For single‑serve blending, choose Ultra for lower‑noise power and price; pick Ultra Plus for the 3‑in‑1 kit with processor and grinder.
Nutribullet Ultra (NB50500)
Nutribullet Ultra Plus+ (NB50550)
Budget Smoothie Route
- Daily smoothies & shakes without clutter
- Lower‑frequency sound profile
- Small footprint and lighter base
Ultra (NB50500)
Kitchen System Route
- Blend + slice/shred in one kit
- Fresh‑ground coffee or spices
- All on one 1200‑W motor base
Ultra Plus+ (NB50550)
Upgrade‑Ready Plan
- Start with Ultra
- Add processor/grinder later
- Spread spend over time
Ultra base + add‑ons
Personal blenders live on the counter, so the right pick affects how you prep breakfast, shakes, and quick sauces. One option aims for quiet power and value; the other folds in food‑processing and grinding. You’ll get the fast verdict and the trade‑offs that actually change the daily routine.
In A Nutshell
The Ultra is the simpler route: a 1200‑watt base with three cups and a sound profile tuned for lower frequency. It’s lighter, cheaper, and ready for daily smoothies without taking much space. The Ultra Plus uses the same base but ships as a compact kitchen system. You get a 2‑cup processor bowl with a reversible slice/shred disc, a chopping blade, and a separate coffee‑and‑spice grinder. If you only want fast blends, go Ultra. If you also prep slaws, grind beans, or shred cheese, the Plus earns its higher price.
Side‑By‑Side Specs
Both run the same 1200‑W base; the Plus adds a processor and grinder set.
Nutribullet Ultra — What We Like / What We Don’t Like
✅ What We Like
- 1200‑W base with an illuminated Auto‑Blend cycle or Pulse for quick control.
- Lower‑frequency sound profile and smaller footprint make it easy to run early or late.
- Three cups in the box (32‑oz, 24‑oz, 24‑oz handled) plus two sip lids; cups are top‑rack dishwasher‑safe.
⚠️ What We Don’t Like
- Not an ice crusher; it’s built for smoothies, shakes, dips, and dressings.
- Capped blend time (no more than one minute per cycle) to keep pressure in check.
The Ultra aims to be the daily driver: fast blends, fewer parts on the counter, and a sound profile that’s easier on the ears. The titanium‑coated Rapid Extractor Blade ships with a five‑year limited warranty, which is unusual at this price. If you don’t need to shred carrots or grind beans, the lower cost and lighter base are strong reasons to stop here.
Nutribullet Ultra Plus — What We Like / What We Don’t Like
✅ What We Like
- Ships as a compact kitchen system: 2‑cup processor bowl with slice/shred disc, chopping blade, plus a separate coffee & spice grinder.
- Same 1200‑W base with Auto‑Blend and Pulse, so smoothie results match the Ultra.
- Includes a 24‑oz double‑walled cup that keeps blends colder for longer on the go.
⚠️ What We Don’t Like
- Higher price and a heavier base when all attachments are accounted for.
- More pieces to store and wash; still not meant for continuous ice crushing.
If you want a small‑footprint system that also slices cabbage, shreds cheese, and grinds beans, the Plus is the bundle that replaces extra gadgets. It costs more, but the attachments expand what the base can do without moving to a full‑size blender or a stand‑alone processor.
ℹ️ Good To Know: Both models are built for room‑temperature or chilled ingredients, and each run should be under one minute. Avoid hot or carbonated contents and don’t treat the base as an ice crusher. See the User Guide and warranty pages linked below.
Ultra Or Ultra Plus: Which Fits You Better
Power & Throughput
Both machines run a 1200‑watt motor and the same Rapid Extractor Blade. That’s plenty for fibrous greens, seeded berries, and thick shakes. The glow interface gives you two choices: a hands‑free auto cycle or a manual pulse. The result is consistent blends in well under a minute when you build the cup in the usual order (liquids first, softer items, then frozen items near the top). If you’re after smoothie speed, there’s no performance gap—your choice hinges on what else you prep besides drinks.
The Plus takes the same output and stretches it with accessories. The 2‑cup processor bowl handles chopping, slicing, and shredding jobs that a tall smoothie cup won’t do neatly. The flat coffee‑and‑spice grinder opens up fresh‑ground beans or spice rubs. You’re still using one motor base; you’re just swapping the top piece to match the task.
Noise & Comfort
The Ultra’s page calls out a lower‑frequency sound profile and positions it as the brand’s quietest single‑serve unit. That doesn’t make it silent, but the tone sits lower, which many kitchens find easier to live with during early mornings. The Plus shares the same base, so the blending tone is similar. Where the Plus can feel louder is cabinet clatter: extra bowls, discs, and lids introduce more storage and handling noise. If you want the least fuss and the smoothest setup on a small counter, the Ultra’s leaner kit helps.
Cleaning & Parts
Bottles and sip lids go on the top rack. The blade and base should be hand‑washed and wiped. That’s the same for both routes. The difference is volume of parts. The Ultra kit has three cups and two lids. The Plus adds a processor bowl, a reversible disc, a chopping blade, a grinder cup, and a grinder blade. More tools add flexibility but also more washing and a little more care when drying the sharp processor pieces. If your routine is one smoothie and done, fewer parts win. If you meal‑prep and cook on weekends, the extra attachments save time later.
Safety & Standards
There are a few rules to keep these bases safe and long‑lived. Only blend room‑temperature or chilled contents. No hot or warm liquids, and no carbonated or effervescent ingredients—pressure rises in a sealed cup. Keep each run under one minute, then let ingredients settle before another cycle. Don’t treat either model as an ice crusher; cubes are fine in smoothies when there’s enough liquid, but continuous ice crushing isn’t the goal. These points come straight from the manuals and protect the cup, blade, and motor over time. User Guide (PDF)
The blade platform is titanium‑coated and ships with a five‑year limited warranty. That coverage sits alongside the one‑year unit warranty and gives you a clear path if the blade assembly fails under normal use. You can read the formal language here: Rapid Extractor Blade warranty.
Warranty & Service
Every kit includes the base one‑year limited warranty on the machine plus a five‑year limited warranty on the Rapid Extractor Blade. That’s unusually generous for a personal blender blade and aligns with the company’s move to a titanium‑coated platform. Extended coverage for the unit is available for a fee on Nutribullet’s site, but most buyers won’t need it if they follow basic care steps from the manual and avoid hot contents.
Pricing & Packages
List pricing in the U.S. runs $164.99 for the Ultra and $214.99 for the Ultra Plus. The lower price makes sense if you only want smoothie cups. The higher price buys the attachments most kitchens end up wanting later: a processor bowl with a reversible slice/shred disc and a chopping blade, plus a dedicated grinder. If you start with the Ultra, you can still add these attachments over time—the brand sells the processor and grinder as add‑ons for the Ultra base. That means you’re not locked into a single decision on day one.
Materials & Durability
Cups are made from Tritan™ Renew, a tough copolyester with certified recycled content. They’re BPA‑free and designed for repeat dishwashing on the top rack. That’s useful when a household runs multiple blends per day. The blade’s titanium‑coated platform is designed to stretch lifespan while keeping performance sharp. If you keep runs under a minute and avoid hot or carbonated contents, the wear pattern on the gasket and bearings slows down. It’s a setup meant to live on a counter, not a cabinet shelf.
Price, Value & Ownership
The Ultra stretches dollars for drink‑first kitchens; the Plus repays those who also prep and grind.
Where Each One Wins
🏆 Quiet Power Tone — Nutribu llet Ultra
🏆 All‑In Cooking Tasks — Ultra Plus+
🏆 Cold‑Keeping Cup — Ultra Plus+ (24‑oz double wall)
🏆 Small‑Space Setup — Nutribu llet Ultra
Decision Guide
✅ Choose Nutribu llet Ultra If…
- You mainly make smoothies, shakes, dips, or dressing and want a tidy counter setup.
- You’d like a lower‑frequency sound profile and the best price.
- You prefer a lighter base and fewer parts to store or wash.
✅ Choose Nutribu llet Ultra Plus If…
- You want one base that blends smoothies, shreds veggies, and grinds coffee or spices.
- You like the idea of a cold‑keeping double‑walled cup in the box.
- You’re fine paying more to skip separate gadgets.
Best Fit For Most Kitchens
Most buyers should start with the Ultra. It’s cheaper, lighter, and tuned for the daily smoothie routine, with a sound profile that’s easier on a small home. You still get three cups and a blade with a long warranty. If your cooking week includes shredding, slicing, or grinding, step up to the Ultra Plus. It’s the same blending experience but with a system that replaces extra gadgets.
Where This Guide Comes From
All pricing and what’s‑in‑the‑box details come from Nutribullet’s official U.S. product pages, which list the Ultra at $164.99 and the Ultra Plus at $214.99. Safety rules and time/temperature limits come from the manuals; the five‑year blade coverage is documented on the company’s warranty page. Links to those sources are included above.