The best portable power stations for 2025, tested and reviewed

Portable power stations have become increasingly capable and can be a game changer, whether you’re camping, in need of backup electricity, or simply want a convenient, mobile power source. But they certainly aren’t cheap, so you want to make sure you choose a model you can count on. We named the Bluetti Elite 200v2 our best overall because it’s such a well-rounded and versatile unit, but there are several other great options out there depending on your needs.

• Best portable power station overall: Bluetti Elite 200v2
• Best portable power station for camping: Anker Solix C800 Plus
• Best portable power station for off-grid living: EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra
• Best portable power station for homes: Bluetti AC500
• Best portable power station on a budget: Ampace Andes 300
• Best portable power station for high capacity: Jackery 5000 Plus
• Best portable power station for rugged use: Generac GB2000

How we selected the best portable power stations

We’ve been using portable solar gear since the 1990s, when it was just barely usable. But over the past decade, the tech has progressed by leaps and bounds. Today, we regularly use portable power stations for a wide range of purposes, from camping to home backup to powering work devices on the go, so we know what makes one model stand out from another. This firsthand experience has informed over a decade of reviewing power stations and solar equipment for top consumer guides like Popular Science.

For this list, we tested dozens of units from top brands as well as many up-and-coming ones, checking how they performed for tasks such as charging a laptop, powering lights, using a portable fridge in a van conversion, and operating power tools off the grid. These first-hand impressions were bolstered by input from Popular Science editors, as well as reviews from actual customers. The models below were selected based on factors such as capacity, performance, features, portability, and durability, and are the best portable power stations across various categories.

The best portable power stations: Reviews & Recommendations

The power stations included on this list span a wide range of budgets, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. We have picks to suit a variety of scenarios, from charging a few devices to off-grid camping to emergency home backup. Based on extensive testing, we are confident that these are the best portable power stations of 2025. 

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Pros

• Fast charging
• High output
• Ports a’plenty
• Very compact

Cons

• Somewhat heavy for its size

Specs

• Storage capacity: 2,073Wh
• Input capacity: 1,800W
• Output capacity: 2,600W (3,900W surge)
• Dimensions: 13.8 × 9.8 × 12.7 in
• Weight: 53.4 lbs

Why it made the cut: Small but powerful, the Bluetti Elite 200v2 delivers the capability and versatility to suit just about any mobile power need.

Bluetti has been among the leaders of the portable power space for a while now, but with the Elite 200v2 they’ve surged to the head of the pack, providing a station that is about as well-rounded as it gets. In terms of performance, the Elite 200v2 is impressively cutting edge. Its 2,073Wh LiFePO4 battery offers plenty of capacity for general use, from charging a few devices to keeping a high-draw appliance going for impressively long: it kept my electric grill going for about an hour. 

It provides ample output, and its TurboBoost fast charge will have it from flat to 100% in a little over 90 minutes via wall socket. Bluetti’s new Charger 1 DC adapter makes car port charging far faster and more effective than with most competitors, charging the unit over 4 hours of driving. And 1000W solar input capacity means it can handle as large a solar array as you’re likely to throw at it.

I’m also a big fan of its compact, perfectly boxed design. It’s easy to fit into a trunk or van conversion, and while it is surprisingly heavy for its size, sturdy integrated handles make it easy to move around. App control allows for monitoring and adjustment from afar, and it has no shortage of ports spanning AC, USBs A and C, and a 120W car port. 

This is a real “no notes” situation. The vast majority of people looking for a reliable, intuitive, moderate-capacity power station will be more than satisfied with the performance and portability of the Elite 200v2.

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Pros

• Great size to capacity ratio
• Multi-setting camp lamp
• Good input/output rates

Cons

• Not large enough for an RV

Specs

• Storage capacity: 768Wh
• Input capacity: 1,440W
• Output capacity: 1,200W (1,600W surge)
• Dimensions: 14.61 x 8.07 x 9.96 in
• Weight: 24 lbs

Why it made the cut: Compact and lightweight with a decent capacity and unique lantern, the Anker Solix C800 Plus is perfect for camping.

If you’re looking for a decent-sized power station that will keep a few devices going while venturing into the great outdoors, the Anker Solix C800 Plus offers an excellent balance between portability and capacity, along with some camp-friendly features. Its shoebox size and slight 24-pound weight make it easy to pack along, yet its 768Wh capacity is plenty to keep a few devices charged and your camp lit. Speaking of which, its nifty collapsible lantern makes for a great addition to your campsite. Multi-setting and stored in the station body, it’s a smart feature I haven’t seen anywhere else.

With good port offerings, a quality app for remote control, and relatively high input and output rates, it checks pretty much all the boxes. You’ll need to look for something larger if you’re hoping to power an RV, but for general camping purposes, it’s a very well-thought-out power box.

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Specs

• Storage capacity: 6144Wh (expandable up to 90KWh)
• Input capacity: 5,600W (expandable up to 16.8KW)
• Output capacity: 7,200W (expandable up to 21.6KW)
• Dimensions: Inverter 27.2 × 18.9 × 8.4 in / Battery 26 × 18 × 8 in
• Weight: Inverter 70lbs / Battery 111.8lbs

Why it made the cut: Massively expandable beyond any portable power station out there, the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra is for serious off-grid living. 

Pros

• Super expandable
• Huge input/output rates
• Fits into wider EcoFlow ecosystem

Cons

• Very expensive

While portable power stations have been marketed as a renewable electricity alternative for a while now, their ability to truly power an off-grid lifestyle was largely overhyped—they simply didn’t offer the performance necessary for reliable long-term electrification. The EcoFlow Delta Flow Ultra, however, is more than capable of delivering on the promise. Expandable up to a whopping 90KWh capacity with input rates of up to 16.8Kw and outputs up to 21.6Kw, it can gobble up as much solar as you can throw at it, power appliances of any draw, and provide backup power for over a month to the average sized household. It also integrates into the wider EcoFlow smart home, off-grid ecosystem, which can allow you to build a off-grid setup of unrivaled capability. 

But none of that comes cheap. The base inverter/battery combo starts out with a high price tag, and expanding it to its full potential will make costs soar. But if you’re serious about building a reliable, capable off-grid system, it’s a worthwhile investment.

Best portable power station for homes

Bluetti AC500

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Pros

• Expandable 
• Intuitive use
• Plenty of ports

Cons

• Pricey

Specs

• Storage capacity: 2764.8Wh (expandable up to 16.6KWh)
• Input capacity: 4,500W 
• Output capacity: 5,000W (10,000W surge)
• Dimensions: Inverter 20.5 x 12.8 x 14.1 in / Battery 20.67 × 12.87 × 8.23 in
• Weight: Inverter 66.2lbs / Battery 65lbs

Why it made the cut: With plenty of expandable capacity and output, the Bluetti AC500 is perfect for helping your home weather the storm. 

Sometimes you aren’t looking to take your house totally off the grid, but still want a power station capable of keeping your home going through a few hours or even days of blackout. To that end, I recommend the Bluetti AC500, which when paired with the B300K batteries offers more than enough storage capacity and output ability to keep the lights on while powering essential appliances. I also really like that it’s more intuitive to use than most other whole-house power stations. While it can be integrated into your home power system for automatic switchovers in the event of an outage (which requires a home integration kit that should be installed by an expert), it’s also simple enough to just plug and use as needed without more extensive home modifications. 

Expanding it to its full capacity does get pricey, but even its single battery storage is enough to keep on the lights and necessities. Stacking batteries to its full potential, however, will provide ample juice for several days. 

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Specs

• Storage capacity: 266Wh 
• Input capacity: 100W 
• Output capacity: 300W (450W surge)
• Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 9.6 in
• Weight: 8.2lbs

Why it made the cut: Affordable yet capable, the Ampace Andes 300 is a solid budget pick for charging devices.

Pros

• Compact and lightweight
• Good port variety
• USB-C chargable

Cons

• Modest capacity and output

Portable power stations do not tend to be cheap, and those that are typically disappoint. The Ampace Andes 300, however, is surprisingly capable considering its sub-$200 price. It’s as compact as can be, and its 266Wh capacity is plenty for charging a few devices and lights while off the grid. It has six port options, and is maybe the only power station I’ve seen that can charge via USB-C. The build quality is better than you normally see at such a low cost, its digital display provides an abundance of information, and it can be monitored and adjusted via app. 

Sure, it’s not big enough to do any heavy power lifting, but for such a decently sized, versatile, highly portable battery, it’s a bargain. 

Best portable power station for high capacity

Jackery 5000 Plus

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Pros

• Large capacity on its own
• Expands up to 60KWh
• Decently portable

Cons

• Very heavy

Specs

• Storage capacity: 5040Wh 
• Input capacity: 4,000W
• Output capacity: 7,200W (14,400W surge)
• Dimensions: 25 x 16.5 x 15.5 in
• Weight: 134.5lbs

Why it made the cut: High capacity as a standalone unit and highly expandable, the Jackery 5000 Plus is ideal when you need a big box of power.

We’ve already looked at a couple of power stations with massive storage potential, so why does the Jackery 5000 Plus take our slot for high-capacity specifically? Because unlike most other big power boxes, the 5000 Plus can offer plenty of juice as a standalone unit without additional batteries. This makes it perfect for lugging around camping or to an off-grid worksite without having to mess with a bunch of extra gear. At the same time, its ability to expand to 60KWh is no slouch. With its high output capability and fast charging, it’s a perfect unit for use around the home or with an off-grid solar setup.

It’s pretty heavy, but with its wheels, telescoping tow grip, sturdy handles, and single-piece design it’s still fairly portable. The perfect pick when you need plenty of portable power.

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Pros

• Rugged durability
• Sturdy grab handle
• Wireless charging pad

Cons

• Slow charging

Specs

• Storage capacity: 2,106Wh 
• Input capacity: 468W
• Output capacity: 1,600W (3,200W surge)
• Dimensions: 16.8 x 15.1 x 10.4 in
• Weight: 43lbs

Why it made the cut: The Generac GB2000 is plenty burly for the great outdoors. 

Generac has long been known for crafting rugged gas generators, and they’ve applied that same dedication to durability with their new line of portable power stations. With a solid exterior and sturdy lunchbox-style handle, it feels more like a substantial power tool than a piece of electronic equipment. This makes it ideal for the great outdoors, whether you’re camping or working with power tools. Its 2,106Wh capacity is more than enough for most day-to-day uses, and its high output rate means it will power most devices, tools, and small appliances. 

Its only glaring issue is its relatively slow charging speed. Four hours when plugged into a wall outlet is fairly sluggish these days. But beyond that, it’s perfect if you need a power station that can take some bumps around the campsite. 

Things to consider before buying a portable power station

There are a lot of portable power stations and solar power generators on the market right now, and while they tend to look fairly similar at a glance, they vary wildly in terms of quality and capability. When making such a high-value purchase, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure you’re getting the best unit for your situation. 

How much power can it store?

Above all else, a portable power station must offer enough capacity to meet your mobile power needs. This is measured in Watt-hours (Wh), with one watt-hour being the equivalent of one watt flowing over the course of an hour. Most people will likely want a station that holds several thousand Wh, but that doesn’t mean the unit will provide power for several thousand hours. You’ll likely need to use far more watts than one an hour, so ultimately, how long your station’s charge will last will be determined by what you plug into it.

It’s easy to predict how long a generator will last when you use it to power one thing. For example, if you were to power a 100-watt bulb using a power station with a capacity of 500 watt-hours (Wh), it would stay lit for five continuous hours. Add a portable fridge that requires 50 watts per hour, your phone, which uses 18 watts, a mini-fan that uses three … you get the picture. Typically speaking, the more capacity, the better.

A growing number of brands also offer expandable models, which can be stacked and daisy-chained to add-on batteries that can increase their capacity to well over 10,000Wh. These are usually geared toward home backup power.

Charging capability

Most portable power stations can be recharged via solar, a wall or car socket, or in some cases, a combination of both. Solar allows you to top off when off the grid, but tends to charge somewhat slowly, especially in subpar sun conditions. Plugging directly into the wall will give you the fastest power-up. I’ve found that car sockets, however, are unreliable and often outright useless.

Whichever method you choose, a particular model’s recharging speed will be throttled by its input capacity, which is measured in Watts (W). A power station with a max input of 100W, for example, can take in a continuous flow of up to 100 watts. Most of the models included below offer well over 1000W.

Output capability

Any portable power station worth your money will have a high output capacity so you can charge many devices, even if they require a lot of juice. A generator’s maximum output should be much higher than its max input. While a particular model might only be capable of taking in a few hundred watts at any given moment, it will usually put out exponentially more. At a minimum you’re going to want a generator that can put out several hundred watts, though I typically recommend looking above 1000. Most of the models below produce several thousand.

The best portable power stations should also offer a variety of output plugs, including AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C, and even 12 volt DC outlets like the one in your vehicle dash. This ensures that you can charge several devices at once no matter what plug they use. The number of ports you’ll need will vary depending on how many devices you need to power, but it should have at least a couple of AC outlets and a few USB-A ports.

Portability

The larger the capacity, the heavier the unit. What is or isn’t portable depends largely on how you plan to use it, but you can expect to find a model that is well suited for your situation as these days they come in all sizes. 

If you’re camping, converting a van, or otherwise on the go, you’re probably going to want to compromise some capacity in favor of portability. That means looking in the 800-3000Wh range, which with current technology will weigh somewhere between 10 and 60 pounds and will be no larger than 2-3 stacked shoeboxes. Larger models will often have handles or wheels to help with moving around.

On the other hand, if you expect to use your power station closer to home and will either never move it or only move it occasionally, portability becomes less of an issue. In that case you can look for a higher capacity battery that is heavier and harder to move. These can weigh as much as 140 pounds, but they usually have wheels and handles.

Durability

As with any product you expect to last, durability and all-around quality craftsmanship is essential. This is especially true if you plan on lugging your generator around on camping and road trips. A lot of subpar power stations are made from cheap components and flimsy plastic that doesn’t feel like it will hold up under the rigors of the road.

Durability isn’t something you can determine by reading a spec sheet off the internet. You’ve actually got to take the generator out, use it a bunch, and see how it holds up. I’ve verified the durability of these recommendations via a combination of my own actual field tests and reviews culled from countless real product owners.

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Final thoughts on the best solar generators

• Best portable power station overall: Bluetti Elite 200v2
• Best portable power station for camping: Anker Solix C800 Plus
• Best portable power station for off-grid living: EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra
• Best portable power station for homes: Bluetti AC500
• Best portable power station on a budget: Ampace Andes 300
• Best portable power station for high capacity: Jackery 5000 Plus
• Best portable power station for rugged use: Generac GB2000

We’re living in a “golden age” for portable solar generators. When I was a kid and my family was playing around with solar gear while camping in the ‘90s, the technology wasn’t capable of charging many devices so it wasn’t all that practical. 

By contrast, the solar generators we’ve recommended here are incredibly useful. I’ve relied on them to power my work and day-to-day needs while road-tripping all over the country. They’re also great when the power goes out. When a windstorm cut the power at my house for a couple of days, I was still working, watching my stories, and keeping the lights on. 

We haven’t even scratched the surface in terms of the potential offered by portable, reliable, renewable, relatively affordable power. What we can do now is already incredible. The potential for what may come next, though, is truly mind-blowing.

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