When it comes to blenders doing the job they’re supposed to do, there’s two words on everyone’s lips. Vitamix vs Blendtec. The reason why each of these blenders has such customer loyalty, is that they both do their job exceptionally well. Unfortunately it makes it harder to find an unbiased comparison between the two.

I put feelings aside and let each of the duke it out, Vitamix vs Blendtec, mano-a-mano, to see which one’s the best.

The Contenders

 

 

Vs

 

 

 

 

Click here for complete Vitamix TurboBlend VS specs

Click here for complete Blendtec Total Blender Classic specs

 

The Weigh-In

The Blendtec is the smaller and lighter of the two. At a height of 15.25″, it is small enough to fit beneath your kitchen cabinets. The Vitamax’s 20.5″ might make it a little too tall to fit comfortably, so you might want to check before purchasing.

The Blendtec also has a lighter container / jar, weighing in at about 1 lb versus the Vitamix container at almost 2 lb. In you have arthiritis, or otherwise struggle with the jar’s weight, the Blendtec could be the one for you. It’s base is also lighter.

The Vitamix has a 64 oz jar, while the Blendtec uses a bigger 90 oz jar (it is much wider than the Vitamix’s jar).

They are both similarly priced. Click the specs link above to compare.

Onto Round 1 of Vitamix vs Blendtec.

Round 1: Looks

This round is tough to call. They look equally cool, but completely different. The Blendtec’s computer and digital display give it a very modern look, while the Vitamix’s traditional, minimalist design is one for the ages.

The winner of this round depends on where your tastes lie.

However, I’m giving the first round of Vitamix vs Blendtec to the Blendtec. Its compact form makes it suitable to fit under your kitchen cabinets. It’s in plain sight 24/7, which will encourage you to use it more.

Round 2: Durability

Durability is very important to an item like this. Vitamix vs Blendtec rivalry aside – these are the both the most powerful blenders you can buy for home use. They have incredibly powerful, fast spinning blades which creates a lot of stress on the motor, the blade assembly and everything else.

At this price, you want to know it will still be going string in a couple of years. The Vitamix and Blendtec are very evenly matched here.

These exact models both have a 7 year warranty.

The Jar

The heavier Vitamix jar / container is more durable and resistant to wear and tear. It will therefore last longer. And if you do need to replace the container, there’s a nice surprise in-store for you – you can remove the blade and assembly and simply buy the container alone. This will save you up to $40 per container (here) over the Blendtec.

The Blendtec’s lighter container and wider shape makes it more vulnerable to accidental damage and wear. You also can’t remove the blade and assembly. This means that replacement jars (here) are expensive because the price includes a new blade and assembly.

Base Unit

I haven’t owned a Blendtec or Vitamix for 7+ years, so I can’t say which motor will last longer.

But something else to consider in this round is the gadgetry. The Blendtec’s high tech computer system doesn’t help it out here – there’s simply more that can go wrong with it.

The Vitamix wins Round 2 of Vitamix vs Blendtec.

Round 3: Noise

With this much power, there’s going to be noise. So which is the quieter winner in this round of Vitamix vs Blendtec? It’s…. the Vitamix again.

The thicker walled container does a better job of keeping the noise down. There is also rubber at the base where the container attaches to it. This acts as a silencer, dampening some of the vibrations, and again, keeping the noise down.

It’s worth pointing out that these are still both very loud - they’re commercial grade blenders afterall. You just can’t escape its noise.

Round 4: Use

The Vitamix is very simple to use. Switch it on, and then set the speed to ‘Hi’ or ‘Variable’ and adjust the speed knob. Switch off when at the consistency you want.

The Blendtec is a little different though - it’s computer controlled. An advantage of this is that it will turn itself off. So you can set the speed, hit start, and it and it will stay on for one cycle (50 seconds is the standard cycle - there are more to choose from) before turning itself off. Useful if you’re preparing other things as well.

It also has 6 pre-programmed blend cycles, depending on what you’re making – smoothies, juice, dips, soups, ice and ice cream. Just press it and walk away, and it will run through different speeds, pauses and pulses until complete.

The winner of Round 4 of Vitamix vs Blendtec is the Blendtec for its range of functions and intelligence.

Although really, it depends on what you want. If you want something simple, get the Vitamix. If you love gadgets tweaking, or want to ‘set and forget’, the Blendtec is for you.

Round 5: Efficiency

Tamping Plunger: Vitamix

The Vitamix comes with a plastic tamping ‘wand’, which you push through the top of the jar during operation to push produce into the blades. This is helpful to move anything which isn’t being blended, which increases the efficiency of the blender.

If you’re anything like me, you’re thinking two things right now - won’t things fly out of the top while you’re tamping? And what happens if you hit the blades with that thing?

Amazingly nothing flies out of the top. Once it’s already on and in operation, you can start tamping with no mess. And for the second question - the tamper is specially designed to stop before it touches the blades. So you can go nuts with it.

The Blendtec doesn’t have a tamper, giving it a big disadvantage in this round of Vitamix vs Blendtec. It means you’ll just have to wait for these things to move naturally into the blades, or shake the blender. It also means you’ll probably need to add some water before you start blending.

Weighted Base: Vitamix

The base on the Vitamix is purposefully weighted - it won’t move around, even during the thickest of blending tasks (e.g. heavy cream). The Blendtec isn’t weighted, and can (and does) move when blending very heavy thing.

Sharper Blades: Vitamix

In the real world, these both blend exceptionally well. But there is something worth noting: the blades on the Vitamix are sharper than the blades in the Blendtec, making the Vitamix that bit more efficient.

Larger Capacity: Blandtec

The wider jar means produce is closer to the blades, which could increase efficiency. Either way, the large capacity is very useful.

More Power… on paper: Blendtec

The Blendtec has a faster peak horsepower (3, vs 2 on the Vitamix). To me, this is an academic difference. Sure, it sounds impressive, but I’m not sure if it has such an effect on real world performance. And I can’t help but think that this extra one horsepower could have a negative impact on the life of the motor.

This round in the Vitamix vs Blendtec match goes to Vitamix, by a nose.

Vitamix Vs Blendtec: The Winner

These are both fantastic machines, and there is no outright winner in the Vitamix vs Blendtec matchup - they both make the smoothest smoothies you can have at home.

But each one does have its strengths.

Vitamix: old-school design, might last you longer, is cheaper to maintain, sharper blades make it more efficient.

Blendtec: contemporary design, more compact, larger capacity, a smart blender.

When put like this, you can probably see which one is right for you.

• Save money on the Vitamix TurboBlend VS here.
• Save money on the Blendtec Total Blender Classic here.