The Blend Off: Vitamix vs BlendTec Review

Summary

We decided to face-off the two titans of kitchen blending: Vitamix vs BlendTec. Take a look at our full analysis below. But if you’re looking for a quick answer, we highly highly recommend purchasing a Blendtec. In our experience it’s a much more reliable machine that simply works better than the Vitamix. Want to know why? Keep reading.

Note: This is not a sponsored post and The Daily Kitchen have had no contact with either Blendtec or Vitamix. The Daily Kitchen bought each of these blenders with our own money and tested them as unbiasedly as possible.

Many of you have inquired about my opinion on Vitamix vs Blendtec, so it was due time to share my formal review.

Having now owned and extensively used both brands, I can confidently speak to each blender’s strengths and weaknesses, and which brand I would ultimately recommend purchasing.

THE BREAKDOWN

Blendtec Total Blender

Model: TB-621-20
Power: 1,560 watt, 3.0 peak horsepower motor
Dimension: 7″ wide x 15.5″ tall x 8″ deep
Weight: 7.28 lbs.
Features:

• Four-sided 2-quart BPA-free blending jar w/ 3″ double wing-tipped blade
• 6 preprogrammed cycles (smoothie, sauce, soup, etc.)
• 10 manual speeds + pulse option + auto turn-off
• Illuminated LCD timer displays remaining time on blends + number of times used
• 3-year motor-base warranty; 1-year jar warranty; lifetime coupling-and-blade warranty for NEW blenders / 3-year warranty for refurbished

Price: $399.99 – $415.00 new / $199.99 – $279.95 refurbished
Includes: Total Blender Classic motor base, replacement BPA-free WildSide+ jar, vented gripper lid, + owner’s manual

Pros:

• Spout design ideal for pouring any quantity or thickness of ingredients
• Generally lower price point than Vitamix
• More horsepower and lighter weight than its Vitamix counterpart
• Convenient settings so you can hit a button and walk away
• Easy to use and operate + LED lit panel
• Can blend dates (!), frozen fruit, nut butters, meals + flours, and other tough ingredients without shutting down or struggling
• Easy to clean and store (fits under most cabinets)

Cons:

• This particular model did not include a wand/tamper to push ingredients down while blending.
• Can move around/shake a little on your counter when blending large quantities or tough ingredients (requires a hand to steady/anchor)
• This particular container tops out at about 4 ½ – 5 cups liquid for me, making large batches of soup or nut milks a bit of a challenge (have to divide into two batches).

Vitamix 7500

Model: Vitamix 7500 VM0158
Platform: G-series
Power: 12 amps, 120 volts, 2.2-peak horsepower motor
Dimensions: 17.5″ x 9.4″ x 7.7″
Weight: 13 lbs.
Features:

• Laser-cut, stainless steel hammermill and cutting blades measuring 4″ diameter
• 10 variable speeds + pulse
• Radial cooling fan and thermal protection system
• 6 ft. cord
• 7 year warranty for NEW /5-year full warranty + 30-day guarantee for Refurbished 

Price: $528.95 New / $379.95 certified refurbished 5300 (similar model)
Includes: Motor base, low profile 64 oz. container, low profile tamper, DVD, “Getting Started Guide”, recipe cookbook

Pros:

• Offers longer warranties than Blendtec (5 years +)
• Comes with a tamper / wand to push down ingredients while blending (Blendtec does not)
• Can handle large quantities of ingredients and does particularly well grinding nuts, seeds, and grains into flour

Cons:

• Generally more expensive than Blendtec blenders (by at least $100)
• Less horsepower + heavier than its Blendtec counterpart
• Clunky to get out and use if not storing on the counter (because of its weight)
• The spout’s design and placement makes it hard to pour from (spills over the edges of the spout)
• Struggles to blend tough ingredients like dates, frozen fruit + and nut butters without shutting down or turning off entirely and smoking (huge concern!)

Real Talk

I purchased my refurbished Vitamix (7500) 2+ years ago and I wanted to like it so badly because everyone spoke so highly of the brand. However, four things have repeatedly disappointed me about this machine:

1. SPOUT – The spout is poorly designed and is not conducive to actually pouring ingredients out of the container. Nut meals and smoothies consistently spill over the small “spout” making it not ideal for pouring into small glasses and jars.
2. MOTOR FAILS – It struggles to blend “difficult” ingredients like dates and frozen bananas. In fact, it consistently shuts off within the first few minutes of blending and starts smoking. Yes, SMOKING! Not to mention, it won’t even turn back on for another 5-10 minutes after shutting down. This is my #1 pet peeve about this blender.
3. NO SETTINGS – I can’t walk away from the blender when it’s in use because there are no automatic settings (i.e. blender, soup), therefore it has to be constantly monitored (a huge downside convenience wise).
4. PRICE – It’s crazy expensive and doesn’t live up to the hype in my opinion. Any blender I’m spending $400 on better not shut down and start smoking while trying to blend a handful of dates. Sheesh.

After owning the Vitamix for 2 years, I was fed up and ready for a change, so I ordered a new (not refurbished) Blendtec Total Blender and have not looked back since. There are SO many things I prefer about this blender, primarily:

1. SPOUT – The container is SO intelligently designed. It doesn’t have a formal “spout” because it doesn’t need one. Every type of ingredient pours out effortlessly from one of the four corners of the jar.
2. CONVENIENT SETTINGS – I love that I can hit the “smoothie” button and walk away and it automatically turns off when the smoothie is done. It also offers manual speed options and a pulse. This is way more intuitive for the way I personally like to use my blender.
3. MORE POWERFUL – I can blend dates, frozen fruits, and grains into flour no problem in my Blendtec! It has never once shut off or started smoking – an obvious plus.
4. PERFECT SIZE – Not only does the entire base and container fit under my countertop, the container itself is the perfect size for smoothies, soups, nut milks / butters, + more. I found my Vitamix 7500 series to be too large to blend smaller quantities of ingredients –  its wide base required a much larger quantity of ingredients to even start blending.
5. PRICE – I feel like I got what I paid for with the Blendtec. It just works better than the Vitamix in my experience. It blends, it doesn’t shut off, it’s reliable – end of story.

Which To Buy?

If you’ve read this far, you probably know we highly highly recommend purchasing a Blendtec. In our experience it’s a much more reliable machine that simply works better than the Vitamix.

We love that we can grind nuts and grains into flours, nut butters, nut milks, dates, frozen bananas, and sauces with ease. There hasn’t been anything this machine hasn’t stood up to!

Of course, the Vitamix is still a decent blender from a reputable brand that will stand by its warranty. But if you ask us, it’s much better to own a blender that actually works and is reliable.