“When you’re shopping for a personal blender, I highly recommend splurging for a high-speed blender if you have the budget,” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, a plant-based registered dietitian and owner of Plant-Based Eats in Stamford, Connecticut. “This makes blending up anything from a fruit-based ice cream to a healthy smoothie so much easier. I also really like the personal blenders that come with a few different to-go cups, which cuts down on the meal prep process. And of course, look for a blender that’s BPA-free and dishwasher safe.” We researched the features that make personal blenders such compelling small appliances, including power, ease of use, storage space, and cleaning methods required, as well as the options that let you blend and sip from the same container—and even rechargeable models that require no cord or battery replacement. To find the cream of the crop, we sent a few of our top picks out for testing in home kitchens. The testers made strawberry-banana smoothies and coffee smoothies, taking notes on how the blenders handled ice, whether or not you needed additional pulses to handle air pockets, and how long the blending cycle took. Of course, they also tested for how loud the blenders were and the final cleanup. Based on their at-home testing, the Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Personal Blender is the clear winner due to its sharp blades, high wattage, and quiet operation. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the best personal blenders that’ll keep you on the pulse of icy refreshment. “I love this blender for many reasons, probably the biggest being the blender’s sharp blades that can crush ice quickly and allow you to make a super smooth smoothie,” says Gorin. “I also find the to-go cups super useful, as they not only cut down on dishes to wash but make the process of getting out the door in the morning with a healthy breakfast in tow so much easier.” We sent this out for at-home testing and found that this is so quiet, it can even be used close to a sleeping baby. Blending both smoothies only took about 30 seconds to get to a great consistency, with both recipes having enough liquid to not need a second blend. Crushing ice didn’t cause a noticeable sound increase, and everything was easy to clean. “I like the design of this blender. It’s bigger than I would have imagined a personal blender to be. The cup is a good shape to take on the go. It would definitely fit in a car’s cup holder.” — Julia Warren, VP of Commerce Price at time of publish: $90 Its 14-ounce BPA-free container does double duty as the blending jar and as a mug, plus a lid with a spout. So few pieces meant our tester was able to put this together very easily. We found that during both tests, the motor wasn’t that loud, though crushing ice cubes did increase the decibels. Each smoothie took about 30 seconds to fully blend and it was much nicer to prep one drink with this instead of a full blender. A few cons did come up. First, the cord, which does conveniently wrap around the base when not in use, is on the shorter side. Our tester also wished it had an on/off switch, instead of holding down the power button for the whole blending cycle. “I honestly feel like the blending capabilities are better in this handheld blender than my full-size blender!” — Milagros Cruz, Editor Price at time of publish: $23 Four 16-ounce Tritan travel cups have lids through which you can sip or add a straw. Mix a larger batch of beverages with the ample 32-ounce blending jar, and chop, grind, or whip ingredients with the 8-ounce chopping jar. When we sent this out, our tester found that this ended up being quite a lot to unpack and made it necessary to double-check the instructions for assembling. For both smoothie tests, the blender was pretty loud, but it was tolerable since the drinks only needed a few seconds to fully mix. Even with the travel mug as the container, the blender was able to crush down ice cubes and date pits, and didn’t need a second whirl. Cleanup was incredibly easy and though all the pieces are easy to store, you might need to place it all in a storage container so nothing gets lost. “This personal blender had easy cleanup and I loved how lightweight the base and cups were getting it in and out of my sink.” — Collier Sutter, Food & Drink Review Editor The 24-ounce BPA-free vessel is both a blending cup and a travel mug and comes with a flip-top to-go lid. The blade easily rinses clean with soap and water, while the cup, lip ring, and lid are top-rack dishwasher-safe. Price at time of publish: $70 The small base has a 200-watt motor and stainless steel cross blade that can handle whatever you want to mix, whip, grind, or chop. Included are two high-impact plastic cups—one 12-ounce and another 18-ounce—that you can use to blend, store, and drink from, thanks to the included stay-fresh resealable lid and comfort lip ring. The cups are also top-rack dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. You’ll be inspired with the recipes in the included book, or create your own. Price at time of publish: $25 Lightly push down on one of the two 16-ounce blending cups, and its pulse technology will cut through the hardest, most frozen ingredients for smoothies and milkshakes. Or, use it to crush cubes for shaved ice or water ice. Cover your drink with the spout lid to take it on the go; the cups, lids, and blade assembly are all dishwasher-safe. Plus, the slim design means you can store the blender in tight spaces. The included booklet with 30 recipe ideas is bound to satisfy your thirst for cold and refreshing zero-proof or spirited tipples. Price at time of publish: $60 Charging it for up to 5 hours gives you a half-hour to an hour of blending power; you can even use it while it’s charging. It’s strong enough to crush ice cubes, frozen fruits, and seeds, yet it makes unbelievably creamy smoothies and shakes. Add your ingredients to the 14-ounce dishwasher-safe blending jar made from food-grade material, blend with the touch of a button, and go. It’s available in several colors, and the no-cord design means that you never have to worry about voltage or adapters when traveling internationally, either. Price at time of publish: $50

What to Look for When Buying a Personal Blender

Speed

Personal blenders are designed to yield a single or double serving at a time, especially for smoothies. Since they are not made for heavy-duty jobs, they usually don’t have multiple speed settings. Still, speed is an important factor for a smooth consistency. Some personal blenders have high, low, and pulse settings for more control over speed, while others operate on a single speed setting.

Wattage

The wattage of a personal blender ranges from 175 watts to 900 watts. If you’re looking for a personal blender to take the place of a countertop blender, opting for one with a higher wattage is the safest bet. It’s likely to be more powerful when crushing ice and pulverizing fruits and nuts.

Accessories

Since the container of some personal blenders doubles as a drinking vessel, your model may include a few accessories. Usually, accessories include a lid for travel, various cup or container sizes, interchangeable blades, a user guide, or a recipe book. While these aren’t a requirement for some, they are a nice touch.

Can a personal blender crush ice?

Personal blenders with sharp, stainless steel blades and a powerful motor are capable of crushing ice. If blending ice-cold smoothies is important to you, a powerful personal blender is a must.

Can a personal blender blend leafy greens?

A personal blender can chop and blend leafy greens to make your green smoothie dreams come true. Some personal blenders pulverize leaves more efficiently than others, however.

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Kelly Magyarics is a freelance journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beverages, food, lifestyle, and travel for a variety of digital and print publications. She has written about frozen cocktails, smoothies, and boozy shakes for publications including Liquor.com and Nightclub & Bar. Kelly loves to start the day with a kale smoothie and also makes a mean Piña Colada with dark rum. Read Next: The Best Reusable Water Bottles