As someone who is always striving for the perfect smoothie, I’ve spent countless mornings testing blenders in the kitchen, trying to figure out which one truly makes the smoothest, creamiest drink. When it comes to Nutribullet vs Ninja, both brands have something to offer, but they shine in different ways depending on what you want from a blender.
If you're wondering how to choose the best blender for you, I've tested models of all shapes, sizes, and prices across both brands. Here’s my advice on choosing between Nutribullet and Ninja blenders, including tips on which might suit your kitchen, budget, and favorite recipes best.
NutriBullet vs Ninja: At a Glance
For ultra-smooth, single-serve smoothies, choose Nutribullet. Having tested NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders head-to-head, Nutribullet comes out on top. The latest model in the lineup, the Nutribullet Ultra, was able to cut through kale stems, tough pineapple core, and frozen chunks of fruit with absolutely no difficulty.
For large portions, soup, and food processing attachments, choose Ninja. Models like the Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ have multiple speed settings and functions, which can handle pretty much any task you throw at it, without breaking the bank.
For a portable and leak-proof blender, choose Ninja. While we appreciate the budget-friendly Nutribullet Go and love the cooling insulation of the Nutribullet Flip, the Ninja Blast models stand out overall – they handle everything from icy smoothies to homemade pesto and hummus with ease.
If you need more guidance and in-depth testing insight, I've rounded up all my advice on how to choose the best blender into one guide. Here, I compare and contrast all the major brands and provide more bespoke buying advice.
What is Nutribullet Best For?
Nutribullet is famous for making compact, bullet-style blenders – perfect for whizzing up a quick, single-serve smoothie. With just a twist, the best Nutribullet will have your morning smoothie ready in seconds. The newest Nutribullet Ultra model packs the best power, so I can throw in fibrous greens and frozen fruit without worrying about chunks.
Nutribullet’s larger systems, like the Nutribullet SmartSense Combo, for example, come with more versatility and greater capacity, but I have to be honest: in practice, they don’t always blend as consistently as the smaller bullet blenders. Neither option is ideal for dips, as Nutribullets require quite a lot of liquid to achieve a smooth consistency.
For me, Nutribullet shines when I want a fuss-free, single-serve smoothie. I’ve also noticed that its models are discounted quite heavily during national sales, which is always a plus in my book.
What is Ninja Best For?
Ninja also has great single-serve options. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Ninja Blast and Blast Max Portable Blender. The latter is my favorite; it is lightweight, stylish, leak-proof, and crushes ice or leafy greens in seconds. If you're looking for the best portable blender, look no further – Ninja tops our guide.
The brand also stands out for colorful, design-forward blenders, like the NinjaBlendBoss – which looks like an upside-down spaceship. We haven't tested this new release yet, but to my professional eye, it seems to prioritize fun over chef-level blending.
Where Ninja really impresses is with its larger kitchen systems. I’ve used the Ninja Foodi Hot & Cold Blender for everything from soups to dips, and it rarely disappoints. It also makes the best blender food-processor combo, as well as all-singing, all-dancing ice cream makers (see: the Ninja Creami), which can also whip up pro-level milkshakes and açai smoothie bowls. The downside is that these systems are pricey, take up counter space, and sometimes feel like overkill if all you want is a morning smoothie.
If you want the best portable blender or a spacious, ultra-versatile kitchen system, Ninja wins.
FAQs
Throughout my years of testing and writing about Ninja and Nutribullet, I've had a few common questions roll in from readers. If you have a specific need, budget, or blender recipe in mind, you should find it answered below.
Which Brand is Better Value for Money?
When it comes to comparing NutriBullet vs Ninja for value for money, it really depends on what kind of blender you're after. Nutribullet's portable blenders tend to be slightly cheaper, but its kitchen systems are usually more expensive and not worth the leap, unless they are on sale.
My advice is to wait for Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, or other seasonal deals, and take a look at our reviews for each model (you can find them all in one place, if you click Nutribullet or Ninja). That way, you can see which blender offers the best performance for your budget, and get some money knocked off.
Which Brand is Easier to Use?
Honestly, both Nutribullet and Ninja blenders are easy to use. If I were forced to choose, I'd say Nutribullet's bullet models are the easiest blenders to use. They require no battery charging or fancy programming – you just need to get them out of the box, twist, and go.
Which Brand do the Professionals Use?
As a trained cook myself, I have to admit I've never seen a Ninja blender in a professional setup. But I have seen chefs using the Nutribullet Pro 900 and the Nutribullet Ultra to whip up small portions of dressing, veloutés, and smooth dips. Of course, for larger trickier tasks, chefs bring in the big guns like Vitamix and Thermomix.
Which Brand is Best for Making Frozen Cocktails?
If you’re making single-serve frozen cocktails, occasionally, a powerful NutriBullet will work (just make sure you add enough liquid).
If you’re making larger batches, like a pitcher for a party, then Ninja is the better choice. Its largest and highest spec models unite ice-crushing strength and capacity.
How We Test NutriBullet Vs Ninja Blenders
We've had hands-on testing time with all the NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders. When reviewing, we crushed ice, blended frozen fruit into thick smoothie bowls, and made green smoothies from fibrous kale and spinach.
Cleaning a blender is a very important part of the user process, so we give props to blenders that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. However, some also come with self-cleaning settings that can prevent ingredients from sticking to the blades of the pitcher. We cleaned every blender by hand to see how easy this was, and whether it felt safe.
You can find out how Homes & Gardens tests blenders on our dedicated page. Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our process.
