This is not a sponsored post and I have had no contact with either company. I bought each of these blenders with my 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 I highly highly recommend purchasing a Blendtec. In my experience it’s a much more reliable machine that simply works better than the Vitamix.
I love that I 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 me, it’s much better to own a blender that actually works and is reliable.
Note: I purchased both of these blenders with my own money and have had no contact with either company (especially not for this review). The links to purchase the blenders are affiliate links, so we will receive a small portion of your purchase if you should choose to shop using our link.
Misha says
i really think it depends what you’re trying to blend. i prefer the consistency of my smoothies and acai bowls from the vitamix. we have both the commercial blend tec and the A3500 Vitamix.
Lisa says
This was very helpful. We are about to purchase a new highspeed blender and have been torn because everyone raves about Vitamix. Our current Blendtec blender is beginning to fall BUT that’s after about 13 years and 27,000+ cycles and we love it. We use it more than any other appliance by far. Thank you for your honesty opinion! I was already leaning toward getting another Blendtec, and now I’m certain we will!!
Perhaps says
Hello! I love your blog and appreciate your opinion on Vitamix. Would you say it’s possible a different model Vitamix might suit your needs better? I’m looking at options and watched a side by side comparison by FullyRaw Kristina on the Vitamix A3500 vs a less expensive model with similar features. For her needs – the less expensive model (sorry I cannot recall which one) did not seem to suit her needs. Which kind of makes sense as she uses it very frequently and makes large quantities at a time. The less $ model also shut off during the demo! She uses the A3500 regularly and did admit she might be a little biased but her demo was fair. My only criticism was that she didn’t consider ratios. She used the same amount of ingredients for each blender but the less expensive one was smaller so might have been more comparable had she scaled down her ingredients. But for her needs she would use that much so I suppose it made sense.
I’m guessing you use yours frequently to make all sorts of things the average person might not (not that it justifies the thing turning off and smoking?). Vitamix should gift you something like the A3500 (or better model if there is one) to see how it compares. I’m researching all the different ones and am so lost. I will likely go with a Vitamix model because it’s a trusted brand. And deciding on a model is difficult enough let alone which brand. I stumbled across your article during my rabbit hole dive. I am trying to find one that suits my needs – but am confused about all the features. I basically want something that will make anything from small to large batches – is super powerful and will blend and pulverise like a pro. I don’t know if I’d made nut butters but I might? Likely would do dressings. So I just want something that will make the best smoothies ever – and also all the other things if needed. Not sure I need touch screen features but my son would better understand them so I think for him I’ll go that route. Personally I worry sometimes the more digital something is the more problems it might have. Anyway – again…love your blog and recipes and have followed you for years. ♥️
H! Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Check out our updated blender review here – it answers some of your questions. Hope that helps!
cahexas says
Thanks for your information this is helpful for me. As a health-conscious person, I would like to eat healthier food. Every day I try to eat vegetable and fruit and that’s why this blender or smoothie maker helps me to make various kind of tasteful juice or smoothie VITAMIX and BlendTechas best features that I want. There you explain the difference between VITAMIX VS BlendTec and I finally choose the best option for me.
Ria says
I have my blendtec ( hp champion) for close to 23 years. Unfortunately the motor is ready to give up on me. My only issues I had over the years was with the rubber in the jar. Kept leaking. Especially when I used apple cider vinegar. I was checking the reviews on Amazon and I see that is still the problem. After reading your review, I think better stick with Blendtec..
George Lord says
The only comment I have is that you stated that you bought a refurbished Vitamix and you are comparing it to a new Blendtec, could it be that the refurbished Vitamix might have been faulty and that was the reason it was smoking and quitting? Overall I like your review but I just don’t believe comparing new to rebuilt is fair.
Hi George, Yes, that’s possibly the issue! We have a newer review using new instead of refurbished.
David says
I owned a BlendTec blender since new more than ten years ago. I have replaced the Blendtec polycarbonate blender jars several times as the jar bearings will die. I greatly prefer the black soft polyurethane lid to the hard plastic lids. It doesn’t have a soft start feature but I believe the newer and more expensive models do have a soft start feature. You must be be prepared for a violent burp if blending hot liquids and you have colder air (room temp air) sitting above the hot liquids. The blender will then cause the gas that gets sucked down into the blades to expand and burp the contents out onto your arms and face if you are unprepared with a damp washcloth held over the lid to protect you. This a problem withh any blender but the Blendtec is so powerfull that it makes this issue ten x worse IMHO. You can avoid this problem by pushing down on the polyurethane lid and rocking the contents for 15 seconds before starting the blend cycle to preheat the air in the jar. This will avoid trying to clean your ceiling of food that hit it when your turned the beast on and forgot to rock the contents first.
So will it blend? BlendTecs will blend cell phones to fine powder in minutes. Eveything else in seconds. Look it up on youTube this is for real. That is why the built in cycles are only seconds long. Enjoy your BlendTec and accept no substitutes.
Veronica Skov says
So of all the blendtec models what would you purchase and would you purchase either a wild side jar or four side jar anyway appreciate your input.
Hi Veronica, this is an older review and we’ve done an updated review since publishing this one. You can find it here with our review of a Blendtec Wildside model. Hope that helps!
Ben Moosely says
Gotta say…I’ve used, demoed, taught classes to local youth groups with, and so forth with well over several dozen Vitamix machines of various generations, and I have never once in my life seen one start smoking if it was being used properly.
Speed 10. Activate the fans. Good to go. Your comments make it seem like you didn’t even bother reading the owner’s manual.
Neelam says
I hope I am not too late to ask this question: I am curious about the noise levels of either of these 2 blenders. Did you notice whether one was quieter than the other?
Oh that’s a great question, Neelam! We’d say they are pretty similar.
Jill says
Does either blender grind down seeds like strawberry seeds? I love smoothies, but hate that seedy texture! I want them smooth. Thanks!
Hi Jill, hmm, we don’t think either breaks them down completely!
DE says
I also love my Blendtec and have had mine for over 10 years. I use mine extensively for making beautiful cream soups as we love our soup … roasted tomato and garlic where I don’t have to blanch the tomatoes to remove the skins or worry about seeds if I don’t have enough Romas, roasted sweet potato with apple and pear (skins and cores included); etc. I roast all vegetables, add stock, and the Blendtec does the rest. They are creamy (no straining to make it silky), and all ingredients emulsified so that I don’t have to add any cream or potato to bind them. I too like the various settings so I can just leave it and walk away while I do her things in the kitchen. The only con is that it is noisy but I wouldn’t settle for less power to reduce the noise.
Gretchen says
We’re Raw foodists …. i like the idea of the Blentec, also. ….does it stay cool enough to not get above 115-118 degrees F?
Thank You!
Gretchen
Hi Gretchen, we’re not sure! We’d recommend checking with the manufacturer.
Degi says
Hello there, just found your review. My question is have you tried Kuvings blender? Seriously considering it. Thank you!
We haven’t! But if we do another blender review we’ll add it to our list!
Megan says
Is the updated review still coming in January, and if so, can you say when in January? We are looking to upgrade our blender soon and I’m very curious about your most recent findings. We mostly use our blender for smoothies, but may be branching out to soups and more. thanks!
Hi Megan, we decided to release it sooner since there was so much interest. Here it is: https://minimalistbaker.com/best-blenders-review-vitamix-kitchenaid-blendtec/
Danielle says
I wish I would have found the complaints you have here and in the comments before buying a vitamix! Really bummed I spent the amount I did on a vitamix and have been looking into the blendtec seeing if it has the same problems with shutting off constantly mid smoothie. I had the 5200 and it didn’t give me the problems the ascend 2500 gives me. The blendtec isn’t as expensive and they’re having Black Friday sales so hopefully better luck with this blender! Thanks for your review as I feel like everyone else’s reviews are bought. Anyone recommend a model?
Stay tuned for our latest review, Danielle!
Krishele says
When is the new review getting posted? I’m looking at blenders for Christmas and would love to see the new review before committing.
Early January
Linda says
My Blendtec stalls with thick mixtures
marvella says
You can sell you Vitamix on offer up! I’ve been dying for one and have been checking offer up and they go from $175-$350, depending on the condition; I noticed they sell relatively quickly. I’m considering a BlendTec now after seeing all the reviews. It wouldn’t hurt checking offer up if you don’t mind buying something that’s been used!
Terry says
Thank you for your evaluation. I have had two vitamix’s and the containers keep leaking. Last time I replaced the container, but that is getting rather expensive. I checked with consumer reports, and they recommend vitamix over blendtec because of reliability, but other categories are very similar. So, I’m still on the fence as to whether I will replace my leaking vitamix with a blendtec, or replace the container AGAIN. I am definitely taking your comments and your readers comments into account.
Tesia Beam says
Thank you so much for doing this! I am hoping to invest in one of these blenders in the future and I’ve read a million reviews (of course) and a lot of them say that the Blendec isn’t that good for nuts/nut butters and such. But I assume you use it for that all the time right? Which attachment do you use for the Blendec for nut butters etc?
Thank you!
Hi Tesia! Sit tight – we actually just conducted a new review that included Vitamix, Blendtec and Kitchenaid and we had a clear winner. None of these blenders are bad, but one stood out as the clear winner. I currently have a Blendtec, but (spoiler alert) I don’t think I’ll be recommending it moving forward. Stay tuned!
Jenine says
Omg I’ve had the same issue with the Vitamix!!! Everyone swears by it but it shuts off constantly! I have the label to return it but haven’t because every review says how great it is! I think it’s horrible! Now I want a Blendtec .. or should I wait for the new review
Stay tuned =)
Tesia L. Beam says
Thank you so much!! I’m hoping to snag a blender on Black Friday sales but I really want to read your review first! :) Is there any chance that you are going top publish it soon or are we still a ways off? Thank you for all your greatness! I love your blog!
Still a ways off- January. Stay tuned!
Lahoma says
I am buying a new blender soon. I have a Vitamix 5200. When will you be posting your review of the three blenders?
You can find it here: https://minimalistbaker.com/best-blenders-review-vitamix-kitchenaid-blendtec/
Angela Prager says
I couldn’t agree with your review more. I owned a Blendtec for five years. I loved it, but sadly after nearly 1000 uses it died on me. I was devastated, but grateful for Costco for taking it back., and for that reason and would have to buy next blender from Costco. Sadly, they were only offering the Vitamix and it was on sale. I am not even sure why they are on the same playing field. I feel like Vitamix are in the minor leagues, while Blentec made it the majors. What normally takes me about 45 seconds in my Blendtec took me several minutes. Like you said I hated the babysitting I had to do with the Vitamix, with the Blendtec, I pushed my smoothie button and walked away.
Thanks for sharing you experience, Angela!
Lisa Smith says
Thank you for an honest review and being clear this was not a sponsored post and you had no contact with either company. This is the best type of review, real experience by a real person searching for what we all are, something which works!
Helen says
Great review – especially as I’m looking for something that can blend dates and currently my nutribullet just dies when I try.
Would you be able to use the Blendtec blender for making things like thai curry paste and pesto, or is it just too large? I’d love your input, please!
Vered says
I have vitamix and I use it to blend dates and also for frozen fruits (bananas too)
Never had any issue with it
Kay Mitchell says
Same here. Love my Vitamix and set time on suggested settings and walk away. Never had a problem with stopping or smoking and the two small container options for blending small amounts is very helpful. We scored a discount as it was the last in stock of the old model.
Carole Bass says
I agree with you. I’ve had a few Vitamix blenders over the years – they were replaced because I wanted a different color or because they were destroyed when my house burned in a forest fire. I did not have any of the problems that others seemed to have experienced.
Michaela says
I have a new Blendtec (the same one you reviewed here), and it doesn’t get cashew-based sauces creamy (or sauces with raw garlic or ginger). They have chunks of cashew/garlic/ginger, even after 2-3 min blending. They are raw cashews soaked for 1 hour or more. Can you please advise how you get yours smooth? Do you need to stop and break the air pocket lots? Which setting do you use? Do you need to measure a double batch? This is the main reason I bought such an expensive blender and I’m really surprised it’s not working.
Lulu says
I love my Blendtec! My mom and I own one, but my sister-in-law sprung for the Vitamix. I love how it is more compact and will fit under the kitchen cabinet. The Vitamix will definitely not do that. However, I do think the Blendtec is a little louder.
Shoutout to Blendtec’s customer service though – two years ago I was using the Blendtec for a thick dough, and it started smoking. When I opened up the jar, there were bits of the rubber gasket that had shredded into what I was making! I called their customer service and they offered to 1) send back my base so it could get repaired (1-2 months) or 2) return my base and they’d send me a refurbished newer model. I ended up with the new (refurbished) one and it has been going strong.
Bandit says
Sorry, I totally disagree. Vitamix is the superior product. I have owned several models of each Blendtec and Vitamix machines. The integrity of the Vitamix machines are far superior to those of Blendtec machines. Blendtec jars/container are also inferior as compared to Vitamix containers. I encourge anyone considering buying a Blendtec or Vitamix blender to actually do a physical comparison of each before purchasing. Those of you who have access to the Consumer Reports website should check out their unbiased blender ratings. Make a note of what machines they recommend before making a decision.
Diane Cummings says
I’m thinking the reason her VM smoked and quit was because she was running it on variable speed. Run at high setting, that doesn’t happen. Talk to the factory people and they have been super in helping e with and question/challenge.
Lisa says
I use my Blendtec several times a week and I LOVE it. SO easy to pour and to clean. I use it for cashew milk and soups and smoothies and almost anything. I also have the smaller twister jar which is great for small batches of pesto or nut butters or hummus. It is soooo powerful that, the first time I used it to make your recipe for vegan parmesan, I blended too long (maybe 30 seconds?) and made a paste instead of the ground parmesan texture I wanted. Oops! Lesson learned. I use the pulse setting for that now. ;-)
Laurel says
Bought a Vitamix a few years ago. In doing an initial clean, I blended soapy water. To my surprise, the black bits of plastic teflon peppered the suds. Again and again I ran soapy water through the unit only to find that a tremendous amount of plastic was sheering off into the container. Come to find out, this was a well known Vitamix issue that the company allowed to go on for years without fixing. It’s apparently resolved now but I will never trust Vitamix.
Lilith says
I love the, both so I bought both I have the Vitamix Ascent 3500 and the Blendtec designer series they are both great I chopsoap in my blendtec to make my own laundry detergent
farjana says
Thanks for sharing information. I want to buy the Blendtec blender. I want to know its price.
Hi! It’s anywhere from $399.99 – $415.00 new / $199.99 – $279.95 refurbished!
Jade says
Does the blendtec get things as smooth as the vitamix? I’ve used my friends vitamix on multiple occasions to make cashew sauces and it gets it so smooth and creamy. No grittiness at all. However dropping that much $ on a blender is painful lol.
K D Morgan says
Thanks for the comparison. I think both blenders are excellent machines and I love that both are made in the USA. However, I agree with others who have pointed out that comparing a used machine with a new one is not a fair comparison. I have the 7500 machine, which I bought new. I’ve had it for over 4 years and I’ve NEVER had the problems you speak of. I blend ice, dates, frozen fruit and frozen veggies constantly. My Vitamix has never smoked, let alone shut down. It just works! I swear by it. I also find that the blades are not very sharp. Anyway, I just clean it as directed, by blending with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid in half a container of water. Having a tamper is the reason I chose the Vitamix over the Blendtec. I do agree that without presets, I can’t walk away, but I can watch for the 30-45 seconds it takes to make sure I have my perfect smoothie!
Ashley Landwehr says
I’m thinking about buying the blend blendtec but I’m wondering if it comes with a glass pitcher? Do you know?
Thanks!
Richard says
I have owned a vitamix since 2005, replaced it with a Blendtech 2 years ago, it’s a good blender but I prefer the speed control and capacity that the Vitamix offers.
Lori Z. says
Been wanting to try a new Vitamix for over 2-years, but my darn Blendtec that I got refurbished 8-years ago won’t die no matter what difficult task I put it thru :-)
Ryan B says
The review was spot on, Blendtec is a superior product when compared to the vitamix and its sharp dangerous blades. Something else that was not mentioned is how much easier/safer the blendtec is to clean. Will it blend? That is the question. Quite frankly it sure will when you are using three horsepower and the blade designed by Tom Dickson which is amazing. That’s another reason Blendtec does not provide a push rod. Because it is not necessary due to the engineering of the square jar and wing tip blades. I have been using my Blendtec nearly everyday since 2012 and am still overjoyed every time I press the smoothie button!
A says
I bought a brand new Vitamix -not refurbished- and have had lots of issues with it getting stuck and the motor shutting off over the years. No smoke thankfully, but it definitely doesn’t give off a good smell. So, I appreciated hearing that I am not alone in this experience!
Also, I was just about to buy a replacement pitcher for my Vitamix but it is very expensive so I’m considering skipping the new container and putting the money toward a Blendtec instead. Your review was very helpful, thank you!
LG says
You failed to mention vitamix has a 7 year warranty and the best customer service. Usually they will replace the container and tamper when accidentally broken once for free. Also if you use the tamper, your vitamix will not smoke or shut off. As with any electronic product it comes with instructions, a DVD, and great online resources to those you how to use it. If you read the manual or wondered what the tamper was for, you would know the need to use it for nut butters, frozen fruit, etc.
Also, you weren’t comparing apples to apples refurbished or not. There are quite a few models offering variable speeds and presents. There are also a variety of containers.
No I don’t work for vitamix, but I wouldn’t trade mine for anything!
Diane Cummings says
I raw feed my dogs and essentially raw feed myself. My Vita Mixer is used daily. Love, love, love it. Have only bought new ones for whatever upgrade and passed the old ones on to friends and they (the VMs) are still working just fine.
Susan Entwistke says
I did a lot of research before making my decision. I attended the demos at the warehouse clubs, asked friends who had each and scoured the Internet for reviews. The warranties on each were the same (maybe that changed since you bought yours). I found favorable reviews for both but the most important advice I found time and again was that either choice was a good choice. You couldn’t make a mistake if you chose one or the other. Their specs, performance, cost, reputation, customer service and customer satisfaction are comparable. If you’re going to purchase look at them both and select the one that best meets your expectations.
Diane Cummings says
Oh so true.
Marcia Hansen says
I have had a vitamix for over 30 years! I have some trouble occasionally with the motor struggling to get the frozen stuff ground but have found if I put in a little at a time instead of dumping all, it handles it much better. Also the store, Sur La Table, has a fabulous silicone spatula just for blenders like the Vitamix. The very end of it is slightly curved so it can scoop anything out from under and around the blades and it is longer than the Vitamix container. And yes, I do not know what I would do without the tamper! I love my Vitamix but was happy you reviewed both as I have heard much about the BlendTec and have been wondering about it.
Colleen says
I love my Blendtec! I’be had it for ten years and works just like the first day I got it. It was a huge decision for me to get a blendtec or vitamix. Finally a pastry chef friend told me that for my usage either would work well for me. Based on my experience, If I needed a new blender, I would definitely stick with the Blendtec!
Savannah Hannon says
I agree with others that it is not a fair comparison since you used a refurbished vitamix with incomparable settings. My experience has been the exact opposite. I went through TWO blendtec’s before finally buying a vitamix. The blendtec’s each started smoking within 3 months- 8 months of use and made all of the food taste like burned metal, and couldn’t chopped up anything harder than soft fruit. So far the vita mix has blown the blendtec out of the water. I can only agree with you on the fact that the vitamix doesn’t fit under my cabinets like the blendtec could, and it’s heavier than the blendtec– but neither of those are huge concerns for me. I’d rather have a machine that can actually blend frozen fruit and not make my food taste disgusting and smoke up my kitchen than be able to fit under my cabinets!
Kala says
Thank you so much for doing this post. I saw you used the blendtec and almost every other person I see uses a vitamix and I always wondered if it was better. I am looking into purchasing one but don’t want to spend a ton of money on something that isn’t going to last a long time and be worth the money!
J says
It was a little concerning to read this review of the vitamin. If you read the instructions about how to use the vitamin properly, the shut down feature is a safety feature that happens when it’s not used correctly. Basically your review of the vitamix told me you didn’t read the manual and were using it wrong. It is not supposed to shut off, smoke, etc.
However, I think this probably brings up a fairer point against the vitamix – it’s not a set and walk away type of machine (the manual one). Blendtec sounds like you can throw whatever you want in it and it will blend. Vitamix requires more understanding of what you’re blending and how to blend it.
J says
Oops my phone autocorrected vitamix to vitamin a bunch. :)
Rosie says
Both are great machines! My daughter is 100% tube fed and instead of giving her a medical formula we blend her a vegan whole food diet that she is thriving on…thanks to our trusty Vitamix! Both the Vitamix and Blendtec are the blenders of choice for people blending food for tube fed persons! :)
Shelby says
Wow this review could not have come at a better time! I was just talking to my boyfriend about whether or not we made the right decision in purchasing the Blendtec. I have absolutely loved the blendtec since we got it 6 months ago, but recently I have been wanting to make thick and creamy fruit based ice creams and I feel like I can’t do that without a tamper. I have to keep adding water and then by the time it blends it is way too thin. I have never used a Vitamix but I just assume the tamper would solve this issue. So I’m curious, how do you blend frozen fruits with the Blendtec? How can I get a thick and creamy result without overheating the blendtec or having to add too much liquid?
Deb Grantham says
get the twister jar – it is designed to mix the thicker blends – but fair warning – put a kitchen towel over the top when you start the blend … and turn counter clockwise as you blend … I had both the mini twister and the regular twister jar – but I’m not sure Blendtec sells the mini twister any more – it was perfect for a single serving
Everett Vroon says
You can get a tamper and lid for the 4 side jar from alterna jar company (alternajar-store.com) that works really well. Also, the twister jar is brilliant for making thick or smaller recipes (such as nut butter or ice cream).
Tina says
I LOVE my Blendtec. I use it daily and have never come across anything it couldn’t pulverise!
Karley Breese says
Team Blendtec! I intitally purchased because I couldn’t afford a Vitamix but I absolutely love it! So easy to clean and like others said the blade not being sharp is super nice. I love the wide top and I especially love the smoothie setting. I’m happy to see a food blogger preferring Blendtec because it seems like EVERYONE else has a Vitamix and I was feeling left out but just couldn’t justify tgit price!
Leslie says
I have a VitaMix and have no experience with the Blendtec so I can’t compare. But from the specs given in the review, I would say that higher horse at lower weight isn’t safe (Blendtec). I’ve always considered the weight of the Vitamix, and the fan it has, to be necessary to control something that could easily spin right off the counter at high horse. So to me, weight is not a “con” at all. I’ve also never had an issue cleaning my Vitamix, or blending any consistency of anything. Certainly have never had it overheat or smoke. But this is simply my anecdotal experience, and not a fair review.
Nicholle Carriere says
This is a bit of a tangent–have you seen the Blendtec ad campaign “Will it blend?” The company decided years ago to try to liven up their blender’s rep with a kooky ad campaign and their videos are great. My favourite is the one where they put a bunch of action figures, including one of Chuck Norris, into the blender. Of course, Chuck is the only one that emerges unscathed.
Trish says
I love my refurbished Blendtec! One thing you didn’t mention was ease of cleaning, which is what sold me on the Blendtec. Not only is it one piece (plus the two-piece lid), but the blade is not sharp, so no chance of injury when cleaning. Never turning back. No regrets!
Trish says
I did a lot of research before I ended up with a vitamix. Mine has pre programmed settings that I can walk away from while doing other things. Have had no issue so far with any job. I can even make soup in it and it heats it up piping hot. Also has a self-clean setting. Mine is tucked away under the counter for ease. I use it daily. It would be a bit heavy if I had to constantly get it out from a cupboard.
Doris Van Andel says
Oh, I forgot to say that our big jar fell on the floor and broke. I phoned Vitamix and they were really good about it and sent me a brand new one which is worth $100 Canadian. This was great because we already owned the machine for 3 years. Customer service is wonderful.
Doris Van Andel says
I have the Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre 3. It has three settings that can be turned on and you can walk away and it will stop when done. They are for: smoothies, ice cream type to mix, and soups. Plus it has a pulse feature and has a switch that goes from 1 – 6.
We love our machine and the one time it was working too hard and my daughter didn’t use the tamper to help it along when needed. It shut off and we thought it was broken because it didn’t work right away. However, this is it’s safety feature to let the motor cool before it will work again.
My one complaint is that it can be a little tricky to get out things like nut butters because the jar is so long and narrow and thus tricky too clean with something like this. Otherwise, super machine that is used 2 – 3 times per day in our home.
Darcy says
Such a helpful review! Have you found that the wand/tamper is a useful feature? Has there been any instance in which not having the wand on the Blendtec was an issue?
Thanks!
Deb Grantham says
I had a Vitamix for 10 years … until, like an idiot, I used the tamper without the lid … not a good idea … I broke my Vitamix (It actually still worked, but not as well … was noisier) … so, I bought a Blendtec … it had issues, in less than three years, and Blendtec replaced my base and jars … but I had the same issues with the new Blendtec … and I MISSED THE TAMPER … because I constantly had to stop the blend because of an “air pocket” … the Wild Side jar is a little better, but I still want a tamper = so, when I had a house fire, I went back to the Vitamix … with the tamper – and I’m loving it without “air pockets” – it was actually less expensive (350.00) for me to get a new Vitamix than it was to replace the Blendtec – (a new Blendtec would have run me 499.00 locally) …
Jennifer says
I would love a tamper for my Blendtec. The tamper would come in handy when I am blending up a bunch of frozen fruit. Mine seems to create an air pocket and a tamper would be good for that. I still love my Blendtec and would not hesitate to get another one. Mine is a refurbished unit and with Blentec service department and there willingness to keep you happy it was a great purchase for me.
Jeffandrew says
I think “Alterna Jars,” sells a jar with a tamper for the Blendtec.
Jenna says
I agree with others that a refurbished Vitamix vs new blender may not be the most fair comparison. HOWEVER, I will day I agree with your conclusion in the end. I love my Blendtec.
One other thing I prefer about the Blendtec over the Vitamix which you didn’t mention is that it’s easier to clean (IMHO). It can be cleaned in the dishwasher (top rack) but also because it’s jar is wider and blades are not sharp it’s easier to hand wash. :)
Dana says
I just do the self-cleaning Blemdtec recommends–some water, a little soap, pulse for a few seconds, dump, wipe off any little bits that didn’t come off, and rinse. Takes just a few seconds.
Suzanne says
Same process for cleaning the vitamix!
Jackie says
Sorry but this isn’t really a fair review since you bought a refurbished Vitamix! Do you think maybe the shutting off and smoking could be because it was probably once broken (hence the reason for refurbishing)? And there are Vitamix blenders that have pre-programmed settings like your blendtec, but you bought a one that didn’t have that feature… I don’t really understand the point of this comparison since you are talking about two different types of blenders and one was refurbished and one was new.
Emily says
I completely agree. My vitamix has never struggled, let alone smoked, and there are multiple versions that have preprogrammed settings.
Cheryl says
I agree with the reviewer. My non refurbished vitamix shuts down and smokes for dates and nut butters. No matter how much coconut oil I put in.
Leigh Ann long Long says
Mine does too, in fact had to send it in to be rebuilt within 3 years of purchase. Mine also moves all over the counter on high speed. I am thinking my next purchase will be a Blendtec.
Diane says
I have a vitamix purchased brand new, blending smoothies is a pain, will not blend with out seizing up, the motor starts smelling and I have to cut it off so the motor doesn’t burn out. This is why I’m researching to purchase something else