Power stations are the latest trend in portable power solutions. If you’ve never seen one, imagine a power bank, but on a larger scale– much larger. These incredible devices are equipped with USB ports, 12V outlets, and AC power outlets to power almost anything.
Whether you’re heading out on a camping adventure, need to power tools without an outlet nearby, or want to keep your devices running during a power outage, a power station ensures you’ll always have power Reliable energy at your fingertips. This is the ultimate companion for your outdoor adventures as well as emergency situations.
While power plants are great, many setups can be extremely expensive — sometimes several thousand dollars. If your budget isn’t in the four digits, don’t worry — there are great power plants you can buy for a lot less.
Also: The best portable power stations you can buy: Tested by experts
Which cheap portable generator is the best today?
I tested over 100 different portable power stations to find out which are the best of the best. My favorite cheap power station is EcoFlow River 2: it costs under $200, it can produce up to 600W of power and can connect to a cheap solar panel, turning it into an affordable solar generator. Read the rest of my tested picks for the best cheap power stations you can buy.
The best cheap portable power stations of 2024
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While there is a time and place for large power plants, sometimes I want something I can grab and go, throw in the car or truck, and take it camping or to work. .
EcoFlow River 2 fits that requirement perfectly. It’s sturdy and well-built, as I’ve come to expect from the EcoFlow, and it’s perfect for those times when you want power but don’t want too much power.
Review: EcoFlow River 2 is a true mobile power plant
This is my favorite portable power station, as it’s great to put in the footwell of a vehicle to act like a sizable power bank. Amazon reviewers also say they love this model for its portability and low price — it’s the perfect entry-level powerhouse out there.
EcoFlow River 2 Technical specifications: Capacity: 256Wh | Power: 300 watt/600 watt boost | Weight: £7.7 | Connect: 6 stores
output
- AC output
- 2x USB-A
- 12V output
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Portable power stations can be quite pricey, but this one from Bluetti retails for $449, making it a great budget option. This is a powerful device, capable of generating 1,000W of power for typical loads, increasing to 2,000W for resistive loads, such as heaters and hair dryers. I’ve taken this unit on a trip and found that it has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days. I’ve relied on it to charge my smartphone, camera, drone, and laptop efficiently.
Plus, it charges quickly, especially when using the boost feature. In our lab testing, the AC70 took just 33 minutes to charge the device to 80% battery in turbo mode.
Review: I tested one of the cheapest portable power stations and it makes traveling on the road a breeze
Charging stations from your car’s 12V outlet are especially effective for keeping devices charged, as long as the battery isn’t too depleted.
Verified customers on Bluetti’s website praised the AC70, with most reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose.
Bluetti AC70 Technical specifications: Capacity: 768Wh | Power: 1000 watt/2000 watt increase | Weight: £22.50 | Connect: 7 stores
output
- 2x AC output
- 2x USB-A
- 2x USB-C
- 12V output
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Jackery is a name that has been in the power plant sector for over a decade and having tested many of the company’s products, I have no problem recommending them.
The Jackery 500 is perfect for road trips where you want AC power. It’s no bigger than a basketball, it can be charged from the car’s 12V output, and at just over 13 pounds, it won’t break your back on the go.
Jackery Explorer 500 Technical specifications: Capacity: 518Wh | Power: 500 watt/1000 watt increase | Weight: £13.3 | Connect: 7 stores
output
- AC output
- 3x USB-A
- 2x DC outputs
- 12V output
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Anker has been in the power bank market since the dawn of gadgets, and it’s no surprise to see the company producing quality charging stations.
If you want a small, portable power station to run low-current devices — such as laptops, chargers, CPAP machines, etc. — then the Anker 521 is a great choice.
This is an inexpensive, lightweight but extremely well-made power station, and I like the fact that it can be recharged using USB-C.
Anker 521 Technical specifications: Capacity: 256Wh | Power: 300 watt/600 watt boost | Weight: £8.2 | Connect: 6 stores
output
- 2x AC output
- 2x USB-A
- USB-C
- 12V output
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Any of these portable power stations are great options to give you power when you need it – it ultimately depends on the power output you need, the number and ports you prefer, and the price point. you are willing to spend.
| Choose this Cheap mobile power station… | If you want… |
| EcoFlow River 2 | An ultra-portable, low-cost power station. This one has everything you need and costs under $200. |
| Bluetti AC70 | A large power plant is available at a low price. If you want a lot of battery capacity then this is the one for you. |
| Jackery Explorer 500 | A power station is no larger than a basketball and is ideal for road trips. It’s small enough to strap into the spare seat or toss in the trunk with the rest of your camping gear. |
| Anker 521 | A great power station for those who want to charge their laptop while out and about. It’s small, light, USB-C rechargeable, and highly portable. |
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Even cheaper power plants are still an investment, both in terms of money and the physical space they take up, so you need to be sure you’re buying something that’s right for you. This means combining many factors.
- Weight: Bigger is not always better here. Can the portable power station be moved from room to room, do you plan to move it from your vehicle to your camp? Do you want something you can carry in your backpack for a day?
- Battery capacity: If you plan to power a home from a power station then you want the largest battery capacity possible, but for off-grid adventures it’s important to note that there will be a weight-related penalty.
- Value: Some cost several thousand dollars, while others cost several hundred.
- Charging: How do you plan to charge your power station? Do you primarily use AC power from an outlet or do you want the independence of solar power?
- Battery chemistry: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the traditional battery technology, but newer lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are safer and have a much longer lifespan.
- Guarantee: Portable power stations are expensive, so I want manufacturers to back their products with multi-year warranties.
- Safety: Each device I tested was put through a variety of tests, from running for long periods of time to testing heat management, to overloading them to see how they handled extreme loads for they.
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At the heart of this list are numerous, extensive tests of dozens of power plants. I regularly go on off-grid trips, either for camping or for photography, videography, and drone work, and at these times I rely on having reliable power source. This is a great opportunity to test power plants under real conditions.
I also tested them at home, both using them to run appliances and checking battery capacity, charging and discharging times, and how they handled overload.
Finally, every device is safety tested to ensure that it is safe for heavy and prolonged use.
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Finding the balance between affordability and quality of power plants can be a challenge, especially with some models costing over $500. However, setting a budget of around $500 is a reasonable starting point for those who want to invest in a portable power plant without being too tight on finances.
Some of these powerhouses are down below the $500 mark thanks to deals — but keep in mind that these deals come and go, so if you’re interested in a particular powerhouse, grab it it’s earlier.
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Manufacturers often provide different runtimes for things like lights, refrigerators, CPAP machines, etc., but if you want to tackle this yourself, you may need two numbers.
First, you need the power level of the device you plan to run. This can usually be found on the label on the device and is measured in Watts (W). You also need to know the power station’s capacity, measured in Watt hours (Wh), which should be printed somewhere on the device.
Assuming you have a device that consumes 300W and a power plant that has a capacity of 768Wh, you can get a ballpark runtime for the device using the following equation:
(768 x 0.85)/300 = 2.2 hours
Note that the power plant capacity is multiplied by 0.85 to calculate the efficiency loss.
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Four main things differentiate portable power stations and power banks:
- Capacity: While a power bank is perfect for recharging a smartphone or tablet, a power station can be used to charge the device multiple times due to its much larger battery capacity.
- Size and weight: A power bank is something you can usually stuff in your pocket, while a power station is something you carry around or move from room to room.
- Shop: While power banks have USB ports, most power stations also have AC outlets to power powered devices.
- Charging: While power banks are typically charged using a USB charger, power stations can be charged from a number of sources, such as mains power, solar power, and the vehicle’s 12V outlet.
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Other portable power stations we recommend
