5 Best Vitamix Blenders of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
Whether you're looking to blend smoothies, make hot soups or grind your own flour, we found the best Vitamix blender for you.
Our Top Vitamix Blender Picks
Tested by Food Network Editors and Recipe Developers
Vitamix blenders are synonymous with high-speed performance and durability, earning them a loyal following among professional chefs and home cooks alike. Purchasing a Vitamix is an investment (there’s a reason they’re called “the Cadillac of blenders”), but how do you know which Vitamix is best for your needs and budget? Whether you’re blending superfood smoothies, crafting hot soups and sauces, or grinding nut butters and spices, here’s how to decide which Vitamix blender is right for you.
What to Know About Vitamix Blenders
Vitamix blenders have earned the nickname “the Cadillac of blenders” for a reason — they’re powerful, durable and have the price tag to match. Depending on the model, the manufacturer backs up the investment with a warranty that ranges from two to 10 years and includes parts, labor and two-way shipping. All Vitamix blenders come with a motor base, container and tamper.
How We Picked
To select the best Vitamix blenders, we relied on our experience using them both in the test kitchen and in our own homes. We checked review sites to see what recommendations were made by other sources and also read user comments to find out what home cooks have to say.
In addition to considering each model’s performance and function capabilities, we considered the user interface, how intuitive it is to use, container capacity, design features and extra bells and whistles. We also took price into consideration when making our top picks.
- High-performance motor
- 10 variable speeds, plus pulse setting, produce variety of textures
- Pre-programmed self-cleaning cycle
- Great value
- Nothing
This model is our top tested blender and offers an excellent introduction to Vitamix, demonstrating its reputation for high-performance, professional-grade blending but at a lower price point than other models. It has a compact, 48-ounce container that’s suited to blending medium batches of food — just right for small family meals. The powerful motor can handle tougher ingredients, which means you can easily process nut butter, almond milk or whole spices. The speed dial’s 10 variable speeds give you control to adjust speed depending on the desired texture, from silky purees to thick soups. This model also has a pulse setting which is ideal for recipes such as chunky salsas or hearty pasta sauces. The Explorian comes with a 5-year warranty.
- Capacity 48 ounces
- Dimensions 9 x 8 x 18 inches
- Diwshwasher-safe Yes (container, top rack)
- Warranty 5 years
- Budget-friendly option
- Meets Vitamix's 17-point inspection checklist to ensure quality
- Parts that don't pass inspection are replaced with new parts
- Previously used
If you’re on a budget, consider shopping for a Certified Reconditioned Vitamix blender. Each pre-owned machine is tested by a Vitamix technician to ensure that it meets the manufacturer’s quality standards for high-performance blending. Following a 17-point checklist, technicians check the base, motor, control panel and blade. Any component that doesn’t pass inspection is replaced with a brand-new part. If a part can’t be replaced, the whole blender is recycled. If the blender base is scratched, the motor makes a funny sound, or the machine has a date stamp of more than 5 years old, it’s required to be recycled. Every Certified Reconditioned Vitamix blender comes with a new cookbook package, container shell, two-part lid and tamper. Vitamix also offers a 3- to 5-year warranty, a risk-free guarantee and access to free, unlimited customer support for every Certified Reconditioned blender.
- Capacity Varies
- Dimensions Varies
- Dishwasher-safe Varies
- Warranty 3-5 years, depending on model
- Model preferred by Food Network Test Kitchen chefs
- Powerful motor
- Ideal for blending medium to large batches
- Variable high and low speeds to ensure desired texture and consistency
- Expensive
The Legacy Series is the tried-and-true classic line of Vitamix blenders. All models in the Vitamix Legacy series come with a 64-ounce capacity, plastic tamper and 7-year warranty. The 5200 is the classic Vitamix model and a favorite of our test kitchen chefs. The 64-ounce capacity container is ideal for blending medium to large batches. It has both variable high- and low-speed controls which lets users precisely dial-in the speed to achieve the desired texture and consistency, and the dial can be rotated anytime during blending. Its powerful motor makes short work of things like smoothies, sauces and purees. The blades in the Vitamix container reach speeds fast enough to create friction heat, bringing cold ingredients to steaming hot in about six minutes, perfect for whipping up a batch of soup.
- Capacity 64 ounces
- Dimensions 7.25 x 8.75 x 20.5 inches
- Dishwasher-safe No (but has pre-programmed self-cleaning cycle)
- Warranty 7 years
- Powerful motor
- Touchscreen controls plus control knob and pulse setting for manual adjustment
- 5 pre-set programs plus built-in, programmable timer
- Smart design adjusts program settings and blending times according to container size used
- Most expensive
- Wide-mouth container makes processing smaller batches difficult
The Ascent A3500 features LED, touchscreen controls as well as a control knob and pulse setting to manually adjust speed to accommodate any recipe’s texture. If you’re looking for a blender with pre-set program settings, this one comes with five: smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts and self-cleaning. Many users appreciate the built-in, programmable timer, which helps prevent over- or under-processing your custom recipes. One drawback home cooks noted is that the 64-ounce capacity and wide-mouth container makes it difficult to process smaller batches (compared to models that come with tapered containers, which more efficiently pulls the ingredients down to the blades). But the motor base accommodates a variety of compatible container sizes, and its built-in wireless connectivity allows it to read the container size you’ve chosen and automatically adjusts the program settings and blending times accordingly. This model has the most bells and whistles and is also one of the most expensive. Its design makes it countertop worthy, and it comes in a range of finishes, too. It comes with a 10-year warranty.
Editor's Note: On June 20, 2024, Vitamix issued a voluntary recall on Vitamix Ascent series and Venurist series 8- and 20-ounce blending containers because of possible base separation exposing the blade base. Vitamix is offering owners of affected machines a new repair kit.
- Capacity 64 ounces
- Dimensions 11 x 8 x 17 inches
- Dishwasher-safe Yes (container, top rack)
- Warranty 10 years
- Powerful motor and 4-pronged blade for efficient results
- 5 variable speeds
- Comfortable grip and ergonomic design
- Bell guard reduces suction and protects pans from scratching
- Limited use (sauces, purees, dressings and dips)
- Hand-wash only
The Vitamix Immersion blender is our top tested handheld blender and features a powerful motor, 5 variable speeds and a 4-pronged blade, all adding up to a handheld blender that easily blends tough ingredients. It fits in pots and pans and a variety of containers 3-inches or larger, including smoothie cups and a 1-quart wide Mason jar. The manufacturer states that the blade guard’s unique design reduces suction and helps ingredients flow easily through the blades while protecting pots, pans and containers from scratches. The Vitamix Immersion wins points among professional and home cooks for its comfortable grip, ergonomic design and a convenient 5-foot cord. The Vitamix Immersion comes with a 3-year warranty. Vitamix also offers a range of immersion blender attachments and accessories, including a whisk, blending jar, station, storage case and mini chopper.
- Capacity N/A
- Dimensions 18 x 3 x 3 inches
- Dishwasher-safe No
- Warranty 3 years
Vitamix
How to Choose the Best Vitamix Blender for You
Price: Vitamix blenders are an investment but knowing your budget going in can help determine which model is best for your needs. Entry-level priced models will perform the basics, like blending smoothies, soups and sauces. You can expect to pay more for blenders with pre-set programs, smart capabilities, and professional-grade blending capabilities. As with most products, the more bells and whistles, the higher the price tag.
Capacity and Size: Consider how much space you have in your kitchen, both countertops (for when the blender is plugged in) and for storage. Think about if you’re more likely to use your Vitamix to blend a smoothie for one or a batch of soup for family supper. Vitamix blenders come with a 32-ounce, 48-ounce and 64-ounce capacity, but some containers feature a tapered design while others have a wide-mouth design. Keep in mind that the larger, wider containers are harder to blend small batches in.
Control: Decide if you prefer a control knob to manually adjust speed or an LED, touchscreen interface. Check to see if the model comes with a separate on/off switch or additional settings such as pulse to give you greater control. If you want a model with pre-set programs, explore which are included, such as hot soups, dips and spreads, or frozen desserts.
Power: Vitamix blenders are capable of blending smoothies and purees, but some are better suited to breaking down tough ingredients and producing a smoother texture. Models with a high-powered motor tend to be more conducive to blending things like nut butters, hot soups, whole spices and grains.
Accessories: There are a variety of different sized containers and accessories available — be sure to check that they are compatible with your model. Examples of accessories include a dry-grains container, ideal for milling grains, rice or nuts into flour. There’s also the Aer Disc container, which pulls liquid through the spinning disc’s holes, making it ideal for emulsifying sauces, while firmer ingredients like ice, fruit, and herbs are agitated but not puréed, so it works well for finely chopping herbs. The Ascent model is compatible with a 12-cup food processor attachment that includes a multi-use blade and two shredding/slicing discs for varying thicknesses. Vitamix also offers colored carafes ideal for households with varying dietary restrictions or blending ingredients that can stain a clear carafe like turmeric.
Photo c/o Amazon
How to Clean a Vitamix Blender
Be sure to consult your owner’s manual for cleaning instructions that are specific to your model. To best advise general guidance for cleaning your Vitamix, we consulted the manufacturer’s website. Note that the manufacturer does not recommend washing the Vitamix container or lid in the dishwasher (only the S-Series 20-ounce and 40-ounce containers are top rack dishwasher-safe).
- If your machine has a pre-programmed Clean setting: After use, rinse the container thoroughly with warm water (not hot). Place one to two drops of dish soap in your container and fill halfway with warm water. Secure the lid and ensure the lid plug is in the locked position. Select the Clean setting and start the machine. The machine will automatically shut off when the cycle is done. Pour the soapy water out and rinse the container thoroughly, then turn the container upside down and let it air dry. Wipe the base with a damp cloth.
- If your machine does not have a Clean setting, perform the following steps: After use, rinse the container thoroughly with warm water (not hot). Add 1 to 2 drops of dish soap to the container and fill it halfway with warm water. Secure the lid and turn lid plug to locked position. Start the machine on the lowest setting, slowly increasing it until it reaches the highest setting. Run on high for 30 to 60 seconds. Pour the contents out and rinse the container thoroughly. Turn the container upside down and allow it to air dry. Wipe the base with a damp cloth.
- To perform a deep clean (monthly, or as needed): Pour 4 cups of cool water and 4 cups of white vinegar into the Vitamix container and let it soak about four hours. Pour the contents out and rinse the container thoroughly.
- To remove cloudiness or stains: If you notice a film on your Vitamix container, pour one cup of white vinegar into the container and fill half-full with warm water. Allow the container to soak in an upright, standing position for several hours, then pour the contents out and use a soft pot scrubber to clean the inside of the container. Be especially careful while cleaning around the sharp blades at the bottom.
6 Best Blenders, Tested and Reviewed
We found the best blenders for smoothies, sauces, soups and more at every price point.
5 Best Personal Blenders, Tested and Reviewed
We shook, blended and sipped through smoothies and protein shakes to bring you the best picks.
6 Best Smoothie Blenders, Tested and Reviewed
These blenders make super-smooth smoothies, no matter what the ingredients.
