I blend drinks each day. My mornings are busy. I need a fast drink. A good tool helps so much. I bought two models to test at home. You must know which is best. Read my Ninja SS401 Vs BN801 guide now.
Ninja SS401 Review
This is a huge machine. It does many jobs. It is a high speed blender. Let us see how it works.
Pros and Cons
It cuts food fast. Yet, the base is quite wide.
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge motor power | Base is very wide |
| Great for thick foods | Makes loud noise |
| Built-in lid tamper | Lots of parts to wash |
| Cuts hard food fast | Costs more cash |
Real Experience After Months of Use
I used this each day. It is a top nut butter blender. The top has a twist tool. This pushes food down. I do not have to stop. I do not have to stir. I love this for thick foods. It makes my thick shake so smooth.
It crushes ice in a flash. I toss in frozen fruit. The drink texture is great. The lid fits tight. You will not spill a drop. The worst part is the sound. It will wake up the house. I wash it right off to save time.
Recommendation
Buy this for thick bowls. It is best for one main tool. Skip this if you want a personal blender. Skip it if you hate loud noise.
Ninja BN801 Review
This is a classic kit. It comes with a big blender jar. It comes with cups. It cuts food very well.
Pros and Cons
It is easy to use. But, it hates thick dough.
| Pros | Cons |
| Big size for groups | Blade is sharp to wash |
| Good pulse setting | Hard to make thick bowls |
| Has two nice cups | Takes big shelf space |
| Great at cold drinks | No built-in tamper |
Real Experience After Months of Use
I made lots of drinks here. It is a good smoothie blender. The blades chop ice like magic. It is a top ice crushing blender. I use the pulse setting for nuts. It works so fast.
But, it is bad for thick dips. You must stop the tool. You must scrape the sides. That is a real pain. The motor is strong. My protein shake mixes fast. I grab the cup to go. It sits well on my space. It shakes a bit on high speed.
Recommendation
Buy this for a big group. It is great for basic shakes. Do not buy it for thick bowls.
Detailed Comparison for Ninja SS401 Vs BN801
We will look at them now. I tested them in my home. Here is what I found.
Motor Power & Speed – Ninja SS401 Vs BN801
Power is key for a countertop blender. The SS401 has a strong motor. It cuts hard food well. The BN801 is strong too. But it has slightly less power.
| Feature | Ninja SS401 | Ninja BN801 |
| Peak Power | 1600 Watts | 1400 Watts |
| Speed Controls | Knob and buttons | Push buttons only |
| Stall Risk | Very low | Low |
Rating
Ninja SS401: 9/10
Ninja BN801: 8/10
Jar Capacity & Size – Ninja SS401 Vs BN801
Both tools give you a big main jug. They hold a lot of juice. The extra cups are not the same. The SS401 has a neat bowl cup.
| Feature | Ninja SS401 | Ninja BN801 |
| Main Pitcher | 72 oz jug | 72 oz jug |
| Extra Cups | 24 oz and 18 oz | Two 24 oz cups |
| Prep Bowl | Uses main jug | 64 oz extra bowl |
Rating
Ninja SS401: 8/10
Ninja BN801: 9/10
Smoothie Texture – Ninja SS401 Vs BN801
A good drink must be smooth. Both tools break down greens well. The SS401 makes a slightly fine drink. You will not feel big chunks.
| Feature | Ninja SS401 | Ninja BN801 |
| Green Drinks | Very smooth | Smooth |
| Hard Seeds | Blends well | Blends okay |
| Protein Shake | Mixes fast | Mixes fast |
Rating
Ninja SS401: 9/10
Ninja BN801: 8/10
Frozen Fruit Performance – Ninja SS401 Vs BN801
Cold fruit can break weak tools. Both of these are tough. The SS401 tamper cup makes it the clear champ.
| Feature | Ninja SS401 | Ninja BN801 |
| Cold Berries | Fast cut | Good cut |
| Need to stop | Rare | Yes, sometimes |
| Tamper tool | Built in lid | None |
Rating
Ninja SS401: 10/10
Ninja BN801: 7/10
Thick Blends / Nut Butter – Ninja SS401 Vs BN801
Making nut paste is a hard job. The SS401 is built for this. The BN801 tries hard but needs help. You must pull thick parts down.
| Feature | Ninja SS401 | Ninja BN801 |
| Nut Paste | Creamy and fast | Needs big scrapes |
| Thick Hummus | Very easy | Fairly easy |
| Motor Strain | Low | Medium |
Rating
Ninja SS401: 10/10
Ninja BN801: 6/10
Final Verdict
Both tools are great. The SS401 is the best for thick bowls. It has so much power. It makes fine drinks. The BN801 is best for a big group. It gives you lots of cups. It has a big bowl.