Vitamix 5200

I've used both and honestly I think the Vitamix, specifically the 5200, is worth the money. Just a personal opinion. I've found that I get a smoother silky consistency than I ever did with the Ninja. Keep searching for a bargain, but IMHO, it's worth the price tag.

However, this blender is pretty straightforward, and it doesn't have a Pulse mode or any preset modes. It also isn't dishwasher-safe, but it's still quite easy to clean by hand.

Vitamix ascent 3500 blender - would buy again on a minute. Previous blenders worked for salsa and not much else. Game changer.

Vitamix hands down . Smoothness is not even comparable. They also back their warranty 100%. Bought a refurbished one with a 5 year warranty, 4 years later a small part cracked and they shipped it to themselves and sent me it back all fixed within 5 business days for free of course .

It sounds counterintuitive but the 5200 is superior because the controls are manual, and because of the shape of the container it comes with. IMO the automated stuff is overrated, and I have separate devices for any attachments you can add to the Ascent but not the 5200. No one needs the bells and whistles in any other model and many skilled cooks will find them annoyances. The 5200 is *the* perfect blender.

And the refurb was probably just used to make sample smoothies at Costco or something, its likely a smart purchase. Another way to go is a restaurant supply store where they offer a discounted new model that doesn’;t have all the bells and whistles but has everything a restaurant needs. That tip was from Rick Bayless. I went with the 5200 version because it was the top pick of Americas Test Kitchen, based on the shape of the jar.