Are Vitamix Blenders Worth the High Price? (In-Depth Review)

Are Vitamix blenders worth it? Why are they so expensive? What makes Vitamix better than other brands?

If you’re considering Vitamix, these questions are likely on your mind — especially when there are quality alternatives for a fraction of the price.

When it comes to blenders, Vitamix is the cream of the crop, the pick of the litter, the gold standard. Whatever you want to call it, Vitamix blenders are the best you can buy. But they come with one obvious downside—they’re expensive.

So, are Vitamix blenders worth it? The short answer is, yes. Vitamix blenders are worth it because they’re more powerful, durable, and versatile than the competition. On top of that, they’re engineered to last.

Whether you’re blending a smoothie, soup, or making nut butter, no other brand can deliver the power and precision of Vitamix.

The metal-drive system and hardened stainless steel blades ensure you get the same results from the first to the thousandth blend.

The long-lasting motor has built-in overload protection and cooling technology to prevent overheating and keep the system running smoothly for years to come.

Every blender comes with a generous warranty. So, if anything breaks, Vitamix covers the repair or replacement (they also pay for the shipping).

However, under 2% of Vitamix blenders are returned for service in the U.S., so the chances that you’ll have an issue are slim.

If you’re still not convinced that Vitamix blenders are worth the high price, keep reading.

In this in-depth review of Vitamix blenders, I break down the pros, cons, and everything in between.

By the end, you’ll have all the facts to decide for yourself if Vitamix is worth it.

Let’s get started!

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Click the links below to navigate the review:

• Vitamix Legacy vs. Ascent Series: What’s the Difference?
• How Much Do Vitamix Blenders Cost?
• What Makes Vitamix Blenders So Great?
• What Are Others Saying About Vitamix?
• What Are the Downsides?
• Are Certified Reconditioned Vitamix Blenders Worth It?
• Bottom Line: Are Vitamix Blenders Worth It?

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Vitamix Legacy vs. Ascent Series: What’s the Difference?

One of the most frequently asked questions I get about Vitamix is:

What’s the difference between the Legacy Series and Ascent series blenders?

Vitamix offers two categories of blenders: Legacy and Ascent Series.

While both deliver power, versatility, and precision, some significant differences may impact its overall value to you.

Vitamix Legacy:

Vitamix Legacy blenders feature simple, intuitive controls, including a power switch, speed and pulse control switch, and a dial to adjust blending intensity.

Don’t let the lack of features or tech trick you; Legacy blenders still provide the same superior power and performance. They just lack the bells and whistles you get with an Ascent model.

Legacy blenders come in a mix of styles with different container sizes and base colors such as white, red, or black.

Vitamix Ascent:

Vitamix Ascent Series blenders offer enhanced features, including a digital display, touch screen controls, wireless connectivity, programming capability, synching with the Vitamix Perfect Blend app, and automatic detection and adjustment of blending times.

You have the option of purchasing a variety of sizes of containers that feature Vitamix self-detection technology.

Ascent blenders come in several base colors, including stainless steel, and, as you could guess, the Ascent lineup is more expensive than the Legacy.

Vitamix offers a range of blenders that fall under the Legacy and Ascent Series. There are variations in style, but the functions are similar within the respective categories.

Both Legacy and Ascent Series blenders offer certified reconditioned models, which I’ll cover later in this review (skip ahead).

You can check out the full lineup of both Legacy and Ascent Series blenders on Vitamix.com or Amazon.

How Much Do Vitamix Blenders Cost?

You know that Vitamix blenders are expensive, but how much do they actually cost? And, how does the price compare to other options?

It’s important to note that prices for each blender vary by model and size.

For example, a Legacy blender with a smaller, 48-ounce container featuring pulse and variable speed control is much less expensive than an Ascent blender with a 64-ounce container, programmable timer, touchscreen, and wireless capability.

To help you get a better sense of how much Vitamix costs, check out the table below where I compare the current prices of some of the most popular options. I’ve also added some lower-priced competitors for contrast.

Note: These prices are pulled in real-time from Amazon, but you can also view the prices on Vitamix.com (sometimes they run exclusive deals).

What Makes Vitamix Blenders So Great?

Vitamix blenders get a lot of hype, and rightfully so. But what makes them so great?

In this section, I provide a rundown of the five most significant factors that lend to its credibility in the marketplace.

• Power
• Precision
• Versatility
• Durability
• Reputation

Power

Vitamix blenders are incredibly powerful. They can easily break down the toughest ingredients, including frozen fruits, parmesan cheese, firm veggies, and much more.

They can turn a batch of roasted cauliflower into warm soup and peanuts into peanut butter in minutes.

Making pizza? Vitamix blenders can knead the dough.

With Vitamix, you’ll never have to worry: will my blender be able to handle that?

With that said, Vitamix is technically not the most powerful blender on the market. There are several other brands with more powerful motors.

However, Vitamix maintains that it’s not about having the most power. What matters is how you focus the energy; a concept they call Trained Power.

When discussing power, most blenders refer to wattage. The average power range for blenders runs between 200 and 1200 watts.

Instead of watts, Vitamix uses horsepower to measure the power of its blenders. But, you can convert horsepower to watts (one horsepower equals 746 watts) to easily compare power across different brands.

Vitamix blenders have a peak horsepower of 2.2, but it varies slightly by model.

The Ascent blenders have an electrical rating of 120 volts, 50/ 60 hertz, and 12 amps, which is about 1,440 watts (much higher than average) and has an operating horsepower of 1.93. Legacy blenders such as the Explorian series have a peak horsepower of 2.

To see how Vitamix compares to the competition in terms of power, check out the chart below.

Bottom line—Vitamix motors are designed to combine the right amount of torque and speed to pulverize even the firmest ingredients in record time.

Precision

While some blenders may have a pulse setting or a high/low blending speed option, Vitamix offers multiple speed settings to get precise results.

You can gradually or quickly choose a speed from 1 to 10 (10 being the fastest and most powerful) with a simple twist of a dial. Having the ability to reduce or intensify the speed of the blades gives you power over the texture of your blends.

Each Vitamix blender (including space-saving models) comes with variable control settings to control the speed and intensity of the whirring steel blades.

Ascent Blender Speed Controls: These models include a pulse control that delivers a burst of power by simply pressing the touchpad.

Legacy Blender Speed Controls: These models offer a low setting that you can adjust with the variable speed dial, or you can switch to the high setting, which is a step above the highest variable setting (10).

Why is it important to have speed control?

Speed controls allow you to produce different textures depending on the recipe. 

Having the option to adjust the speeds will allow you to make your blends and thick and chunky or velvety smooth as you desire.

Plus, if you want to drink a smoothie with an added bulky green, such as raw kale or swiss chard, you’ll need the right amount of power and speed to pulverize it, so it flows effortlessly through your straw.

Speed control allows you to create everything from chunky salsa to whole-food juices, and the tamper that comes with every blender gives you an extra tool to help process thicker blends.

Versatility

Using a Vitamix gives you the ability to make smoothies and frozen drinks and hot soups (or cold if you like gazpacho).

It’s a multi-function blender that can double as a food prep tool for grinding, chopping, juicing, and pureeing.

When you think of it that way, purchasing a Vitamix can help you save money on multiple appliances such as a food processor, juicer, or immersion blender, helping you reclaim your counter space.

With a Vitamix, you can make things like (see ideas on Vitamix.com):

• Smoothies
• Slushies
• Sorbets
• Ice cream
• Salad dressing
• Sauces
• Purees
• Nut butter
• Hummus
• Whole food juices
• Nut meal
• Whole grain flour
• Bread dough
• Chunky or smooth dips

With programmed settings on the Ascent Blenders, such as smoothies and soups, you can make recipes while you tend to other things in the kitchen.

With Vitamix, you’ll also enjoy the versatility of size and strength.

If you have space constraints like in a college dorm or at the office, try a space-saving model.

If your cabinets hang low, consider a low-profile container for your base.

Want different sized containers for different recipes? Vitamix has multiple sizes available.

Need the power of Vitamix for your business instead? There are commercial options available to meet the demands of continuous use.

Durability

Vitamix blenders are engineered to last.

While other lower-priced blenders may need a replacement after a few years, some Vitamix blenders have been reported to last 30 years or more.

Can you imagine not having to buy a blender for the next decade or so?

Some blenders might be able to hang with you for a year or two, or even five. But, if you’re replacing them frequently, it can add up.

With Vitamix, you pay a hefty startup cost, but it might be the last blender you ever need to buy.

So, how does Vitamix last so long?

The Vitamix owes its life to these built-to-last features:

Metal Drive System: The container is connected directly to the motor base’s metal drive system to deliver power, which causes less stress on the unit while blending.

Hardened Stainless Steel Blades: The aircraft-grade steel used to form the blades are sharp and designed to pulverize ingredients of varying thickness.

Angled Containers: The shape of the containers allow the blended ingredients to fold back into the path of the blades creating a controlled vortex and eliminating stray chunks.

Cool-Running Motor: The motor keeps an even torque and monitors the temperature to combat overheating and will shut off automatically if there is an issue.

Now let’s talk about the warranty. Just in case you get a dud or one that conks out early on, new models are backed by a 10-year full warranty covering parts, performance, and even shipping (both ways) if you need to return it.

Reconditioned Vitamix blenders come with a 5-year warranty, but you can extend the warranty for a fee.

It’s reassuring to have the warranty to fall back on, but since less than 2% of in-warranty products currently in use nationwide have been returned, the chances you ever need it are slim.

Reputation

Vitamix has been around since 1921. The family-owned, Cleveland, Ohio-based company still has the original log cabin that served as the home office built by Bill Barnard, son of the founder, William Grover Barnard.

William, known as “Papa,” was a traveling salesman and, after seeing his first blender in 1937, vowed to bring his own to the marketplace. He called it the Vita-Mix because “vita” means life and believed the blender would help people consume more life-giving, healthy foods.

By 1969, Vitamix had created the Vitamix 3600, the first blender with the capability to make hot soup, ice cream, and milled grain on top of standard blender creations. It could even knead bread dough.

Vitamix continues to be a multi-generational family business focused on high-quality products driven by home chefs and professional chefs alike.

It’s a tested, reliable, award-winning brand used in homes and businesses across the globe.

Oh, and these blenders also have a good reputation for easy cleanup. Just pour in warm water and a few drops of dish soap, blend on high for one minute, rinse, and dry.

What Are Others Saying About Vitamix?

Vitamix is often the frontrunner in head-to-head tests against other top-of-the-line blenders.

Here are a few accolades and nods for the long-respected brand:

Wirecutter: Best Blender – Vitamix 5200 (see full review)

Wirecutter, a New York Times consumer review site, calls the Vitamix 5200 “…worth the investment for its powerful motor, nuanced controls, and long-lasting reliability.”

Good Housekeeping: Best Overall Blender – Vitamix E310 Explorian, and Best Large Capacity Blender – Vitamix Professional Series (see full review)

Good Housekeeping calls Vitamix a “cult favorite” with controls that are “intuitive and fuss-free.” The Vitamix E310 Explorian had superior performance in Good Housekeeping lab tests and is touted as one of the best performing, durable blenders on the market.

Forbes: Best High-End Blender on the Market – Vitamix Professional Series 750 (see full review)

Forbes named the Vitamix Professional Series 750 the Best High-End Blender, praising its 2-horsepower motor, pre-programmed settings, and self-cleaning ability.

CNET: Best High-End Blender – Vitamix 7500 (see full review)

CNET recently named the Vitamix 7500 the Best High-End Blender, calling it a “beast of a blender” and praising its power and reliability.

Consumer Reports: Blender Face-Off (see full review)

Consumer Reports has run “Blender Face-Offs” pitting Vitamix against other popular brands such as Blendtec and Ninja and crowned Vitamix the winner against Blendtec, but chose Ninja over Vitamix, mostly based on price.

All in all, Vitamix has positive reviews from top publications, consumer review sites, and verified purchasers via Vitamix.com and Amazon. Time and time again, it’s praised for durability, versatility, innovation, and power.

What Are the Downsides?

Without a doubt, the most significant downside of Vitamix blenders is that they’re incredibly expensive.

For the price of one Vitamix, you can often purchase three or four mid-range blenders.

Thankfully, you can spread out Vitamix blender payments, depending on where you buy. For example, if you buy on Vitamix.com, you can opt for a payment plan through PayPal Credit to spread the cost (terms apply, see Vitamix.com for details).

Another downside of Vitamix blenders is that they’re heavy—the Ascent Series A3500 model is just shy of 15 pounds.

The bases also have a wide footprint, taking up a fair amount of room on your counter, which is not ideal for small spaces. For example, the base of the Professional Series 750 model is 8.5 inches by 8.5 inches.

You might even find that the taller containers won’t allow you to fit a fully assembled blender on your counter underneath your cabinets. For reference, the Legacy 7500 model is 17.5 inches tall, including the base and container. 

Then, there’s the noise factor. At its top speeds, a Vitamix blender can belt out a sound between 80 to 90 decibels.  To give you an idea of just how loud that can be, here are other sound scenarios that are just as loud:

• Running a garbage disposal
• Factory background noise
• Propeller plane flying over 1,000 feet from the ground
• A diesel train running at 45 miles per hour 100 feet away

The good news is that Vitamix blends quickly, so your ears aren’t exposed for extended lengths of time. Prolonged exposure (8 hours) to 80 decibels could cause hearing damage.

If you are using the blender daily, you might want to consider wearing noise-canceling headphones or less expensive noise reduction earmuffs to protect your ears.

Finally, these units are powerful and can shake whatever table or counter you’re blending on, so pick a stable surface. Keep an eye on your blender to make sure it doesn’t shake its way right off the edge of your counter. Just to be safe, I recommend keeping it a couple of feet from the edge of the counter.

Are Certified Reconditioned Vitamix Blenders Worth It?

If you love what you hear about Vitamix, but can’t justify the price, you can buy Vitamix reconditioned models on Vitamix.com or Amazon for a steep discount compared to brand-new models.

A quick search on Amazon for “Vitamix reconditioned” reveals hundreds of five-star reviews from delighted customers—a good indicator that these are worth a look.

Each blender is reconditioned by hand through a meticulous process, including a 17-point checklist for quality. Vitamix also offers a new cookbook, container, lid, and tamper with each reconditioned blender.

Price-wise, you can expect a savings of about $100 off of the original price, but overall, you can expect a 15% savings or more in comparison to new models. Plus, these models are backed by a 5-year warranty and a no-risk guarantee.

Bottom Line: Are Vitamix Blenders Worth It?

Now that you know all the important facts about Vitamix blenders, the question is:

Are they worth the high price?

In my opinion, yes, Vitamix blenders are absolutely worth the premium price. I’ve been using mine (the A3300) almost every day for several years, and I have zero regrets.

However, that’s my opinion, and there are situations in which a Vitamix blend is not worth it.

To help you decide for yourself, consider this…

Vitamix blenders are worth it if:

• You aren’t on a budget and don’t mind spending more for a quality product.
• You intend to use your blender frequently (even every day).
• You enjoy making a variety of foods (beyond smoothies).
• You’d like to replace several countertop appliances for food prep.
• You want different speed control options.
• You have plenty of counter space.
• You like quick blending and easy cleanup.
• You want the security of a 5 to 10-year warranty.

Vitamix blenders are NOT worth it if:

• You’re on a limited budget and don’t plan on using your blender frequently.
• You want a blender for a specific purpose that doesn’t involve blending bulky foods.
• You want a quiet blender (Vitamix can emit about 80 decibels of sound).
• You have limited counter space.
• You prefer a lightweight, streamlined blender with a small footprint.

If you think you might be leaning toward a Vitamix blender, use this blender recommender tool on Vitamix.com to figure out which model is best for you.

Once you find the right one, get the best deal by comparing prices on Vitamix.com and Amazon. 

If you found this review helpful, you should also check out:

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• Cleanblend vs. Vitamix: Which Blenders Are Better?
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• KitchenAid Tilt-Head vs. Bowl-Lift: Which Mixer Is Right for You?
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