Blendtec vs Vitamix

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Updated February 10, 2020

Vitamix and Blendtec are both known for their powerful, durable, high-end blender products. But if we pick their two most kitchen-friendly blenders compare, who comes out the winner? In the ring this week, it’s Blendtec vs Vitamix (both brands made our best blender list) with the 5200 and 575 models respectively. Let’s take a look at these top-of-the-line blenders, what makes them unique, and which fits best in your kitchen in this all-out best blender brawl.

Blendtec vs Vitamix: Specs

 blendtec-625-best-blender-pickvitamix-7500
Blendtec 625
Designer
Vitamix 7500
Rank#1 – Editor’s Choice/Best Smoothie Blender#2 – Best Blender for Juicing
Amazon Rating4andhalf-stars4andhalf-stars
Motor3HP,
1625 Watt
2.2HP,
?-watt
Super Safe Bladesgreen-check-mark
red-x-icon
Warranty8 Years7 Years
Price$395$528.95
Buy NowBuy Now

Price

Vitamix 5200

Both Vitamix and Blendtec specialize in elite blenders – the sort that can handle anything and work well in commercial settings or the kitchens of ambitious amateur cooks. While getting the best is always an advantage, you usually have to pay for it, too: Both these blenders will cost several hundred dollars, even when on sale. You can find the Vitamix 5200 for around $420-$500, while the MSRP for the Blendtec Classic 575 is $400.

While those prices may seem high, the good news is that they are largely on equal footing. That $400 mark is a common line across high-end blenders, and it gives you something to use for comparison. However, it’s also a smart to take a look at deals, especially around the holiday season. It’s not unheard of for these blender prices to be cut in half to help clear warranty, so waiting for a good deal could be worthwhile.

Finally, note that we have picked base line models for this comparison to make it as equal as possible: both the Vitamix 5200 and the Blendtec Classic 575 are consumer-friendly models, good starting places for this type of blender, and generally a good representation of what the manufacturers have to offer. Both companies do offer different models and product families if you want to go beyond the features you see here, though.

Motor and Power

The motor indicates just how much force is behind your blender. The more powerful the motor, the faster your blender will be and the more easily it will cut through tough material (think fibrous foods or small seeds). Speaking strictly for horsepower, the Blendtec Classic 575 is easily the best choice here, with 3.0HP compared to 2.0HP for the Vitamix model.

But the important question is: “Does is matter?”.

For most cases, 2.0 horsepower will get you all the blending power you need, while 3.0HP generally drifts more toward the professional side of blending and is superior for large projects or very frequent blending.

Container

The best type of blending container (or pitcher, jar, etc.) easily stays mounted, can be effectively capped, and allows you to control and measure the blending process more quickly – out of all blender features, it may be the most underestimated factor. When it comes to Vitamix vs. Blendtec, our models both have capable containers but the Blendtec easily wins with its proprietary options. The Vitamix starts with a 64-ounce container that has a heft, sealable cap and a firm handle that feels very comfortable. If you want to make sure all your foodstuffs stay inside the blender and away from the walls, this is a great option.

Blendtec 575
A huge container and touch panel controls.

The Classic Blendtech 575, meanwhile, offers the 5-sided  Wildside container with an extra-large 75-ounce capacity, and yes, a fifth side to help blend more smoothly, something that sounds odd but impressed us with how well it worked. The container is impact resistant, BPA-freed, and generally designed to last forever.  It also includes steam vent so that you can blend hot foods more reliably without having them explode on you. And yes, that you can choose other types of containers if necessary.

It’s also important to note that the Vitamix comes with its own tamper to push down certain foods, while the Blendtec model doesn’t. A tamper can often help with green smoothies and other types of tough foods that need a little compression during the blending process.

A final word on containers: People don’t usually think about height, but if you want to store your blender under the counter or in the pantry, height becomes particularly important for proper fit. The Vitamix has a taller container that we struggled to fit under the counter, while the shorter Blendtec container was less frustrating in this regard.

Blades

The Vitamix comes in swinging with laser-cut, stainless steel hammermill and cutting blades measuring 3 inches across on all sides. Blendtec’s 3-inch blades are much the same, except Blendtec puts an emphasis on blunted blades that won’t cut anyone. Since we’re just talking about base models here, the blades aren’t that important – you can typically choose a different container with the right blades for your own needs. However, in the “as is” category, we’re giving this one to the Vitamix model, which feels higher-quality when it comes to sporting durable, easy-to-clean blades.

Settings and Controls

Here Vitamix vs. Blendtec veer into very different territories. The Vitamix model is highly traditional, with a basic on/off switch, a pulse switch for tight control, and a variable speed dial that goes from 1 to 10. No surprises, nothing new to learn – if you’ve used a blender before, you’ll feel right at home.

The Blendtec model on the other hand goes high-tech for its controls. There’s a touchpad, illuminated LCD timer displays for timing blends, preprogrammed blending cycles for green smoothies and other specific projects, and five incremental speeds to choose from in addition to a pulse switch.

Vitamix 5200 settings
Vitamix has highly traditional control options.

With all those extra choices it would me impossible not to hand this category to Blendtec, because we love new features and automation. But personal taste plays an important part here, too. If you can blend in your sleep using traditional controls, you probably don’t want a new system to learn, but if you have a busy kitchen and want to automate your blender, Blendtec has a lot more to offer here. If you love plenty of variable speed options though you may want to take a tech downgrade for the 10-option dial that Vitamix includes.

Cleaning and Handling

Both blenders are designed for extra-easy cleaning, which means you probably won’t need to take apart pieces or work too hard with the scrub brush. Simply fill the container partially with water, add a few drops of dish soap, and blend for a while to clean. The Blendtec model has a slight advantage here because it actually has a preprogrammed cleaning setting, so you won’t have to judge when “clean” is clean enough.

Neither blender has any annoying nooks or crannies to hide grime in, however the traditional controls of the Vitamix can be traps for flecks of food and oil over time. The smooth touch panel of the Blendtec is much easier to wipe down, which makes the Blendtec the clear winner here.

Appearance

Appearance isn’t super-important for the average blender buyer, but let’s be honest – it’s still a small factor. Both blenders look streamlined and powerful, and both are available in a variety of shades to help match your other kitchen equipment. The Blendtec touch panel and LCDs provide a more high-tech appearance, while the standard dials and flip switches of the Vitamix are far more traditional.

Warranty

The warranty is purely a battle of numbers, with the Blendtec model offering an 8-year warranty and the Vitamix providing a 7-year warranty. However, you can also look at this as a tie: After several years, the chances of you ever using a warranty are extremely low. The longer warranty from Blendtec is once again useful in a commercial setting, but anything beyond 5 years is great for a blender, so don’t worry too much about this category for now.

So, Which Blender is Best?

With a lower price, higher-tech options, more capacity, and more setting choices, the Blendtec Classic 575 is the clear winner here. However, as we continue to point out, it’s also the more commercial-friendly version. If you really don’t want a blender that’s as large or has so many features, then the Vitamix 5200 is a strong option too – as long as you’re willing to pay $20 to $100 more for it at checkout.

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