The 8 best portable power stations to stay charged up at home and on the go

Lauren Allain

Read our full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is a great model for most people, whether this will be your first portable power station or you already own several and want a model that comes with zero fuss. The respectable 1,024Wh capacity is perfect for a weekend at the campground or for powering up the portable projector for backyard movie nights. During power outages, it’ll keep phones charged, the coffee pot at-the-ready, and a few lamps.

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 weighs under 25 pounds, so it’s easy to carry. Recharging from 0 to 100% takes under an hour, so you won’t need much time to prep the power station for a camping trip or an impending storm. If you’re looking to recharge with solar, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 is capable of a major 600W solar input.

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is the updated and upgraded version of the original Anker Solix C1000, our previous top pick. While I still love the original and recommend buying it if it’s significantly cheaper than the Gen 2, the newer model comes with some perks. For starters, it’s lighter and recharges quicker than the original model. It comes with five standard AC ports, three USB-C, and one USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports can handle 140W simultaneously, making it ideal for recharging higher-powered tech like the MacBook Pro. 

The 10 millisecond uninterrupted power supply (UPS) rating which means it’ll take over powering devices within 10 milliseconds of losing grid power, a feature important when using with a CPAP, refrigerator, or a desktop work station, to name a few time-sensitive scenarios.

Anker paid special attention to charging times when designing the new Solix C1000 Gen 2 and in UltraFast recharging mode, it can reach 100% in just 49 minutes. You’ll need to use the Anker app to enable this quick-charging. Otherwise, expect to get a full charge in about one hour.

A major benefit of the C1000 Gen 2 is its ability to connect with up to 600W of solar panels. If you can manage full sun and 600W of solar input, recharging time is a speedy 1.8 hours. Take this out camping with a solar panel and you could have unlimited power from a power station that’s easy to carry around the campsite.

With 286Wh of capacity, the EcoFlow River 3 Plus could be your new favorite camping accessory. It excels in portability, weighing just a bit over 10 pounds with an overall design and built-in handle that make carrying it around the campground effortless. Connect to a solar panel for a perfect camping experience. There’s also connectivity to the EcoFlow app, which is great for monitoring power output or recharging status while you’re not near the power station. Its quiet operation can also be great for home use during power outages to keep a lamp on and recharge phones.

EcoFlow makes some of the best portable power stations available, and the brand has a massive lineup of options. The River series focuses on portability, which makes them ideal for camping and outdoor adventures. The River 3 Plus has 286Wh of battery capacity, which will be great for keeping phones topped up on a weekend camping trip and keeping the Thermacell anti-mosquito device operational.

Because it’s so compact and lightweight, the EcoFlow River 3 Plus doesn’t come with a massive amount of charging ports, but it should be sufficient for most campers. It has three standard AC ports, one USB-A, one USB-C, and one car output option. There’s also a light strip at the bottom of the portable power station that can help light up camp come nightfall. Connect the EcoFlow River 3 Plus to a 220W solar panel and you’ll be in for a full recharge in as little as 90 minutes. Assuming there’s sun power to harness while camping, the EcoFlow River 3 Plus will easily be able to fully recharge every day.

The Bluetti Elite 10 Mini is my go-to model for quick trips that take me off-grid power. It weighs just four pounds and has a great built-in handle for easy portability. The rear-facing onboard light with dim settings is also excellent in comparison to some brands that only use blinding lights.

The Bluetti Elite 10 comes with 128Wh capacity, a 200W AC output, and a 10 millisecond UPS. The six outlets include one AC, dual USB-A, dual USB-C, and a DC input. Take it for a quick weekend away at the cabin or use it at home to keep the household’s phones charged up until grid power returns. Plus, it costs just $120.

Fitting in the palm of your hand, the Bluetti Elite 10 Mini is a compact model that can recharge your phone about six times. The 128Wh capacity power station weighs a bit under four pounds. Despite its small size, it’s packed with ports and one of my favorite on-board lights. You get access to one AC port, two USB-C, and two USB-A. Recharge with standard wall power or connect it with up to 100W of solar power.

The Bluetti Elite 10 Mini is the only model I’ve encountered that has the lightbar built into the back. When recharging my phone in the tent at night, I can use the light as a warm nightlight reflected on the tent wall. I’m also thrilled that it comes in a fun green colorway in an industry that focuses on black exteriors. Bluetti says the onboard power is enough to keep the light on for up to 50 hours. 

Given its small size, it recharges slowly, taking about 70 minutes to reach 100%. Compared to the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2, which has nearly 10 times as much battery capacity and a recharging time of less than an hour, the Bluetti is slow. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it can be inconvenient if you tend to forget to recharge.

If you’re taking a portable power station to the dusty jobsite or overlanding during hurricane season, you probably want something more durable than the standard power station. The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra offers a solution, coming with an IP65 rating that means it can withstand getting wet and operating in dusty conditions. A more standard portable power station would take damage from water or sucking up debris like wood shavings and dirt into the onboard fan. Not the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra.

The rugged exterior, protective flaps over ports, and waterproof rating make this model the best option for harsh conditions. In fact, I’d even recommend this model for people camping in my area of the Pacific Northwest where it rains often. Even if it doesn’t, we have dewy mornings even. Going with a model that won’t be affected by water damage offers great reassurance that your investment is protected and your power station will continue to work as expected.

Not many power stations can say they’re not afraid of water and dust. That’s not great news since we tend to use them outside, while working on projects in the garage, or stick them next to the refrigerator in an area that hasn’t seen the vacuum cleaner in years. Jackery’s Explorer 1500 Ultra doesn’t care since it’s both waterproof and dust-resistant. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can toss it in the lake and expect it to be perfect. But it does mean it can get rained on, be used around wood shavings, or in the sandy desert, and it won’t freak out. Each section of power ports has a cantilever protective flap that can cover the area when not in use, protecting it from water and debris. When not in use, Jackery recommends covering the ports to keep it as protected as possible.

Also unique to this model is a detachable metal base. Take it off and you’ll have access to the power station's cooling system, including the fan. Should you use it for prolonged periods in dusty or sandy conditions, you can open it up and easily clean it out to prevent buildup.

Since this model plays especially well with workshops and job sites, it can handle a surge of up to 3,600W and 2,000W for up to 15 minutes at a time. With a standard load, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is rated for a 1,800 continuous output. These stats play well with high-powered tools, pumps, and appliances.

With 1,536Wh capacity, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra feels a bit heavy, weighing about 39 pounds. I can carry it from the garage to the backyard without trouble, but it might pose a challenge to carry it over longer distances.

Read our full review of the DJI Power 2000 portable power station.

Content creators have a lot to keep charged up, like cameras, mics, drones, lights, and probably a coffee maker. Creators also often work in locations that don’t have standard grid power. The DJI Power 2000 packs in 2,048Wh capacity with great features for content creators. It comes with three standard AC ports, a 30-amp plug, four USB-A ports, four USB-C ports, and two SDC ports for quick recharging of drones. Paired with its quiet operation, which won’t disrupt work, the DJI Power 2000 is optimal for creators using on location or in the studio.

DJI is great when it comes to offering high-quality creator gadgets like drones and the wireless mics found all over YouTube and TikTok lately. The brand’s largest portable power station is the DJI Power 2000, which can keep all of the essential content creator devices charged up and ready to roll. 

DJI also made sure the Power 2000 operates at a quiet decibel level. Maxing out at 29 decibels, it’s quiet enough that you could sleep next to it when powering up a CPAP machine or using it while filming in the studio. 

When testing the DJI Power 2000, it proved its worth as a multi-tasker, charging up a phone and camera battery and cooking dinner in the air fryer at the same time. Major points to DJI for the expansion ability on the Power 2000. It would get spendy and incredibly heavy, but the DJI Power 2000 is compatible with up to 10 DJI Expansion Battery 2000s, which would make for a total of 22,528Wh. That kind of capacity could make it a contender for whole-home backup.

If your part of the country deals with power outages that can last for days, it might be worth investing in a whole-home backup system. This will give you reassurance that the refrigerator will keep cooling, the lights will be on, and you'll be able to keep the HVAC system running. The Anker Solix E10 is the brand's first whole-home backup system, and it comes with major customization benefits. The system is simple to use with Anker's app, and prices start at under $6,000.

At its base level, the Solix system will come with the Solix E10 Power Module and one Solix B6000 Battery Module. Plug this stackable system into your home's transfer switch or inlet boxes, and you'll get 7.6kW output with 6,000Wh of capacity. Should you need extra juice for an extended power outage, you can add up to five Solix B6000 batteries. Alternatively, you can hook it up to your own generator or the Anker Solix Smart Generator 5500 with fuel options that include gas, propane, and natural gas. The E10 system is also happy to harness the power of an existing solar panel setup, should you have that at your house.

Both the Solix E10 Power Module and batteries come with a NEMA 4 waterproof rating, which means you can put the system outside, should you desire. You can also mount it on the wall of your garage, which is preferred if you live in an area prone to flooding.

Getting more complex (in a good way), you can also grab an Anker Power Dock or a Smart Inlet Box that connects the system to your home's grid power. Both options give you more control over how the E10 and batteries perform and when the system recharges off your home's grid power, and come with storm warnings that automatically prep the system for a potential outage.

While the E10 system isn't inexpensive, it could be well worth the peace of mind if you deal with several prolonged outages each year. With it, you can keep the lights on, the refrigerator cooling, the heat or A/C running, and more.

Not everyone wants a portable power station simply for camping. You might want something that ensures your home stays powered up should the lights go out. The Bluetti Apex 300 could be just the model for keeping your home online during a power outage. It can handle dual 120V and 240V output from the single unit, comes with plenty of ports, and has a second-generation LiFePO4 battery, which can last for up to 17 years.

Bluetti also added advanced features on the Apex 300, like scheduling recharging during off-peak hours to get the best rate and giving alerts for upcoming extreme weather, which kicks on auto-charging.

For plenty of (usually awesome) reasons, not everyone stays on grid all the time, but you probably want power. For other people, unpredictable weather can knock out power for days. The Bluetti Apex 300 is a beast of a power station that provides 2,764.8Wh on its own, but can be expanded to a whopping 58,000Wh. Bluetti says that’ll keep an entire house powered up for one week. It’s more than capable of powering appliances that need serious juice, like the washing machine, refrigerator, EV charger, and plenty more.

During a power outage, the Bluetti will keep the refrigerator cooling, coffee maker brewing, lamps turned on, a CPAP machine working, and keep the WiFi router online. Another benefit of the Bluetti Apex 300 is that it comes with the ability to receive up to 2,400W of solar charging.

The Bluetti Apex 300 is unique in its distinct lack of USB-A or USB-C ports. To get those, you’ll need to grab the Hub D1 Power accessory, which gives two USB-A, two USB-C, a 50W Anderson for solar panels, and two car cigarette lighter ports. 

Since it weighs almost 84 pounds, this is portable but only barely. It’s certainly not something you want to move around often, honing in that the Apex 300 is ideal for RV trips, van life, off-grid homes, or for whole-home backup during power outages. It’s probably not a great option for a weekend at the campground unless you want a strength workout, too.

Read my full review of the Jackery FridgeGuard.

If your main concern with a power outage is keeping food from spoiling, the Jackery FridgeGuard can keep things cool for about 15 hours. Add on the Jackery expansion battery, and you’re in line for about 30 hours of refrigerator backup. The FridgeGuard is a plug-and-play model. It stays plugged into grid power to keep a 100% charge and automatically switches to its own power once it detects the grid is off. If the power goes out at 2 a.m., you’ll wake up to the FridgeGuard keeping things cool with no intervention from you. Once grid power resumes, it’ll recharge itself.

Jackery designed this model to easily fit on top of a refrigerator. Its slim profile measures just 2.6 inches, and it only weighs 23 pounds, making it easier to lift and place on top of the appliance.

One of the biggest headaches of dealing with a power outage is wondering how the food in the refrigerator and freezer is doing. It’s a frustrating guessing game to determine when food needs to be tossed, made even more discouraging by rising grocery prices. With a sticker price of $799, the Jackery FridgeGuard can keep your home’s food safe for about 15 hours.

It comes with 1,024Wh of battery capacity and can be expanded with one FridgeGuard Battery Pack, priced at $669. With the expansion, you’re looking at 2,048 Wh of power, which Jackery says should keep most refrigerators running for about 30 hours. In addition to preventing food from spoiling, it could be a huge relief to know that refrigerated medications are still safe to use.

Since the Jackery FridgeGuard has a unique, minimalist design, some folks might prefer its look to that of a standard portable power station. Keep it plugged into a CPAP or an air purifier at the bedside for reliable power backup. Jackery included two feet for the FridgeGuard so it can stand upright. There’s also a mounting bracket kit available for $49 if you’d rather have the FridgeGuard on the wall.

To be honest, almost every home/apartment/living situation could benefit from a portable power station. They’re awesome for keeping gadgets charged up while camping, on a road trip, or for those who tend to lose power during storms or hurricanes. 

Portable power stations can be even more important if your home has medical devices that need power like a CPAP or oxygen concentrator. It’s also a way to ensure you’ll always be able to keep the refrigerator and freezer cooling items that could otherwise spoil in a power outage. If there are kids in your home, a portable power station can keep lights on at night during a frightening storm and keep the bottle warmer in business.

Most homes tend to lose internet connectivity during a power outage because the router goes down, and not necessarily the internet. A portable power station avoids that situation and can keep your router going or a Starlink hub if you use satellite internet at home. Of course, there’s also the obvious of keeping cell phones charged up so you can take the opportunity to binge Netflix during a power outage.

Before investing in a portable power station, it’s smart to get a grasp on what features you’ll need. Portable power stations come in a huge range of power capacities. Larger models will serve larger power needs, and smaller models work best for recharging smaller gadgets for short amounts of time.

A major aspect to consider is just how portable do you want a portable power station to be? Some models weigh as little as 10 pounds and will be easy to carry around and load into a car trunk. Other models can reach over 80 pounds, which is arguably not very portable at all. 

How easy and intuitive is it to use? Ideally, anyone would be able to find using a portable power station as easy as recharging gadgets at home. Measuring user friendliness also involved investigating how easy it was to use the associated app to monitor recharging and battery status.

Design plays a critical role in how useful a portable power station is. Does the port layout work well, or does it lead to playing musical chairs with plugs to get everything to fit? When considering design, we also assessed how easy or challenging it was to carry the power station with the built-in handles.

When testing, we considered how the price measured up against the portable power station's overall battery capacity and extra features. Did the price tag feel justified with the capacity and features?

Portable power stations come with a range of ports. Some models have great variety, like standard AC ports, USB-A, and USB-C, but not all of them are quite as versatile. We assessed each portable power station for ease of use when it comes to charging versatility.