Ninja TB401 vs TB301: Which Ninja All-in-One Blender & Food Processor Should You Buy?

When it comes to high-powered kitchen blenders, Ninja has become my go-to brand for its reliability and versatility. Recently, I had the chance to test both the Ninja TB401 All-in-One Blender & Food Processor and the Ninja TB301 Power Blender Pro. At first glance, these two machines look similar, they share the same sleek design, an 1800-watt peak motor, and Ninja’s BlendSense technology. But once I put them to work in my kitchen, I quickly realized they serve slightly different purposes.

If you’re stuck deciding between the TB401 and TB301, this comparison will help. I’ll walk you through the differences, share my personal experience using them for smoothies, dough, salsa, and more, and give you my honest recommendation at the end.

Key Difference Between Ninja TB401 and TB301 All in One Blender

The biggest difference between the Ninja TB401 and TB301 is versatility.

• The TB401 comes with a 72-oz blending pitcher, a 64-oz food processor bowl, a slicing & shredding disc, a dough blade, and a single-serve cup. This means it truly replaces multiple appliances, I made cookie dough, sliced veggies for coleslaw, and even shredded cheese in minutes.
• The TB301, on the other hand, is more of a dedicated blender with some food processing functions. It comes with a 72-oz pitcher and two 24-oz single-serve cups, but it lacks the food processor bowl and slicing/shredding attachments. It’s perfect for smoothies, frozen drinks, and chopping, but not as strong for baking prep or large meal prep.

So, in short: TB401 = blender + full food processor, while TB301 = blender + single-serve convenience.

Quick Comparison Table: Ninja TB401 and TB301 All in One Blender

Feature	Ninja TB401	Ninja TB301
Motor Power	1800 Peak Watts	1800 Peak Watts
Pitcher Size	72 oz Full-Size Pitcher	72 oz Full-Size Pitcher
Food Processor Bowl	Yes (64 oz with feed chute + blades)	No
Single-Serve Cups	1 (24 oz)	2 (24 oz each)
Blades	Total Crushing, Chopping Blade, Dough Blade, Slicing/Shredding Disc	Total Crushing & Chopping Blade
BlendSense Technology	Yes	Yes
Variable Speed Control	Yes (10 speeds)	Yes (10 speeds)
Weight	14.1 lbs	10.6 lbs
Dishwasher Safe	Yes	Yes
Best For	Multi-tasking: smoothies, dough, chopping, slicing, shredding	Smoothies, frozen drinks, chopping, single-serve blending
Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Detailed Comparative Review – Ninja TB401 Vs TB301 All in One Blender

1. Design & Build Quality

Both models share the same sleek, black design with a modern control dial that makes selecting functions intuitive. The TB401 feels heavier and more robust thanks to the extra attachments and larger food processor bowl. In contrast, the TB301 is lighter and more compact, which I found handy if counter space is tight.

For me, the TB401 looked and felt more like an “all-in-one kitchen system,” while the TB301 looked more like a premium blender.

2. Ease of Use

Ninja’s BlendSense technology is a game-changer in both models. I loved how it automatically adjusted speed and blending time depending on the ingredients, it took the guesswork out of making smoothies or chopping veggies.

The TB401 required a little more setup since I had to swap between the pitcher, food processor bowl, and slicing disc. But once you get the hang of it, it’s simple.

The TB301 was easier for quick jobs, I just popped ingredients into the pitcher or one of the single-serve cups, pressed the button, and I was done.

3. Functions & Versatility

Here’s where I noticed the real difference:

• With the TB401, I could make cookie dough, shred cabbage for coleslaw, slice carrots, and even knead pizza dough. The extra blades and food processor bowl turned it into a true multi-functional appliance.
• The TB301, while powerful, was more limited. It crushed ice perfectly for margaritas, blended smoothies super smooth, and chopped onions for salsa, but I couldn’t slice or shred veggies, and making dough wasn’t really practical.

If you do a lot of cooking and meal prep, the TB401 is the clear winner. But if you mainly want smoothies, shakes, and frozen drinks, the TB301 is more than enough.

4. Performance

Both models crushed ice in seconds and blended smoothies with no chunks. When I tested green smoothies, both powered through kale and spinach effortlessly.

Where the TB401 pulled ahead was with dough. I tested cookie dough and pizza dough, something the TB301 simply isn’t designed for. The TB401 kneaded 2 lbs of dough easily, saving me a ton of time compared to doing it by hand.

For frozen drinks and smoothies, I honestly couldn’t tell much difference between the two, they both nailed it.

5. Cleaning

Both the TB401 and TB301 are dishwasher safe, which was a relief after messy recipes. The TB301 was slightly easier to clean since it had fewer parts, while the TB401 took a bit longer because of the extra bowl and slicing disc.

Still, I’d say Ninja has made cleanup manageable on both.

Quick Rundown of Ninja TB401 All-in-One Blender and Food Processor 

Pros √

• True all-in-one system: blender + food processor
• Can handle dough, slicing, shredding, chopping, and blending
• Powerful 1800-watt motor
• Large capacity for families or meal prep
• Sturdy build quality

Cons x

• Bulkier and heavier (takes up more counter space)
• More parts to clean and store
• Slightly higher price

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Ninja TB301 Power Blender Pro+

Pros √

• Compact and lighter design
• Comes with two single-serve cups (great for families)
• Same powerful motor as TB401
• Easy to use and quick for smoothies, shakes, and frozen drinks
• Lower cost compared to TB401

Cons x

• No food processor bowl
• Can’t slice, shred, or knead dough
• Less versatile for meal prep

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Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?

After using both the Ninja TB401 and TB301, my conclusion is simple:

• If you’re mainly making smoothies, protein shakes, frozen drinks, and occasional salsas, the Ninja TB301 is the smarter, budget-friendly choice. It’s compact, powerful, and perfect for daily blending.
• But if you want a true all-in-one system that can also handle baking prep, slicing, shredding, and kneading dough, then the Ninja TB401 is 100% worth the extra cost. It saves you from buying a separate food processor and gives you way more versatility in the kitchen.

Personally, I lean toward the TB401 because I cook and bake a lot, it replaced multiple appliances for me. But if you only need smoothies and quick blending, go with the TB301 and save the counter space.

Either way, you’re getting a powerhouse from Ninja.