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No matter whether you want to make a smoothie, a sauce, or a soup, a blender is a truly invaluable appliance. The only drawback? Just like a stand mixer, they’re big and bulky, oftentimes occupying prime real estate on your kitchen counter or in your cabinets. They can also get expensive, with some models costing upwards of hundreds of dollars; even if you’re using one daily, that’s a serious investment. And that’s where portable blenders come up huge.
As the name suggests, these scaled-down versions of their OG counterparts take up far less space and ring in at a fraction of the cost. While they generally aren’t as powerful as full-size versions, the latest models still pack a powerful pureeing punch.
“Portable blenders are an amazing invention, a quick and convenient way to get a lot of nutrients into your diet through smoothies and soups,” says Haylie Pomroy, health strategist and the New York Times best-selling author of The Fast Metabolism Diet. “Newer ones are more lightweight than ever before and can serve as both a blender and a drinking vessel. These are great for home if you have limited counter space, to keep at the office, or to travel with,” she adds. And again, while they generally are less powerful than the big boys, if your blending needs are simple and you’re not typically blending for a crowd, or if you travel a lot, a personal blender may be a good option for you, Pomroy points out.
To help you narrow down your choices, here are the best portable blenders currently on the market.
Best Overall: NutriBullet Single-Serve Blender
Amazon
Portable blenders and NutriBullet are somewhat synonymous at this point, as the brand makes several different options. This particular model is a top choice for Kelly Ann Petrucci, M.S., N.D., a board-certified naturopathic physician, weight loss, and anti-aging expert. She raves about how high-powered it is and its ability to pulverize superfoods worth adding to your smoothie, such as chia seeds, Brazil nuts, and leafy greens. Indeed, it has a 1200-watt motor, much stronger than most portable blenders.
Also nice: A pre-programmed function with an automatic shut-off, and the fact that it comes with two different-sized cups, both that have travel lids. It also takes up very little space on the counter and is easy to clean, says Dr. Petrucci, two other "musts" when talking about portable blenders. There’s a pulse feature as well; culinary expert Catherine Smart, Co-founder and CEO of Not Just Co. says that makes it great for using to whip up pesto, chimichurri, and other sauces where you want to be able to control the texture. If you're searching for a more affordable option, this may not be your top pick, but if you want a portable blender with a powerful motor that can handle most ingredients, this is a great choice.
Cup Size: 32 ounces, 24 ounces | Wattage: 1200 watts | Power Source: Electric
Best Budget: Hamilton Beach Personal Blender
Amazon
You don’t have to set aside a large sum to save up for your next favorite blender — instead, you can grab the Hamilton Beach BPA-Free Personal Blender, a petite and travel-friendly blender for a great price. This slim machine is available in five different shades and includes a travel lid for easy transportation after a midday smoothie. And if your plans include hopping in the car with your on-the-go lunch, you’re set for that too, because its svelte design allows for the cup to fit into most car cup holders with ease.
Since this is a relatively simple machine, there’s just one button to press to reach a satisfactory blend for any of your smoothies or shakes. But since the wattage is relatively low on this machine, you’ll find that it blends best with softer fruits, vegetables, and liquids rather than hard chunks of ice or frozen foods. But still, this personal blender packs quite a punch for its small stature. So instead of heading to an overpriced smoothie shop, save money with this Hamilton Beach model for all of the fresh smoothies you need at home.
Cup Size: 14 ounces | Wattage: 175 watts | Power Source: Electric
Best for Travel: Cokunst Portable Blender
Amazon
Sure, it may be a little "extra" to pack a blender in your suitcase, but this pick is so compact and portable that you’ll barely know it’s there. Because it’s both smaller and battery-operated, it’s easy to pack and use virtually everywhere, says Petrucci, who is a fan. She also calls out the extremely affordable price and notes that it still checks all of the blender boxes, despite how affordable it is.
It has six stainless steel blades and a 20,000 RPM motor, which give it plenty of blending power for fruits and vegetables, but may not suffice for those who need a high-powered blender. It has an easy, one-touch on-and-off feature and you can recharge it with a USB-C cable. One charge takes about three hours, although there are helpful indicators on the blender base that indicate how much battery power is left, ensuring that you’ll never be surprised by it dying unexpectedly. It comes with an included brush cleaner, so you can wash it by hand, but you can also pop the cup in the dishwasher.
Cup Size: 18 ounces | Wattage: 110 watts | Power Source: Battery
Best Multi-Tasking: Magic Bullet Blender
Amazon
While you will need to clear out some cabinet space for the 11 different components that come with this set, it does greatly expand your blending horizons. So, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that can make more than just smoothies, this is the one. “What the Magic Bullet lacks in simplicity, it makes up for in versatility, with the ability to whip cream, chop chunky salsa, and, of course, blend up a smoothie. Who needs knife skills when you've got one of these?!” says Smart, who lists this among her top picks. Credit the fact that it comes with two different blade attachments.
Anyone who is in a creative cooking rut will appreciate that this blender comes with a recipe book for extra inspiration. Just FYI — while the cups (there are two included) are top-rack dishwasher-safe, the rest of the pieces aren’t.
Cup Size: 12 ounces, 22 ounces | Wattage: 250 watts | Power Source: Electric
Best Compact: BlendJet 2 Portable Blender
Blendjet
“I really like the BlendJet because it’s lightweight and you drink right out of the blender, so you don’t have more than one thing to rinse out,” says Pomroy of one of her top choices. “It’s great for travel or as a spare blender to have at the office,” she adds (or a studio apartment or a dorm room). To that point, it’s even cordless and charges with a USB — one, hour-long charge yields about 15 blends.
It’s also one of the more stylish portable blenders we’ve seen, available in a wide array of fun colors and patterns that are anything but basic. While this version is five times more powerful than the original BlendJet, some may still find it a little too weak to crush lots of ice or really get things super smooth, so you'll want to use a good knife to cut fruit pieces very small. It also shouldn’t go in the dishwasher, which may be something to take into consideration if you don’t usually hand-wash.
Cup Size: 16 ounces | Wattage: Brand doesn’t specify | Power Source: Battery
Best Powerful: Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender
Amazon
“This Ninja is super sleek, so it fits in any bag or on a sliver of countertop, but it still packs enough power to get the job done with a 700-watt motor,” says Smart of another one of her recommendations. Indeed, the wattage (while it falls short of the 1200 watts of our overall best pick) is notably higher than the other portable blenders on this list, great if you need to regularly pulverize lots of ice or frozen fruit.
The cups, lids, and blades are all dishwasher safe, a major win since the cups have some nooks and crannies around the edges that can make them hard to clean otherwise. Just keep in mind that the design requires you to hold down the cup the entire time it’s blending, as there’s no locking function.
Cup Size: 16 ounces x 2 | Wattage: 700 watts | Power Source: Electric
Best for the Beach: PopBabies Portable Blender
Amazon
If you’re looking for a blender that’s as cute as it is easy to use, look no further than the PopBabies Portable Blender. It comes in several fun colors, including blue, pink, purple, and yellow, and it’s dishwasher-safe. The blender also includes a funnel and a miniature ice cube tray that makes ice which is just the right size for this personal blender. It charges up easily with the included USB cord, so you can take it on the go to make fresh drinks at the beach, park, poolside, or just about anywhere, so grab your picnic blanket and head out.
This personal blender is just the right size to make smoothies for one, if you need to blend for a crowd, you might choose a larger model.
Cup Size: 14 ounces | Wattage: 175 watts | Power Source: Battery
Best Cordless: Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Compact Blender
Overstock
Our top cordless option stands out for its fast charge time — it takes just two hours for a full charge. And even though it’s small, this portable blender is powerful and can run continuously for up to 20 minutes on a single charge. Just keep in mind that the blender cannot operate while it’s charging.
Unlike some other portable blenders, the lightweight Cuisinart EvolutionX can crush ice cubes and other hard foods. The BPA-free blender comes with a 16-ounce cup complete with a travel lid for toting drinks on the go. It’s also dishwasher-safe, so it’s easy to keep it clean and ready for your next adventure.
Cup Size: 16 ounces | Wattage: 5 watts | Power Source: Battery
Things to Consider Before Buying a Portable Blender
Weight
Particularly if you’re looking for an option for travel, it’s a good idea to choose one that’s on the lighter side, suggests Pomroy. Take the BlendJet 2 Portable Blender for example, coming in at a mere 1.52 pounds — an incredibly transportable and easy-to-store option. However, this is less important if you’re going to be keeping it out on your kitchen counter.
Power Source
Cordless portable blender options that can be charged via USB or USB-C are great for travel or at the office, when you can charge them from the port on your computer, Pomroy notes. Our best cordless blender, the Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Compact Blender, charges with a USB cord so you can power it up anywhere instead of needing to be close to an outlet (so you can skip the smoothie shop and make your own by the pool if you want to).
Maintenance
Make sure all of the components of a personal blender can easily be taken apart for cleaning purposes, Smart suggests. Bonus points if the cups, lids, and blades can all be tossed in the dishwasher. However, be sure to read the fine print, because not all of our picks are dishwasher safe. The last thing you want is melted plastic or ruined blades because you tossed out those precious instructions.
Motor Power
Not all portable blenders are going to be able to blend up ice, notes Petrucci, or chop up bigger pieces of frozen fruit or leafy greens. Think the Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender, loaded with 700 watts of power and supreme ice-chopping capabilities. Consider exactly what you like to whip up in your blender and choose accordingly.
Price
While you can find quality portable blenders at many different prices, it’s important to take into consideration how much you’re willing to spend for the features you’re looking for. More budget-friendly options like the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender are lighter on the wallet but have very simplistic features, whereas our best overall, the NutriBullet Single-Serve Blender, which is programmable, has different-sized cups and lids, and comes with a 1200-watt motor, is also our priciest pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are portable blenders worth it?
If you’re regularly making smoothies, soups, or sauces, then yes. These can be a much more affordable alternative to traditional blenders or food processors, and will save space in your kitchen, too. If you don’t find yourself needing a blender too often, a more budget-friendly option may be your best starting point. But if you are on the protein shake or green smoothie grind, it’s likely worth it to invest in a high-quality machine that may be priced on the higher end to ensure quality and longevity.
What is the point of a portable blender?
Portable blenders are an easier, more convenient way to be able to create things such as daily smoothies. They’re also ideal for anyone who wants to maintain their eating routine while traveling or needs to be able to whip up quick things at the office. This means that it can either be taken on the go, still connected to its stand, or taken in the cup as a makeshift glass to fit in with your daily life.
Take Our Word for It
Melanie Rud is a beauty and lifestyle writer who covers a wide array of topics. While she owns a very large, traditional blender, it’s her portable one that she reaches for daily to make her morning green smoothie. In compiling this list of best portable blenders, we compared critical purchasing decision factors such as each blender's price, size and weight, power supply options, ease of use, motor power, and versatility. In addition, Rud interviewed a culinary expert, a celebrity nutritionist and board-certified naturopathic physician, and a certified nutrition consultant to gain their insight. PEOPLE Commerce Writer Alyssa Brascia updated this piece with a new best-budget pick.
Meet Our Experts- Haylie Pomroy is a health strategist and New York Times best-selling author of The Fast Metabolism Diet.
- Kelly Ann Petrucci, M.S., N.D. is a board-certified naturopathic physician, weight management, and anti-aging expert.
- Catherine Smart is the co-founder and CEO of Not Just Co.
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