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Are you searching for the best Ninja blender?
If there’s one brand with the most confusing product line up, that would be Shark Ninja. They have four major blender series—countertop, drink system, kitchen system, and personal—with at least ten product models in each series.
To make it even more complicated, each blender model has at least four variants (except for their countertop line up). The only difference between these variants is the complementary accessories.
Here’s the catch:
These accessories aren’t interchangeable. So when you pick a top Ninja blender, make sure it already includes the attachments that you need.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. However, I don’t want to make this introduction super long. I’ll explain all the other details later in this buying guide.
I guess we made a point—navigating the Ninja blender catalogue is not an easy feat if you don’t know what to look for.
Lucky for you, we’ve already gone through all their blending machines.
Okay, let’s get right to it.
Here are the top Ninja blenders of 2021:
- Best All-in-One (& Newest) – Ninja Foodi SS401 Power Blender Ultimate System
- Flagship Blender – Ninja Foodi HB152 Hot and Cold Blender
- Best for Smoothies – Ninja SS101 Foodi Power Nutri Duo Smoothie Bowl Maker & Personal Blender
- Best Personal – Nutri Ninja Blender (BN401)
- Most Powerful – Ninja BL770 1500-Watt Mega Kitchen System
That’s the short version of this buying guide. There’s more to learn about the brand’s lineup of amazing blenders. Feel free to skip the in-depth version. The links above points to the full review of each product.
Or you could also opt for a bite-size review of each blender down below.
Top 5 Best Ninja Blenders
#1 Best All-in-One (& Newest Flagship): Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System
UPDATE: The Ninja Foodi SS401 is by far the most versatile blender from the brand. Hence, it deserves to be crowned as the current “Best Ninja Blender.”
Here’s the thing:
As the newest kid on the block, there’s no doubt that it’s more capable than any of Ninja’s blender product line.
First off, thanks to the anti-stall technology and robust motor, the Ninja Foodi SS401 can make thick blends. To put it into perspective, the former #1 Ninja BN801 can’t produce smoothie bowls effectively. In short, you have more recipes to try with the new SS401!
Simultaneously, it has the most intuitive control panel with a dial and automatic presets. Not to mention, it looks exquisite, which will, no doubt, complement your kitchen theme.
But, here’s the best part:
Its food processing capability is way way better than its predecessors. For context, it finally includes grating/slicing discs and a food chute (which weren’t available with older Kitchen Systems).
Ultimately, you can now use the Ninja Foodi SS401 for actual food processing tasks and perhaps donate/sell your current food processor to save some space.
#2 Best Cheap Countertop: Ninja HB152 Foodi Hot & Cold Blender
The Ninja Foodi Blender is one of the kitchen equipment manufactuer’s flagship smoothie makers. It’s part of the Foodi series, a more diverse product line from the brand—pressure cookers, grills, ovens, air fryer, and cookware set.
It seems that SharkNinja is slowly conquering the small kitchen appliance market with this new line-up.
Let’s get back to the Ninja Foodi blender for a second.
What’s unique about it is, it’s one of the few cooking blenders that can bring soups to a boil. It’s not a Hot & Cold blender for no reason. Vitamix can also heat purees through friction heat, but it won’t reach 100°C or 212°F.
Apart from making hot piping soups, guess what? You can actually sauté with it. Who would have thought that you can cook with your blender? Simmering dips and sauces to bring out more flavor is another use case for this unique product.
That is why it’s one of the Best Ninja Blenders. And to be more specific, the Best Cheap Countertop Ninja Blender.
#3 Best for Smoothies: Ninja SS101 Foodi Power Nutri Duo
The Ninja SS101 has a very long name. It’s also called the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Duo Smoothie Bowl Maker and Personal Blender. There has to be a reason behind it.
After reviewing the product, it really is the best Ninja smoothie blender.
Here’s why.
Chances are, you had a glass of smoothie this week or maybe today. That is a regular smoothie that you can sip with a straw. You can do the same thing when the Nutri Ninja Cup is on.
Now, if you’ll switch it up to the Power Nutri Bowl, you’ll achieve a consistency that is close to that of a sorbet, something that is scoopable.
Don’t believe me? Check out the full review.
#4 Best Nutri Blender: Nutri Ninja Pro with Auto-iQ
UPDATE: The Ninja Nutri-blender BN401 is the newest product in the Nutri Ninja series. Just like the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Duo, it’s capable of making silky smooth nutrient-dense drinks.
Any of the two could be the best Ninja blender for personal use. If you want the smoothie bowl making feature, go for the Ninja SS101 Foodi model. It all boils down to your needs.
I mentioned a while ago that Ninja labels their single-serve blender as Nutri Ninjas. This is what this category is all about. They are the smallest, highly portable blender from the popular kitchen equipment company.
Despite its compact size, it can handle numerous recipes such as dressings, sauces, nut milks, frozen desserts, etc. It’s more than just a smoothie-making machine.
As an added perk, it’s totally easy to use and clean.
You know what else?
It’s incredibly affordable!
#5 Most Powerful: Ninja Mega Kitchen System
Some people want a powerful high-performance blender with ice crushing prowess. That’s what the Mega Kitchen System‘s forte—it can turn ice cubes into fine snow in mere seconds with its 1500-watt motor.
Another blender with the same raw blending power is the Ninja Ultima. However, its blade assembly is quite unique. You’ll get the standard blade at the base of the container, and there’s a secondary blade that you can stack on top of the primary blade.
However, I have to mention that these products are old, but they remain the most powerful heavy-duty Ninja blenders.
If you want a newer alternative, go back to the #1 best ninja blender. It has a 1400-watt motor that is as capable as these classic kitchen systems, plus it offers a whole lot of modern features.
You can read the full review of Ninja BL770 1500-Watt Blender here.
Among those top five Ninja blenders, did you find your match?
If not, you can try this comparison table. You have more than five options in this list. We’ve simplified the data so you could easily spot the difference between each model.
Compare Ninja Blenders
Auto-IQ by the way, means automatic settings. It’s a set of convenient preprogramed cycles for the most common blender functions.
Photo | Blender/ Series | Price | Type | Capacity | Auto-IQ | Accessories |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Smoothie Blender | $ | Personal Blender | 24 oz | 4 walkaway blend settings | Nutri Bowl, (2x) 24oz Nutri Ninja cups |
NEW Ninja Nutri-Blender | $ | Personal Blender | 24 oz | 2 walkaway blend settings | (2x) 24oz Nutri Ninja cups | |
Nutri Ninja with Auto-iQ | $ | Personal Blender | 32 oz | 2 walkaway blend settings | 32oz, 24oz, and 18oz Nutri Ninja Cups | |
Nutri Ninja Pro | $ | Personal Blender | 24 oz | N/A | 24oz, 18oz, and 12oz Nutri Ninja Cups | |
Ninja Fit | $ | Personal Blender | 16 oz | N/A | (2x) 16oz Nutri Ninja Cups | |
Ninja Foodi Cold and Hot Blender | $$ | Countertop Blender | 54 oz | 12 walkaway blend settings | Non-stick Glass Pitcher | |
Ninja BN701 | $ | Countertop Blender | 64 oz | 3 walkaway blend settings | Total Crushing Pitcher | |
Ninja BL610 | $ | Countertop Blender | 64 oz | N/A | Total Crushing Pitcher | |
Ninja BL660 | $$ | Drink System | 64 oz | N/A | Total Crushing Pitcher, (2x) Nutri Ninja Cups | |
Ninja BL642 | $$ | Drink System | 64 oz | 5 walkaway blend settings | Total Crushing Pitcher | |
Ninja BL830 | $$$$ | Drink System | 64 oz | N/A | Dual Blade System Container, (3x) 16oz Nutri Ninja Cups | |
Ninja Supra Kitchen System | $$$ | Kitchen System | 64 oz | N/A | Total Crushing Pitcher, (2x)16oz Nutri Ninja Cups, Food Processor Kit | |
Ninja Mega Kitchen System | $$ | Kitchen System | 64 oz | N/A | Total Crushing Pitcher, (2x)16oz Nutri Ninja Cups, Food Processor Kit | |
Ninja Intellisense Kitchen System (Renewed) | $$ | Kitchen System | 64 oz | 11 walkaway blend settings | Total Crushing Pitcher, Food Processor Kit with Slicing and Shredding Discs | |
Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System | $$$ | Kitchen System | 64 oz | 5 walkaway blend settings | Total Crushing Pitcher, (2x)24oz Nutri Ninja Cups, Food Processor Kit | |
Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System | $$$ | Kitchen System | 64 oz | 6 walkaway blend settings | Total Crushing Pitcher, Personal Cup, Smoothie Bowl, Food Processor Kit | |
NEW! Ninja Foodi SS401 Power Blender | $$$ | Kitchen System | 64 oz | 7 walkaway blend settings | Total Crushing Pitcher, Personal Cup, XL Smoothie Bowl, Food Processor Kit with Slicing and Shredding Discs |
By using this table you can compare all the Ninja blenders side by side—by price, type, maximum capacity, walk-away blending cycles, and included accessories.
If you want more in-depth info, you can click the link to read the full review of each blender. Or you can continue reading to learn more about the brand’s entire product line up.
The Ninja Blender Series
As I told you a while ago, Shark Ninja has four main product series—countertop, drink system, kitchen system, and single-serve blenders.
Here’s a quick explanation of each series:
Countertop means a standalone blender with no accessories. Drink systems, on the other hand, are dual-purpose blenders that have a personal cup attachment.
The kitchen system is the most complete package. It comes with a food processor attachment, and (at some point) they also offered a spiralizer kit.
Lastly, there’s the personal blender series. It’s quite self-explanatory—it’s a catalog of their smallest blenders. And it has many names—single-serve blender, travel blender, portable blender, ninja-bullet—it’s just a matter of preference.
Ninja Countertop Blenders
If you only need a traditional countertop blender without any attachments, you should look into this product series. However, I have to warn you that Ninja’s accessories aren’t cross-compatible. Should you decide to invest in a single-serve cup in the future, sadly, it won’t work with any of the three blenders below.
Ninja Foodi Blender (Ninja HB152) | Ninja Professional Blender (Ninja BN701) | Ninja Professional Blender 1000 (Ninja BL610) |
$$ | $ | $ |
Can sauté and make hot soups | N/A | N/A |
11 Auto-iQ walkaway blending cycles | 3 Auto-iQ walkaway blending cycles | N/A |
3 Speed Settings With Pulse Control | 3 Speed Settings With Pulse Control | 3 Speed Settings With Pulse Control |
Traditional extraction blade | Stacked Total Crushing Blades | Stacked Total Crushing Blades |
1400-watt Motor | 1400-watt Motor | 1000-watt Motor |
64oz Glass Container | 72oz Plastic Container | 72oz Plastic Container |
Bottom Line
There’s only one reason to choose this specific type of Ninja blender—that is, if you want a cheaper option. Just keep in mind that it won’t be compatible with a Nutri Ninja cup or the food processor attachment.
Apart from those three standalone blenders, there are still a handful which we did not include in the list. It’s either too old or has already been discontinued.
Ninja Drink Systems
Most of the blenders under this category are called Duos.
“Duo” simply means dual purpose. These are countertop blenders with personal cup attachments.
Ninja Blender Duo (Ninja BL642) | Ninja Ultima Blender (Ninja BL830) | Ninja Pro System 1100 (Ninja BL660) |
$$ | $$$$ | $$ |
1200-watt motor | 1500-watt motor | 1100-watt motor |
5 walkaway blend settings | N/A | N/A |
Built-in timer | N/A | N/A |
3 Speed Settings With Pulse Control | 10 Variable Speed with Pulse Control | 3 Speed Settings With Pulse Control |
Stacked Total Crushing Blades | Dual Blade System | Stacked Total Crushing Blades |
72oz Container | 72oz Container | 72oz Container |
Bottom Line
This series is perfect for those looking for a dependable all-around traditional blender that also doubles as a smoothie or protein shake maker.
Ninja Kitchen System
The benefit of going for the Ninja Kitchen System right away is the complementary accessories. As I said a while ago, Ninja’s blender attachments are not cross-compatible.
You can’t simply buy a countertop model and decide later on that you also need a personal cup. That’s not always the case with this brand. The thing is, there would be no blending cycles optimized for a single-serve cup or a food processor.
So, if you need those accessories, jump straight into any of these Kitchen Systems.
NEW! Ninja Foodi Ultimate System (Ninja SS401) | Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System (Ninja BN801) | Ninja Mega Kitchen System (Ninja BL770) | Ninja Supra Kitchen System (Ninja BL780) | IntelliSense Ninja Blender (Ninja CT680) |
$$$ | $$$ | $$ | $$$ | $$ |
1600-watt motor | 1400-watt motor | 1500-watt motor | 1200-watt motor | 1200-watt motor |
7 walkaway blend settings | 5 walkaway blend settings | N/A | N/A | 11 walkaway blend settings |
Dial and buttons with digital display | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Touch Screen |
Built-in Timer | Built-in Timer | N/A | N/A | Built-in Timer |
72oz container | 72oz container | 72oz container | 72oz container | 72oz container |
Bottom Line
This type may not be the cheapest, but they are an excellent deal. It comes with must-have kitchen accessories, and you might even say it’s an all-in-one blender. Some models even have a spiralizer.
I bet it’s their answer to Vitamix’s premium line of smart blenders without the expensive price tag.
Personal Blender Series
If you’re only planning to make smoothies in general, Ninja’s personal blender line has you covered. It’s incredibly cheap, easy to use, and takes a little space on your countertop.
Except for the Power Nutri Duo, all of Ninja’s single-serve blenders are called Nutri Ninjas.
For some reason, some people also call it the Ninja Bullet. Well, I can’t blame them. Nutri Bullet and Nutri Ninja sound pretty similar. Ninja Bullet is what you’ll get when you take the common denominator off.
To set the record straight, Nutri Bullet is an entirely different brand. It’s one of Ninja Kitchen’s top competitors.
Here are the Nutri Ninja Blenders:
Ninja Smoothie Maker (Ninja SS101) | NEW Nutri Ninja Blender (Ninja BN401) | Nutri Ninja with Auto-iQ (Ninja BL480D) | Ninja Fit (NINJA QB3001SS) | Nutri Ninja Pro (Ninja BL455) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
Nutri Bowl with Rotary Tamper | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Anti-stall Technology (SmartTORQUE) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
4 Walkaway Blend Settings | 2 Walkaway Blend Settings | 2 Walkaway Blend Settings | N/A | N/A |
Built-in Timer | Built-in Timer | Built-in Timer | N/A | N/A |
1200-watt Motor | 1100-watt Motor | 1100-watt Motor | 700-watt Motor | 1000-watt Motor |
Up to 24 oz | Up to 24 oz | Up to 32 oz | Up to 16 oz | Up to 24 oz |
Bottom Line
Surprisingly these compact smoothie makers have a better blend quality than their larger siblings. So, if you want a smoother and more consistent texture for your green smoothie or protein shake, pick any of the variants above.
So there you have it, the Ninja Blender Series—countertop, drink system, kitchen system, and personal blenders.
Why go for a Ninja Blender?
Ninja is one of the biggest names in the small kitchen appliance industry. In fact, its Facebook community boasts around 65 thousand members. That is one proof amongst many of the brand’s reach, on top of 500k searches per month about its newest Foodi product catalog.
The ultimate selling point of Ninja Blenders lies in its affordability and utilitarian features. Not only can it help you make refreshing smoothies, but it can also be your dependable kitchen companion.
Hopefully, this buying guide helped you pick the Best Ninja Blender. If that is the case, let me leave you with their top product—Ninja Foodi SS401 Blender Ultimate System.