Bullet blenders are personal blenders that have a single-serving jar shaped like a bullet. This jar is flipped upside-down to connect with the motor base, and you push the top of it down to blend. You can then drink directly from a bullet blender's jar, thanks to the usually included lip ring or to-go lid. Although Magic Bullet is the brand most associated with this design, several other manufacturers produce similarly-shaped and sometimes even better-performing blenders.
We've tested over 40 blenders, and below are our recommendations for the best bullet blenders. Check out our recommendations for the best personal blenders, the best mini blenders, and the best blenders for smoothies.
The best bullet blender that we've tested is the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO. It's a compact personal blender that comes with two 24-ounce jars with matching to-go lids and cup rings, so you can drink directly from the jars. There's also a 14-ounce jar with manually-operated, rotating arms that work to push food from the sides of the jar towards the blades.
You can use any of the three jars to make a fantastic, silky smoothie in less than a minute. This blender can crush ice into a snow-like consistency very quickly, and it makes incredible almond butter in the 14-ounce jar. The buttons act as timers so you don't need to worry about how long to run the blender for. Also, when you're done using it, it's very easy to clean with soap and water.
Unfortunately, while the jars seem fairly sturdy, the motor base feels a little thin and flimsy. Also, like most bullet blenders, this model can't be used for hot blending. Those details aside, it's a very versatile blender that's also one of the best blenders for smoothies we've tested.
If you prefer a sturdy-feeling blender, you may like the Breville Boss To Go Sport instead. This personal blender doesn't perform as well as the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO, but it has a fantastic build quality. The base and transmission are made out of metal and feel very sturdy, and the included 23-ounce and 15-ounce jars seem high-quality as well. You can use the bigger jar to make a fantastic, silky smoothie, bar-quality crushed ice, and smooth, spreadable almond butter. The jars, lids, and blade assemblies are all dishwasher-safe as well. Unfortunately, if you're working with sticky ingredients, it can be difficult to clean by hand, and you may need to let it soak in soap and water for a while beforehand.
If you want the bullet blender with the best overall performance, go for the Ninja. If you prioritize build quality and don't mind sacrificing some performance for a blender that feels more solid, consider the Breville.
The best bullet blender that we've tested in the budget category is the Ninja Nutri Ninja Pro. Unlike many bullet blenders, it can make superb snow-like crushed ice in about two minutes, so you can use it to make your favorite frozen drinks. It's also easy to clean since even stickier foods like nut butter can usually be rinsed away with soap and water.
It comes with one 24-ounce, 18-ounce, and 12-ounce jar with matching to-go lids. The 12-ounce jar produces a silky but slightly foamy smoothie in less than a minute. You can also make decent smoothies in the other jars, but you may need to stop the blender and shake the jar to ensure all the food is caught by the blades. Conveniently, the jars, lids, and blade assembly can all be washed on the top rack of your dishwasher.
However, it's not ideal for making almond butter because the nuts tend to get pushed away from the blades and stick to the sides of the jar. Also, the build quality isn't the best as the motor base feels a bit flimsy and not very durable. Still, thanks to its fairly versatile performance and affordable price, it's also one of the best mini blenders that we've tested.
The Magic Bullet Mini is the best cheap bullet blender that we've tested. This compact model comes with one 13-ounce as well as one eight-ounce jar, which is well-suited for making smaller blends like dips. It also comes with a lip ring so you can drink smoothies and other mixes right after processing your ingredients.
It makes a good smoothie without any grains in less than two minutes, although it's a bit foamy in texture, and you may need to shake or stir your mix to incorporate all the ingredients. Cleaning isn't too difficult since the jars and the lids can be put in the dishwasher. You can even purchase a variant that comes with more cups and lids if you need even more options.
Unfortunately, it's not designed to crush ice. It also takes several minutes to make sticky almond butter with a lot of unprocessed chunks. It can be a little tricky to clean after making nut butter since the blades aren't dishwasher-safe and must be washed by hand. Still, if you're looking for a bullet blender that won't break the bank, it can make a good-textured smoothie.
Jan 28, 2021: Checked that we're still recommending the best products for our users and that they're in stock.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best bullet blenders for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our reviews for personal blenders. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no blender is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.