The Best Cheap Blenders

Best Overall Value Countertop Blender

Pros:

• 16 speeds, more than many blenders in this price range.
• Powerful enough to crush ice and whole fruits, users say.
• Available in two colors: brushed nickel or red.
• Exceptionally long 10-year warranty on drive system; 3-year satisfaction guarantee.

Cons:

• Plastic base feels flimsy to some users.
• Some owner complaints about overheating and early demise.

Takeaway: This Oster 16-speed blender is slightly more expensive than other cheap blenders, but it's also more versatile. With settings that cover everything from mincing, to ice crushing, to green smoothies, users applaud this model's versatility and performance. Reviews praise how quickly it blends and how well its 700-watt motor handles chunky foods and harder ingredients that stymie other budget blenders. The "high-end" aesthetics draw accolades as well, with many saying its glass jar, sleek looks, and color options make it a stylish accessory for any countertop. While we did see some grousing about leaking and difficulty mounting the pitcher on the blender base, as well as scattered complaints of units with motors that burned out after only a few months of use, in general, owner feedback is very positive. Many laud the Oster brand for its quality and durability and expect to rely on this affordable blender for many years to come.

Best Counterop Blender Under $30

Pros:

• 700-watt motor is relatively powerful for a blender in this price range.
• 12 speeds, including pulse function.
• Wide-based 40-ounce pitcher is easy to clean, users say.
• Relatively generous 3-year warranty.

Cons:

• Doesn't always blend vegetables or frozen fruits smoothly, some owners say.
• Some users report leaks or plastic parts breaking.

Takeaway: It's not incredibly feature-rich, nor will it handle each and every blending task with ease, but for the price the Hamilton Beach Power Elite is a dependable kitchen staple. It's got the basics covered, with a powerful 700-watt motor and sharp, four-point blade that make it a reliable go-to that can prepare smoothies from whole fruits, as well as puree and sauce with ease, according to reviews. Depending on what you're making, you may occasionally have to lift the lid on the glass jar and stir during the blending process, but users say that's not a deal-breaker for a product this inexpensive. And the large pour spout in the lid is a nice touch that adds convenience and helps cut down on spills. For those who want the added functionality of a chopper attachment, the Hamilton Beach 51849 sells for about $10 more on Amazon.

Best Blender Food Processor Under $30

Pros:

• Users say its sharp blades are unbeatable at crushing ice for frozen drinks.
• 48-ounce pitcher is big enough to make drinks for a family.
• 16-ounce chopper is ideal for making salsas or prepping veggies.
• Easy, 1-button operation.

Cons:

• Some users complain it doesn't pulverize seeds or liquefy greens completely.
• Food can seep through into motorized head and thorough cleaning can be difficult, according to some owners.
• 1-year warranty is comparatively short.

Takeaway: Experts and users agree that if crushing ice plays a large role in your drink preparations, the Ninja Master Prep is the blender for you. Reviewers describe its performance in fairly glowing terms, many saying it's the best blender they've ever purchased and lauding its ability to blend ice and frozen fruits finely enough for the smoothest of smoothies and nicely creamy piña coladas. Users also love the added food processor attachment, which can chop garlic, onions, and veggies without turning them into mush. It scores points for crushing nuts for nut butters, as well. For overall versatility and price, it's hard to beat this blender — unless you're looking for a machine that can perfectly pulverize absolutely anything you put into it. If so, you may be happier choosing a model with a motor with a bit more power than the Ninja QB900's 400 watts. If you need more capacity, the Ninja Professional 72 oz. Countertop Blender gets good reviews, too.

Best Smoothie Blender

Pros:

• Named "Best Budget Blender" for 2019 by CNET; performs nearly as well as much pricier models in testing.
• 1-touch button for smoothies, plus 5 additional blending functions.
• Large pour spout and wide 40-ounce pitcher.
• 3-year warranty.

Cons:

• May take relatively long to blend harder foods, including frozen fruit and ice.
• A few users report components breaking or coming apart.

Takeaway: The Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart blender was made for smoothie lovers. It's got the same strong 700-watt motor and 40-ounce glass jar you'll find in other Hamilton Beach blenders, but it's ditched the extra buttons (there are no chop or grind modes, for instance) in favor of directed functionality. With an auto-smoothie button, which takes the machine through a preprogrammed 45-second cycle, an easy-pour spout, and a size meant to fit under most cabinets, it's a quick and convenient appliance to reach for every day. Just keep in mind that users say that while it's perfectly suited for quickly blending soft foods like yogurt or bananas, if you're combining frozen fruit, ice, or harder components in the mix it may require a bit more time and patience in order to avoid lumps and achieve a consistent texture. Still, satisfied owners insist that's a small sacrifice for a dependable smoothie blender at this price.

Best Juicer Blender

Pros:

• 900-watt motor is very powerful.
• Easy to use: just push to pulse.
• Comes with 18- and 24-ounce tumblers, plus lids for travel.
• Compact design for easy storage.

Cons:

• Particularly loud, according to many owners.
• A few users report the motor breaking or mold on the gasket.
• 1-year warranty is relatively short.

Takeaway: For a blender that also gets high marks for juicing, reviewers say the Nutri Ninja Pro 456 is an excellent and well-priced choice. The key to its functionality is the 900-watt motor, which experts and users alike consider powerful and effective. This Ninja blender breaks down whole fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds with no problem at all and most say it does a decent job with ice as well, whether crushed or in whole cubes. It's also far easier to use for smoothies than full-size blenders, according to owners, and the tumbler attachments with their spout lids make it simple to take drinks on-the-go. Just know that if you're using the Ninja blender for juice, it won't extract the pulp from fruit, so the consistency is going to be thicker than it would be from a typical juicer.

Best Personal Blender Under $30

Pros:

• One-button design is a cinch to use, owners say.
• 14-ounce blender jar doubles as to-go tumbler.
• Cord wraps around base for easy storage.
• 5 color options: white, black, blue, raspberry, and red.

Cons:

• Lid prone to leaking during blending, some owners report.
• 175-watt motor is relatively weak.
• Can't really handle hard foods or ice.
• Short 1-year warranty.

Takeaway: If you just want a blender that will handily churn out health drinks and smoothies, and you don't want to spend a lot of money, reviewers say this Hamilton Beach personal blender is one of the few cheap models worth buying. It earns passing grades from both Consumer Reports and the Good Housekeeping Institute, and it's the top selling personal size blender at Amazon, with more than 4,000 five-star ratings. Owners like the fact that drink creations are easily portable, and the diminutive size and wrap-around cord makes it simple to stash in a cabinet. Of course, this inexpensive little blender can't compete with pricier, more powerful models, and a number of owners say it just isn't equipped to crush ice or blend frozen fruits and veggies. Some users also caution not to overload it with too many ingredients because the motor is easily stressed. But for small, basic tasks, the Hamilton Beach 51101 is a sure value.

Best Immersion Blender

Pros:

• Sturdy and attractive stainless-steel construction.
• 2-speed, 200-watt motor is powerful enough to handle most any task.
• Comes with whisk, chopper, and blending cup.
• 3-year warranty.

Cons:

• Safety button is poorly placed, some owners complain.
• Reports of durability issues and malfunctions.

Takeaway: The Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-79 immersion blender is rated a top pick by the Good Housekeeping Institute, thanks to its robust and rapid performance.Testers found that it pureed a thick vegetable soup in 90 seconds, and they had no complaints about the way it crushed frozen fruit for a smoothie. Consumers similarly praise the blender's efficacy in prepping a range of different foods and recipes, and the added attachments are a plus for this price. A few users complain of motors burning out or blades falling off while in use, and, less seriously, some owners say it takes awhile to master operating a stick blender. But if you just want to mix a quick smoothie for one, whip up some cream, or blend gazpacho in a jiffy (and right in the mixing bowl), this is a good alternative to bigger, bulkier blenders.

Blender/Mixer System Worth a Splurge

Pros:

• Variable-speed 1,100-watt motor is exceptionally powerful.
• Very generous 64-ounce capacity.
• One-touch presets for smoothies and dips, with both pulse and reverse-blend options.
• In testing, it holds up to blenders costing twice as much or more.
• Includes 5-cup food processor attachment and two 20-ounce travel tumblers with lids.
• 7-year warranty is longer than most on budget blenders.

Cons:

• Attachments can be tedious to switch in and out, users say.
• Has a plastic pitcher, not a glass jar, which some consumers dislike.
• Some users report parts breaking or the motor overheating.

Takeaway: If you need a highspeed blender/mixer system with plenty of tools and attachments, reviewers say this 1,100-watt Oster Versa Performance blender fills the bill — and it's far less expensive than those gold-standard Vitamix blenders. In professional testing at CNET, the Oster Versa BLSVB-103 showed its ability to chop, blend, and blast through ice with the best of them (although it may take a bit longer to achieve desired results). And, in some instances, like shredding cheese, the Versa's output was judged far superior to even the priciest competitors. Where this Versa lags the premium pack is in construction — with design issues that can make it a challenge to get attachments to fit properly on the base and components that simply don't have the staying power of a top-dollar appliance. Still, for its relatively affordable price, it's generally agreed that you won't find a better blender. Wirecutterrecommends the stepped-up 1,400-watt Versa BLSTVB-RV0-000, but you'll pay about $30 more for the blender alone — no attachments.