Vitamix Ascent A3500 vs Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender
Vitamix Ascent A3500 (#1, best overall) vs Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender (#4, best value): in our Blenders scoring the Vitamix Ascent A3500 totals 9.6/10 and the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender 8.6/10. At $650 versus $90, the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender costs $560 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Vitamix Ascent A3500 | Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 | $90 |
| Motor | 2.2 HP | 1400W |
| Container | 64 oz | 72 oz + 2x 24 oz cups |
| Controls | Touchscreen + dial | Auto-iQ + manual |
| Programs | 5 presets | 4 presets |
| Warranty | 10 years | 2 years |
How they differ in real use
Built from our blenders scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Vitamix Ascent A3500 and the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender made our Top 5 Blenders, at #1 (best overall) and #4 (best value). 2.2 HP of power with touchscreen, app connectivity, and self-cleaning. Makes hot soup from scratch in 6 minutes. The ultimate. 1400W power with Auto-iQ presets at a fraction of Vitamix pricing. Includes personal blend cups for on-the-go.
We score blenders on Blending Power (35%), Versatility (25%), Build Quality (20%), Noise Level (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Vitamix Ascent A3500 totals 9.6 out of 10 and the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender 8.6. The widest gap is Blending Power, where the Vitamix Ascent A3500 scores 10 against 8 for the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender — ice crushing and smoothness. Build Quality also separates them: 10 for the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus 8 for the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender. The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Motor — 2.2 HP on the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus 1400W on the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender; Container — 64 oz on the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus 72 oz + 2x 24 oz cups on the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender; Controls — Touchscreen + dial on the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus Auto-iQ + manual on the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender; Programs — 5 presets on the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus 4 presets on the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender; Warranty — 10 years on the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus 2 years on the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender.
Pricing as of February 1, 2026: $650 for the Vitamix Ascent A3500 and $90 for the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender, a $560 difference in the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender's favor. Owners praise the Vitamix Ascent A3500 for 2.2 HP motor and touchscreen + app; the most common complaint is very expensive. Owners praise the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender for 1400W powerful motor and auto-iQ presets; the most common complaint is not as smooth as Vitamix.
Vitamix Ascent A3500
- 2.2 HP motor
- Touchscreen + app
- Self-cleaning
- Variable speed + presets
- Very expensive
- Loud operation
- Large footprint
Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender
- 1400W powerful motor
- Auto-iQ presets
- Total Crushing pitcher
- Two single-serve cups
- Not as smooth as Vitamix
- Louder operation
- Shorter warranty
Which should you buy?
The Vitamix Ascent A3500 is the better fit for serious blenders and hot soup makers — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Blending Power and Build Quality. The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is the better fit for value seekers and family smoothies, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. If the $560 saving matters more than Blending Power, the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is the better value. The Vitamix Ascent A3500 is a poor fit for budget buyers; the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is a poor fit for silkiest textures.
Choose the Vitamix Ascent A3500 if
- Serious blenders
- Hot soup makers
- Those wanting the best
Skip it if
- Budget buyers
- Occasional smoothies
Choose the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender if
- Value seekers
- Family smoothies
- Those wanting Vitamix results for less
Skip it if
- Silkiest textures
- Professional use
Common questions
Is the Vitamix Ascent A3500 better than the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender?
In our Blenders ranking the Vitamix Ascent A3500 scores higher overall, 9.6 to 8.6, with the biggest advantage in Blending Power. The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Vitamix Ascent A3500 cost than the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender?
$560 more as of February 1, 2026: $650 for the Vitamix Ascent A3500 against $90 for the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Blending Power — 10 versus 8 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Vitamix Ascent A3500 and the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender?
The headline spec difference is Motor: 2.2 HP on the Vitamix Ascent A3500 versus 1400W on the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender. In use, the gap that matters most is Blending Power (10 vs 8 in our scoring): ice crushing and smoothness.