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Head-to-head · Best Blenders for Smoothies

Ninja Professional Plus BN701 vs Vitamix 5200

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Vitamix 5200 comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.8 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about households committed to long-term daily smoothie and soup making who want decade-of-use durability — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ninja Professional Plus BN701
Ranked #5 in Best Blenders for Smoothies
Ninja Professional Plus BN701
3 sources2 derived$99.99as of Aug 1

The Ninja Professional Plus BN701 is the budget pick and America's Test Kitchen's value choice. 1400 peak watts, Total Crushing blades, and three Auto-iQ presets turn out excellent berry smoothies and milkshakes for around $100, though green smoothies come out with small pieces of kale left in. TechGearLab calls it "an absolute steal" for smoothie and blended-drink enthusiasts. Aimed at budget buyers who blend mostly fruit-based drinks.

Strengths
  • — America's Test Kitchen's budget pick — "makes solid smoothies, crushed ice, and mayo, and it's relatively quiet"
  • — 1400 peak watts and Total Crushing blades make excellent berry smoothies and milkshakes
  • — Three Auto-iQ presets (smoothie, frozen drink, ice) for one-touch blending
Watch-outs
  • — Struggles to fully puree leafy greens — small kale pieces remain
  • — Louder and harder to clean than the Vitamix and Breville picks
  • — Stacked blade assembly takes care to wash safely
$99.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Vitamix 5200
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Blenders for Smoothies
Vitamix 5200
3 sources2 derived$489.99as of Aug 1

The Vitamix 5200 is the best-overall smoothie blender and a longtime America's Test Kitchen favorite. Its 2-peak-HP motor and tall 64 oz container produce the smoothest results in this lineup, and TechGearLab calls it "a smoothie maker's dream." Price, footprint, and noise are the trade-offs. It makes sense for households committed to daily blending, who will amortize the high price over a decade-plus of use.

Strengths
  • — Top of the pack for smoothie texture in TechGearLab testing — no flakes, chunks, or unblended greenery
  • — 2-peak-HP motor and 64 oz tall container pull a deep vortex that pulverizes berry seeds and kale stems
  • — Variable 1-10 dial gives the widest control range in this lineup, from salsa to liquefied frozen fruit
Watch-outs
  • — $449 is by far the most expensive pick
  • — Tall container won't fit under most upper cabinets while docked
  • — No preset programs or auto-iQ shutoff — you run it manually
$489.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Ninja Professional Plus BN701

The power-per-dollar pick: around $100 with a bigger 72 oz pitcher than the Breville Fresh & Furious, and it crushes ice as well as anything here. But it leaves kale pieces the Breville's green-smoothie program smooths out, and it can't match the Vitamix 5200 or Vitamix Explorian E310 on texture or durability.

Vitamix 5200

The smoothest and most durable pick, and the priciest. The Vitamix Explorian E310 delivers nearly identical texture for less money in a smaller 48 oz jar; the Breville Fresh & Furious and Ninja BN701 are roughly a third the price but leave more grit with berries and greens.

Specs side-by-side

SpecNinja Professional Plus BN701Vitamix 5200
Power1400W peak (1200W base)1491W (2 peak HP)
Capacity72 oz (64 oz liquid)64 oz
Speed Control3 speeds + PulseVariable 1-10 + Pulse
Programs3 Auto-iQ (Smoothie, Frozen Drink, Ice)None (manual)
Container MaterialBPA-free Total Crushing pitcherBPA-free Tritan
Dishwasher SafeYes (pitcher, lid, blades)Self-cleaning
Warranty1-year limited7-year full
Footprint17 in tall20.5 in tall docked
Voltage120V—
Dimensions6.75 x 9 x 17.5 inches; 8.1 pounds8.75"D x 7.25"W x 20.5"H
← See the full ranking of best blenders for smoothies