Last Updated on November 27, 2025 by Susanna Zuyeva
Our Top Picks
After testing all three blenders, here are my top picks:
Best Overall: Magic Bullet Blender – Perfect size, great price, handles daily tasks with ease.
Most Powerful: NutriBullet Full-Size Combo – Amazing for large batches and tough ingredients.
Best Budget Pick: BLACK+DECKER PowerCrush – Glass jar, good power, fantastic value.
Each blender has its strengths. I’ll help you pick the right one for your needs.
Why You Need a Small Kitchen Blender
Small blenders changed my morning routine. They take up less counter space. They’re easier to store than big blenders.
I use mine every single day. Here’s what I make:
- Morning smoothies with frozen berries
- Protein shakes after workouts
- Salad dressings and dips
- Baby food for my niece
- Ground spices and coffee
- Pancake batter on weekends
A small blender does all this without taking up half your counter. It’s also faster to clean than a full-size blender.
What I Looked For When Testing
I focused on real-world use. Here’s what mattered most:
Power: Can it crush ice? Does it handle frozen fruit?
Size: Does it fit under my cabinets? Is it easy to store?
Ease of Use: Can I operate it with one hand? Are the buttons clear?
Cleaning: Can parts go in the dishwasher? Does food get stuck?
Durability: Does it feel cheap? Will it last more than a year?
Noise Level: Will it wake up my family at 6 AM?
Value: Is it worth the price?
I tested each blender with the same ingredients. I blended ice, frozen strawberries, spinach, almonds, and water. This gave me clear results.
1. Magic Bullet Blender – Best Overall for Daily Use
The Magic Bullet became my daily driver. It’s small but mighty. I was surprised by how well it performed.
Product Features
This 11-piece set includes everything you need. You get a 250-watt motor base. It comes with a cross-blade for blending.
The set has one tall cup and one short cup. There’s also a party mug included. You get two lip rings for drinking directly from the cups.
Two stay-fresh lids keep your food fresh. There’s a to-go lid for taking drinks with you. The recipe guide shows you how to make 10-second meals.
All cups are made from high-impact plastic. They’re tough and durable. The motor base is compact and fits anywhere.
The blender uses 250 watts of power. That’s enough for most daily tasks. The cross-blade chops, mixes, blends, whips, and grinds.
What I Like
The compact size won my heart. It fits perfectly in my small kitchen. I store it in a corner of my counter.
I love the personal cups. I blend directly in them. Then I just twist on a lid and go. No need to wash extra containers.
The 10-second recipe guide is genius. I tried the omelet recipe. I cracked eggs into the cup, added cheese and veggies, blended for 10 seconds, then poured into a hot pan. Perfect omelet every time.
Cleanup takes less than a minute. I rinse the cup and blade right after use. Everything goes in the dishwasher if needed.
The price is unbeatable. At under $30 during sales, it’s a steal. You get so much for your money.
Why It’s Better
The Magic Bullet beats larger blenders in convenience. I don’t need to assemble multiple parts. Just push and twist to blend.
It’s quieter than I expected. My old blender woke up my kids. This one doesn’t. I can make my morning smoothie without disturbing anyone.
The cups are perfect portions. The tall cup holds about 18 ounces. That’s exactly right for one large smoothie.
I also love the multiple uses. I’ve used it to grind coffee beans. I’ve made pesto sauce. I’ve blended baby food. It handles everything.
How It Performed
I started with my standard smoothie test. I added one frozen banana, half a cup of frozen strawberries, a handful of spinach, and one cup of water.
I pressed down and twisted. The blade started spinning. In about 20 seconds, I had a smooth drink. No chunks of spinach. No frozen fruit bits.
Next, I tried crushing ice. I filled the short cup halfway with ice cubes. I blended for 30 seconds. The ice turned into perfect snow. Great for icy drinks.
I tested nut butter too. I added two cups of roasted almonds. This was harder. The motor struggled a bit. I had to stop and scrape down the sides twice. After five minutes, I had creamy almond butter. Not the fastest, but it worked.
The toughest test was frozen fruit without liquid. I wanted to make a thick smoothie bowl. I added frozen mango chunks and a splash of coconut milk. The blender worked, but I needed to use the pulse method. I pressed down for a few seconds, released, shook the cup, and repeated. After about 40 seconds, it was perfect.
How I Clean It
Cleaning is super easy. Right after blending, I rinse the cup with warm water. I use a drop of dish soap.
I fill the cup halfway with soapy water. Then I twist on the blade and pulse for 10 seconds. The blade cleans itself. I rinse everything and let it air dry.
For deeper cleaning, I put the cups in the dishwasher. They go on the top rack. I hand-wash the blade with a brush. This keeps it sharp.
I clean the motor base with a damp cloth. Never submerge it in water. The whole process takes under two minutes.
Testing Results
Smoothies: Excellent. Smooth texture every time.
Ice Crushing: Very good. Makes perfect crushed ice.
Frozen Fruit: Good. Needs a bit of liquid for best results.
Leafy Greens: Excellent. No chunks left behind.
Nut Butter: Fair. Works but takes time and effort.
Noise Level: 7/10. Moderate noise, not too loud.
Ease of Cleaning: 10/10. Fastest cleanup of all three.
2. NutriBullet Full-Size Blender Combo – Most Powerful Option
The NutriBullet is a beast. It’s bigger than the Magic Bullet. But that extra size brings serious power.
Product Features
This combo includes a 1200-watt motor. That’s almost five times more powerful than the Magic Bullet. You feel the difference immediately.
You get a 64-ounce blender pitcher. This is perfect for families. You can make four servings at once. The pitcher has a vented lid cap. This lets steam escape when blending hot soups.
The set includes a 32-ounce cup and a 24-ounce handled cup. Both are great for personal smoothies. You also get two to-go lids.
The Easy-Twist Extractor Blade is made from stainless steel. It creates cyclonic action. This pulls ingredients down into the blades. No more chunks floating at the top.
You get three precision speeds. There’s also a pulse function. The Extract program runs automatically. It follows the perfect blend cycle.
A tamper is included. This helps push down thick mixtures. It’s essential for making nut butters or thick smoothie bowls.
Everything except the motor base is dishwasher safe. The pitcher and cups are BPA-free. They’re made from high-performance plastic.
What I Like
The power is incredible. This blender destroys everything. Frozen fruit? Gone in seconds. Ice? Turns to powder. Nuts? Butter in minutes.
I love having both a pitcher and personal cups. When I’m meal prepping, I use the big pitcher. I make a huge batch of soup or sauce. On busy mornings, I use the personal cup for a quick smoothie.
The three speed settings give me control. Low speed for soft fruits. Medium for regular smoothies. High for tough ingredients. The pulse function is perfect for chunky salsas.
The Extract program is my favorite feature. I load the cup with ingredients. I press one button. The blender runs through an automatic cycle. It stops when done. Perfect blend every time.
The tamper saves me frustration. When making thick smoothie bowls, ingredients can get stuck. I use the tamper to push everything down. No need to stop and scrape.
Why It’s Better
The NutriBullet handles what other blenders can’t. I made cashew cream in under two minutes. I tried this with the Magic Bullet. It took over ten minutes and the motor got hot.
The large pitcher changed my meal prep game. I make big batches of soup now. I blend four servings at once. Then I freeze individual portions.
The cyclonic action really works. Ingredients swirl down into the blades. I don’t need to shake the cup or scrape the sides. Everything blends evenly.
Hot soup blending is amazing. I cook vegetables until soft. Then I pour them into the pitcher while hot. I blend on high. In 60 seconds, I have smooth, hot soup. The vented cap lets steam escape safely.
How It Performed
I started with the same smoothie test. One frozen banana, frozen strawberries, spinach, and water. I used the 32-ounce cup.
I pressed the Extract program button. The blender started on low, then ramped up to high, then pulsed, then stopped. Total time: 45 seconds. The result was the smoothest drink I’ve ever made. Zero grittiness.
Ice crushing was almost too easy. I filled the pitcher with ice. I used the pulse function. Five pulses and I had snow cone ice. The power is no joke.
For nut butter, I added three cups of roasted peanuts to the pitcher. I started on low speed to break them down. Then I increased to high. I used the tamper to keep things moving. In three minutes, I had creamy peanut butter. This was way faster than the Magic Bullet.
I tried making a green smoothie with kale, cucumber, apple, and ginger. Kale is tough to blend. The NutriBullet obliterated it. Not a single piece left. The drink was silky smooth.
My toughest test was frozen dessert. I added frozen bananas, cocoa powder, and a tiny bit of milk. I wanted soft-serve texture. I used the tamper constantly. In about two minutes, I had perfect “nice cream.” It looked like ice cream from a shop.
How I Clean It
The pitcher cleaning is simple. I rinse it right after use. Then I fill it halfway with warm soapy water. I run the blender on low for 10 seconds. It cleans itself.
For stubborn residue, I use a bottle brush. The pitcher opening is wide. My hand fits inside easily.
The personal cups clean just like the Magic Bullet. Rinse, add soap and water, blend for 10 seconds, done.
The blade needs more careful cleaning. I hand-wash it with a brush. The stainless steel stays sharp with proper care.
Everything goes in the dishwasher for deep cleaning. I run it once a week.
The motor base gets wiped with a damp cloth. I pay attention to the button area. Smoothie splashes can get stuck there.
Testing Results
Smoothies: Perfect. Best texture of all three blenders.
Ice Crushing: Excellent. Turns ice to powder instantly.
Frozen Fruit: Excellent. Handles it without any liquid.
Leafy Greens: Perfect. No texture issues at all.
Nut Butter: Excellent. Fast and creamy results.
Hot Soups: Excellent. Safe venting, smooth results.
Noise Level: 5/10. This is loud. Very powerful motor.
Ease of Cleaning: 8/10. Mostly easy, blade needs care.
3. BLACK+DECKER PowerCrush – Best Budget Glass Jar Option
The BLACK+DECKER surprised me. For under $40, you get a glass jar and solid performance. This is old-school blender design done right.
Product Features
This blender has a 700-watt motor at peak performance. For continuous use, it runs at 350 watts. That’s enough power for most tasks.
The 6-cup glass jar is beautiful. Glass doesn’t stain or retain odors. It feels premium. The jar has a PerfectPour spout. This prevents drips when pouring.
The 4-Tip QuadPro Blade uses stainless steel. The four tips create a vortex. This pulls ingredients into the blades. The blade shape matches the jar shape perfectly.
You get four speed settings. There’s low and high. Plus low pulse and high pulse. This covers most blending needs.
The jar, blade, and lid are dishwasher safe. Cleanup is straightforward. Everything except the motor base can go in the dishwasher.
The blender comes in silver. It has a classic countertop design. It’s taller than the other two blenders but not overly large.
What I Like
The glass jar won me over immediately. I’m tired of plastic containers that stain. I make a lot of berry smoothies. They turn plastic pink. The glass stays crystal clear.
Glass also doesn’t hold smells. I blend garlic sauce one day and strawberries the next. No flavor transfer. With plastic cups, I sometimes taste yesterday’s smoothie.
The weight of the glass feels quality. It’s sturdy on the counter. The blender doesn’t vibrate or move during use.
The four speeds are enough. I don’t need 10 different settings. Low for soft stuff. High for tough stuff. Pulse for control. Simple and effective.
The price is fantastic. At $40, this is cheaper than both other blenders. You’re getting glass, decent power, and a known brand name.
The spout design really works. I pour smoothies without drips. I pour soup without spills. It’s a small detail that matters.
Why It’s Better
The glass jar is the main advantage. If you’ve dealt with stained plastic, you know the frustration. Glass solves this forever.
Glass is also better for hot liquids. I’ve blended hot soup in this blender. The glass doesn’t warp. It doesn’t retain heat. It’s safe and practical.
The classic design means easy repairs. If something breaks, parts are available. The blade is standard. You can replace it. With specialty blenders, replacement parts cost as much as a new unit.
The 6-cup capacity is ideal. It’s not too big, not too small. I make enough for two or three people. Perfect for couples or small families.
How It Performed
I ran my standard smoothie test. Frozen banana, frozen strawberries, spinach, and water. I used the high setting.
The blender took about 40 seconds. The result was smooth and drinkable. Not quite as silky as the NutriBullet, but very good. No chunks of spinach or fruit.
Ice crushing worked well. I filled the jar with two cups of ice. I used the high pulse setting. After about 15 pulses, I had crushed ice. It took longer than the NutriBullet but worked fine.
I tried making hummus. I added chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. The blender handled it on high speed. After about 90 seconds, I had smooth hummus. I used the pulse function to control the texture.
Frozen fruit without liquid was challenging. I added frozen mango chunks. The blender struggled at first. I had to stop and shake the jar twice. Once I added a splash of juice, it blended smoothly. This blender needs some liquid for frozen items.
I made pancake batter too. I added eggs, flour, milk, and vanilla. I blended on low for 20 seconds. Perfect smooth batter. No lumps at all.
How I Clean It
The glass jar is the easiest part. I rinse it after each use. Then I fill it halfway with warm soapy water. I run the blender on low for 10 seconds. Everything comes off.
For stuck-on food, I use a sponge. The jar opening is wide. I reach inside easily.
The blade assembly unscrews from the bottom. I hand-wash it with a brush. The four tips can trap food. I pay extra attention there.
Everything goes in the dishwasher once a week. The glass comes out spotless every time.
The motor base gets wiped down with a damp cloth. The buttons are sealed well. No liquid gets inside.
Testing Results
Smoothies: Very good. Smooth texture, slight grittiness.
Ice Crushing: Good. Takes time but works well.
Frozen Fruit: Fair. Needs liquid to blend smoothly.
Leafy Greens: Very good. Blends well with minimal texture.
Nut Butter: Poor. Not powerful enough for this task.
Hot Soups: Very good. Glass handles heat perfectly.
Noise Level: 6/10. Moderate noise, acceptable.
Ease of Cleaning: 9/10. Glass is super easy to clean.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s how they stack up:
Size:
- Magic Bullet: Smallest, most compact
- NutriBullet: Medium, requires more counter space
- BLACK+DECKER: Tallest but narrow footprint
Power:
- Magic Bullet: 250 watts (basic tasks)
- NutriBullet: 1200 watts (everything)
- BLACK+DECKER: 700 watts peak (good for most)
Capacity:
- Magic Bullet: Personal cups, 12-18 oz
- NutriBullet: 64 oz pitcher plus personal cups
- BLACK+DECKER: 6-cup (48 oz) pitcher
Best For:
- Magic Bullet: Single servings, daily smoothies
- NutriBullet: Families, meal prep, tough ingredients
- BLACK+DECKER: Couples, classic blender tasks, hot soups
Price:
- Magic Bullet: Under $30 (best value)
- NutriBullet: Around $80 (worth the power)
- BLACK+DECKER: Around $40 (great middle ground)
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Magic Bullet if:
- You live alone or with one other person
- You make single-serving smoothies daily
- Counter space is limited
- You want the lowest price
- Quick cleanup matters most
- You blend soft to medium ingredients
Choose the NutriBullet if:
- You have a family or entertain often
- You make large batches of food
- You blend tough ingredients regularly
- You want to make nut butters or thick smoothies
- Power and performance matter most
- Budget is flexible
Choose the BLACK+DECKER if:
- You prefer glass over plastic
- You blend hot soups often
- You want a traditional blender design
- You need medium capacity
- You’re on a tight budget
- You avoid plastic containers
My Final Recommendation
I kept all three blenders. Each one serves a different purpose in my kitchen.
The Magic Bullet stays on my counter. I use it every morning for my smoothie. It’s so convenient that I never skip.
The NutriBullet comes out for weekend meal prep. I make big batches of soup, sauce, and smoothie packs. The power handles everything.
The BLACK+DECKER is my hot soup blender. After making vegetable soup, I pour it into the glass jar and blend. Perfect texture every time.
If I could only keep one? I’d choose the Magic Bullet. It’s my daily workhorse. The convenience wins over everything else. For under $30, it’s the smartest purchase I’ve made.
But if you cook for a family or love thick smoothies, invest in the NutriBullet. The power difference is real. You’ll taste it in every blend.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
After testing these blenders for months, I learned some tricks:
Always add liquid first. Pour water, milk, or juice in the cup before adding solid ingredients. This helps the blades start spinning smoothly.
Layer ingredients correctly. Put soft items near the blade. Put hard or frozen items on top. Leafy greens go in last.
Don’t overfill. Leave at least an inch of space at the top. Overfilling causes leaks and poor blending.
Use the pulse function for control. When you want chunky texture, pulse instead of continuous blending.
Let the motor rest. If you’re blending multiple batches, give the motor a 30-second break between each one. This prevents overheating.
Clean immediately. Don’t let smoothie residue dry. It becomes much harder to clean later.
Add ice last. For cold smoothies, blend everything first, then add ice at the end. This makes blending easier.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I made these mistakes so you don’t have to:
Mistake 1: Blending without liquid. This burns out motors and creates clumps. Always add some liquid, even just a few tablespoons.
Mistake 2: Using dull blades. If your blends take longer or leave chunks, sharpen or replace the blade. Most blades last 1-2 years with daily use.
Mistake 3: Ignoring weird noises. If your blender sounds different, stop using it. Check for damage. Continuing can break the motor.
Mistake 4: Blending hot liquids in sealed cups. Steam builds pressure. Use vented lids or leave the lid slightly open.
Mistake 5: Storing with the lid on. This traps moisture and can cause mold. Always store cups and jars with lids off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can these blenders crush ice?
Yes, all three can crush ice. The NutriBullet does it fastest and best. The Magic Bullet needs about 30 seconds. The BLACK+DECKER takes 15-20 pulses. For frozen drinks, any of these works fine.
Q: Are the plastic cups safe?
Yes. All three brands use BPA-free plastic. I’ve used them daily for months with no issues. Glass is still my preference for avoiding stains and odors.
Q: How long do small blenders last?
With proper care, expect 2-4 years. I’ve had the Magic Bullet for two years now. It still works like new. Motors eventually wear out with daily use.
Q: Can I blend hot soup?
The NutriBullet and BLACK+DECKER can handle hot liquids. The Magic Bullet cups are not designed for this. Let soup cool slightly or use a traditional blender.
Q: Which one is quietest?
The Magic Bullet runs quietest. The BLACK+DECKER is moderate. The NutriBullet is the loudest due to its powerful motor. None of them are silent though.
Q: Do I need to buy extra cups?
Not necessarily. The Magic Bullet and NutriBullet come with multiple cups. I’ve never needed more. Extra cups are available if you want them.
Q: Can these make nut butter?
The NutriBullet makes excellent nut butter quickly. The Magic Bullet can do it but takes longer and requires patience. The BLACK+DECKER struggles with this task. I don’t recommend it for nut butter.
Final Thoughts
Small blenders changed how I eat. I consume more fruits and vegetables now. Morning smoothies became a habit instead of a chore.
The right blender depends on your lifestyle. Think about what you’ll actually use it for. Consider your space and budget.
All three blenders I tested deliver value. The Magic Bullet offers unbeatable convenience. The NutriBullet provides professional-level power. The BLACK+DECKER gives you quality materials at a low price.
Start with one blender. Use it daily for a month. You’ll quickly learn if you need more power or if what you have is perfect.
My kitchen now has spots for all three. They each solve different problems. But if someone asked me to recommend just one for getting started, I’d point them to the Magic Bullet without hesitation.