Lomi vs Vitamix Composter: Which One Should You Buy?

Imagine one appliance that puts an end to all household food waste problems. Imagine getting rid of the odor, environmental footprint, leaky bags, and hassle of food waste disposal, all with the click of a button. This is all possible thanks to the ground-breaking invention electric composters, a kitchen appliance that breaks down your food using heat and abrasion, creating a soil-like product.

At home electric composters conveniently fit on your countertop waiting to be filled with plate scrapings and fruit and vegetable scraps. It can be hard to distinguish between options such as the Lomi and the Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50. Both composters are compact, eliminate odors, and reduce food waste, yet still offer different features to meet your daily needs. Picking the right product for you may require more research than you previously thought.

If you have a burning question, click ahead to get it answered:

• Lomi vs Vitamix Composter: how do they compare?
• Who should buy Lomi?
• Who should buy Vitamix FoodCycler?
• Lomi vs Vitamix: other things to consider
• The bottom line: which composter is better?

Here, we’re going to compare two options: the Vitamix FoodCycler vs Lomi.

Lomi vs Vitamix: how do the composters compare?

Lomi and Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 composters both break down food scraps and help eliminate waste, but the machines vary in quality, key features, ratings, and even eco-friendliness. Let’s dig into it.

Now that you’ve got the overview, let’s get into some specifics to better understand the two options.

Who should buy Lomi?

Lomi is a compact electric composter designed to fit any lifestyle. Developed by a leading sustainability brand, Lomi has three modes that are optimized for different time frames and end uses of the nutrient-rich dirt. Lomi was created with the vision of returning food waste to the earth, meaning its end product is tailored to aid plant growth. Those who should consider Lomi include:

1. People who have never tried an electric composter: Lomi is the most risk-free option for those adventuring into the world of at-home composting. With a 14 day free trial, 3 year warranty, and over 2500 5 star reviews, the purchase comes worry-free.
2. Plant lovers and owners: Lomi turns your food waste into nutrient-rich dirt that is perfect to be mixed into soil for houseplants and gardens. It can even be sprinkled onto your lawn! LomiPods add a microbial boost to your end product, ensuring a healthy mixture for your plants.
3. Environmentally conscious people: Lomi was created by Pela, a Certified B Corp with a mission to eliminate 10 billion pounds of waste. It is the only certified Carbon Neutral electric composter, so you can be sure all stages of production are environmentally friendly.
4. People who use bioplastics or paper products: Lomi is the only electric composter that can handle bioplastics and verified paper products. With an extensive list of Lomi Approved products and a bioplastic-specific mode, Lomi has your back.

Let’s sketch out the pros and cons of the Lomi composter:

Pros	Cons
High quality microbially rich end product 2500+ 5 star reviews Fast cycle time Large capacity 3 modes of operation 14-day risk-free trial  Can break down bioplastics	Sells out quickly Higher price

 

Who should buy Vitamix FoodCycler?

The Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 has been on the market for several years. Like Lomi, the FoodCycler breaks down food waste while taking up only a small space on your counter and making very little noise. It also comes with a carbon filter to reduce odors. Those who should consider the FoodCycler include:

1. People who don’t have plants, gardens or lawns: The Vitamix food composter breaks apart and dehydrates food waste without microorganisms. This means the end product will not help your plants or lawn, and should instead be thrown away.
2. People who care about big brand names: Vitamix is big brand name known to make high-quality blenders and food processors, however their composter doesn't live up to the same standards. If you are someone looking for a brand name backed product or cannot afford a higher quality composter, FoodCycler might be your best bet.
3. People who have a long time frame between meals: If you do a lot of meal prep, or eat a meal-a-day out, the longer cycle time might work for you. With a 7-8 hour cycle, the Vitamix FoodCycler does not accommodate a fast turnaround between meals.
4. People without children: With a 2L capacity, the Vitamix FoodCycler does not fit a large amount of food waste. For those without children, this capacity may be sufficient.
5. People who don’t use bioplastics: If you’re an eco-warrior who avoids all disposable products including compostable cutlery, containers, straws, and plates, the FoodCycler will meet most of your needs as it cannot break down these products.

Let’s run through the pros and cons of the Vitamix composter:

Pros	Cons
Recognizable brand name Lower price Trustworthy warranty	Reports of malfunction and broken parts Long cycle time Low quality end product Only 1 mode of operation Cannot break down bioplastics No risk-free trial or money-back guarantee Smaller capacity

Now that we’ve gone over the basics, let’s take a look at a few other considerations before making the big decision.

Vitamix FoodCycler vs Lomi: other things to consider

Both Lomi and FoodCycler serve the same purpose of eliminating your household food waste. However, the two products have important distinctions. Let’s dive into a some additional considerations to help you make the best choice for your home.

What can be composted?

Both Lomi and Vitamix composters can break down a wide range of everyday food items such as fruit, vegetables, meat, grains, dairy, and more. They are designed for convenience, meaning your post-dinner plate scrapings or expired eggs can be easily thrown in. However, both have nuances to what can and cannot be added.

While the Vitamix ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ list remains fairly vague, they specify that compostable plastics, watermelon rinds, pineapple leaves, and more should not be added. Lomi, on the other hand, can break down all these items and more.

Further, while Vitamix boasts the ability to break down small amounts of paper towels and toilet paper, they do not account for added bleaches and dyes in these products which would poison plants if added to soil. Pela has created a list of Lomi Approved items so that you know exactly which bioplastics and paper products should be added to your mix. 

Quality of the end product

The compost quality between Lomi and the Vitamix Foodcycler differs greatly. Lomi goes a step further than all other electric composters by creating a microbe-and-nutrient-rich dirt with your food waste. Using the unique innovative blend of microbes and fungi, the LomiPods enhance your end product and make it perfect for plant growth. By using Grow mode on Lomi, specific temperatures and timeframes are set to create the optimal soil add-in.

The Vitamix FoodCycler, on the other hand, creates a low-quality dirt which is simply dehydrated, ground-up food waste. With no microbial add-ins or specialized modes, the end product from the FoodCycler should not be added to indoor plants, gardens, or lawns.

Price comparison

Lomi and FoodCycler composters have differences in pricing and trial options. Let’s explore!

	Price	Free trial
Lomi	$499.00	14-day risk-free trial + full refund
Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50	$399.95	No risk-free trial option

The Vitamix might save you money upfront but it is definitely a more risky purchase, considering the quality of the overall product and durability issues people have complained about. Lomi on the other hand offers a 14-day risk-free trial and a full refund if you’re not loving it. 

Sustainability strategy and company mission

If you’re looking to support a sustainable and ethical brand, Lomi cannot be beat. Pela is on a mission to eliminate 10 billion pounds of plastic from the waste stream by 2028. To meet this ambitious goal, Pela only creates products that directly align with the mission. Being Climate Neutral and B Corp Certified, you can be sure that every stage of Lomi’s production is ethically and environmentally conscious.

Vitamix, on the other hand, is not B Corp or Climate Neutral certified. As a larger corporation, they are kitchen-appliance focused as opposed to mission driven by a bigger purpose.

Reviews

Since Lomi’s launch, it has received an astonishing amount of praise and love for the product. With 2500+ reviews and a 4.7 star rating, you have to see for yourself what people are saying about Lomi.

Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 reviews do not hit the same mark. Although the product also has a 4.7/5 rating on the Vitamix website, there are only 731 reviews. Furthermore, there are many reports of faulty parts and broken buckets.

One customer who had purchased both products publicly posted a complaint that the Vitamix FoodCycler simply couldn’t create the promised end product, but when ran through Lomi created the ideal dirt.

The bottom line: which composter is better?

The battle of FoodCycler vs Lomi has a clear winner: Lomi comes out on top. Lomi can complete a composting cycle in less than half the time of the Vitamix FoodCycler, produces a far superior end product, boasts better and more reliable reviews, and features 3 separate modes of operation. And it does all this while breaking down bioplastics.

Both of these compact electric composters take up minimal space on your countertop and come at a competitive price, making them great options for any kitchen-owner. However, for those looking to use the end product for houseplants, gardens, or lawns, Lomi simply produces a higher quality dirt.

If you’re feeling confident in your decision, you can get your own Lomi today. Whether this is a next step on your composting journey or you’re just getting started, we’re excited for you! Electric composters are a truly convenient, simple, and brilliant way to dispose of your everyday food waste.