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If you are a fellow smoothie enthusiast who is always on the go, a portable blender is one of the most versatile and convenient tools you can have in your kitchen. Full size blenders are fantastic for whipping up frozen margs, but it’s a pain to haul them out for day-to-day use and they are impractical for travel. The best portable blenders are designed to be compact and lightweight — and some can even blend on-the-go. Since the jar usually doubles as a travel mug, you’ll have one less dish to wash, which makes cleanup easy.
“Portable blenders are just easier to haul out of the cupboard every day,” Meggan says. “I love my Vitamix but it’s really heavy, so it’s just easier to have a portable blender for smoothies. A daily smoothie habit is a great step towards a healthy life, and having an awesome portable blender makes it more of a joy than a chore.”
While Meggan’s go-to is the NutriBullet Pro 900 Watt Blender, we wanted to find what other great options are out there. Together, we researched the best portable blenders on the market, looking for features like power and capacity. We also read hundreds of reviews to get an idea of the blender’s reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction.
With these top picks, you can blend frozen fruits and vegetables into nutritious drinks to consume on the spot or to take with you as you run errands or head to work. Here are our top picks for the best portable blenders to make a fruity Caribbean Passion Smoothie or nutrient-packed Mango Carrot Smoothie at home.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks
- What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: NutriBullet Pro 900 Watt Blender – $79.99 at Target
- Also Great: NutriBullet 600 Watt Personal Blender – $58.00 at Amazon
- Meggan’s Favorite On-the-Go: BOSICTE Portable Blender – $29.99 at Amazon
- Best for Shakes and Smoothies: Hamilton Beach BPA-Free Personal Blender – $19.85 at Walmart
Reviews of The Best Portable Blenders
1. What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: NutriBullet Pro 900 Watt Blender
If you stop by the office one morning, it’s more than likely you’ll see Meggan drinking a smoothie out of a quart-size glass jar with a boba straw. Actually, she loves smoothies so much that it would be weird if she didn’t have a smoothie in hand to start her day!
To whip up her nutrient-packed creations, Meggan swears by the NutriBullet Pro 900 Watt Blender, which she has used nearly every day for the past 5 years. “I make a ton of smoothies so I reach for this portable blender daily, sometimes twice daily,” she says. “I love that it blends everything evenly and is easy to clean and store. Since my smoothies are always giant, I also love its 32-ounce capacity.”
It’s not as powerful as a Vitamix, but at a fraction of the price, it’s a veritable workhorse that can grind raw greens, blend frozen fruit, crush ice, and anything else you throw in it down to a silky-smooth consistency. Simply push the blender cup down into the base, give it a twist, and in less than 60 seconds you’ll have a blended drink. The upgraded design makes it quieter when running and easier to clean with BPA-free plastic parts that are dishwasher-safe on the top rack.
It comes with two cups, two to-go lids, two lip rings with handles, and a recipe book. Plus it’s available in 9 matte and 7 metallic shades, so it’s cute enough to keep out on the counter.
The Specs:
- Wattage: 900 watts
- Capacity: 32 ounces
- Dimensions: 7.72″ D x 12.01″ W x 15.94″ H
The Pros:
- Top-end quality
- Powerful for the price
- Hands-free
The Cons:
- Lid can trap food
What Others are Saying:
The NutriBullet Pro 900 Watt Blender was named the best personal blender by both Food & Wine and Better Homes & Gardens. It has a 4.7 rating on Amazon from more than 26,000 reviews.
Where to Buy:
2. Also Great: NutriBullet 600 Watt Personal Blender
A second great option at a slightly lower price point is the NutriBullet 600 Watt Personal Blender, which Meggan says has all the essential features and power that you need to blend delicious smoothies. “This one can definitely still handle frozen fruit and ice cubes at a lower wattage,” she says. “It’s almost half the price of the pro, but still works better than the budget option.”
This model boasts a powerful motor and ultra-sharp blades that can slice through stubborn ingredients like kale or fruit skins. The device only has one speed, but that’s all you need because of its high power levels and two cutting styles. Just like the pro model, blending is easy. Just place the blender jar in the base and press down to blend. Once you pop on a lid you are ready to go. It comes with a tall cup, lid, lip ring, and recipe book.
The Specs:
- Wattage: 600 watts
- Capacity: 24 ounces
- Dimensions: 6.85 ” D x 11.61 ” W x 12.28 ” H
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Ultra-sharp blades
- Powerful
The Cons:
- Bulky
- Blades are hand-wash only
What Others are Saying:
The NutriBullet 600 Watt Personal Blender was named best for smoothies by Travel & Leisure and easiest to use by Better Homes & Gardens. Additionally, it has a 4.7 rating on Amazon from more than 46,000 reviews.
Where to Buy:
3. Meggan’s Favorite On-the-Go: BOSICTE Portable Blender
Meggan loves the BOSICTE Portable Blender for anyone who is just getting started with blending smoothies and needs an inexpensive model. “It has a hard time with some vegetables and frozen fruits, but is great for fresh fruit,” she says. “If you’re using fresh fruit or have time to let the fruit thaw for a little bit, it will work for you!”
This model blends very well for its small size, is portable, and has five sharp stainless steel blades and two blending modes (blend and pulse) with an auto-lock function to get the job done quickly and hands-free. The blender can be charged, meaning you could theoretically bring it with you to blend at the gym or office if needed.
Parts disassemble easily and it comes with a straw brush, cup brush, and blade cleaning cloth to make cleaning less of a hassle. Twelve LED lights display the battery status to indicate when charging is needed and one charge lasts 3 to 4 hours.
The Specs:
- Wattage: 270 watts
- Capacity: 20 ounces
- Dimensions: 3.54″ D x 3.54″ W x 11.26″ H
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Two blending modes
- Auto-lock function for safety
- Can be blended on-the-go
The Cons:
- Short battery life
- Does not work with frozen fruit
What Others are Saying:
The BOSICTE Portable Blender has a 4.7 rating on Amazon from more than 300 reviews.
Where to Buy:
4. Best for Shakes and Smoothies: Hamilton Beach BPA-Free Personal Blender
Despite its low price tag, the Hamilton Beach BPA-Free Personal Blender is an impressive unit. Its durable stainless steel blades power through frozen fruits, leafy greens, and ice cream with a touch of a button, making it straightforward and easy to use. You’ll love it if you’re always on the go because its lightweight design features a single-serve blending cup with a tapered design that fits well in most cup holders. Plus it has a no-spill travel lid, so it travels well to the office or to school and back.
The BPA-free blending jar, blades, and travel lid are all dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy.
The Specs:
- Wattage: 175 watts
- Capacity: 14 ounces
- Dimensions: 3.9″ D x 3.9″ W x 11.9″ H
The Pros:
- To-go lid included
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
The Cons:
- Small capacity
What Others are Saying:
The Hamilton Beach BPA-Free Personal Blender was named the best budget blender by Travel & Leisure, Good Housekeeping, and Better Homes & Gardens. It has a 4.2 rating on Amazon from more than 105,000 reviews.
Where to Buy:
Other Portable Blenders to Consider
Ninja Fit Personal Blender
For its small size, it’s very mighty with a 700-watt motor that powers through fruits, veggies, and even ice with ease. It comes with two 16-ounce cups with to-go lids, so it’s great for couples who want a nutritious breakfast but want to find their own inspiration from the 50-recipe guide that comes in the box. All of the parts, except for the base, are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. The Ninja Fit Personal Blender is available at Amazon for $49.99.
Beast Health Blender
This model is quiet to run, well-built, and boasts a whopping 1000-watt motor for incredible blending performance. The intelligent blade technology adjusts the speed and torque of the blades as well as its internal temperature so it won’t overheat. The leak-resistant top with a loop handle makes it portable, but keep in mind that the base may be too wide for your car’s cup holder. The Beast Health Blender is available at Amazon for $164.95.
Magic Bullet Blender
The Magic Bullet can do it all — it blends smoothies, chops veggies, mixes batter, whips eggs, and grinds down nuts and spices. The set comes with multiple-sized cups and lids for ultimate versatility, and all of the parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe. Better Homes & Gardens also named it the most versatile blender. The Magic Bullet Blender is available at Amazon for $39.99.
Why You Can Trust Us
I’m Belle, an award-winning content creator and an adjunct professor who works in restaurant PR in the Midwest. Over the course of 20 years, I’ve held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants, including ownership of a Korean-concept hot dog cart (that was named after my dog’s teeth). My writing and on-camera work can be seen on the Better Homes & Gardens website.
To create this guide for the very best portable blenders out there, I worked with Meggan to hear which models she personally loves and to learn what qualities she would consider when picking out the best portable blender for your lifestyle. I then researched highly recommended models and read hundreds of online reviews to find the best options out there. We then compared them side by side and rated them on wattage, capacity, size, weight, and overall value to come up with our list of the best portable blenders.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Portable Blender
What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Blender
You can’t go wrong with any of our top picks for the best portable blenders, but there are several important factors to consider before making a purchase. Here are a few things Meggan says to keep in mind:
Wattage: Look for a portable blender that has enough power to blend fruits, vegetables, and ice effectively. While it won’t be as powerful as larger full-size blenders, you’ll still want a high-quality model that can tackle harder ingredients like carrots or apples.
Blending capacity: Assess the size of the blending jar or cup. Meggan’s recipes yield 32 ounces, so you’ll want to consider if you want a single serving or want to make enough to share.
Portability and size: Consider the size and weight of the portable blender. If you intend to use it on the go, make sure it’s easy to carry around and won’t take up too much space in your bag. Make sure to double-check if it’s too large for the cupholder in your car.
Are Portable Blenders Good?
Portable blenders are a great investment if you seek portability and convenience. They are designed to be compact and lightweight so you can take them with you on the go, but they are not meant to replace full-sized countertop blenders that are intended for heavy-duty blending or large batches.
What’s the Difference Between a Portable and Personal Blender?
While a portable blender and a personal blender are very similar, there are a few key differences. A portable blender is usually more compact, lightweight, and able to be taken on the go to make quick and simple smoothies. Some are rechargeable rather than corded, allowing you to bring the entire device with you to blend outside your home. While some personal blenders have travel cups, their bases can be bulky and heavy, making them harder to bring with you on a trip can and are intended to stay put in the kitchen.
Are Portable Blenders Dishwasher Safe?
The base of most portable blenders have electrical components, which are not dishwasher-safe. Some of them are designed with detachable and dishwasher-safe parts, but you should always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure the longevity of your portable blender since some plastics may not withstand the high temperatures of a dishwasher.
Can You Drink Out of a Portable Blender?
Yes, you can drink out of a portable blender. In fact, most of them are designed with a container that is used for both blending and drinking. Additionally, many models come with plastic lids to make it even easier to sip from your cup on the way out the door.
The Best Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies are incredibly versatile and are a great thing to make in your portable blender. The best ones can vary depending on personal preferences or dietary needs. Here are four of Meggan’s favorite smoothie recipes to get you started:
- Caribbean Passion Smoothie
- Mango Carrot Smoothie
- Strawberry Citrus and Ginger Smoothie
- Pineapple Spinach Smoothie
- Blueberry Smoothie
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
Belle DuChene is an award-winning digital content producer who has a passion for all things lifestyle including food, fashion, and French culture. (And French wine, of course!) Over the course of 20 years, she's held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants and has eaten her way through the side streets of more than 20 countries. Always a student, her kitchen looks like a library of culinary school textbooks and she will sit for the level one sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers this summer. Belle owns an award-winning content creation agency, teaches communications at three colleges and universities, and tutors in French. In addition to Culinary Hill, her writing and on-camera demonstrations have been published on BHG.com.