Buying guide · Updated Sep 27, 2026

The best power stations under $500

$500 now buys a full 1 kWh LiFePO4 power station that recharges in about an hour — something that cost twice as much two years ago. Below $300 you get 250–520 Wh for camping, travel and small backup jobs.

We rank everything under $500 on value first, then capacity, battery longevity, output and charging speed.

Quick picks

	Power station	Capacity	Output	Score
#1	Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2Best overall	1,024 Wh	2,000 W	7.7	Amazon
#2	BLUETTI AC180Runner-up	1,152 Wh	1,800 W	7.5	Amazon
#3	BLUETTI Elite 100 V2Also great	1,024 Wh	1,800 W	7.7	Amazon
#4	EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic	1,024 Wh	1,800 W	7.2	Amazon
#5	Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	1,070 Wh	1,500 W	7.1	Amazon

Compare the picks side by side

Best overall

Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2

4.7 (1,642)7.7

Why it's here: The best 1 kWh power station you can buy right now.

Capacity: 1,024 Wh
Output: 2,000 W
Weight: 24.9 lb
Recharge: 49 min

2,000 W output
Full in 49 minutes
600 W solar, 10 ms UPS

Fast charging must be enabled in the app
Not expandable

$499.99~~$599.00~~−17%Amazon price as of Sep 27, 2026

Check price on Amazon Full review

Runner-up

BLUETTI AC180

4.6 (2,620)7.5

Why it's here: The best value per watt-hour among the 1 kWh stations — if you don't mind the weight.

Capacity: 1,152 Wh
Output: 1,800 W
Weight: 37.4 lb
Recharge: 60 min

1,152 Wh for $449
1,800 W output, 2,700 W lifting
Full recharge in about an hour

Heavy at 37.4 lb
20 ms UPS

$449.00~~$499.00~~−10%Amazon price as of Sep 27, 2026

Check price on Amazon Full review

Also great

BLUETTI Elite 100 V2

4.6 (1,781)7.7

Why it's here: The best 1 kWh station for solar, and one of the best values here.

Capacity: 1,024 Wh
Output: 1,800 W
Weight: 25 lb
Recharge: —

1,000 W solar input
Compact 25 lb
10 ms UPS, 30 dB silent mode

AC outlet count not stated on the listing
Sold by BLUETTI, not Amazon

$499.00~~$899.00~~−44%Amazon price as of Sep 27, 2026

Check price on Amazon Full review

Pick #4

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic

4.7 (1,293)7.2

Why it's here: Our favorite all-rounder at $499 — as long as you don't need to expand it.

Capacity: 1,024 Wh
Output: 1,800 W
Weight: 26.7 lb
Recharge: 80% in 45 min

1,800 W, 3,600 W surge
10 ms UPS
80% in 45 minutes

Not expandable
Heavier than Anker and BLUETTI rivals

$499.00~~$559.00~~−11%Amazon price as of Sep 27, 2026

Check price on Amazon Full review

Pick #5

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

4.7 (3,621)7.1

Why it's here: The safest 1 kWh pick — the Anker C1000 Gen 2 does more for the same price.

Capacity: 1,070 Wh
Output: 1,500 W
Weight: 23.8 lb
Recharge: 60 min

Light for 1 kWh (23.8 lb)
1-hour emergency charge
4.7★ from 3,600+ ratings

Three AC outlets
400 W max solar

$499.00~~$559.00~~−11%Amazon price as of Sep 27, 2026

Check price on Amazon Full review

Check the picks against your devicesTick your fridge, CPAP, router or anything else and see how long each pick lasts

Also considered

Ranked lower on this guide's criteria.

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 — Twice the output of other 300 Wh units, plus a real UPS.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus — A 7.7 lb UPS that grows to 858 Wh.
GRECELL EB500 Portable Power Station — 519 Wh for $180 — the most capacity per dollar under $200.
ALLWEI 300W Portable Power Station — The cheapest LiFePO4 power station worth buying.
Anker SOLIX C300 — A quiet power station built around two 140 W USB-C ports.
Jackery Explorer 300 — Amazon's best-selling power station, now with LiFePO4.
BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini — A 4 lb power bank with a real AC outlet and a 10 ms UPS.

How to choose

Price per Wh

Divide the price by the capacity. Under $0.50 per Wh is good value; the best deals here are around $0.35–0.45.

LiFePO4 over lithium-ion

LiFePO4 lasts 3,000+ cycles. If a listing doesn't say which chemistry it uses, assume fewer cycles.

Output for your devices

300 W handles electronics; 600 W adds small appliances; 1,500 W+ runs a fridge, coffee maker or microwave.

Warranty and seller

Five-year warranties are now common from the major brands.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best power station for the money?

At our price check, the BLUETTI AC180 ($449, 1,152 Wh) and Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 ($499.99, 1,024 Wh, 2,000 W) offered the most per dollar under $500.

Are cheap power stations safe?

Stick to listings that state LiFePO4 cells and a warranty. They're less prone to thermal problems and last far longer.

Will prices drop on Black Friday?

Power stations are among the most heavily discounted categories on Prime Day and Black Friday; check the deals page.