How does SideSwipe compare?
(in the class we invented)
​
​The table contains important user features for each of the styles of flexible edge beater. SS is SideSwipe; KA includes KA and its copycats; and BB includes BB and its knockoffs. The DW item refers to sustaining damage in the dishwasher, including cracking and crazing of frame and peeling paint coatings. We've abbreviated a lot so the table is mobile-friendly. 
 
SS
KA
BB
Metal core or frame
x
x
 
Totally mixed
x
 
x
Heavy mixes
x
x
 
Chips, nuts stay whole
x
 
 
No paint chips
x
 
x
Ingred. down bowl, not up
x
 
x
No harm from DW
x
 
 
Adjusts to bowl
x
 
 
Good cream
x
 
x

reviews & comments
Here's what baking professionals and others have to say about SideSwipe versus its competition
Preferred over Beater Blade. ...it wasn’t until we mixed Spritz Cookies that we noticed the major advantage of the SideSwipe: Our recipe recommends stopping three times to scrape the bowl, but with the SideSwipe, we could add ingredients without stopping until the dough came together, leaving completely clean sides in the bowl. Meanwhile, the BeaterBlade+ left smears behind. ​
AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN
The SideSwipe paddle swipes the bowl sides as it mixes: no more stopping and scraping the bowl, no more surprise flour bombs. Get the right size for your giftee's stand mixer bowl, and this handy paddle just might earn you good cookie karma for life.
ALLRECIPES MAGAZINE
I have both, the Beater Blade and the Sideswipe and use both in my 6qt KA 600 "Pro". For regular cake batter, that isn't so thick, I find the Beater Blade works fine but with slightly stickier stuff my experience has been that the Sideswipe will drive the mixture down into the center of the bowl instead of it clumping around the structure of the beater...mine has gotten a pretty good workout and there has been no breakdown of the material. I clean the batter off it with a silicone brush so as to lose at little as possible and it goes straight into the sink and is rinsed with hot water - most stuff doesn't stick to it so it is easy to clean.
ANDISENJI via eg forum, ​eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters
This thing is AMAZING!!  The ...  fins create light and airy creaming and pretty much eliminate the need to stop and scrape down your bowl during the mixing process.  How did I get by all these years without it??  ... It’s a great product that will save you time when using your KitchenAid mixer.
Tasia, excerpt from a review on TWOSUGARBUGS.COM
My best friend had a beater blade that failed after a few years. Rubber gave out, IIRC. Meanwhile, my sideswipe has been going strong for 6-7 years and counting. It does a great job clearing the bowl sides and the silicone cleans up easily. I just soak it in soapy water, then blast it with my spray nozzle and all is good. Love it, wouldn't own a KA without it.
DUFFYH on Chowhound
I did have the KA version and eventually returned it. My batter was never ejected from the bowl as some commenters described but the batter was plastered toward the top of the bowl and was not being incorporated. I called KA and told them about my experience.
FLOURGIRL via EG Forum, ​eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters