Best Blender Under 100

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Last Updated on January 2, 2024

A blender should always be fast, effective, and convenient. Unfortunately, some people experience getting used to their old, worn-out blenders. And since the wear and tear happen gradually, people usually don’t notice just how inconvenient their blenders have become.Whether you use a standard countertop blender or a personal blender, the motor loses its power and becomes inconsistent after a while. And it will have a harder time performing more demanding tasks like crushing ice and frozen fruit.

Another worrying sign that your blender is too old is when the power cord frays. And if you leave it unchecked for a long time, there’s a risk of the blender catching fire.So whether you’re actively looking for a new blender or just came across this article, you can rest easy knowing that this article will cover the best blender under 100 currently on the market that don’t cost a fortune.

At a Glance

• Oster Pro 1200 – Best Overall Pick
• Ninja BL610 – Best for Quiet Blending
• NutriBullet ZNBF30400Z – Most Versatile Blender
• Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender – Budget Pick

The 4 Best Blenders Under $100 in 2022

We’ve compiled a list of the most promising blenders we found under the $100 mark. Of course, a more expensive, premium blender would out-perform them in blending power, but we’ve made sure this list has blenders with the most bang for your buck.

1. Oster Pro 1200 – Best Overall Pick

In our opinion, the Oster Pro 1200 is the best blender under $100 for most people, and here’s why.

The Oster Pro 1200 blender has a food processor attachment and still comes out less than $100. The blender also has seven speeds and three pre-determined, smart settings that offer one-touch controls for different consistencies to make salsas, smoothies, and milkshakes.

Unlike most blenders with a plastic container, this one has a glass jar that’s more heat-resistant from both solid ingredients and liquid ones. It’s relatively small, though, with the pitcher measuring only 48 ounces (6 cups, or about 1.4 liters).

And if you hate blade jams and ingredients getting stuck away from the blades, you’re in luck. The Oster Pro 1200 has dual direction blade technology, which kicks the blades in reverse and forces ingredients down into the blades. It also makes blade jams virtually non-existent.

And for smoothie lovers, the Oster Pro 1200 also doubles as a personal blender. It has a 24-ounce smoothie cup attachment that allows you to blend up your fruits into delicious smoothies and drink them right away in the same container.

The Oster Pro 1200 is made of plastic that’s dishwasher safe, and it truly is a powerful blender, sporting a 1200 watt motor that easily blends tough ingredients like frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as crush ice cubes like they’re nothing.The blender also offers pulse control that gives you the option to blend food to your preferred size and texture. And on top of that, the Oster Pro 1200 has a 50% larger blade system than previous

Oster models, which gives you smoother results faster than ever.Another perk of the Oster Pro 1200 is that it’s a relatively small countertop blender. With dimensions of 14.25″ length x 7.25″ width x 8″ height (roughly 36 x 18.5 x 20 cm), the blender can comfortably sit on any kitchen counter, no matter how small it might be.And the good folks at Oster say that you can return the blender anytime in three years if you’re not satisfied with their product.

The blender also comes with a 10-year all-metal drive limited warranty.You already know we take care of the small details. Instead of taking out your measuring containers or your kitchen scale, the Oster Pro 1200’s filler cap doubles as a measuring cup.

So you can take your ingredients out, measure them, and blend them quickly and conveniently.The Oster Pro 1200 is undoubtedly a great blender. But nothing in life is without flaws, and it’s not all fine and dandy when buying this blender. We noticed a few things that we didn’t particularly like about the product.

For starters, the power cord is extremely short. It measures only 16 inches (40 cm). This means you’ll need to have your blender right next to the power outlet.Another disadvantage is that the Oster Pro 1200 is a plastic blender. This is inferior to other blenders with stainless steel frames, which tend to be more durable. The blender does, however, have stainless steel blades. So you can expect your food to always come out rust-free for years to come.

And speaking of the blender’s blades, they’re not fixed. And while this makes it easier to dismantle and clean, it also means that the Oster Pro 1200 is not great at processing oily foods.

And if you’re looking to grind dry grains, don’t expect the Oster Pro 1200 to be much help. While it has a relatively powerful, robust motor, it still lacks the power to pulverize grains into flour.However, for the benefits that the Oster Pro 1200 provides and the terrific price tag, we can’t hold its shortcomings against it.

We have to remind you, the Oster is a good blender, but it’s still $100, so you can’t expect to get everything out of it.

What We Like:

• A powerful motor for the price tag
• Heat-resistant glass jar
• Relatively small blender
• Its components are dishwasher safe
• Seven speeds with pulse and smart settings
• Smoothie cup included
• Dual direction blade technology
• Stainless steel blades
• Three-year return policy
• Ten-year warranty on metal

What We Don’t Like:

• Short power cord
• Plastic body
• Small glass jar capacity

The Bottom Line

The Oster Pro 1200 is one of the best blenders you can get for cheap. And with all the features that come with the blender, it feels like you’re getting more than you’re paying for, such as the powerful motor and a heat resistant glass jar.

2. Ninja BL610 – Best for Quiet Blending

After trying out the Ninja BL610, we have to say that this blender deserves its name since it’s such a quiet blender, despite being a powerful machine.Compared to other products in our budget blender reviews, the Ninja BL610 isn’t the most compact blender out there. And when you first see this large countertop blender, you might feel intimidated.

However, from our experience with previous Ninja blender models, these robust machines always pack a surprise.In this instance, the BL610 is a reasonably powerful blender with a 1000-watt motor that stands out among other budget blenders. This alone would be a huge selling point for the layman and enough reason to consider opting for the BL610 since 1000 watts of power means enough power to crush almost any ingredient.

And while it’s true that this rigid blender is excellent for heavy-duty blending, one of its best features, in our opinion, is its incredibly quiet sound during operation.Most blenders suffer from being too loud during operation.

And while we usually accept this as a regular part of the blending process and have grown to ignore it, you might have a change of heart once you try out a quiet blender like this Ninja blender.It’s pretty surprising when you first turn on the BL610 and hear its quiet sound, especially since it’s a relatively large and powerful model, especially as a Ninja professional machine.

Even if we branch out of budget blenders and compare the BL610 to some of the more professional, high-end blenders, it still fares very well in the noise department.As for the space the BL610 occupies, we’ve already said that it’s not a compact blender. We’d classify it at least as a medium-sized countertop blender, so make sure you have at least a medium counter to fit it on.

You could technically fit the BL610 on a smaller counter, but it’ll be a bit of a hassle, especially if you’re disassembling it to wash its parts and find that you’re running out of space.Speaking of disassembly, the BL610’s blades and pitcher are very easy to take off, and they’re dishwasher-safe, so your cleaning journey will be much easier with this Ninja blender.Ninja is also about convenience, which is why they’ve made a slip-resistant handle and a heavy-duty plastic pitcher completely transparent with clear volume markings in ounces and cups.

As for utility, you’ll find three speed levels on the BL610’s control panel: low, medium, and high. This is the minimum number of speed levels we recommend on a blender, and we think this is enough for anyone who’s not looking for something too specific.

For example, if you’re looking to make a smoothie out of soft fruits, such as bananas, watermelons, or the like, then you can use the low speed. For thicker fruits and vegetables, you have the medium speed. And for tough ingredients or ice, you can use the high speed.And it’s not just the blending speeds.

The BL610 also has a nifty “pulse” button next to the power button, which you can use for food processing. That’s right; the BL610 is not only suitable for blending but also food processing. So if you’ve got some ingredients you need to chop up, you can rely on it as well.

Last but not least, the Ninja BL610 has a one-year warranty in case you’re not satisfied with your purchase. But we can say you probably won’t need that warranty anyhow!

What We Like:

• Powerful motor with 1000 watts of power means high blending capacity
• Three balanced speeds suitable for different blending needs
• High capacity (72 oz/2.1 L) pitcher, enough for a family
• Heavy-duty and dishwasher-safe plastic jar
• Very quiet sound compared to other blenders
• Pulse button functions as a food processor
• One year warranty

What We Don’t Like:

• Large frame
• Relatively heavy
• Won’t fit well on small counters

The Bottom Line

If you’ve got some counter space to spare and want a blender that doesn’t wake up the whole apartment complex, then the Ninja BL610 is an excellent choice since it’s one of the quietest professional blenders we’ve used so far, which is fantastic considering its impressive price.

3. NutriBullet ZNBF30400Z – Most Versatile Blender

NutriBullet is one of the pioneers of the upside-down blending method that has gained worldwide attention since the early 21st century. This made NutriBullet one of the most promising and popular brands, especially when they started using product placement in popular movies.

And for nearly two decades, the company stuck to this design concept with their NutriBullet Pro models. However, they started dabbling in countertop blender models in recent years for the first time.

For this article, the most interesting part about these new countertop blender models is their price tags, especially the ZNBF30400Z, which is just under $100. So is it worth the hype?Although the ZNBF30400Z only has three speeds (low, med, high), it’s still a reasonably versatile blender, and you can use it to make a large variety of end products. For example, it can make smoothies even out of regular fruits and veggies. It can even blend harder ingredients like carrots and celery (check out this best juicer for celery) in as little as 30 seconds to a minute!

This is because the ZNBF30400Z boasts a potent 1200-watt motor, which is incredible for blenders in this price range.And for coffee lovers, you can make a fantastic cup of iced coffee with the ZNBF30400Z since it easily crushes ice and blends it with liquids. The end product is a delicious, refreshing coffee with a great creamy consistency.

Just don’t pour in boiling coffee since the plastic won’t stand it!And although you can’t use it to process hot food or drink, you can do it with cooled ingredients. So, for example, if you have a baby, you can boil their vegetables on the stove, wait for them to cool off a bit, then puree them in the blender for some quality baby food.Hopefully, you get the idea. This blender is great for making almost any beverage. It even comes with a handy cookbook full of popular and delicious smoothie recipes and other beverage recipes, some even alcoholic.

As for utility and control, the NutriBullet ZNBF30400Z has a simple five-button interface with one power button, three speed buttons, and one pulse button.The power and speed buttons work as you’d expect them to. And the pulse button works by holding it down, and the machine will start food processing until you release the button. This is great for customizing your drink’s consistency and letting some chunks slip past the blades.

To clean the ZNBF30400Z after use, you can simply put the jar in the dishwasher since it’s dishwasher-safe. As for the blade, it’s fixed into the jar’s base, so you can’t remove it and clean it individually. Instead, if there are any stubborn spots on it, we recommend you scrub it off with a brush.One of the loveliest little details in the ZNBF30400Z is its venting system on the base, which forcibly shuts off the blender if it detects signs of overheating. This is great for your machine’s lifespan since even if you forget it on or anything happens, it’ll shut itself down.The ZNBF30400Z’s bottom is equipped with suction cups to minimize vibration.

So you can place the blender firmly on your counter, and it’ll remain fairly stable during operation.But even if something tacky happens suddenly with the internal parts, you can rely on the machine’s one-year warranty. Just make sure you’ve kept the receipt of your purchase with the blender’s serial number written on it.And with 64 ounces (8 cups/nearly 2 liters) of volume, you can rely on making smoothies for the whole family in one go and with complete ease.

What We Like:

• Powerful motor at 1200 watts of power
• Sturdy design
• Suction cups on the bottom for stability
• Venting system to prevent overheating
• Very easy to use
• Dishwasher-safe jar
• Fairly large jar (64 oz/almost 2 liters)
• Extensive recipe book

What We Don’t Like:

• Only one year limited warranty
• Somewhat short cord (3.5 ft/1 meter)
• Plastic jar won’t stand heat

The Bottom Line

Overall, the NutriBullet ZNBF30400Z is a versatile budget blender that you can use to make a variety of beverages and purees. The powerful motor crushes soft and hard ingredients alike in a relatively short time frame, and the sizeable 8-cup pitcher is enough to serve a whole family or group.

4. Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender – Budget Pick

It may sound strange having a budget pick on a list of budget picks. But if your budget is too tight even for the three blenders we’ve listed above, then you have one grace option: the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher, the best blender for those on an extra tight budget, such as students.

And by “extra tight,” we’re talking under $50, let alone $100. In this price range, you’d be lucky to find a good blender, let alone one that can make frozen drinks and also double as a food processor. And yet, we have it all here with this Hamilton Beach model.

For starters, the Wave Crusher is a little less powerful than the other blenders we’ve listed here. But this isn’t surprising when you consider that its price is nearly a third the price of, say, the NutriBullet ZNBF30400Z.Regardless, a 70o watt motor isn’t all that bad, especially on a sturdy frame like that of the Wave Crusher’s. In addition, this blender doesn’t even struggle with crushing ice, so you can use it to make frozen drinks and iced coffee, for example, especially if you pour in some liquid to help blend ingredients.

The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher doesn’t use a traditional system based on speed levels. Instead, you have six speed modes catered to popular blending needs. And they’re also labeled intuitively so that you know what you need to press.For instance, the six modes include grinding icy drinks, chopping salsa, puree whip, and milkshake milk.

There are also two pulse buttons for low and high pulse on the left and right ends, respectively.And since the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher is most likely a one-person home gadget, it has a relatively small 40-ounce cup, roughly equal to 5 cups or a liter.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher works great for its price and will maintain its high-end functionality for years to come, so you won’t even notice you’re using a “cheap” blender.

Unfortunately, the shortcomings become more apparent with time, as the frame and jar material isn’t exactly the best, and some parts will likely need replacing after a few years of usage.

Still, we must remind you that the Wave Crusher costs about 3 hours of minimum wage work, so we’ll let this fault slide.

What We Like:

• Good motor for its value
• Intuitive speed and pulse modes
• Dishwasher-safe jar
• Very cost-effective for years

What We Don’t Like:

• Subpar material quality

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a reliable and small blender that’ll fulfill your needs for years to come and only costs a few hours of work, then consider the Wave Crusher.And remember that the Wave Crusher is already impressive enough to compete with products that are 2-3 times its price.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a New Blender

A few factors separate an average blender from a great blender. In both cases, the blender will get the job done, but a good blender shows its value by how convenient it makes your life during and after your blending session.

In our opinion, you should be mindful of these factors, especially when you’re shopping for budget blenders, since a quality budget-friendly blender can often fall in the same category as flat-out low-quality blenders, even when the comparison isn’t fair at all.Besides, you probably don’t want something that’s slow and keeps getting jammed all the time.

Even a fast blender with a powerful motor can be a hassle to clean, which would outweigh its benefits for many people.And since we know nobody likes researching before buying something, we went ahead and did it for you and compiled a list of all the factors you need to look at when purchasing a new blender.

Motor Power

Any high-quality and powerful blender should have a powerful motor so that you don’t have to worry about its ability to blend harder ingredients. For example, if you’re a fan of crushing ice for your drinks, a 1000 watt motor or more is enough power to crush ice and tougher ingredients like frozen fruits and vegetables.Another perk of a powerful blender is that it blends normal stuff like smaller fruits in no time. So like most times, when you’re not putting your blender to harsh tests like frozen ingredients, it will get the job done in the blink of an eye.

Blending Jar Capacity

This is especially relevant with online shopping. If you shop in a store, you can inspect the blender and see if it’s of appropriate capacity.

On the other hand, if you’re shopping for a blender online and you can’t get a straight answer for the jar capacity, or perhaps you can’t get a feel for the capacity just by reading off the measurement number, then you might be falling for a small blender that won’t fit large batches.

To avoid such a problem, you should first ensure that you can at least roughly visualize the jar capacity by reading off the measurement numbers. Next, we’d say avoid blenders that don’t have their jar capacity written clearly among the specs.

Chopping Blade Material

An essential part of the best blenders is stainless steel mixing blades. This is extremely important since stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion. So you can rest easy knowing your blades will stay sharp for a long time and retain their blending power.Another perk of stainless steel blades is their minimum chromium content of 10.5%. The chromium in the blade reacts with oxygen to form a protective layer against rust. So you won’t have to worry about your blades rusting, which is often a significant problem among older blenders.

Blade Arrangement and Angle

Although the old-fashioned blenders with straight blades worked for a long time, they were never that effective. So make sure to look for modern blades with a smart arrangement. For example, two blades on top and two blades below them work fantastically to crush soft and hard ingredients inside, such as frozen fruit.That’s because a good arrangement maximizes contact with the food and allows it to flow better to the bottom of the jar towards the blades.Another thing to consider is blade angle. The problem with straight blades is that they can easily push food upwards. A slight vertical angle can help put food in a better position for the blades to do their job without juggling pieces of food around.

Food Processor Attachment

If you’re looking for the best blender to buy, you can’t forget to check for a food processor attachment. Some people make the mistake of purchasing a blender that only operates as a blender. Next, they realize their error, and they have to buy a whole new unit just for the food processor attachment.So not only does buying a blender with a food processor save you money, but it will also be very beneficial to people with small kitchens since they won’t use up too much countertop space for two blending units.

If the Blender Is Dishwasher Safe

Don’t make the mistake of only looking for a powerful motor, speed settings, and jar capacity. All of those are important, but a beneficial factor some forget is to check if the blender is dishwasher safe.No one likes doing the dishes. And since a few plates give us a hard time, imagine how much more annoying it will be to disassemble a blender and wash every piece by hand.Not to mention that it can get dangerous to wash those sharp blades, which could easily cut your hand, fingers, or the sponge. So save yourself the trouble and opt for a dishwasher-safe blender.

Speed Settings

Some blender brands talk about how they’re selling you an impressive blender with 18 different speed settings. And while this might be suitable on a professional blender, it’s our job in this article to let you know that you don’t need that many on a personal blender.A good range for speed settings is 3-10 speeds. Anything more than 10 is unnecessary, while anything below 3 is not good enough.Pulse control is also essential since it gives you the freedom to blend your ingredients to whichever consistency you please.

Cord Length

One of the previous products we reviewed had a 16-inch cord, which is never ideal. However, a longer cord allows you to arrange things on your kitchen counter efficiently and not be stuck putting the blender right next to the power outlet when you might want to have it elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between a Blender and a Food Processor?

Although both share a few functions, one can’t replace the other in the kitchen. A blender is used to make liquids, puree, and crush ice, while a food processor is optimal for slicing, dicing, grating, and shredding ingredients.Here’s an easy way to tell them apart: if you’re using a fork or spoon to eat it, use the food processor. But if you drink it, use the blender.

How Do You Maintain a Blender?

Unfortunately, blenders can be a hassle to clean compared to dishes and cutlery. But if you want to make the process even easier, you should get one that’s dishwasher safe.Most parts can be disassembled and washed individually. But you should never immerse the motor in water. Instead, use a damp towel to wipe it down.

What Are the Different Uses of a Blender?

Some people think that blenders are only used for smoothies and milkshakes. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Among a blender’s many uses is to make homemade butter, crushed ice, peanut butter, party dips, mayonnaise, and whipped cream. And for all the fellow coffee addicts out there, you can use your blender to grind coffee beans too.

What’s the Difference Between a Personal and Countertop Blender?

If you’re often cooking family-sized meals, you’re better off going for a traditional countertop blender, as countertop blenders will typically have a more powerful motor and a larger jar capacity. However, the advantage of a personal blender is that its pitcher is the size of single servings. So it’s optimal for people who cook for one, such as students.

How Much Wattage Should I Be Looking For?

This solely depends on how you’re going to use the blender. If you’re only using it to make smoothies and milkshakes, you need around 600 watts. A tougher job like making peanut butter would need a little more wattage. And if you’re into making frozen drinks, you’d need the ice-crushing power of at least 1000 watts. If you want the blender to do it comfortably, though, you’ll need around 1500 watts.

Final Thoughts

Buying a good-quality blender doesn’t need to be a hefty investment. There are many good options for budget blenders under $100 that will last you for years.Whether you’re looking for a compact countertop blender or a larger professional one, you’ll find a good fit for your needs, as we’ve illustrated in this article with our four diverse picks.In our opinion, the overall best blender under $100 is the Oster Pro 1200, which boasts a powerful motor, small frame, and eight levels of speed. So if you’re looking for the most balanced option, then you can go for it.However, if your budget is too tight for the price range and you’re looking for the most cost-effective blender, then you have the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender, which is a greatly-priced machine for its cost.