They are not the same thing. We just use ours for smoothies. We love it, though it is cheaply made. The plastic thingys in the machine that get pushed down stick a bit. They used to go down smoothly.

I didn't realize they were the same thing.

This used to be called a Magic Bullet. I grind flax seeds daily because they lose potency so quickly. I also use it to make salad dressings or marinades. I've made pesto, but prefer my food processor for that.

Just bought one yesterday. Aside from making smoothies, what else do you do with yours?