I Test Blenders for a Living and This Budget-Friendly One Is Hands Down the Best (It’s More Than 20% Off)

As a shopping writer, I am no stranger to having lots of kitchen products in my apartment — and lots of the same type of product, for that matter. Dutch ovens, pans, coffee makers, you name it. And blenders are some of the kitchen products I’ve tested the very most. Though I’ve given most of the ones I’ve tested away, there is one I’ve kept for myself: the Ninja TWISTi High-Speed Blender.

I’m going to tell you right now, this is not necessarily the most technologically advanced blender around. And I’m totally OK with that because it’s easy to use and affordable, and it helps me make smooth, creamy hummus and smoothies (the foods I primarily use this blender for). On its own, it’s already pretty affordable at $98. But at Walmart right now, you can grab it for just $75. At this price, it would make for a great addition to your kitchen, especially if you’ve been looking for one that is simple and fits easily on your counter. Or, you could get this as a nice gift for someone who is working on outfitting their kitchen with all the necessary appliances. 

The Ninja TWISTi High-Speed Blender is a really nice, affordable option — and it’s amazing for those with limited space in the kitchen. I live in New York City and don’t have a ton of counter space, so I keep this blender on a storage rack right outside my kitchen. It fits easily on that rack, between clunky Dutch ovens, serving platters, and all sorts of pots and pans. When I bring it into my kitchen to use, it fits easily on my counter. Another aspect I love about this blender? The pitcher and personal containers, as well as the blade itself, are all dishwasher-safe, so I don’t ever have to try to scrub around a sharp blade. Plus, this blender has three presets — Extractions, Frozen Drinks, and Bowls — so you can easily get your desired consistency. 

If you’re wondering about the name of this blender, though, you should know it’s a reference to the blender’s unique tamper. The tamper is built into the pitcher’s lid and looks like two plastic prongs. To use it, all you do is — as the name suggests — twist it! This way, you can get a super smooth, even consistency throughout.

Beyond its compact size, what I really love about the Ninja TWISTi is how effectively it cuts through ice and frozen fruit. I’ve used blenders that really struggle with this task, resulting in icy, chunky smoothies (no thanks). But thanks to its 1,500-watt motor (the same amount of power Vitamix’s new Ascent X Series has, by the way), I don’t have to deal with that when I use this blender. Aside from smoothies, I regularly use this blender to whip up hummus. I often make hummus bowls for dinner, and I love making it from scratch. It’s fluffier and truly tastes better than a lot of the store-bought ones I’ve tried. And for that fluffy quality, I have this blender to thank. 

For the power and ease this blender offers, I think the price is more than fair — especially while it’s on sale. Given that good blenders can cost a pretty penny, I really appreciate that this one isn’t more than $100 even when it’s not on sale. 

While it might not necessarily be cool to admit that I don’t want to (and, frankly, can’t) spend hundreds of dollars on a blender, that doesn’t make it less true. For my money, I will usually pick a more affordable blender, but that doesn’t mean I want to settle for one that struggles with simple tasks. The Ninja TWISTi has brought together affordability with a good bit of power that allows me to have my smoothies and drink them, too. 

Buy: Ninja TWISTi High-Speed Blender, $74.98 (normally, $98)