The Vitamix really makes my smoothies “smooth” whereas sometimes I’ll have frozen chunks of fruit still in my Blendtec after it blends. I also have the Twister Jar with the Blendtec and recently bought the Go Jar, which blends individual sized smoothies. It works way better than the Magic Bullet, which I had and gave away. But, if I had to keep only one blender, I’d choose the Vitamix.
My mom passed onto me her Vitamix 3600. It is 40 years old! Stainless steel pitcher. 72 oz. capacity. She used it regularly to grind wheat. I remember the sound was scary. My kids leave the room when I use it. The motor is still going strong. I think a new model would make smoother smoothies. I usually end up with a few fruit chunks. That is my only complaint. I plan to stick with it until it dies. And when that day comes, I will stick with Vitamix.
I have a Kitchenaid blender and must say, it is NOT my favorite Kitchenaid product. I have lusted for a Vitamix or a Blendtec but have hesitated on purchasing either one because I always thought Kitchenaid was the answer to most kitchen appliance questions. I really appreciate your detailed evaluation of both the Vitamix and Blendtec appliances. Thank you for taking the time to post this for our benefit!
Hello,
I have a Vitamix 6300 it’s my first high end blender, and I love it! I’ve never had or tried a Blendtec, but I’ve heard they’re great. I got mine at Costco and I’d buy one again if mine burns out, but it hasn’t yet!
I still have the first and only Vitamix that I ever bought….still use it. It has a stainless steel “jar” and a spigot on the bottom to pour your smoothie or whatever. I carried it in my luggage for years when I traveled for my morning smoothies.. No telling how many pina coladas and frozen margaritas were made in that amazing machine!!!
Ive had my second hand Vitamix 15 years now. Replaced the gears once. I use the thing at least twice a day for everything from nut butter to sauces to mayo. I LOVE my Vitamix. I’ve never been even tempted by Blend-Tec. It’s just me and hubby and I still love the 64 oz. jar. Vitamix all the way for me.
I have a Blendtec and I selected that brand over the Vitamix for one very important reason: Vitamix willfully infringed two of Blendtec’s patents. Blendtec sued and won a $24M patent infringement suit which was upheld on appeal. The jar was the subject of the lawsuit–perhaps you have noticed that the shape of the Vitamix jar has changed in recent years. I didn’t want to support a business that would willfully infringe a competitor’s patents. That’s just wrong! Plus, it says something that the Blendtec had features that were worth copying, right?
That said, I love my Blendtec. We had to replace our jar once. I learned that the newer jars are improved and can now be washed in the dishwasher. I’m sure the Vitamix is a fine blender but I feel better using the Blendtec and I’ll probably never switch.
Interesting! Thanks for the insight, Paula. 🙂
I loooooove my Blendtec too. 8 plus years and still going strong with well over 4300 uses. I think I finally need a new jar though.
I purchased a new Blendtec Total Blender. It keeps track of each time it is used. Before the counter reached 20, it stopped working. I called their customer service, explained the problem, was told I needed to return it, and will be issued a “refurbished blender”. It didn’t matter that the machine was brand new and only used between 15 to 18 times, they wouldn’t agree to replace it with a new one. I sent it back., It was replaced with a used refurbished model. It has worked fine through the years, I use it to make daily smoothies, no long running programs or ice cream. But, if I should need another blender down the road, it won’t be a Blendtec.
I would be frustrated about that, too! I’m glad it’s still been working fine, though!
I LOVE my Vitamix!!! I will never be without it. I use it for almost everything I do in the kitchen. I love its versatility. I have the personal cup adapter also and LOVE it too! We recently moved into a house with 2 kitchens so I now have the S30 model for that kitchen as well. My mom has had hers since I was 13 (I’m 38 now) and still uses hers every day.
That’s awesome your mom’s vitamix is still going strong after all these years!
I owned a blendtec for four years, had a microchip fault within first week..then after 4 years it broke. I bought vitamix after that and I am liking it so far. I love the blendtec better because of the twister jar and pre programmed options..Not once had a redo a smoothie cycle. Ground the thickest nut butters..I truly loved it.wish it lasted longer. Vitamix ascent series is very quiet though.
I agree, I LOVED the twister jar with my old Blendtec.
I’ve had my vitamix for 2 years now (never had a blendtec). I seriously had no idea smoothies could get so smooth……it’s amazing what a good blender can do. I use mine daily.
So true!
Vitamix for the win! We tried every brand under the sun (except Blendtec) when we finally switched. None came close. I even returned my 8 month old Ninja to Costco (Costco rocks) and got the road show Vitamix there. I recently bought the new single serve cups and adapter. Loooove them! I use my Vitamix 2-3 times a day so here’s hoping it lasts for years. Had it about 18 months now. I can’t believe you put yours away in a cupboard!
I’ve seen those single serve cups – they look amazing! I only put mine away because my counter space is limited and I try to keep it clutter free…but it is a pain to get it down a couple times a day.
Hi Mel, I’ve had my Vitamix for about 5 years and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I have often wondered if I bought the right unit and now that I read your assessment, I’m more than confident that I did! Thanks for your great work!
Thanks, Jane!
I was introduced to a Vitamix in @2002-2003. I was dating my late husband and I noticed it looked a little industrial on his counter. He raved for minutes about all it did(as time went on, I too was amazed at all it’s functions!). Hardly a meal was prepared without some portion of it prepared in that Vitamix. The best part of the story was how it was acquired: He and approximately 8 of his cowboy buddies were waiting for their turn in the rodeo lineup at the local county fair. They wandered through the Home Show portion and were taken aback by this “blender” demo.
All of them purchased one for the big $$$$$ and that was in 1975. It was misplaced in one of our moves and consequently repurchased one from Costco-still enamoured!!! Finally, I was gifted(manufacturer’s purchase points)approx 14 months ago with a Wolf blender. Gotta say they’re neck and neck…
Interesting that the Vitamix and Wolf blenders are right on par with each other. Great story, also!
I have a Vita Mix and love it. I make a lot of Almond Butter and it works great!
I need to make more nut butters in my vitamix!
Definitely agree that the Vitamix is better! My biggest complaint about the Blendtec was that it jumped all over the counter when blending!! 🙁
Yikes!
Where was this review when I purchase a Blendtec over a Vitamix from a similar review. The Blendtec broke down 4 times in the first year, I’ve resigned to not having smoothies (I made smoothies 2x daily for weight loss)… When I complained to someone, a smoothie bar (fairly small in my home state) he expressed similar issues with his commercial grade Blendtec and has since switched. I’ve had my Vitamix for almost 6 months, use it for almost anything I can think of and no problems. Never again, with the warranty, will I frustrate myself with a Blendtec. Never.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Lexie…
I have had the Blendtec for a few years now with over 800 uses and still love it. It is one of my favorite kitchen appliances! I have had issues twice but have both been resolved with no problems. I would buy one again. I really should get the second jar, that could be handy.
So glad you love your Blendtec, Christy!
Last year, for our 25th anniversary, my husband and I treated ourselves to a Vitamix! I know, so romantic… but we also took a romantic trip to the UK, so it’s all good 🙂 After years of the “cheap” blenders, I think, “Wow, why didn’t we get a Vitamix earlier?” I use it daily for green smoothies. It’s a newer model A2500 that has programs for smoothies, soup, and cold desserts. LOVE IT!
Haha, that’s my kind of anniversary gift! Seriously!
I have a blendtec that my husband bought at costco while I was out of town probably 6 years ago. We haven’t had any problems except for a leaky blender jar which was replaced under the warranty. I do have the same issues as you though with having to stop the blender and stir thick things which I find frustrating. I have found it helps a little (when making smoothies) to put the liquids in first and then put the frozen fruit in. For some reason it blends better. I think if I had it to do over again, I would get the vitamix for the tamper.
I have heard that the order of ingredients definitely makes a difference. I try to do that even with the Vitamix.
I heavily debated this question when creating our wedding registry and eventually decided on the Vitamix – glad to hear that confirmed by you! 🙂 (Not that we expect someone to buy us a $400 blender, but we are hoping to take advantage of gift cards and the registry completion discounts to purchase it ourselves.) Thank you for the comparison!!!
For sure! I hope you get enough gift cards to make it work!
Our first high dollar blender was a Vitamix. We had it several years and the jar cracked. I had heard so many bloggers talk about Blendtec so I decided to get one. Over time I had to have a jar replaced because black stuff came out around the gear. Then y a few years later it happened again. Now my third jar is also trowing out black oily stuff. I will not buy another Blendtec. My husband liked the Vitamin the best. I wish I had saved our money and just ordered a new jar for the Vitamix. I wasn’t too fond of the tamper thing though.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Charlotte!
Hi Mel,
Never had a Blendtec but I’ve had my Vitamix for about 4 years and I love it! NO problems !
Thanks for sharing the “twist”tip. I’ll be doing that from now on before using my machine
Linda T.
Your welcome, Linda!
I think the Vitamix is the best. I know the name and all the good reports about it. As far as the Blentec I know nothing about it. So take my opinion Vitamix wins. 🙂
🙂
I couldn’t live without my Vitamix! I use it several times a day to make protein shakes, salad dressing, grind wheat, etc. I have one with the smoothie setting, cold dessert setting, and soup setting. I can make soup in it and it ends up hot and ready to eat…amazing! I love the automatic settings so my kids can use the blender without breaking it! I’ve had it for 5 years now, and it’s still going strong! So glad you made the switch and love it too, Mel!
I’ve heard the Vitamix can make hot soups but I haven’t tried it! I wonder if you have to have that particular setting in order for the soup to heat while blending?
Mel – you can make soups with the model you have, also. There are recipes and instructions on the Vitamix website to get started.
Vitamix all the way! I’m so glad you agree with me Mel! I live in a studio apartment, so I don’t have a lot of space for kitchen things, but the Vitamix is not negotiable. I call the Vitamix, my Kitchen Aid, my All-Clad waffle iron, and my All-Clad copper core pots and pan sets the Crown Jewels of my apartment—because they’re what I’d bring with me if I had to evacuate!
Haha, love that! I always tell my husband to grab the kids in case of a fire, because I’m going for my KoMo wheat grinder, Bosch mixer and vitamix. 🙂
I wanted a Blendtec for sooo long. My husband bought me one at Costco. I had it for 1.5 years and HATED it. I loaded everything properly and it didn’t blend completely. I had to use a spatula and I still ended up with chunks. I bought it to make thick, whole food smoothies. What a disappointment! I tried to make almond butter in it and I had to put it in my food processor. I was so happy I bought it at Costco because they let me return it. If I buy another high-powered blender I will get the Vitamix. My best friend returned her Blendtec and bought the Vitamix and says it is so much better.
Oh darn it, I’m sorry the Blendtec wasn’t the greatest experience for you!
I own a Vitamix professional series 750 and it has a wash cycle. I just add hot water and a couple drops dish soap and blend it. It works great, no hand washing! When I make my smoothies I add a variety of frozen fruits and most times it has trouble with the larger chunks where I need to then use the tamper to help it along. I’m always worried when I hear the motor struggling to blend this. I also pregrind my flax seed in a coffee grinder before adding to my smoothies since the vitamix doesn’t do a good job of that. I used to own a Breville Hemisphere blender and it blended everything up beautifully each time. After owning it for one year I needed to have a part replaced. Then just after the warranty was up the motor went. We then decided to go the vitamix route. It’s going on its third year now so hopefully it will last like others have mentioned.
On another note….Mel could you post your chocolate milkshake recipe and smoothie recipes your family make. I looked in your recipe index under drinks and couldn’t find any.
Thanks for all you do Mel, I love all your posts and we love your recipes!
Thanks for your insight, Ann! I have a Breville food processor and love it, so I can imagine their blender is pretty amazing. The milkshake is a recipe I sent out in my newsletter a while ago, but it’s pretty simple: 1 quart chocolate ice cream, splash of vanilla and one can evaporated milk. Best milkshake ever!
Hi
Do you use the small can or large can of evaporated milk?
I think it’s 12 ounces.
Great post, Mel. I did a good deal of research before buying my current Vitamix in 2011, and had come to the same conclusion as you had from the many other reviews I had read. Still, not having ever tried a BlendTec, I couldn’t quite shake the FOMO effect! (Fear of missing out!). Your comparisons provided a timely reminder as to why I’d gone with Vitamix in 2011. I’ve loved my current one, and besides the ordinary tasks like mixing, chopping, and smoothies, mine gets a workout at least twice a month making cashew-macadamia butter (1 oz. macadamia nuts to 7 oz. cashews), and though it makes an absolutely unholy racket doing so, it produces a great nut butter. That, in fact, had been another factor in my buying decision, since BlendTec hadn’t rated as well at making nut butters. The tamper is critically essential for making nut butters, of course, but I’d discovered with the first batch I’d ever made that Vitamix will shut down rather than burn out the motor, if struggling with a difficult task. More judicious and rapid tamping solved the problem, once the motor had cooled off, and Vitamix has never shut down on me since when making nut butter, having gotten the hang of doing it and been spared the catastrophe of a burned out motor thanks to that Vitamix safety feature! I mostly use a lower-profile 48 oz. container that came on my unit, but the model I have can also use a 64 oz., a 32 oz., and the smoothie jar adapter, which I think is a 20 or 22 oz. capacity. It does get to be rather expensive buying the other containers, but Vitamix has been pretty good at standardizing their mixer containers to, so those are likely to be compatible should someone ever upgrade to a newer model Vitamix, plus it reduces the wear on the blades when using a variety of containers for various tasks, also. I’ve heard of people still using Vitamix units that are 40 years old. Appliances being made today, of any kind, don’t seem to last as long as appliances made many years ago had, but Vitamix still seems to produce a high quality workhorse of a mixer even today. Mine is 7 years old and still going strong in spite of the relatively demanding task of making nut butters regularly. I have no complaints about my Vitamix, and if it ever does kick the bucket, wouldn’t hesitate a minute in ordering another one, and even springing for overnight express shipping rather than being without one! The fabulously delicious and healthy smoothies one can make, that taste like gourmet ice cream shop confections, are alone worth the investment! And, unlike juicing and juicers, there is no waste of fiber or nutrients either, since it nearly liquifies things like apple skins and even nuts in a smoothie, so none of the goodness or nutrients need to be sacrificed in the process. It’s just a great appliance–very handy, very useful, and very reliable!
Oops, correction! The container that came with mine was the low-profile 64 oz., but the high-profile 64 oz. fits it also, plus the 32 oz., and the smoothie adapter with the smoothie travel cup.
(PS: Cashew-macadamia nut butter is made without any extra oil or additives, using only roasted and unsalted cashews and macadamia nuts, putting the macadamias into the container first. Salted nuts can be used if preferred, or salt can be added if desired, but it has great flavor even without salt. I’m not anti-salt in the least and only buy 1 or 2 low-sodium products, but had found the nut butter happened to be very good using unsalted nuts and have gone that way ever since.)
Thanks so much for your detailed comment, Wynn! Loved it! And I am so trying that cashew/macadamia nut butter. So many of these comments make me realize I am totally missing the boat on not making more nut butters (now that I know the vitamix can handle them so well!)
Yes! Mel, this is my exact same story! I had a blendtec for about 9 years and I finally switched to Vitamix this year. I was really surprised at how much better it blends. The clearest example for me is that I save my leftover smoothie for the next day. Blendtec smoothie would always separate, but my Vitamix smoothies stay together. It really does a better job emulsifing the smoothie into one. I also had a blendtec motor burn out and several jars that needed replacing. Customer service does pull though, but it is a headache. Anyways, I’m with you! I’ve switched teams to team Vitamix all the way.
Such good feedback from your experiences, Emily!
Not gonna lie…Seeing this post in my inbox made me super nervous, considering I literally just received my Vitamix Pro Series 750 yesterday…but I’m relieved you came to the same conclusion Mel!!
I have never owned a fancy, schmancy expensive blender before, but after several hours/days of research (and way too many Blendtec vs Vitamix Youtube videos later), I decided to go with a Vitamix. Reliability, consistency, longevity & tamper…
My main dilemma was deciding on the 750 Pro model vs the brand new “smart/sleek/sexy/blender of the future” Ascent series A3500. (They are also the same price right now on the Vitamix website for Mother’s Day which made it even more difficult!!!). Regardless, I chose the 750 because I feel like this model may hold up better in the long-run. Switches and knobs seem easier to replace compared to a digital touch-screen that might be more likely to short out, or be more difficult to fix? & I don’t foresee myself purchasing all of the different attachment containers or taking advantage of the “wireless capabilities”–but I’m sure that opinion will seem dated and silly soon enough. I found the website blendingwithhenry.com to be very helpful in comparing each model for anyone else that might be trying to decide 🙂
Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes & posts Mel! Keep them coming!
I bought a black and decker (I know you were not referring to them in your post) blender at a garage sale (it was practically brand new)
and I use it so seldom, I’m not sure where it is. Or if I even have it anymore.
I DO cook but obviously have very little reason to use a blender. I was hoping the blender I bought would crush ice – it had a setting for that – but alas, it did not work.
I have since stopped trying to crush ice and bought it already done!
Totally valid! I think there are a lot of people that just don’t use a blender, and that’s totally ok! 🙂
I also bought a Black & Decker for the purpose of crushing ice (coffee slushies, anyone?). I reasoned that anybody who can make all those power tools can make a blender capable of crushing ice. Wrong. Finally gave it away and purchased a KitchenAid, and that handles ice just fine.
I don’t use my blender nearly as much as the other commenters, or for anything as difficult, but I’m perfectly happy with it except that it’s too tall to fit in the space between the countertop and the cabinet. I should note that I’m not very demanding.
Not gonna lie…Seeing this post in my inbox made me super nervous, considering I literally just received my Vitamix Pro Series 750 yesterday…but I’m relieved you came to the same conclusion Mel!!
I have never owned a fancy, schmancy expensive blender before, but after several hours/days of research (and way too many Blendtec vs Vitamix Youtube videos later), I decided to go with a Vitamix. Reliability, consistency, longevity & tamper…
My main dilemma was deciding on the 750 Pro model vs the brand new “smart/sleek/sexy/blender of the future” Ascent series A3500. (They are also the same price right now on the Vitamix website for Mother’s Day which made it even more difficult!!!). Regardless, I chose the 750 because I feel like this model may hold up better in the long-run. Switches and knobs seem easier to replace compared to a digital touch-screen that might be more likely to short out, or be more difficult to fix? & I don’t foresee myself purchasing all of the different attachment containers or taking advantage of the “wireless capabilities”–but I’m sure that opinion will seem dated and silly soon enough. I found the website blendingwithhenry.com to be very helpful in comparing each model for anyone else that might be trying to decide 🙂
Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes & posts Mel! Keep them coming!
Thanks for the tips, Lauren! I haven’t even seen those brand new Vitamix models, but wow, they sound crazy different with the digital format. I think I would have made the same choice as you. Hope you love it!
I bought a refurbished Vitamix total nutrition Centre 3 years and it has been fantastic. It has preset settings for smoothie, soups, and frozen items. I don’t find those settings especially necessary (just like on the Instant Pot, I use manual pretty much all the time). So, I would say just buy one without all the fancy settings and it will get the job done! The tamper is And takes like 5 seconds to rinse off when you’re done anyway. My two cents 🙂
Yeah, I’d have to agree with that. I’ve learned (also with the Instant Pot) that simpler is better.
I love my Vitamix. We even bought it used (and we have three canisters, wet, dry and small) I also have a Blentec. My Blendtec jar started leaking and they happily replaced it for me but my opinion the Vitamix is better. I love the tamper, feel like it blends better (in general, but especially for really thick things), and I have never heard of anyone’s dying or having other issues. I think my parents have had theirs for 15 years and it’s still going strong.
I can’t believe the number of people that have had vitamix blenders for over 10 years! That’s crazy!
Vitamix hands down! I’ve had a refurbished one that I got nearly 3 years ago after being wooed at Costco on numerous occasions with their demos. I love it. It’s one that has the taller traditional pitcher and the base I have has three presets which I adore. It’s been a workhorse so far and I love that I can make peanut butter in it too. My family will never eat store bought again (I tried and they balk through the whole jar).
I’ve never seen the presets on a Vitamix – that’s cool! I need to try peanut butter in mine!
I’ve had my Blendtec for 8 years and had the base and jar replaced several times while under warranty. Now that it’s not under warranty, I just use it less and don’t do anything that I know pushes they motor/rubber gasket on the cup. It’s frustrating. I wish we had gone Vitamix from the start. The advertising got me!! I’m too much of a cheapskate to dump my blendtec, but doubling my capacity would be soooooo nice with my growing family.
I hear you on not wanting to replace something that is still working! Hopefully it hangs in there for a long time!
My husband spent a bundle on a Vitamix. I hate it. Everything tastes like burnt wires and it smells like that too.
Oh darn it, Lori! That’s not good.
Their customer service kills! (In a good way!) I’d recommend calling them and sharing your experience…def not the norm. Sorry to hear!
Similar experience same conclusion! My blendtec burned out twice … loved it, but it was a pain to replace! Let be the vitamin and do feel like it blends smoother! Thanks for your review!
Thanks for adding your experiences, Cherish!
I’ve had a Blendtec for 2-3 years and I love it! I’ve never used a Vitamix so I can’t compare the two myself, but I’ve never had to stir a smoothie or do another smoothie cycle to get it the consistency I want.
That’s good to hear, Diane!
I agree with you. I owned a Vitamix for 12 years and never had a problem until the motor completely died. We used it every single day for smoothies for breakfast and for other items as well. When it died, I had several friends that loved their Blendtec, so I thought I would try it out (plus I got it considerably cheaper than I could Vitamix because of a good sale going on). After using the Blendtec for two years I can honestly say the Vitamix is so much better! It blends better, smoother, faster and is just a better machine. I’m stuck with my Blendtec until it dies unfortunately, but will buy a Vitamix the next time.
12 years is pretty remarkable! I think your feedback is helpful for others who might be on the fence!
I’ve had a Vita-Mix for almost 12 years and no issues with motor or anything I’ve chosen to do with it. I use it 1-4 times daily: smoothie, soup, puree veg to freeze, nut butters (this is the only time I use the tamper).
I have used it with grain and it works fine, but I have access to local ground flours so I typically only grind oatmeal for oat flour.
I did change to the shorter jars and since just me to a 32 oz which is perfect for just me 🙂 And while I do have the “dry” jar, I’ve used them interchangeably (by accident) and noticed no difference, although the blades are different.
I can’t compare having never had or used a BlendTec but I am very happy with Vita-Mix and buy another on the spot if something ever does happen to mine.
I kind of feel the same way about my Vitamix, Liz…I’d replace mine as soon as possible if something happened!
Wow, there are a lot of Vitamix lovers out there. I’ve never had the pleasure of owning one (yet), but I do love my Blentec. I’ve had it for 3-years now, and it’s been reliable and consistent. I’ve used it everyday with no issues. Why change a good thing, right? 🙂
Thanks for your solid comparison, Mel!
There are a lot of Blendtec fans in this thread, too! And I agree…why change a good thing? 🙂
I never owned a Blendtec but we splurged and got a Vitamix a few years back and I’ve never regretted it!
I have had a Vitamix for about 5 years. I love it! I love the tamper. Smoothies are my go to breakfast on work days plus misc other things so it gets lots of use.
Yeah, the tamper is a plus, in my book.
Thanks SO Much for this one! I am just about to dive in on the Vitamix Professional and this helped push me over the edge! Your opinion is always super valid to me, as we seem to be of the same mindset most times 🙂 You ROCK!!! XOXO
Yay! Let me know what you think if you end up with it!
I love my Vitamix! I have never owned a Blendtec, but I used to have an old Oster–really old, it was my grandmother’s. I burned out the Oster motor after using it for many years. I replaced it with a Vitamix and have never looked back!
Glad to hear you love your Vitamix, Cyndi!
I have never commented on a post in my life and I’m old, but if my experience will help someone… I have had THE SAME vitamix since 2000 (18 years). I use it almost every day. Just before the warranty went out it broke and they sent me a refurbished one (no problems at all) and it is still going strong. I gave my 3 daughters blendtecs for Christmas a few years ago; thinking they were the same thing. One daughter has already had to replace hers. When I visit and use theirs I don’t think it works as well and the buttons give you less options. Also, my daughter has commented when using mine that she likes it much better than hers. So for me, when this one dies I will not consider anything but a vitamix to replace it. (PS…vitamix has a 4 cup pitcher you can purchase separately).
I’m not one to ever comment on posts, but I absolutely love my Vitamix! I’ve have it now for 14 years and have had no issues with it at all. I use it all the time and make peanut butter in it weekly. Just throw in a jar of honey roasted peanuts, put the lid on and use the tamper to push down the peanuts. In a short minute or two, you’ll have smooth peanut butter. I know with a blentec it’s not as easy to make and you have to buy a separate twist jar. Love my Vitamix!
This is so helpful! Like several others, I’d be interested in learning your opinion on wheat grinding capabilities of the two models.
Unfortunately, I have zero experience grinding wheat in either because I have another wheat grinder. Maybe others in this thread can chime in??
I have the dry blade for grinding also. It grinds perfectly! Wheat, rice, corn, coffee, you name it! You can grind super fine on high or use the variable speed for a more coarse grind. That variable speed dial makes it so easy to do just about anything!
I have a vitamix, and I purchased the dry container separately. I have ground soft white wheat in it a couple times, as well as almond flour, and i think it works very well. Although I have never used other wheat grinders, so I don’t have anything to compare it to.
I did use my Blendtec to grind wheat. It would take MANY cycles to get the consistency I wanted (sort of…it was never as smooth as I really wanted it) and it burned up after a couple months of doing it. They replaced it. But I don’t dare do it ever again!
Vitamix sells a separate dry container just for grinding things like grains. I love it. I use it multiple times per week to grind wheat into wheat flour for homemade bread, pancakes, waffles, etc. The flavor and texture are far superior to wheat flour you buy at the store. I’ve also ground rice into rice flour, rye berries into rye flour, popcorn into cornmeal, freeze dried fruit into powder for flavoring frostings, and granulated sugar into powdered sugar.
I had a Vita Mix for well over 10 years and used it daily. My husband gave me a Blendtec for Christmas so I’ve now been using that daily since then. All what you wrote above I agree with….however….I prefer my Blendtec for TWO reasons only: My Blendtec is much quieter (I have the professional one with the cover) AND because my Blendtec is dishwasher safe, and the Vitamix is not. Those 2 features are very important to me.
Thanks for the feedback! So helpful. I bet the cover would make it quieter – that would be nice!
I was nervous to get to the end of your post and read your final decision. But alas, I’m at complete peace with your assessment! Vitamix all the way!
We bought a refurbished Vitamix about 4 years ago and I love it! I have all the same thoughts as you did. I also a magic bullet my mother in law gave me one year, and I use that for small things like dressings. Yay!
Refurbished is definitely the way to go to save a few bucks!
Great comparison! I have had a Blendtec for 6 years now and it works great (never tried the Vitamix). I did have to replace the jar once because the blade got out of whack, but no motor problems.
Glad you love your Blendtec, Ryan!
Vitamix all the way!!!
🙂
My husband wanted a blender at work to make his green smoothies so awhile back he took my ‘old’ Blendtec and gave me a fancy new Ninja with the food processor and single serving smoothie jars. He loves the Blendtec because it puréed even the chia and flaxseeds into the smoothie instead of leaving those crunchy bits. Obviously there was a big difference in quality with my Ninja. I liked having several small jars because my family makes smoothies often, too. But it didn’t cut it. For Christmas I was finally upgraded to a Vitamix. You were right. It’s right up there with the Blendtec. It’s not quite as good with the seeds, but still an awesome piece of kitchen machinery! It has such a large jar, I miss the smaller jars, too. I heard that the newer Vitamix models come with a converter lid for those awesome smaller jars, but I think my arsenal of blenders is maxed out! So sad…
You have experience with a whole array of blenders! Thanks for the feedback!
This is not an exaggeration…I have legitimate fears about something happening to my Vitamix. I have had it for almost seven years, and I use it EVERY DAY. I am so attached to it that I take it with us when we go on vacation.
I love this so much.
Here’s an even better suggestion: the Wolfgang Puck commercial blender. I’ve had one for about 4 years. No problems. Better jar design, same capabilities. Hands down, the best price. I just saw it again on HSN for $149! I don’t think it has much of a warranty, but I always chuckle when I see a demo at Costco and then go home and duplicate it for less than 1/2 the price!
Really? I’ve never heard of it!
After reading your post my Very Helpful Feedback is that now I really want a milkshake.
Hahahaha, best comment. Thanks, Barb. 🙂
Thank you for this post! My 11-year old Cuisinart blender finally bit the biscuit last week and I have been wondering if it’s time to invest. Time to go to Costco :)) I love your blog xo
Haha, cutest phrase ever (bit the biscuit). Good luck! Let me know what you end up with!
Yes! This is literally what I needed today! We have been trying to decide which blender to buy – Vitamix or Blendtec since our Kitchenaid is starting to die (10 years – great little blender!).
Thanks so much for your review!
Good luck with your decision, Courtney!
I’ve owned the same vitamix for 11 years now and it still works great with almost daily use. After 10 years, I did have to replace the jar, but the base has never failed me!
I love that! Over a decade…seriously amazing.
Hi Mel,
have you ever heard of the Thermomix? Blending is just one of the many things it does. It makes yogurt, you can cook in it, regulating the temperature (so you can go from melting butter or chocolate, to making mashed potatoes, cooking jams and sauces to can, to steaming your whole meal, veggies and meat and all). It kneads amazing dough, and does soooo much more, too much to list 🙂 there are magnetic recipe book chips that you can attach to the machine and scroll through on the touch screen. There really is NOTHING like this machine. There is probably not a single day that goes by without us using it. Check it out on youtube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFoJhhDMNE0
Love and Greeting from Manitoba 🙂
Interesting! I’ll have to look into it. Sounds like a wonder machine! 🙂
Vitamix here! Love that we agree on this, and my choice has been validated by my girl Mel!
Haha, love ya, Bri. 🙂
Vitamix gets the vote for me as well!! I have a professional 750 for about 4 years. It lives on my counter. I am with your mom about cleaning. Mine actually has a clean setting just add a drop of dish soap and some water and hit the button. I hand wash here and there mainly if i get something on the outside but clean setting works great. It does go up to the highest setting and then powers down for several seconds at a lower speed. Literally just a dab of dish soap if you get to much you end up doing it again! Great machine dont know how i lived without it
I bet the professional series is AMAZING!
Do you use the Bosch attachment blender? It’s the only one I’ve used for years….thoughts on it?
I have a Blendtec and a Bosch. My biggest complaint with the Bosch is that I have great difficulty separating the blade from the jar. Arghh! The Bosch is powerful, but the Blendtec is more so. Just my opinion. I gave my Bosch blender attachment to my daughter because I hated fiddling with getting it off and on and fiddling with the parts. (Ps—love my Bosch mixer!)
Yeah, I agree, Melanie – you know I LOVE my Bosch mixer, but the blender was such a pain to take apart and clean.
I know I’m not Mel, but I have a Bosch, which I love, and used the attachment blender as my only blender for 10+ years (only because I didn’t want to buy another appliance). I got a Vitamix last Christmas. The two don’t even compare. I don’t think I could ever even use the Bosch attachment again. Whenever I made smoothies or soups in the Bosch, there would still be big clumps of fruit or ice. You’ll never have that problem with the Vitamix. Super smooth! Totally worth it.
Great feedback, Jennifer!
Hey Robyn, I used to use the Bosch blender quite a bit until it broke (not the company’s fault, my kids knocked it off the counter). I haven’t used it in years, though, because I never replaced the jar after I got a Blendtec.
Thanks for this question and reply. I have had a compact Bosch for 12 years, and recently inherited a Universal Bosch (insert happy dance). I was wondering if buying the blender attachment was going to be worth it. I now have my answer.
Well now you have me wondering how you make your perfect chocolate milkshake!
Haha. I sent the “recipe” out in a newsletter a while ago, but it’s basically a quart of chocolate ice cream, splash of vanilla, and can of evaporated milk. It’s AMAZING!
Mel, it’s like you’re reading my mind! We are in the market for a blender (had a cheaper Blendtec that died after only a couple years) and I was just thinking yesterday, “I wonder what Mel likes/uses.” So, thank you for this post! We were already leaning towards a Vitamix and they’re on sale at Costco right now, which is awesome. I have a friend that has had her Vitamix for 15+ years and has never had a problem with it. Thank you for your advice and all the hard work you do for your blog! We are so thankful for you!
15 years?? Holy moly! I’m glad this post came at a good time for you! Let me know what you end up with (awesome that Costco is running a sale right now!)
Thanks for writing this! I have a Ninja currently and I like it. Hopefully it lasts a long time, but if/when it dies, I’m hoping to upgrade to a Blendtec or Vitamix. I was leaning toward Blendtec, but after reading this I might have to go with a Vitamix!
I hope your Ninja lasts, too! My sister has a Ninja and loves it.
I’ve had my Vitamix for about 10 years now and I’ve been really happy with it other than that it won’t fit under my counter (the low profile model wasn’t available then). I almost wish I had a reason to replace it so I could get the low-profile version, but it’s still working like a champ and may continue to for another couple of decades. 🙂
That’s amazing! 10 years!
I owned a vitamix and returned it and got blendtec. I find the blendtec so much easier to clean, and the size difference really is significant. And I have a family of 6, so we like things in large scale too! But for me those were the winning factors—just those boring logistics that decide whether it’s worth using it as regularly as I’d like to, or if it’s too much hassle. I use the whole fruit setting for all our smoothies and never have to run it more than once. Glad you love your vitamix though!
Such a good point, Deanna! It really is so important to figure out the big and little factors to see what is a deal breaker for each person (if it helps, my husband thinks cleaning the Blendtec was WAY easier, but since he hardly washes the blender, he didn’t really get a vote). 🙂
We bought a Blendtec 8 or so years ago and, though we’ve had one pitcher die on us, it’s still going strong. One question, since I didn’t see it addressed in your review: Does Vitamix still require a different jar/pitcher for dry blending (aka grain grinding)? When I went through the extensive debate between Blendtec and Vitamix all those years ago, Blendtec won because sometimes I just want a cup of oat flour and it was too much of a nuisance to get out a grain mill. I didn’t want the expense of an additional specific pitcher for occasional use, so that ruled Vitamix out.
It does take 2 smoothie cycles every time in the Blendtec, so I’m definitely interested in trying a Vitamix after reading your review—but the grain “grinding” thing is a big factor for me, so hopefully they’ve resolved that!
I’m considering the Vitamix bundle from Costco which comes with the dry jar and a wet jar. In reading, the dry blades push stuff away, and the wet blades pull it together, so they have a different purpose.
You know, I’m not sure about the dry blending in a Vitamix. I haven’t tried grinding wheat or other coarse grains in the Vitamix “regular” jar, but I do a lot of crushing up graham crackers and nuts in the jars, and it works great (I use the pulse function)
I’m sure you’re right. I used my Blendtec to make your energy bite recipe and it couldn’t handle it, it overheated
Oh darn it! I wonder how the Vitamix would handle that mixture. I might have to try it.
I have a Blendtec and it’s far more blender than I need. However, I do make a lot of pureed soups and it does a great job with those. I guess I’d vote Blendtec, but if it dies I won’t replace it with another Blendtec or a Vita Mix.
Interesting, Sally! Appreciate your thoughts!
Vitamix all the way!!! I think it is so much better than the Blendtec!!! It’s all about smooth smoothies for me and the Vitamix is hands down better at that!
Yes to smooth smoothies! I think the Vitamix does a stellar job.
I really appreciate your post, I am waiting for my kitchen aid to bite the dust and was thinking of purchasing a blendtec, I am now going to look into a vitamix!
Do you use either to grind wheat?
I haven’t used either to grind wheat (I have a KoMo wheat grinder so haven’t needed to).
This is a fun post to read! Nothing like blenders to stir up controversy . We have a blendtec and I love it! I specifically wanted it because it has a lower profile. It fits into my cupboard more easily than a Vitamix. I also like that the sides of the jar are flat- seems easier to scrape out contents. We also got a killer deal on it at Costco a couple of Thanksgivings ago (around $230).
That all said, my actual theory is that most people choose their blender based on which blender company is demonstrating their product at Costco at the exact time they get a hankering for a high powered blender . It would totally be worth asking, “did you buy your blender from Costco after tasting a smoothie or taco soup sample from the same blender’s demo?” I bet it’s A HUGE percentage of people!
I agree about the flat sides of the Blendtec – that is a point in its favor for sure! And I laughed out loud at your second paragraph…because I think that’s SO true! 🙂
Meg, this made me laugh too, and I agree! Those Costco demos cause a lot of impulse buys. I think I got the same deal on the Blendtec and it is fine for my uses–but that’s only a couple days a week. The Blendtec works great for me, no issues, and since I’m not using it constantly, I couldn’t justify the extra cost of the Vitamix.
I will say that my friend’s Vitamix makes the BEST hummus ever, but I’m not crazy about the tamper thing.
Tell me more about spinning the driveshaft?!? I’ve never heard about this – should I be doing this? I have a Vitamix and love it!
I added a picture to the post to clear up any confusion, and yes, it’s such a simple step but one that apparently can extend the life of your blender jar (no matter the brand).
I admit, I was pretty stressed when I saw this article! Hahaha. I need a life. We were on the fence for a long time but after America’s Test Kitchen said Vitamix, we just got the Vitamix! We love it!!
Haha, I need a life, too. It’s ok. 🙂
I laugh because I can relate! If blenders cause me this much angst, it is full blown “analysis paralysis” to purchase a car! Sometimes I wonder how I ever even decided on a husband! Thanks, Mel for taking some of the pressure off with your wonderful reviews!
Liked your comparison. After much much research , we also bought a Vitamix several years ago and are loving it.
Glad to hear that, Diane!
I’ve owned a kitchen aid blender for over 20 years. Because I’m a cottage baker and make large batches of things I use my blender a lot. I also use it for smoothies every morning. The only problems I’ve had with it have been with the jars where the blade is sealed to the jar. I’ve had to replace two of those but kitchen aid replaced them at no charge and with no hassle. I’ve been looking at a vitamix and wondered if it was worth it to replace my kitchen aid. Thanks for the comparison.
Good luck with your decision, Eileen! I think if your kitchen aid blender is still going strong (despite the jar issues), there’s no need to replace it yet!
We have a Vitamix and love it. We have a large family and it isn’t perfect for us. I would love a smaller jar for smaller things, but can’t justify the cost yet!
It IS perfect for us! Autocorrect likes to play game with me sometimes, haha. #teamvitamix
🙂
Vitamix!
What do you mean ” you always twist the bottom of the driveshaft that spins the blades” ?
I was wondering the same thing!
I just added a picture to the post!
Hi, After having several “high powered blenders” I recently got a Vitamix as a gift. Why , because at the time it was cheaper than the Blendtec. I love ❤️ love this blender. My version came with two small jars and the squat 64 oz jar and a 10 year warranty. At the same time I bought the Perfect Blending Scale, because I am a geek. The scale turned my already new cool blender into a programmable blender via Bluetooth. I am sure Blendtec has a good product but I am a Vitamix gal.
Ok, I need to look into that scale (I’m a geek, too!)!
Love my Vitamixer! The machine will turn off automatically if it gets too hot to prevent motor from over heating!! Thanks Mel!!!!
Ives had vitamin for about 5 years and it’s worked well but I am always wishing I had a newer one with the wider base and dishwasher safe jar. How do your jars stay so clean? Ours is stained and I’ve not found anything to make them clear again.
Hey Peg, I don’t put my jars in the dishwasher – I just wash them by hand with hot soapy water. I’m guessing if it’s an older jar and already badly stained, it may not come all the way clean, but you might try using white vinegar and baking soda?
Ha ha! Yes! These are dangerous waters you tread. I finally went with a blendtec three years ago and love it immensely except for needing to stir things sometimes. As it doesn’t happen often it hasn’t bothered me much. Mine gets used almost daily and on some days several times. Mine is refurbished and still going strong. I was planning to switch when this one dies to a vitamix to see how I like it. Now I definitely will! Thanks for your testing, you’ve made a huge impact on my cooking and my family. My kids always ask if a particularly yummy meal is your recipe! We love you Mel!
Glad you love your Blendtec, Stacey! Honestly, neither blender is perfect; but it’s great to find one that you love!
I’ve owned my vitamix for 10+ yrs and its still going strong. I will never use another brand because I love it so much.
10 years? That’s amazing!
I love my Vita mixer! The Vita mixer motor will stop if it gets too hot so it doesnt burn out! Thanks Mel!!!
That’s a great feature!
Yesssss! I knew you would choose the vitamix! We have had both and we prefer the VM. It blends so well and it’s been 5 years without any problems.
Glad you love it so much, too!
So exciting!! I asked for a Vitamix for Mother’s Day…so this is helpful! I have a Ninja. It’s fine-ish for smoothies, as long as I blend it forever-and-a-day. And it is not good for anything else. In fact, it stinks. I am sending this blog post to my husband and kids. 😉
Haha, yes! I fully support the direct hints.
Wonderful comparison! Thanks! I have the Vitamix pictured and love it–I got a refurbished one and never have had any trouble with it after 2 years. I highly recommend it. I have enjoyed the smoothie recipes you have shared in the past, and was wondering if you have any other good ones to recommend?
I have a few more smoothie recipes up my sleeve to share soon! Usually I’m just tossing stuff in right and left.
I love these comparisons! Thank you!
Thanks, Crista! I love doing these side by side reviews!
Had a vita mix forever! They have awesome customer service.
Awesome!
Thanks, Mel for such a thorough review. I will be purchasing a Vitamix when my Blendtec dies—but so far it is going like a champ after 8 years. (The blend counter just hit 5,000!) One thing to be said, these high-end blenders prove their value. I would much rather spend more for a tool upfront and have it last for decades than to keep buying cheap disposable appliances. I agree about being very picky about what tools I use in my kitchen. This is why I so appreciate your kitchen buying guides! Any recommendation for a good hand mixer from you or others? Mine died and I need to replace. Thanks again for all you do!
5,000! That’s amazing! So happy that Blendtec is such a workhorse for you!
And yes, I have a hand mixer I love!! It’s the Cuisinart HM-70.
Thanks, Mel! You are such a terrific help! I’m off to purchase. Happy Mother’s Day to me!
After 2 burned out Blendtecs I switched to a Vitamix and will never go back. The Costco manager said it best…’The blendtecs always get returned and the Vitamix just don’t!’
Interesting feedback!
I have owned the same Vitamix for SEVEN YEARS and barely replaced the blender jar this year. That might not not be impressive, except for the fact that I use my Vitamix EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. to make breakfast smoothies with frozen fruit, dried fruit, carrots, nuts, ice–all ingredients that are hard on most blenders. And THAT might not be impressive, except for the fact that this is a very old Vitamix 5000 that I bought USED AT A THRIFT STORE for $30. I don’t know who got rid of this baby, but I’m so glad they did! I am a lifetime Vitamix customer. When and if this one ever burns out, I’ma shell out full price to buy a new one!
What?? $30? That’s amazing!! What was that person thinking?
I am starting on year five with my Vitamix. I had to have the container replaced due to the gears, etc. wearing out, but it was replaced FREE OF Charge! I use it every day for my morning Kefir smoothie. Great blog subject Mel!
So awesome the jar container was replaced for free!
I have a vitamix and I love it. I recommend buying it at Costco if you can because of their liberal return policies. In the 12 years I’ve owned one, twice it has smelled a little funny when running and I’ve exchanged it there for a new one, always for another model. Once I tried a Blendtec when Costco had it, just to see if it would be better, and I have to say that the vitamix won.
On a side note, I do have a heavy duty nutri bullet I bought off eBay for next to nothing that I use for a single smoothie or very small items on nearly a daily basis. I find it blends just as well as the vitamix but is much smaller and lighter. If I’m making more than one smoothie though, puréeing soup, anything larger, I always use my vitamix.
I agree about the Costco return policies! Pretty stellar. I will say that some companies (like Kitchenaid) make special models just for Costco and they aren’t always compatible with the other attachments. I guess Kitchenaid is the main one I’m thinking of, but I think the blenders they carry at Costco are pretty standard! It’s a great place to look for sure.
Great post, Mel! I am a personal Vitamix fan. Over 10 years strong! But then I think the bottom line for people is…the winner is the one you actually end up using! 🙂
PS. Love that they redesigned the vitamix so it fits under cabinets now…one of these days I’ll upgrade!
Yes, such a great point! The best blender is the one you use!
I have had a Vitamix three years after breaking 3 other blenders my husband bought it for me. We use it almost daily for smoothies and I love it!!!! So fast and easy and smooth and I haven’t broke it. My brother and sister now have them too. 🙂
So happy you finally found a blender that you love!
*grabs a bowl of popcorn and watches heated debate ensue I have a Blendtec and love it! It gets used almost daily and is a workhorse in the kitchen. I’ve had it 6+ years with no problems. On a sidenote, does anyone remember the Blendtec vs. Vitamix lawsuit a while back?
Haha, so far the debate has thankfully been friendly! I love reading all these comments and seeing which blender people love. I’m glad you love your trusty Blendtec!
Hi Mel! Thanks for the thorough review. I just got my first high-powered blender, a Vitamix, and I’m in love! What do you mean by twisting the bottom of the driveshaft?
I’ll add a picture to the post once I get home (sitting in the dermatologist’s office right now).