The Ultimate Vitamix Blender Buying Guide

They’re the best blenders in the game, but they don’t come cheap. Be sure you’re getting the right model for you.

Vitamix TurboBlend 3-Speed

This is the first Vitamix blender I owned, and it made for a perfect starter machine. Instead of a speed dial that runs from 1 to 10, the TurboBlend offers a simplified low-medium-high dial as well as a lever for pulsing. Even without the specific numerical power offerings, we found that the three speeds gave me more than enough precision for making nut milk, smoothies, and even mayonnaise.

Best for: A simplified model that’s great for beginners on the Vitamix scene.

7500

The Vitamix 7500 model includes a more compact container—still with a 64-ounce capacity, but slightly shorter and wider to fit more easily onto shelves and on the countertop under kitchen cabinets. It’s available in a few color options (rare for Vitamix) and features a 10-degree speed dial and the pulse lever. Most notably, this is the household (i.e., not professional grade) Vitamix with the most powerful motor, at 2.2 horsepower.

Best for: People with small kitchens, or those looking for a powerful blender that takes up less space.

Professional Series 750

The Vitamix Professional Series 750 is the only model in the Legacy series with preprogrammed settings that allow you have a “set-it-and-forget-it” relationship with your blender. Right on the 10-level speed dial are specific presets for Smoothies, Hot Soups, Frozen Desserts, Purées, and Self-Cleaning (the company claims that “with a drop of dish soap,” the blender can clean itself in under a minute—helpful in a busy restaurant kitchen). The 2.2 horsepower motor and low-profile container are also present here. This model comes in black and gray.

Best for: If your ultimate goal is not to think too much when you’re preparing your morning smoothie.

Vitamix Ascent Series 

Vitamix blenders in the Ascent series got a design and tech upgrade; they’re sleek, impressive-looking, and have a ton of power to boot. All four models in the series feature built-in timers, wireless connectivity, 10-year warranties, and a sensor that detects the size of the container and adjusts the blender settings accordingly. Though each comes with a 64-ounce container, they are all compatible with any container that has the “self-detect” blade base. Also, every blender in this series comes in a choice of colors.

A2300

The Vitamix A2300 is the basic model in this series. It comes with all the standard features, like the variable speed-control dial and pulse feature, plus all the fancy stuff that makes Ascent what it is. It hooks up easily to the Vitamix app, which means you can use your smartphone or tablet to “unlock” 17 programs and over 500 recipes. Buy it in black, gray, red, or white.

Best for: If you want a powerful and super smart blender that can adjust its settings to whatever your needs are.

A2500

Leveling up to the A2500 means you get all of the features of the A2300 (including the four color choices), plus three program settings: Smoothies, Hot Soups, and Frozen Desserts. The wireless connectivity means that this blender can adapt to include new updates that Vitamix rolls out in the future.

Best for: If you’re looking for a smart blender with preprogrammed settings.

A3300

Available in metal and black, the A3300 features a sleek touchscreen interface and a programmable built-in timer, so you can customize settings to meet your exact specifications. It looks less like a Vitamix and more like a futuristic space blender—especially the brushed stainless metal version.

Best for: If you’re looking for a blender that has smart tech features, but is also highly customizable.

A3500

The Vitamix A3500 is the top-of-the-line Ascent model, and the most expensive Vitamix product for sale today. Choose among black, white, red, and three possible metal finishes (matte black, copper, and brushed stainless), and enjoy the same features as the A3300 (touchscreen controls, programmable timer), plus five built-in settings—for Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts, and Self-Cleaning.

Best for: If you want the sports car of all blenders—complete with additional settings, a programmable timer, touchscreen controls, and a whole lot of power.

Vitamix Explorian

The Explorian Series is what Vitamix describes as an introduction to high-powered blending—straightforward, simple controls for less money than the Legacy 5200. There is only one model in this category, but it checks all of the boxes for basic Vitamix usage, comes with a five-year warranty, and makes a great addition to any home kitchen. 

E310

I am biased because I have an E310 at home and totally love it, despite working with more expensive and fancier models for most of my career. The smaller container size (48 ounces) sits shorter on the base, which makes for easy storage, and doesn’t faze me when it comes to actual cooking—I rarely find that I need to work in batches. The pulse function and 10-degree speed dial offers all the precision you’ll need to make sauces, blended desserts, puréed soups, nondairy milk, big batches of emulsified dressings, peanut butter, and more. For the price, we think it’s the best Vitamix blenders a home cook could own. 

Best for: If you like the Legacy 5200, but want something just a little less expensive and smaller.

Vitamix One

Interested in a Vitamix blender, but hesitate to pull the trigger thanks to the price tag? The newest model, the Vitamix One, might be for you. Released in 2020, the One is the cheapest of all the Vitamix models. Note: This lower price does come with some compromises. The blender is smaller and has a lower horsepower (1.2 compared to 2 horsepower in the Explorian Series). And we did find in our testing that this model didn’t deliver the same oomph as other Vitamix blenders when it came to certain tasks, like crushing ice. However, it is extremely easy to use: Simply turn one dial on the front. Overall it’s a great starter blender for cooks on a budget.

Best for: If you're loyal to the Vitamix brand, but want something cheaper and are willing to compromise on power and size.

Should I buy a refurbished Vitamix?

In addition to the models mentioned above, Vitamix offers refurbished and reconditioned blenders. These are available on the Vitamix website and from some certified sellers like Amazon. These previously owned machines are returned to the company, tuned up, and resold at a discount. Usually the fixes involve things like repairing the motor or attaching a new container, so you can be sure you’re getting a blender that looks and performs just as well as a new one.

Notably, all reconditioned Vitamix blenders come with a three-to-five year warranty. Personally, I got my first Vitamix blender as a refurbished model and found it worked identically to the ones I’d used at work, just with a couple of scratches on the body. If you want all the same power for a fraction of the original price, certified reconditioned is the way to go.

Vitamix Attachments and Accessories

Vitamix sells a variety of attachments and accessories to extend their blenders’ functionality and versatility. Extra containers in varying sizes allow you to make personal-size smoothies or double batches of blended soups. Tamper holders make for compact storage. An aerating disc container makes whipping and emulsifying a cinch. A grains container can be used for grinding whole grains into flours. And a food-processor attachment makes your blender two appliances in one. Ahead, discover all top picks for Vitamix attachments. 

Vitamix Aer Disc Container

Unlock your culinary creativity the the Aer Disc. This Vitamix add-on allows you to emulsify in minutes, whip up voluminous creams, muddle fruits without puréeing them, and create fantastically frothy foams. The patent-pending disc that pulls liquid ingredients through small holes in as it spins, making quick work of tasks that can be complex and/or time-consuming without this incredibly useful gadget. The Vitamix Aer Disc Container is compatible with these Vitamix series: Ascent, Legacy Series, Explorian, and the Venturist (the Venturist series was exclusively sold at Costco and no longer in stock). 

Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment 

Simplify food prep with this high-performance processor attachment that slices, dices, and chops on your behalf. Like the blender itself, the food processor attachment features stainless-steel blades and cutting discs. The attachment is compatible with the Ascent and Venturist Vitamix series. 

Vitamix Dry Grains Container

This attachment’s laser-cut blades efficiently grind fresh grains into flours, swiftly mix batters, and even knead dough. This Vitamix container is compatible with the Ascent series. 

And what about the Vitamix food recyclers?

In 2020, the blender company released the FoodCycler FC-50—a super cool countertop gadget that helps reduce food waste. All you have to do is throw your veggie peels and egg shells in the bucket, close the carbon filtered lid, and press a button. Your FoodCycler will break down the scraps and turn them into nutrient-rich fertilizer. It’s a pretty quick, easy, and (most important) odorless process. You can check out our full review of the FoodCycler for more info. The FoodCycler comes with a removable bucket for all of your waste, a carbon filter lid, and a few additional carbon filters. You can purchase additional carbon filters directly from Vitamix.