Note: right now, Amazon has the BlendTec for only $399!! They also have the Vita-Mix CIA Restaurant Commercial Blender for $498, a pretty killer deal for this commercial workhorse. It even comes in different colors.
A Big Decision: Vitamix vs Blendtec, Blendtec vs Vitamix
As you can probably tell, I’m shopping out blenders. Not regular blenders, mind you, but super blenders. Blenders that will potentially pulverize an ipod (more random blending destruction here).
The two options I’m considering are the Vitamix and the Blendtec. According to this comparison chart, the Blendtec has three horsepower to the Vitamix’s two, and thirteen amps to the Vitamix’s eleven and a half. While both blenders have the same warranty on the overall unit (three years for the comparable Vita-Prep and Total Blender models), the Blendtech’s blade and coupling have a lifetime warranty. The above chart also says that the Blendtec makes better nut butters and doughs than the Vitamix.
Vitamix Blender vs Blendtec Blender – Seriously, What’s the Difference?
Retail on the BT is more expensive than the Vitamix, but on Amazon they’re about the same price. See the Vitamix here and the Blendtec here.
Overall, the above cited chart claims that the Blendtec is better because:
1. Depending on where you shop, the Blendtec costs less than the Vitamix.
2. More Horsepower ( 3-Peak horsepower).
3. Shorter/Wider container fits under cabinets better.
4. The Total Blender container can be used for both wet & dry material, while the Vitamix requires you to buy a separate dry pitcher.
5. The Total Blender supposedly does not need a tamper (because of container design), though some reports I’ve read say that a tamper would be useful and is indeed sometimes necessary.
6. Automatic shut-off feature.
7. Motor does not heat up as fast as the Vitamix.
8. Microprocessor controlled – 100% solid state
9. Easier and faster to clean than the Vitamix.
…but they fail to share the most important information: which is the higher quality (read: longer lasting) product and which blends more effectively? I’m curious about the BT’s multipurpose wet/dry pitcher versus the Vitamix’s need for two seperate pitchers for wet/dry action, and I want to know if it blends less effectively due to its ‘duo’ design.
And if the BT is a better product, why do all of the raw mavens out there still cling to their Vitamixes? Sarma Melngailis, author of Raw Food, Real World and owner of Pure Food and Wine in New York City recommends the Vitamix and says she doesn’t really like the competition. Not sure what difference that makes since she doesn’t give any real info, but she’s a professional chef so her opinion carries some weight.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Which blender do you have, and why did you choose it? If you have links to other comparison resources, I’d love to see them!
Edit: One of our readers, Audrey, was kind enough to provide an interesting link in the comments that might be useful in helping people choose between the Vitamix and BlendTech.
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Personally I would choose the Blendtec blender over the vitamix. Popular Mechanics magazine has a wonderful video on youtube outlining the performance pros and cons of the top 5 blenders including the 2 above mentioned. I would definitely check it out before I purchase anything. Here is link to where you can see the best blender comparison.
I have the Blendtec and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I enjoy a frap every morning since the day we met! I just finished making the boys a strawberry milkshake to DIE FOR! Yay me! =)
Good Luck with your search!
~a
These comments have been very helpful. I wanted to look up reviews on the Vitamix and have never heard of the Blendtech. I’m always tempted to go for the best price for comprable things, but later regret going with a tried and true sure thing that has been around for years. I’m 44 and my mother was using a Vitamix when I was a kid (so at least 30 years now)–she’s always been a kitchen gadget person and had to always the latest and gratest–she still has the same Vitamix sitting on her counter to this day and it still works! I’m not sure if she ever had to replace anything or not, but regardless it’s still working well. I’ve decided to go with the Vitamix 5200 and figure if I need to add on features later I can. Not sure if this will help anyone, but it’s a testimony to the longevity of the Vitamix!
I meant that I later regret NOT going with a tried and true product. Also, the main thing I’m looking to use the Vitamix for is to make vegetable soups and nut butters.
I’ve been impressed with the Blendtec more than the Vita-Mix after seeing displays at Costco (could’ve just been the sales people, I suppose). I like the settings, auto-shutoff, shorter design, etc. Blendtec also comes out of Utah where I live, so I may be partial. This was posted in our local paper: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705365316/Judge-doubles-damages-to-Will-it-blend-company-to-22M.html
I haven’t yet invested in one, but hope to get a Blendtec in my home as soon as I can.
I have used both. Both are AWESOME. Blentec is better. Is there really that much difference? Yes and no. If you want to heat soup in a blender about 1.5 minutes faster go Blentec. Faster Ice cream – Blendtec. Ease of use – advantage Blendtec. Manual speed control – advantage Vitamix. Tamper – Vitamix advatage for having one, but Blendtec advantage for not needing one in ALMOST every circumstance. Faster smoothies – Blendtec. Faster Nut butters – Vitamix actually wins out here because of the tamper. Qulaity of dry goods – Tie. (Blendtec is faster on everything but nut butters and does not require a second jar. Quality is the same.)
The most damning evidence that Blendtec is better is the flyer Vitamix put out about five or six years ago stating “The World’s Best Blender Just Got Better!” In it they highlight all the changes they made to their commercial (smoothie shop) models: Each “improvement” was a copy of the Blendtec design (autopmataic shut-off, square and five sided jars, two blade design, digital solid-state electronics, and the list goes on). In fact, Blendtec/K-TEC just won an 11 million dollar lawsuit for willful patent infringement against Vitamix (a figure which may triple when punitive damages are figured in).
So why do many chefs recommend Vitamix? It’s been around like 80 years or something. Blendtec is not even two decades old. It’s Coke vs Pepsi. In taste tests Pepsi wins by wide margins every-time. But Coke (which I actually prefer) is the old stand-by. Add to this that Vitamix has spent millions focusing on the professional chef market since before Blentec existed and it’s easy to see why Vitamix rules the roost there. To be fair, there is also another reason: Chefs usually like the non-automatic control Vitamix offers. This is hard to duplicate on an automatic machine and Blentec makes NOTHING that uses these older, yet sometimes useful, technologies. For a professional chef the Vitamix may be necessary, the same way a professional golfer may need an array golf clubs which are useless to the less-skilled. Using that control knob to precisely make a creation is great for a chef, but a pain in the A** for someone who just wants to make the damn smoothie. (Blentec runs its cycle, changing speeds automatically and shuts off.) Blendtec does offer manual control BTW but a chef who is used to turning a knob will have difficulty adjusting to using speed arrows which range 1-10.
For the every-day blender user, Blentec is far superior in almost every way. That being said, does it really matter if you can make hot soup in 2 minutes or 3.5 minutes? (And who cooks soup in a Blender anyway?) So while the Blentec does beat Vitamix on most fronts for about the same price, both blenders will accomplish the same thing. The Vitamix just usually takes a little longer.
Side note: The Blentec jars used to have a design flaw and wear out easily. That would be enough to tip the scales in Vitamix’s favor, had Blendtec not corrected the issue.
Another side note: much has been made about exaggerated HP claims. These are PEAK HP. The Blendtec is 2HP (3 peak) while the Vitamix is 1+ HP (nearing 2 peak)
I came on this blog looking for an answer from anyone who have tried and proven vitamix or blendtec, and i am as confused as prior to logging on, lol. It seems there is no clear winner, but just a matter of preference in both machines. I am looking for something that can make hardcore green smoothies, fruit smoothies, soups and easy to clean.. work too jobs, dnt have much kitchen time, need suggestions badly. Ive bought everything magic bullet, jack lalane, breville etc.. I am looking for a real good blender and juicer in one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
If you are primarily looking for something to make your greenshakes, I would HIGHLY recommend the Blendtec 15 Amp. It’s more expensive, but you’re only going to buy one blender, and it’s going to be one of the most important things you put in your kitchen.
I also have a greenstar juicer, but after getting the blendtec I NEVER use it – not once in two years – because I need the fiber and don’t have time to juice and use the fiber in my cooking.
My family and I have greenshakes every day for breakfast, and sometimes dinner (usually soup). I use my 15 Amp Blendtec more than I use my stove or oven (and they were more expensive).
Just my two cents. Mom has the Vitamix, and I use it when I’m at her house (about 7 days a month), but I hate the cleanup and the extra waste from the tamper. Did I say hate? Not a strong enough word… Mom says I’m just not used to it, but I’ve been making green smoothies for 3 years, 7 days a month, so I feel pretty used to it at this point!
Good luck!
I have the Blendtec 15 amp, and my mother has the Vitamix.
I prefer the Blendtec hands down. I use it primarily for raw food purposes: a green shake with fruit and vegis every morning and raw nut butters.
I never have need of a tamper – I’ve found using the larger (3 qt) carafe for my (huge) greenshakes and loading it properly works every time. I use the smaller carafe for sauces and nut butters.
To make a green shake without having to “stir things up,” put a whole apple (pear, handful of berries, etc…), a lemon or lime (peeled), a handful of fresh mint or basil, half an avocado, a little honey/agave, a handful of ice, and a splash of water. Blend on the whole juice cycle. Add 3/4 a pound of spinach – push it to the bottom (you’ll have to – your container will be full!), and top it with another handful of ice.
I find the tamper on Mom’s Vitamix to be a waste of cleaning time, and a waste of product (it’s hard to get it off the tamper unless you run your hand down it – in which case your hand is covered with food – also a waste).
I don’t have the 13 Amp Blendtec, so can’t comment on that. With my blending lifestyle, and the time period I’ll be using it, I’m completely happy with the 15 Amp Blendtec. It’s my favorite and most often used kitchen appliance, as I blend at least one meal a day for my family, and sometimes two.
It did take about 2 weeks to figure out how to best load the Blendtec, but once I figured it out it’s been smooth sailing.
I was even able to take my fresh produce into a bar on Maui and – giving the bartender loading instructions for their 13 Amp Blendtec in a 2 qt jar – had my fresh greenshake while away from home — and with NO problems (despite the bartender’s hesitance when I gave her an apple to put in the blender!). No tamping deliciousness.
If you like manual control, go Vitamix, however you you prefer set-it-andforget-it, go with Blendtec
hands down vitamix, they are similiar, sure. But if you have to pick one it is impossible to be disappointed with a vitamix so if your going to spend big $ you might as well choose the one thats better. You don’t need a tamper stick to do smoothies and shakes, the tamper just adds more versatility and convenience (which of course you want when your spending about 400 bucks and using it for more than a couple decades. Thick mixtures such as ice creams and nut butters are a piece of cake with the tamper. Just to let you know if your a blendtec demonstrator and say you don’t need a tamper- your just misleading and sound silly. You can’t have it but one day when the patent runs out I’m sure the company will pick it up that same day. I just hate being mislead. Because of course I was excited to hear “you don’t need a tamper, were better, more horsepower”. Sure you can get by with smoothies without a tamper. But after solid research I’ve talked to more people and read enough articles around the internet with people who have a blendtec and said they still would like a tamper because of the thicker mixtures they’d like to do. I noticed one thing for sure, after going to both demos vitamix breaks down the little ice crystals in ice cream and raspberry and flax seeds in smoothies much better every time. I think it is because vitamix blades are flat edged and emulsify better than those blades of a blendtec (despite horse power). Next time you see a demo of each ask to take a peak at the containers and feel the weight and the structure of the blades take a close peak at the consistency (just dont chug the smoothie or gulp the ice cream) and you will see exactly what I mean. So along with the facts that a vitamix is a better food processor, better at thick mixtures, quieter machine, much better thorough recipe book and better @ breaking down seeds, I obviously went with the Vitamix and haven’t been disappointed.
The 2 most important things here is your health, and to get your moneys worth. You want to eliminate any barrier between you and healthy eating and with the above being said make your own decision but I believe the Vitamix eliminates all limitations to healthy eating even though it is possible to love both. You will not be disappointed with vitamix.
Nathan
I bought the Vita mixer at costco in March and after three months of working out, eating less process foods and portion control, my blood panel has completly reversed from years of bad blood levels. being diebetic, my blood sugars were well above normal AIC = 8.9, HDL < 40, trigilceride in the 277 range. now, my AIC is 5.8, HDS = 48 and trigilceride is 117. BTW, my weight went from 270 to 239. this machine is easy to use, easy to clean up. makes awesome healthy smoothies and desserts! Can't compare Vita Mix to others but it does what it says it will do and should be a on everyone's counter that wants to eat well and be healthy. The blood work says it all! good luck in you decision but do it today!
As many people say both blenders are great and it is a matter of preference. I went with the Vitamix and am VERY happy I did. It makes incredibly smooth green smoothies and I don’t need any tamper.
This comparison was golden – it really helps the decision:
Thanks all for the help!
Have owned both. Sold the Vita-Mix because of the overheating and self-shutdown issue. I like my Blendtec for everything, except that the canister is shattering after only 683 uses! I like the motor, the cycles, almost everything better than my Vita-mix.
there are cheaper once but if you need good quality that will last many years go for these
I think I will get a blendtec, because I know more people with them. It is compelling to hear that many chefs use vm, but I am not a chef.
I like the Blendtec. The vitamix is good too but after using both I have just come to appreciate my Blendtec day after day! But I couldn’t say one bad thing about the Vitamix
I, too, was frustrated by all the similarities between the 2 machines. Made it very hard to decide. Main goal was to make green smoothies and hummus…more healthy eating. First bought a Blendtec, but ultimately returned it for a Vitamix. Bottom line for me was being able to control the cycles manually. I felt the Blendtec over-processed my poor, helpless veggies. Yes, they’re both powerful blender, but sometimes you want a light touch and I could take charge with the VM.
People underestimate the fact that Blendtec requires you to be able to operate a digital lcd interface. Those turned off by technology won’t like that brand.
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