Spoiler alert! If you are in a rush and just want to know what the best Vitamix is, then we recommend the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender as our top pick.
Yes, Vitamix blenders make smoothies, but they do more than that. They are commercial-grade blenders that home cooks and chefs both find useful to complete a variety of food preparation tasks. This family-owned company started making blenders in 1921, so a lot of knowledge and experience, as well as their reputation, is behind every blender.
To help you select the best Vitamix for you and your family, we have created a buyer’s guide and included reviews of five models that represent the range of Vitamix products available. In the buyer’s guide, we discuss the different types of blenders that Vitamix offers and the factors that make Vitamix blenders stand out from other blender brands, such as innovative features and durability.
Our Vitamix reviews use the buyer’s guide as the basis for our Vitamix comparison. We offer our opinion on which is the best Vitamix. However, you need to consider all the factors listed in the buyer’s guide as they relate to your preferences and intended use of the blender. Then, your choice on which Vitamix to buy will provide you with a blender that you will use.
Here are the Vitamix blenders we will be reviewing:
- Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender
- Vitamix 5200 Blender
- Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender
- Vitamix Ascent A2500 Blender
- Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
- Vitamix 780 BlenderVitamix 780 Blender
Choosing a Vitamix Blender — Smart System, Classic, or Space Saving?
Vitamix offers three types of blenders — Smart System, Classic, and Space Saving.
Smart System Blenders
The Ascent Series Blenders are Smart System blenders that offer Bluetooth connectivity. These blenders include SELF-DETECT™ containers that the blender recognizes. The blender then adjusts its settings to the size of the container. You will need the SELF-DETECT™ blade base that is available in starter kits. You just attach the blade base to a container and insert it in the blender.
Two of our favorite SELF-DETECT™ containers are the 8-ounce blending bowls and the 20-ounce blending cups. Using the blending bowls, you can chop ingredients or blend dip, sauces, salad dressing, and baby food in individual servings. Remove the blade base and cover with a lid to add to a packed lunch or store in the refrigerator. Using the blending cups, you can make salad dressing, juice, or individual smoothies. Cover the cup with the easy-pour, spill-proof, flip-top lid and store in the refrigerator or take it with you on your commute to work. The cups are insulated for cold beverages and offer a tapered design that easily fits on a shelf, on the refrigerator door, or in a cup holder in your car. In either the bowl or cup starter set, you receive two containers with lids and the blade base. The containers are BPA-free and dishwasher safe.
Different blenders in the Ascent Series offer different features. Within this line of blenders, you will be able to choose between features such as a touchscreen or traditional switch controls and between automated or total-control blending.
This video entitled “Ascent Series by Vitamix” explains how the new Smart Systems blenders work.
For your smart device, Vitamix offers a Perfect Blend App to provide you with more useful features for your Smart System blender. The app features 17 programs that will even work with blenders that do not have programs. It offers over 500 recipes that can be altered by calorie count, the number of servings, or the volume of the container you are using. There is a shopping list feature to help you stock your pantry with ingredients needed to create specific recipes. Using Google Fit or Apple Health, you can also sync the Perfect Blend app with your fitness tracker. The app is compatible with Lollipop 5.0 or higher on Android devices and Apple devices using iOS 10.0 or higher. Watch this YouTube video entitled ”Vitamix Perfect Blend App” to learn about all the features available with this app. Even if you purchase a Classic or Space-saving Vitamix blender, you are welcome to download the app to access the recipes, shopping list, and any other features.
Classic Blenders
The Vitamix Classic blenders offer a simple design and easy-to-use controls. They provide the perfectly consistent results that you expect from Vitamix. This series of blenders offer a variety of containers so that you have the right container for any task.
Space-saving Blenders
Vitamix created the compact Space-saving blenders to use less counter space while still creating single or double serving portions. These blenders include both a 20-ounce container for a smoothie for one person and a 40-ounce container to create a meal for your family.
Why Choose a Vitamix?
Vitamix’s Latest Innovation — The Aer™ Disc
Vitamix continuously creates new innovative products. The Aer uses a spinning disc to pull liquids through holes to add air or emulsify the liquid, but it leaves solid ingredients intact. You can use the Aer™ Disc to emulsify, muddle, whip, and foam. To see the Aer™ Disc in action, watch this video entitled ”Introducing the Vitamix Aer™ Disc Container”.
Power
Most Vitamix blenders have 2-horsepower motors. That is enough power to do any task, including grinding nuts or blending cake batter or dough, and they chop and blend ingredients to such a fine texture that more flavor is added to your food. This is the real secret of Vitamix blenders, and it allows you to use a smaller measurement of ingredients, such as less pepper and garlic. However, Vitamix does not just rely on power to perform food preparation tasks perfectly every time. They design every feature to contribute to the performance of their blenders.
Shaped by Design
The shape of the container is one of the ways that Vitamix optimizes features to contribute to the overall performance of their blenders. The container shape creates a path so that food is directed toward the blades. So, with a Vitamix blender, every bit of food is blended in quickly with no need to stir to try to get unblended food to the blades.
Texture
Not all blended food is intended to be smooth. Vitamix has designed every blender to provide the whole range of textures from chunky to smooth. They have created automatic controls to make it easier to achieve certain textures, but they also provide instructions on how to achieve various textures using total-control blending.
Here is a list of how you can achieve various textures:
- Chopping — For chunky soups, sauces, and dips; just give the blender a few quick times of turning it on and off and you have saved yourself a lot of manual work.
- Grinding — just turn the blender on and let it run until you have achieved the texture you desire whether it is fine or coarse, flour from whole grains, or smooth or chunky butter from nuts.
- Pureeing — To puree, add cooking liquids or water to whole foods and blend.
- Juicing — Using whole food provides more nutrition and fiber.
- Variable Speed Control — Adjusting the speed of the blades makes it easier to control the texture.
- Pulse feature — Provides a short quick on and off action to provide chunkier ingredients.
- Automated Blending — With preset programming, you can do other tasks while the blender is working and still get consistent results.
Durability
Vitamix designs every component of its blenders for durability, so a Vitamix blender becomes a long-term investment that will not require replacing because it broke like some less expensive brands.
Vitamix blenders are designed to incorporate the following features. The aircraft-grade, hardened stainless steel, laser-cut blades are designed to allow you to grind ingredients such as nuts. Every Vitamix blender offers overload protection. The blades are connected to the motor with a metal drive system. The Vitamix motor is designed to provide steady power and remain cool due to air circulation deliberately created around the motor that also makes the motor run more quietly.
Heating Foods
With the steady power and the cooling features built into the motor, Vitamix blenders can run steadily for six minutes. This is long enough for the friction from the blades to heat soups and sauces to a serving temperature. This is an additional benefit of Vitamix blenders.
Ease of Cleaning
Ease of cleaning is the other big advantage of Vitamix blenders. Just put a little dish soap in the blender and turn it on. In addition, the containers and blades are dishwasher safe.
Warranty
Vitamix is so secure with the durability of their blender that they provide a 10-year warranty.
Additional Resource on the Vitamix Website
As an additional resource, Vitamix provides a ”Culinary and Wellbeing” section on their website. This section provides information on using your Vitamix blender to contribute to your healthy lifestyle, to take you on culinary adventures, and to use unexpected parts of vegetables in your food preparation. The “Better Me” section provides recipes and tips for “clean eating” using unprocessed foods and using your blender to make preparation quick and easy. The “Exploration” section provides recipes and ideas for foods that will be new to many people. These recipes are made easier with your Vitamix blender. Finally, the “Root to Stem” section has recipes that help you use vegetables that are out of your normal menu and make foods like pesto from carrot tops. Explore this section for a healthier diet and to expand your culinary horizon.
Vitamix also offers a ”Blender Recommendation” feature on their website. The recommender asks you questions, such as the size of blender you want, whether you want the latest technology, what kind of food you want to make, whether you want a switch or touch controls, and whether you want some pre-programmed settings. It then provides you with a blender recommendation. You can choose to shop for this specific blender or use it as a starting and comparison point to browse other blenders in that line and other Vitamix blenders.
You can also just browse their almost 300 recipes divided into categories to find new ways to use your Vitamix blender.
Buyer’s Guide Recap
The two best reasons to purchase a Vitamix blender is the fine texture provided by the Vitamix blender which makes food more flavorful than other blenders, and the ease of cleaning a Vitamix blender which does not require disassembly to clear food trapped under the blade. Those reasons, along with the freshness and healthiness of the food, support the purchase of a Vitamix blender. The other information provided in this buyer’s guide will help you decide which Vitamix blender to buy.
Our Top 6 Vitamix Blender Picks
Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender
The best Vitamix blender is the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender. It has five program settings that allow you to make many different foods and beverages. There is a setting for Smoothies, Hot Soups, Frozen Desserts, Dips & Spreads, and a Self-Cleaning option that makes clean-up fast and easy. It comes with an iOS and Android app that allows you to get the full benefit of the machine with its 17 programs and 500 plus recipes.
The programmable timer allows you to prevent under-blending or over-blending your favorite recipes. You can set the timer. When the time is up, the machine automatically turns off.
Pros:
- Touchscreen controls
- Mobile app with additional programs and recipes
- Built-in wireless connectivity
Cons:
- Lid hard to remove
- Error codes hard to clear out
- Heavy and hard to move
Vitamix 5200 Blender
Vitamix blenders include a range of features that are standard on the blenders in all three of their product lines. The features of the blenders offered within each product line differ only on items that are a matter of personal preference and not on features that make one Vitamix blender outperform another Vitamix blender.
Of course, the 5200 has the other features that Vitamix includes on all their blenders. Even though it is one of Vitamix’s Classic blenders, the Vitamix 5200 proves itself over other brands of blenders with smoothies, the classic blender recipe. Like all Vitamix blenders, the 5200 finely blends ingredients of smoothies and all foods to really bring out the flavor, and the shape of the container ensures that all ingredients are blended in so that no chunks of food are found in a single smoothie or any other recipe where chunkiness is not desired. The 2-horsepower motor will grind nuts for butter and grains for flour. It will mix cake batter and dough, and all of this heavy-duty work is easy for this durable Vitamix 5200 blender. With the built-in cooling system, the motor does not even overheat. Finally, when you are done, there is no need to disassemble the 5200 to clean around the blades, because the blades are designed so that food cannot be trapped underneath them.
So, if you are interested in traditional controls and total-control blending without touchscreens and preprogrammed settings, then the Vitamix 5200 is the blender for you. If you are looking for different features on your Vitamix blender, then continue reading our reviews.
Pros:
- This Vitamix 5200 blender has a large capacity, 64-ounce container. It can make eight 8-ounce bowls of soup or eight 8-ounce, five 12-ounce, four 16-ounce, or three 20-ounce smoothies, juices, or other beverages. That is enough soup or smoothies for the whole family.
- The 5200 includes a variable speed dial so that you can adjust the speed as you are blending. This can help you better control the texture of your food.
- This is one of Vitamix’s Classic series blenders that offers simpler controls, but still provides the high-quality blending and the durability that you expect from Vitamix.
Cons:
- This is not a Smart System blender, so you do not have access to any of the smart system features, such as the blender automatically adjusting the settings to the size of the container.
- This Vitamix blender model does not offer the pulse or programmed settings. However, in lieu of the pulse setting, you can flip the blender on and off several times.
Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender
The Vitamix 750 blender is not a current model, but new 750s are still available and the 750 has several features to make it desirable. The 750 is part of Vitamix’s G-series or “Next Generation” series. The G-series is a step up from the Classic series. The 750 offers a mixture of total-control and automated blending with five programmable settings. The programmable settings allow you to start the blender and then work on other tasks. You will still get the same consistent results. Along with the programmable settings, the 750 offers traditional switches and dials, a pulse feature, and variable speed dial. The pulse feature allows you to quickly flip the blades on and off for chunkier textures. The variable speed dial allows you to increase and decrease the speed of the blades to help you achieve the texture that you desire.
The 750 also includes all of the features that are standard on all Vitamix blenders. Even though the container is shorter and wider, the shape is still designed to move the food into the blade. Also, while the blades are wider, the 750 is still designed so that food cannot be trapped under the blade, and the blade is still laser-cut, aircraft-grade, hardened stainless steel with a metal drive system connecting it to the motor. The 750 provides the same overload protection and the fan to keep the motor from overheating that all Vitamix blenders have.
The 750 just has a lower profile, larger blade, slightly more powerful motor, and a combination of automated and total-control blending that the 5200 does not have. So, consider these differences and decide if either of these two Vitamix blenders is the right one for you.
Pros:
- The 750 was designed to have a lower profile to fit under cabinets. So, the container had to be wider, creating a need for a wider blade that — along with a little more powerful motor provided an improved and quieter blender.
- The 750 provides a combination of total-control and automated blending, including programmable settings that allow you to work on other tasks while the blender is running.
- The 750 also includes a variable speed dial and a pulse feature that help you prepare your food to the desired texture.
- Due to the lower profile of the 750, a wide-mouth container was created that provides some advantages when adding and serving food.
Cons:
- Although new 750s are available, the 750 is not in Vitamix’s current product line. However, it has a lot of features that make it desirable, and Vitamix blenders older than the 750 are working away in many kitchens.
- Vitamix has moved toward smart technology; that may mean no further development for the G series.
Vitamix Ascent A2500 Blender
The Vitamix Ascent A2500 Blenders are from Vitamix’s Smart System blender line. It offers a SELF-DETECT™ system that provides the blender with the information about what size container you have attached to the blender. The blender then adjusts the settings to accommodate that container. The blender has a safety setting that prevents the blender from starting until a container is properly attached. It also will not let you use certain programs if you do not have the proper container attached, such as requiring that the 64-ounce container be used with the soup program. An advantage to purchasing an A2500 is that, as Vitamix adds new technology, they could just provide program updates for all current Smart System blender owners. These updates could be added through the Perfect Blend app discussed in the Smart System blender section of the buyer’s guide.
The A2500 offers a digital timer that tracks how long your food has been blending and programmed settings that are adjusted for the container you are using. When the blending is done, the blender will stop. The A2500 also coordinates the Pulse feature with the Variable Speed dial to provide you with the texture you desire. With the Variable Speed dial, you can increase and decrease the speed of the blade by turning the dial even while the blender is running. In addition, on the A2500, the Variable Speed dial increases or decreases the burst of power provided by the pulse setting.
The low-profile Vitamix Ascent A2500 blender measures 11″ x 8″ x 17″, weighs 11.86-pounds, has a 2.2-horsepower engine, a 4-inch blade, a 4-foot cord, a 10-year warranty, and comes with a tamper and a Simply Blending cookbook. It also provides all the standard features that Vitamix builds into all of its blenders, such as durability, ease of cleaning, and the shape of the container that is designed to send the food to the blade. The only reason to look at another Vitamix blender instead of the A2500 is if you would prefer touchscreen controls rather than the traditional dial and switches.
Pros:
- The Vitamix Ascent A2500 is part of Vitamix’s Smart System line of blenders providing high-tech features, such as SELF-DETECT that helps the blender know what size container you are using, and, in the future, it could be used to add the latest technology as updates.
- The A2500 has three programmed settings and coordinates the Variable Speed dial with the Pulse feature to help you achieve the texture you want for your foods.
- The A2500 is a low-profile blender that fits better under the cupboards. Because the container is shorter, it is also wider, including the wide mouth opening that makes adding food easier.
Cons:
- There are only two cons with the A2500.
- The first is that you might prefer a touchscreen control.
- The second is the price. However, you can buy this blender, that is durable enough to last longer than other blenders and is designed so that it could receive technology upgrades, or you could end up buying several blenders from another brand in the same time period.
Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
The Vitamix E310 Blender is part of the Explorian series that Vitamix created to provide an affordable line of blenders in the style of the Classic blenders with the low-profile borrowed from the G-series. The Explorian series may be designed to be affordable, but the blenders in that series have the standard features that are built into all Vitamix blenders.
Among the features that combine to make the E310 unique from other Vitamix blenders is the 48-ounce, low-profile container. This container size works for individuals and smaller families. However, if you want a 64-ounce container for the E310, you need to purchase a Legacy series tall, skinny, 64-ounce container rather than the G-series, 64-ounce, low-profile container. The G-series, 64-ounce, low-profile container is wider and requires the G-series 4-inch blade and therefore, it requires the G Series 2.2-horsepower motor. The E310 only has a 2-horsepower motor.
The E310 is actually compatible with all Legacy containers, including the 20-ounce Personal Cup Adaptor that allows you to blend and go. The Legacy Personal Cup Adaptor set comes with two cups, two lids, and the adaptor. However, the E310 container and the Legacy containers are not dishwasher-safe.
Because it is designed to be affordable, the E310 does not include any programmed settings, but it does offer a variable speed dial and a pulse feature. It also only has the traditional dial and switches.
Two cookbooks and a mini-tamper are included with the blender. It measures 11″ x 8″ x 18″, weighs 10.5-pounds, has a 3-inch blade, a 4.5-foot cord, and a 5-year warranty.
Vitamix created this blender for those people who want a Vitamix blender but feel that they have to settle for a less expensive brand. You are not losing any of the important features of a Vitamix blender if you choose the E310. You can make every recipe with this blender that you can make with any Vitamix blender. With the E310, you will just be doing more hands-on, total-control blending rather than automated blending. Just remember that if you buy any Vitamix blender that is affordable for you currently and then, at some time in the future, you want to and are able to purchase a higher priced model. You will have a Vitamix blender that you can resell at a higher price than other brands to help contribute to the purchase of your new Vitamix blender.
Pros:
- The Vitamix E310 was designed to give you all the important features of a Vitamix blender at an affordable price. This brings it within the purchasing power of many more people who thought they wouldn’t have the opportunity of purchasing a Vitamix blender.
- The E310 has a low profile that fits better under kitchen cabinets.
- It comes with a 48-ounce container that works better than a 64-ounce container for individuals and smaller families. However, if you want a larger container, purchase a Legacy tall, skinny 64-ounce container.
- The E310 is compatible with all Vitamix Legacy containers.
Cons:
- The E310 does not have any automated or programmed settings, so you have to stay with the blender until your food is at the desired texture.
- The container for the E310 is not dishwasher-safe, but you can wash it by adding a drop of soap, some water, and turning on the blender.
Vitamix 780 Blender
The Vitamix 780 is a low-profile G-series blender with a 64-ounce, low-profile container. It is designed to better fit under the cupboards. Since the container is shorter, it is wider and that makes it easier to add food. However, the wider container requires the 2.2-horsepower motor and the 4-inch blade.
The 780 also offers five programmed settings. With these settings, you can start the blender, work on another task, and the blender will automatically stop, providing consistent results. Also, not to forget, the soup will be heated to serving temperature due to the friction of the blade.
The pulse feature on the 780 allows for a quick on and off with the blade creating a chunky texture.
The 780 measures 17.25″ x 8.8″ x 9″, weighs 12.5-pounds, includes a 6-foot cord, provides a seven-year warranty, and includes a cookbook and a tamper. Some 780s include an additional juice and smoothie cookbook.
Like all the Vitamix blenders, the 780 includes the standard Vitamix features. The wider container is designed to push the food to the blade, and the durability of the laser-cut, aircraft-grade, hardened stainless steel blade with a metal drive system connecting it to the motor is maintained with the 4-inch blade as it is with the 3-inch blade. The 2.2-horsepower motor actually provides more power and finer blending than the 2-horsepower motor in most Vitamix blenders. However, the motor still has overload protection and a fan to prevent the motor from overheating even when you are grinding nuts or making dough. The 780 also provides ease of cleaning, just add soap and water and turn on the blender. There will be no food trapped under the blade.
So, with the 780, you are choosing a touchscreen control and the ability to multitask in the kitchen by using a programmed setting on the blender, freeing you to do other tasks while the blender is running. Compare these features with the features of the other models and pick the Vitamix that suits your preferences and intended uses. The 780 lacks only the smart technology of the A2500.
Pros:
- The 780 offers five programmed settings. These settings allow you to start the blender and proceed to another task. The blender will stop on its own, providing consistent results.
- It has a LED touchscreen with crack- and scratch-resistant hardened glass. A light touch is all that is needed for the touch buttons, but splashes and spills will not activate the buttons.
- The 780 is a G-series blender, which means that it has a low-profile container, 2.2-horsepower motor, and 4-inch blade. These features provide a finer blending action and quieter operation.
Cons:
- Many people may feel that the programmed settings and touchscreen are not worth the higher price. Fortunately, Vitamix has more affordable choices with more basic features.
- At this time, it seems that the Smart System blenders may be the way that Vitamix will proceed in the future. So, purchasing a blender from that line might be a better choice.
Conclusion
We have selected the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender as the best Vitamix model. Vitamix lists the Smart Systems, Classics, and Space Savings blenders as their current product lines. Since Vitamix is incorporating low-profile blenders across their product lines, it seems that focusing on choosing between the Smart Systems and the Classics will cover any space issues. If you shy away from technology, then you may prefer the Classics lines. The Vitamix Classic blenders have simple controls. They require more total-control blending as opposed to being able to turn on the blender and move on to another task knowing that the blender will stop with consistent results. This suits many people. However, smart technology is the trend, and since Vitamix blenders last a long time, buying with an eye on the future seems like a good consideration. The Smart System blenders have the potential of being updated by Vitamix through the Perfect Blend App.
The A3500 includes the Smart Systems SELF-DETECT feature that identifies the container being used and adjusts the settings accordingly. The 64-ounce, low-profile container is provided with the A3500, so it offers a large capacity container with the space-saving option. All Smart Systems containers are dishwasher-safe and BPA-free.
Programmed settings are included on the A3500 as well as the variable speed dial and the pulse setting. The A3500 offers the standard features that are built into all Vitamix blenders, such as durability, superior blending, and ease of cleaning. On top of all that, the Vitamix A3500 also includes a touchscreen. So, if you want one of the best blenders offered by Vitamix that is built for the future, consider the A3500.
