Home & Kitchen
The Best Portable Blenders: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four rechargeable portable blenders on battery voltage, blends per charge, blending capacity, ice handling, cleaning, warranty and safety history.
The short version
The Beast GO Cordless is the pick: an 11.1V three-cell battery, a 670 mL vessel with a 500 mL blending capacity, blades rated for fresh and frozen ingredients, two speeds, a travel lock, top-rack dishwasher-safe vessels, full published dimensions and a 2-year warranty. The Cuisinart Personal Portable Blender PBL-100 is the value buy, blending up to 18 oz, handling ice and frozen fruit, giving up to 20 blends per charge and carrying a 3-year limited warranty, the longest here. The nutribullet Flip suits people who want to blend and sip from an insulated steel tumbler that keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours, at the cost of weight. Skip the BlendJet 2: in December 2023 the CPSC announced a recall of about 4.8 million units for fire and blade hazards, and in May 2025 it noted that BlendJet Inc. had gone out of business with no recall remedy available, yet the BlendJet store is still selling the BlendJet 2. Best for: gym-goers, commuters and travellers who blend single servings.
Our picks at a glance
- Beast GO Cordless - Buy. A powerful, fully specified cordless blender with a travel lock and a 2-year warranty.
- Cuisinart Personal Portable Blender PBL-100 - Buy. An 18 oz cordless blender with the most blends per charge and the longest warranty here.
- nutribullet Flip Insulated Blender Tumbler - It depends. A blender and insulated steel tumbler in one, which keeps drinks cold all day and weighs the most.
- BlendJet 2 - Skip. The best-known portable blender, recalled by the millions, from a company the CPSC says has gone out of business.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Battery
- Blends per charge
- Capacity
- Ice and frozen fruit
- Size and weight
- Cleaning
Portable blenders are one of the most viral kitchen gadgets, sold on the promise of a fresh smoothie at the gym, the office or the beach. The useful differences are battery power, how many blends a charge gives, how much the jar can actually blend, whether it can handle ice and frozen fruit, and how long the warranty runs. Safety history matters too in this category, because a spinning blade on a battery-powered base has a real failure mode. We compared four popular models.
A powerful, fully specified cordless blender with a travel lock and a 2-year warranty.
Best for: Anyone who wants the most capable portable blender and blends frozen fruit regularly.
- An 11.1V three-cell battery that Beast says is 50% stronger than average portable blenders, charging over USB-C in under 2 hours.
- A 670 mL (22.6 oz) vessel with a 500 mL (17 oz) blending capacity, grade 301 stainless steel blades and BPA-free Tritan vessels.
- Fully specified at 3.4 x 3.4 x 9 in and 2 lb assembled, with a travel lock, two speeds, top-rack dishwasher-safe vessels and a 2-year warranty.
- About 13 blending cycles of 30 seconds per charge, fewer than the Cuisinart.
- Beast recommends using enough liquid when blending ice and frozen ingredients.
- The motor base must not be submerged, so the blade needs brushing under the tap.
- Blending capacity is 500 mL, less than the 670 mL vessel volume suggests.
An 18 oz cordless blender with the most blends per charge and the longest warranty here.
Best for: Buyers who want a reliable everyday portable blender with the longest warranty.
- Blends up to 18 oz directly into the travel cup, and Cuisinart says it turns ice and frozen fruit into drinks.
- Up to 20 blends on a single charge from a USB-C rechargeable base, with two-button controls.
- A 3-year limited warranty and 30-day returns, and the lid and travel cup are top-rack dishwasher safe.
- At 11.69 in tall it is the tallest blender here.
- Cuisinart lists a weight of 2.16 without stating the unit.
- No battery voltage or capacity is published.
- No travel lock is mentioned on the product page.
A blender and insulated steel tumbler in one, which keeps drinks cold all day and weighs the most.
Best for: Commuters and road-trippers who want a smoothie to stay cold for hours.
- A stainless steel insulated 20 oz cup that nutribullet says keeps contents cold for up to 24 hours.
- An 11.1V motor that nutribullet says can blend ice, most frozen fruits and many fresh ingredients, with 14+ blending cycles of 30 seconds per charge.
- A hybrid blade and lid lets you blend, flip and sip from the same cup, and it self-cleans with soap and water.
- At 3.45 lb it is the heaviest portable blender here by a wide margin.
- The standard warranty is 1 year, with a paid extended warranty offered.
- An opaque steel cup means you cannot see how well it has blended.
- At 4.25 in wide it may not fit smaller cup holders.
The best-known portable blender, recalled by the millions, from a company the CPSC says has gone out of business.
Best for: Nobody, until the ownership and safety status of current units is clear.
- Light at 1.34 lb, with a 16 oz jar with measurement markings.
- A 4000 mAh battery rated for 15+ blends per hour of charging over a water-resistant USB-C port.
- A 30-day money-back guarantee on the BlendJet store.
- In December 2023 the CPSC announced a recall of about 4.8 million BlendJet 2 blenders because they can overheat or catch fire and the blades can break off.
- A CPSC update dated 05/13/2025 says BlendJet Inc. has gone out of business and the recall remedy is no longer available, and tells owners of recalled units to discard them.
- The BlendJet store is still selling the BlendJet 2, and it does not explain who stands behind current units.
- It uses a 5V motor, the least powerful here, and no warranty term is stated on the product page.
| Criteria | GO Cordless Top pick | Personal Portable Blender PBL-100 | Flip Insulated Blender Tumbler | BlendJet 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Anyone who wants the most capable portable blender and blends frozen fruit regularly. | Buyers who want a reliable everyday portable blender with the longest warranty. | Commuters and road-trippers who want a smoothie to stay cold for hours. | Nobody, until the ownership and safety status of current units is clear. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Battery | 11.1V three-cell | Not published | 11.1V | 5V motor, 4000 mAh |
| Blends per charge | About 13 cycles of 30 seconds | Up to 20 | 14+ cycles of 30 seconds | 15+ |
| Capacity | 670 mL vessel, 500 mL blending | Up to 18 oz | 20 oz insulated cup | 16 oz jar |
| Ice and frozen fruit | Yes, with enough liquid | Yes, per Cuisinart | Ice and most frozen fruit, per nutribullet | Frozen drinks mentioned |
| Size and weight | 3.4 x 3.4 x 9 in, 2 lb assembled | 4.11 x 3.7 x 11.69 in | 3.87 x 4.25 x 9.12 in, 3.45 lb | 9 x 3 in, 1.34 lb |
| Cleaning | Vessels top-rack dishwasher safe | Lid and cup top-rack dishwasher safe | Self-cleaning cycle | Self-cleaning cycle |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3-year limited | 1 year, extended available | Not stated, 30-day money back |
| Safety record | No CPSC recall found | No CPSC recall found for this model | No CPSC recall found | CPSC recall of about 4.8 million units, firm out of business |
Which one is right for you?
- Anyone who wants the most capable portable blender and blends frozen fruit regularly. Buy it Beast GO Cordless
- Buyers who want a reliable everyday portable blender with the longest warranty. Buy it Cuisinart Personal Portable Blender PBL-100
- Commuters and road-trippers who want a smoothie to stay cold for hours. It depends nutribullet Flip Insulated Blender Tumbler
- Nobody, until the ownership and safety status of current units is clear. Skip it BlendJet 2
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a portable blender is worth carrying. The first is power, which for a cordless blender comes down to battery voltage and motor design, and decides whether it can handle ice and frozen fruit. The second is battery life in blends per charge. The third is capacity, both the vessel size and how much it can actually blend. The fourth is cleaning and build quality, including whether parts are dishwasher safe and whether it locks for travel. The fifth is warranty and safety history, which matter more than usual in a category that has seen a very large recall.
The field splits between higher-voltage blenders designed for frozen ingredients, mainstream kitchen brands’ travel blenders, insulated blend-and-sip tumblers, and budget viral models. We checked each against its maker’s page and the CPSC recall database.
The Beast GO Cordless is the most capable and best documented portable blender here. Its three-cell 11.1V battery is, according to Beast, 50% stronger than average portable blenders, and it charges over USB-C in under 2 hours for about 13 blending cycles of 30 seconds. The 670 mL BPA-free Tritan vessel, which Beast says is three times thicker than standard, has a blending capacity of 500 mL, and grade 301 stainless steel blades handle fresh and frozen ingredients, with Beast advising enough liquid for ice. There are two speeds, a travel lock that stops it switching on in a bag, and the vessels, lids and caps are top-rack dishwasher safe. Beast publishes full dimensions, 3.4 x 3.4 x 9 in and 2 lb assembled, and backs it with a 2-year warranty. The motor base also works with Beast Mini and Mighty vessels from 415 to 785 mL. Fewer blends per charge than the Cuisinart is the main drawback.
The Cuisinart Personal Portable Blender PBL-100 is the sensible value choice. It blends up to 18 oz straight into its travel cup, and Cuisinart says it turns ice and frozen fruit into drinks. A USB-C rechargeable base gives up to 20 blends per charge, the most claimed here, and the controls are simple, with two buttons for blend and smoothie. The lid and travel cup are top-rack dishwasher safe, and there is a snap spout lid and carrying loop. The standout is cover: a 3-year limited warranty, the longest in this comparison, with 30-day returns. Cuisinart publishes dimensions of 4.11 x 3.7 x 11.69 in, making it the tallest here, and lists a weight of 2.16 without a unit. It does not publish battery voltage or capacity. For an everyday portable blender from a mainstream kitchen brand with long cover, it is an easy recommendation.
The nutribullet Flip is a different idea: a blender and an insulated tumbler in one. Its hybrid blade and lid let you blend, flip and drink from the same stainless steel 20 oz cup, which nutribullet says keeps contents cold for up to 24 hours. An 11.1V high-torque motor can, according to nutribullet, blend ice, most frozen fruits and many fresh ingredients, and it gives 14 or more 30-second cycles per charge in nutribullet’s test. It self-cleans with a drop of soap and water, and comes with a to-go lid, a steel straw and a cleaning brush. The costs are weight and cover. At 3.45 lb it is far heavier than the others, and at 4.25 in wide it may not fit small cup holders. The standard warranty is 1 year, with paid extended cover available. For long days where a smoothie needs to stay cold, it is the right tool.
The BlendJet 2 is the portable blender most people have heard of, and the one we cannot recommend. On December 28, 2023 the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 4.8 million BlendJet 2 blenders, plus about 117,000 in Canada, because they can overheat or catch fire and the blades can break off, affecting serial numbers whose first four digits are 5201 to 5542. A CPSC update dated 05/13/2025 says BlendJet Inc. has gone out of business and the recall remedy is no longer available, and tells owners to discard recalled units and not to donate or resell them. The BlendJet store is nevertheless still selling the BlendJet 2, without explaining who now stands behind it. Its specifications, a 5V motor, a 4000 mAh battery, 15+ blends per charge and a 16 oz jar, are also the most modest here. Until that is clear, choose another blender.
Beast GO Cordless vs Cuisinart Personal Portable Blender PBL-100: which should you buy?
The Beast GO and the Cuisinart PBL-100 are both good choices, and the split is power against cover. The Beast GO has the stronger 11.1V battery, a travel lock, thicker vessels, compatibility with other Beast jars and full published specifications. It is the better blender if you regularly blend frozen fruit or ice.
The Cuisinart gives you more blends per charge, a slightly larger single serving and a 3-year warranty, the longest here. If you mostly make protein shakes and softer smoothies and want the longest peace of mind, buy the Cuisinart. If you want the most capable portable blender, buy the Beast GO.
What to look for
- Check the battery voltage: 11.1V blenders handle frozen ingredients better than lower-voltage models.
- Compare blends per charge: most give 13 to 20 short cycles.
- Read the blending capacity, not just the vessel size: overfilling reduces blending quality.
- Look for a travel lock: it stops the blender switching on in a bag.
- Check the CPSC recall database: this category has had a very large recall.
- Compare warranties: cover ranges from one to three years.
Our final take
Portable blenders are genuinely handy, and the best ones combine enough power for frozen fruit with a clear warranty and a clean safety record. The Beast GO Cordless is the pick for its 11.1V battery, travel lock and full specifications. The Cuisinart PBL-100 is the value buy with the most blends per charge and a 3-year warranty. The nutribullet Flip is ideal if you want your smoothie cold for hours. The BlendJet 2 was recalled by the millions, and the CPSC says its maker has gone out of business with no remedy available, so it is the one to avoid.
Questions, answered
Can portable blenders crush ice?
Some can, and it depends on battery voltage and blade design. Blenders with 11.1V batteries, like the Beast GO and nutribullet Flip, are designed to handle ice and frozen fruit, and Cuisinart says the PBL-100 does too. Lower-powered blenders struggle. Always add enough liquid, cut frozen fruit into smaller pieces, and blend in short bursts.
How many blends do you get per charge?
Most portable blenders give between about 13 and 20 blends of around 30 seconds each. The Cuisinart PBL-100 claims up to 20, the nutribullet Flip 14 or more and the Beast GO about 13. Thick smoothies and ice use more battery than protein shakes.
Are portable blenders safe?
Generally, if they come from a reputable maker and are used as instructed, but the category has had serious problems. The CPSC recalled about 4.8 million BlendJet 2 blenders in 2023 over fire and blade hazards. Check the CPSC website for your model, charge with the supplied cable, never run the blender empty, and stop using it if it overheats or the blade is damaged.
What is the difference between vessel volume and blending capacity?
Vessel volume is how much the jar holds; blending capacity is how much you should put in to blend properly, leaving room for the vortex. Beast lists a 670 mL vessel with a 500 mL blending capacity, for example. Overfilling reduces blending quality and can cause leaks.
How do I clean a portable blender?
Most can be cleaned by blending warm water with a drop of dish soap, then rinsing. Removable cups and lids are often top-rack dishwasher safe, but motor bases never are. Keep water away from the charging port, and let everything dry before charging.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Beast GO Cordless vs Cuisinart Personal Portable Blender PBL-100.
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