When it comes to making your own smoothies, shakes, acai bowls, etc., you can invest several hundred dollars on a blender or you can choose to go with the best blender under $50. This will all depend on what you are looking to get out of your blending, how often you will be using it, and certainly what your budget is.
Whether or not you choose the cheaper or the more expensive is not a guarantee that your meal will taste any differently. Blenders have certainly become an essential need in just about any home as persons have become more and more attentive and creative with what they put in their bodies. Some persons’ needs are limited to the everyday smoothies, green juices, and maybe a milkshake while others want to grind, puree, prep, make nut butter, etc.
If you are just looking for the basic blender or one that does not break your pocket, here is a list of the best 10 blenders under $50 that will get the job done right.
Top 10 Blenders Under $50
(Please note that prices were quoted in Canadian but may be converted to US$ based on your region)
1. Ninja QB900B Blender
The Ninja QB900B Blender is a personal-size blender that is also a food processor and comes with a 48-ounce pitcher and a 16-ounce chopper bowl. As you can well imagine the pitcher will take care of your smoothies and shakes, while the chopper bowl is designed for food processing.
Those familiar with, and are a fan of the Ninja brand will not be disappointed in this under $50 blender as it does live up to the brand name. It features a 400-watt motor power which works quite efficiently even with a 48-ounce pitcher and blends your frozen fruits without any issues. It has a pulse feature for your convenience — a good feature when it comes to motor preservation.
The Ninja QB900B Blender is quite a unique design and is certainly different from other blenders from Ninja. It is designed with an upside-down blade so that you will put the motor on top of the jars, instead of the jars on top of the motor. It is equipped with a spill splash guard and a non-slip base.
Despite the reverse design, the blender is pretty easy to clean as everything, with the exception of the blender powerhead, is dishwasher safe. For the powerhead, it is recommended that you use a damp sponge to clean. But be careful that no water gets inside this area as it can damage the motor.
PROS
- Dual-use – blender and food processor
- Pulse feature
- 48-ounce pitcher
- 16-ounce chopper bowl
- 400-watt motor
- Unique design
- Spill splash guard
- Non-slip base.
- Stackable blades for better performance.
CONS
- Small food processing bowl
- No multiple speed options
CHECK PRICE
2. Magic Bullet MBR-1101G Blender
- Fast blending bullet
- Cleans easily
- Includes 3 to-go cups
- Comes with additional lids
- 10-second recipe book
- Can chop, mix, blend, whip, grind
3. Hamilton Beach 51101BA Blender
The Hamilton Beach 51101BA Single Serve has a 14-ounce blending jar that also functions as a portable travel cup. It not only gets the job done right but is priced below $50! Though the price may be cheaper than many on the market does not mean it is not effective. In fact, quite the opposite.
While there are different Hamilton Beach single-serve blenders to choose from, like the Hamilton-Beach Single Serve Blender 14 oz. – 51107C; Hamilton Beach 51101, Personal Blender with Travel Lid; Hamilton Beach 51101B Personal Blender with Travel Lid; and the Hamilton Beach 51103C, the 51101BA, seems to be the most preferred by buyers.
Any of these Hamilton Beach Personal Blenders allows you to mix a quick drink that you can take right off the blender and go by just switching to the traveling lid. Each cup is made with a no-spill travel lid so you can drop the cup filled with your blend in your bag as you head out the door and there would be no spill!
This tiny 1.8-pounder comes in a range of bright colors — — Black, Emerald, Raspberry, and Monaco blue. However, at 175 watts, the motor is less powerful and may need to rest between blends, but it can handle basic blending without interruption. The cups, lids, and blades are dishwasher-safe, but if you want them to last longer, you may prefer to hand wash.
The Hamilton Beach 51101BA comes with just one button and one speed. It also comes with a one-year warranty and when you purchase at Amazon you have the option of adding an additional protection plan from between 2 – 4 years.
- Low price
- Ideal for single-serve
- Can use at home or at work
- Handles nut butter
- Acts as a travel jar
- Easy to clean
CONS
- Not designed to handle whole fruits
CHECK PRICE
4. Oster 8-Speed Blender
The Oster 8-Speed Blender comes with a glass jar and yet still costs under $50. So if you are a glass fan this is ideal for you. It comes in different colors to choose from such as red, raspberry, black, or white.
The size jar is ideal for 4 person-servings. It has a 700 peak Watt to make blending quicker and with little or no strain. Of course, as its name suggests, you can choose from 8-Speeds complete with the pulse feature. It can blend up to 6 cups of your favorite juice with its stainless steel ice crusher blade.
The Oster 8-Speed Blender is dishwasher-safe glass and its jar is thermal shock tested to withstand extreme temperature changes. This means you can do our hot beverage without worry of damage.
PROS
- 6-cup/48-ounce capacity
- Glass jar
- Jar is thermal shock tested to withstand extreme temperature
- Various color to choose from
- 8 speeds
- Pulse feature
- Not as quiet while blending
CHECK PRICE
5. Magic Bullet 250-Watt Blender
While the motor is not as powerful it does do what the maker intended for it to do and will serve you pretty well for shakes smoothies, acai bowls, etc. So throw in your favorite fruits, vegetables, or spices and it will transform them effortlessly. The blender is designed with two separate blade types, the Magic Bullet Cross Blade, and the Magic Bullet Flat Milling blade to get the job done just right. They can either be used together or separately.
The included flip-flop lids ensure that you can drink right out of the cups. You get one 12-ounces and one 22-ounces cup. These cups not only work on his particular blender but are compatible with the lineup of other blenders from the manufacturer.
PROS
- comes with 11 pieces
- Chop, blend, and mix a wide variety of ingredients
- Comes with a recipe book
- Made of high impact plastic
CONS
- Less powerful motor than others in its class
CHECK PRICE
6. Brentwood JB-220R, 12-Speed Pulse Blender
The Brentwood Appliances JB-220R boasts 12 speeds to get the job done to your choice. Its traditional shape and power make it hard to imagine that it cost just around $50. The blender comes with a 300-watt power motor and a 50-ounce BPA-free jar. It is very compact and can get your smoothies and shakes deliciously prepared in no time.
Not only does it come with 12 speeds but also pulse function settings, which is another rare feature in this price range. You can even chop, grate, and blend, and it is quite easy to use. It will handle hard fruits without moving around due to its non-slip grips.
The Brentwood Appliances JB-220R can crush ice and fruits at the same time with its stainless steel blades. However, you may want to avoid overloading it with ice in one go as this can cause strain on the motor. The jar and lids are dishwasher safe, and the power unit can be cleaned with a damp soapy rag.
PROS
- 12 speeds
- BPA free plastic jar
- Control panel
- Pulse function
- 50-ounce jar
CONS
- Burning smell when blending
CHECK PRICE
7. Oster BLSTPB-WBL
This small compact, easy-to-use Oster BLSTPB-WBL is a 20-ounce blending cup and travel sport bottle in one, all you have to do is switch the lid. It is equipped with a 250-watt power base to blend your personal favorite in seconds. You can blend your preferred smoothie or shake right in the sport bottle and go! The unique design is artistically done for carrying around. Not only is it beautifully designed but it comes in multiple colors to enhance your surroundings. This is a wonderful investment for persons who are always on the go but wants to have their nutrition while they do so.
The Oster BLSTPB-WBL features a one-touch blending option that makes blending seamless and easy. The cup is BPA-free, while the lids and cup can be washed in a dishwasher, and it’s easy to store. Its sleek body is convenient to take even in your lunch bag as it is leakproof. The Oster BLSTPB-WBL comes in a variety of colors — blue, green, orange, red, and pink.
From personal use, I have found this one-touch blender very efficient in blending smoothies, shakes, and protein drinks. Its cost and attractiveness may draw buyers to want to try it and its efficiency will make them want to keep it. Despite its small size, its blades cut even through ice, fruits, and vegetables combine, in a matter of minutes. It is great for your active lifestyle! But again, do not overfill with ice in one go.
PROS
- One-touch blending
- Resettable fuse
- Comes in multiple colors
- Coverts to travel sport bottle
- Weighs only 1 lb
CONS
- Cannot blend whole fruits without pressuring the motor
CHECK PRICE
8. La Reveuse 250-Watt Personal Blender
PROS
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Four leave blades
- Easy to clean
CONS
- 1 speed
CHECK PRICE
9. Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender (56208)
The Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender is equipped with 5 Functions including One-Touch AutoSmoothie. It comes with a 40 oz Glass Jar to give you five glasses of your favorite blend.
Blending with the one-touch auto will take 45 seconds to achieve the perfect smoothie. Other blending functions of the Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender include pulse, ice crush, and puree. It has the option to craft recipes like icy drinks and protein shakes.
It comes with 700 watts of peak blending power to crush ice, puree, mix and blend. It comes with a 40 oz. glass jar’s with a patented wave action system designed to pull ingredients down into the blender blades for smooth results. It is made with stainless steel ice-crushing blades that can stand up to large, frozen fruits and other normally difficult-to-crush ingredients.
PROS
- Clear lid insert act as measuring cup
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Serves 5 persons
- Easy storage
- Crushes ice efficiently
CONS
- Loud when crushing ice
CHECK PRICE
10. La Reveuse Multi-Functional 400-watt Pulse Blender
The La Reveuse Multi-Functional Pulse countertop blender is geared with 400 watts of power performance and a four layers 4 blade assembly that provides total crushing technology. As a result, it can handle ice, frozen fruit, frozen and fresh veggies, and even meat by turning them into a very consistent smooth puree. It comes with a 4.2-cup chopping Jar, for Blending, mixing, and mincing.
The pulse technology is in the form of a lid with a safety locking handle that you press and hold to run. This allows you to effectively control the consistency of your blend. This blender that costs less than $50 is great for meat chopping, smoothies, shakes, seasonings, and more.
This multi-function blender which is also a food processor has a 1L capacity jar or a 4.2 cup capacity. It has overheating prevention technology & an automatic recovery function to ensure that it does not overheat. The parts are dishwasher safe.
PROS
- Multifunction blender
- Pulse technology
- Can handle meats
- Can handle frozen fruits
- Ice crushing feature
- Overheating prevention technology
CONS
- 1 speed
CHECK PRICE
BUYER’S GUIDE:
When shopping for a blender under $50, do not expect to find one with all the bells and whistles that a $300-$700 blender may have. While you can find some from our list that can in fact serve your entire family, for the most part, they are personal blenders with smaller capacities. So if you are indeed looking for a blender just for your individual use, or a small family size of up to five people then you can pick from the list provided.
The blenders that made it on this list are some of the best under $50. If you are not looking to do much more than blending then you can certainly get a blender in this price range that will be ideal for you.
Here are some things you should be looking for when you are buying a blender under $50.
Power
The power watt of your blender will determine the strength of the blend. However, if you are looking for a single-serve personal blender or a blender just for smoothies and shakes 250 – 700 watt will certainly get the job done to satisfaction. If you are looking to do more you may want one with a higher power wattage from 500 onwards. If you are looking for something to crush ice and turn it into snow, then you may want to go with a higher watt which may not fall into this budget. If you want to crush ice in a lower wattage blender, put smaller amounts of ice cubes in at a time. Do not overload your blender in one go.
Of course, before you choose your blender make sure you are clear about what you want it to do and choose the power accordingly. Many of the blenders under $50 will not be able to handle green leafy vegetables well as it is hard for a blender to process this efficiently. But the key is to ensure that the blender you are choosing has enough blender power or the right motor that’s powerful enough to work for you.
Durability
While we do not profess that blenders under $50 will last 10 years, we do know that if you take care of them, they will serve you for a while. Taking care of your blender Uner $50 means not overloading it especially with ice and whole fruits, as this can cause the motor to overwork and burn out quickly. The material plays a big role in the durability and lifespan of a blender, therefore, opt for metal or high-quality plastic bases.
Dishwasher Safe
Just about all the blenders on this list have parts that are dishwasher friendly, thus making them easy to clean. Remember that the base should be specially cared for as getting it wet can damage the motor instantly. Always clean the base with a wet sponge or a damp soapy washrag. Cleaning your blender after each use prevents any build-up of bacteria that can get int0 your next blend and cause health issues.
If you are looking to blend on a regular basis, choosing a blender with a pulse button is the better choice as the pulse feature makes for automatic blending instead of having to hold the button down for minutes, sometimes even after the food has already been blended. Running the motor for long periods can result in burning out of the motor sooner than hoped. The pulse feature allows you to alternate between manually holding the button and using the pulse.
Warranties and Parts
While the blenders do come with warranties, it can be tedious and costly to make a claim especially if you are expected to return the damaged item. In cases like these, it is better to invest in a new blender. You can also check on Amazon for replacement parts for your blender if need be. Also, some blenders come with jugs that are compatible with other blenders within the brand and so if you are looking to buy a new blender you can do so with that in mind. It will still cost the same but at least you will have more to work with in terms of your old blending jars, cups, and lids to use with your new blender.
Noise
Smaller blenders tend to be less noisy than larger ones, though you will not find a quiet blender in general. But the more powerful the motor, the more noise you tend to get. Once you invest in a blender you will not be able to get away from the noise.
Blades and Accessories
The main function of a blender is to blend, everything else is secondary. Therefore, the blade technology that is responsible for blending is a key factor. Choose a high-quality stainless-steel blade, which is still available with blenders under $50.
Some models do other functions other than just blend, and others will come with different accessories. Ensure that you do not get distracted by the accessories and different functions before confirming that the bender is good at doing your main function first and foremost. A number of persons will choose blenders for the additional functions, without ever using those functions, or by the number of additional travel cups and lids, or even by the wide array of colors that they can choose from. However, not all are worth the spend if they cannot first and foremost blend your smoothie and shakes the way you want them to.
Glass vs Plastic
Choosing between glass and plastic will be a personal choice. Having either one will not affect the outcome of your smoothie. Most blenders under $50 tend to be BPA-free plastic, though you will find blenders like the Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender (56208) and the Oster 8-Speed Blender that are under $50 that do come with glass jars.
Hot or Cold
For the most part, your personal blenders are specially designed for smoothes and shakes which are usually cold foods. Making hot beverages like soups etc. in them is not recommended as they are not designed with this in mind. However, if you want to make hot liquids, you do need a glass jar, not plastic. Some Oster blenders enable you to occasionally blend hot beverages without any issues. However, blending hot liquids can wear out the o-ring of your blender in a short time.
FAQ About Blenders Under $50
Q: How long will my blender under $50 last?
A: Blenders under $50 tend not to last as long as the more expensive ones with added warranties. However, taking good care of your blender by getting rid of blended particles after each blend through the washing of detachable parts, and wiping down your base can improve the lifespan. Ensure you do not allow liquid to seep into your motor. The lifespan also depends on how often you use it. So you can have your blender for months or a few years.
Q: What can I use my blender for?
A: What you use your blender for should be depended on what it can do. if it was only designed to make smoothies and shakes use it just for that instead of trying to make soups, etc. If you need your blender for other functions it is best to choose one that has multifunctions.
Q: Does the wattage make a difference?
A: The power watt on a blender does make a difference. The higher the watt the more the motor is able to do for you. However, having a blender with 180-watts is still very ideal if all you need it to do is blend your fruits and veggie smoothies.
Q: Can my blender under $50 crush ice?
Some of the blenders listed above boast of the ability to crush ice like the La Reveuse Multi-Functional Pulse countertop blender, the Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender, and the Oster 8-Speed Blender. However, they may not crush your ice to snowy flakes. And while you can add ice to your smoothie, do not add too much ice in the blender at a time as this can put a strain on the motor. The amount of ice added should be dependent on the size of your power motor.
Q: Are plastic jars really safe?
A: Once you choose a blender with BPA-free plastic it is completely safe for use.
CONCLUSION:
Before you choose your blender ensure that you know the functions you want from it and what you need it to do for you. This will help in narrowing down your search. For example, if you are an on-the-go person who blends your own smoothie before heading out the door then any of the single-serve blenders would work for you. If you are looking for food prep along with blending then choose one that offers food prep like the Ninja QB900B Blender, or the Magic Bullet MBR-1101G Blender. If you want to do a little more than than just blend, then a multi-function blender like the Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender (56208), or the La Reveuse Multi-Functional 400-watt Pulse Blender are among the best options. Thus you first need to decide what you want from a blender.
Because you are on a budget does not mean you cannot get a good functioning, good-looking blender that you are proud to own. Persons have been surprised by the performance of some of these blenders on the list and are quite happy they did not spend a load on other more expensive types.
The list above will in fact give you what you are looking for in your blender on a budget. You may not get the best in the blending world but you will get what you pay for and even more. The aim is to get the best in the category that you are paying for that can offer you as much as possible. The reviews above show you the best quality in the category you are looking at and are very capable of doing what you want from a blender.
Happy Blending!