Ninja BN801 vs BN701 Blender
Picking between the Ninja BN801 and the Ninja BN701 comes down to one question: do you need more than a blender? Both models sit in Ninja's Professional Plus lineup and share the same Total Crushing blade assembly and peak-power motor, so on paper they look nearly identical. The gap opens up once you look past the pitcher.
The main difference between the Ninja BN801 and the Ninja BN701 is that the BN801 is packaged as a full Kitchen System — it adds a food processor bowl, an S-blade for chopping, a dough blade, and personal to-go cups on top of the same base the BN701 uses. The BN701 keeps things simple with just the pitcher and personal cups, aimed at people who mainly want smoothies and crushed ice without extra attachments to store.
Below we break down the full spec sheet, how each one handles daily use, who each model actually fits, and which one gives you more for your money.
Model Overview
Ninja BN801 Professional Plus
- 1400-watt peak motor
- 72 oz Total Crushing pitcher
- Food processor bowl with S-blade and dough blade
- Auto-iQ presets: Smoothie, Ice Crush, Extract, Chop, Dough
- Personal to-go cups included
Ninja BN701 Professional Plus
- 1400-watt peak motor
- 72 oz Total Crushing pitcher
- No food processor attachment
- Auto-iQ presets: Smoothie, Ice Crush, Extract
- Personal to-go cups included
Full Specs Table
| Feature | Ninja BN801 | Ninja BN701 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Power | 1400 peak watts | 1400 peak watts |
| Pitcher Capacity | 72 oz Total Crushing | 72 oz Total Crushing |
| Food Processor Bowl | Included | Not included |
| Dough Blade | Included | Not included |
| Auto-iQ Presets | 5 presets | 3 presets |
| Personal Cups | Included, with spout lids | Included, with spout lids |
| Blade System | Stacked 6-blade Total Crushing | Stacked 6-blade Total Crushing |
| Speed Settings | Low / Medium / High + Pulse | Low / Medium / High + Pulse |
| Ice Crushing | Yes | Yes |
| Nut Butter / Dough Capable | Yes, via processor bowl | Limited, pitcher only |
| Chopping Function | Dedicated S-blade bowl | Pulse in pitcher |
| Housing Material | Stainless steel accents | Stainless steel accents |
| Footprint | Larger, more counter space | Smaller, easier to store |
| Dishwasher-Safe Parts | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Blending + chopping + dough | Blending + smoothies only |
Smart Technology
Both blenders run on Ninja's Auto-iQ system, which times and pulses the motor automatically instead of leaving you to babysit a manual dial. The BN801 gets the fuller set of presets because it has more jobs to do — chop, dough, and extract all need slightly different pulse patterns than a straight smoothie blend. The BN701 sticks to the three presets that matter most for pitcher blending: smoothie, ice crush, and nutrient extraction.
Neither model has app connectivity or Bluetooth; both are purely mechanical-preset systems, which keeps them simple and reliable rather than gadget-heavy.
Capacity & Batch Size
Capacity is a wash for pure blending — both ship with the same 72-ounce Total Crushing pitcher, enough for a family-size batch of smoothies or a big pitcher of frozen margaritas. Where capacity actually diverges is food prep: the BN801's processor bowl gives you a second, separate vessel for chopping vegetables or working dough, so you're not stuck doing everything in one container. The BN701 has no equivalent, so larger chopping jobs have to be handled in batches using pulse mode in the pitcher.
Design & Build Quality
Visually the two share the same black-and-stainless design language and motor base shape, so side by side they read as siblings rather than different product lines. The BN801 takes up noticeably more counter or storage space once you account for the processor bowl and extra blades, while the BN701's smaller accessory set makes it the easier one to tuck into a cabinet. Build quality on the pitcher, lid, and base feels consistent between the two — this is the same core hardware wearing a different accessory kit.
Real-World Performance
Because the motor and blade assembly are identical, smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice crushing come out essentially the same on both machines — expect smooth, consistent results with frozen fruit and leafy greens on either model. The difference shows up the moment you step outside pitcher-only tasks. Chopping onions, shredding cheese, or mixing a batch of pizza dough is genuinely easier and cleaner on the BN801 thanks to its dedicated processor bowl, while the BN701 forces you to improvise with pulse blending, which works but is less precise and harder to control for delicate cuts.
Who Each Model Fits
Daily Smoothie Drinker
The BN701 covers this completely — you're paying for pitcher performance you'll actually use every day.
Home Cook Who Preps Meals
The BN801's processor bowl earns its keep for chopping vegetables and prepping ingredients beyond drinks.
Small Kitchen, Limited Storage
The BN701's smaller accessory set is easier to store in a compact apartment kitchen.
Baker or Dough Maker
The BN801's dough blade makes it the only one of the two suited to kneading tasks.
Budget-Focused Buyer
The BN701 delivers the same blending power for a lower price if you don't need extra attachments.
Gift for a New Household
The BN801's all-in-one kit gives a new kitchen more capability out of one box.
Pros & Cons
Ninja BN801 — Pros
- Food processor bowl adds real versatility
- Dough blade for baking projects
- More Auto-iQ presets to choose from
Ninja BN801 — Cons
- Larger footprint, more parts to store
- Higher price for features you may not use
Ninja BN701 — Pros
- Same 1400W motor and pitcher as the BN801
- Smaller, easier to store
- Lower price point
Ninja BN701 — Cons
- No dedicated chopping bowl
- Not built for dough or dense food prep
Final Verdict
If your blender life is mostly smoothies, frozen drinks, and crushed ice, the Ninja BN701 gives you the exact same blending performance as the BN801 for less money and less counter clutter. If you want one machine that also chops vegetables, mixes dough, and handles broader meal prep, the BN801's added processor bowl and dough blade make it the more complete kitchen tool — and worth the extra cost.
Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System
For most households, the extra versatility of the food processor bowl and dough blade make the BN801 the better long-term investment, even at a higher price than the BN701.
Which Should You Buy?
| If you want... | Buy this |
|---|---|
| Just smoothies, shakes, and crushed ice | Ninja BN701 |
| Blending plus chopping and dough | Ninja BN801 |
| The lowest price for the same motor | Ninja BN701 |
| The most complete kitchen system | Ninja BN801 |
| Easiest to store in a small kitchen | Ninja BN701 |
FAQ
What is the main difference between the Ninja BN801 and BN701?
The main difference between the Ninja BN801 and BN701 is that the BN801 is a full Kitchen System that adds a food processor bowl and dough blade to the same 1400-watt Total Crushing base the BN701 uses, while the BN701 stays focused purely on pitcher blending.
Does the Ninja BN801 have more power than the BN701?
No, both models share the same 1400-watt peak motor and Total Crushing blade assembly, so raw blending power is identical between them.
Can the BN701 chop vegetables like the BN801 can?
Not directly. The BN701 lacks the dedicated food processor bowl and S-blade, so chopping has to be done in the pitcher using pulse mode, which is less precise than the BN801's processor attachment.
Is the Ninja BN801 worth the extra cost over the BN701?
It depends on your kitchen habits. If you regularly chop, shred, or knead dough in addition to blending, the BN801's extra attachments justify the price gap; if you only need smoothies and crushed ice, the BN701 covers that at a lower cost.
Do both blenders come with personal to-go cups?
Yes, both the BN801 and BN701 typically include personal-sized cups with spout lids for single-serving smoothies, though bundle contents can vary by retailer.
Which blender is easier to store?
The BN701 has a smaller overall footprint since it ships without a food processor bowl, making it the easier of the two to fit in a compact kitchen or cabinet.
Are the pitchers interchangeable between the BN801 and BN701?
Both use a 72-ounce Total Crushing pitcher with the same locking base design, so pitchers from either model generally lock onto either motor base.
Which model is better for making nut butter or dough?
The BN801 is the better choice for dough and nut butter tasks since its food processor bowl and dough blade are built specifically for that kind of dense, low-liquid mixing.
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