A portable power station is a handy thing to keep around for all who want to keep their appliances powered up while out camping, fishing, enjoying their cabin, and off-grid living. Solar-powered generators can help you charge phones and computers, run fans and lights, CPAPs, chargers, and other smaller appliances.
Today, we’re having a look at the best portable power stations; these solar-powered devices can handle your daily power load and I’ll help you find the best one for your budget and needs.
Solar generators are cost-effective and efficient appliances to keep around for a number of reasons. They’re great for camping trips, RV living, tiny houses, off-grid living, cabins, and much more!
What’s best is that these portable power stations use energy from the sun and convert it into electric power. Additionally, many of these have additional charging options for those cloudy days.
TOP PICK | Bluetti 2400wh/1000w Portable Power Station Bluetti portable power station is an excellent solar generator to keep around for camping and other outdoor activities, daily use, power blackouts. We use it to charge phones and tablets, roof fans, an air purifier, and other small appliances. After all, it’s always useful to have a backup power supply on hand. What's also handy is that you can charge it with an AC wall outlet or solar energy. The unit is quite large and heavy; it’s sturdy and durable, with an impressive power capacity. What’s more, it comes with a 2-year warranty and excellent customer service. |
What can you expect from a power station from 1000 watts?
These generators are normally designed to be used in low-electricity situations, for camping, and similar. They’re not powerful enough to fuel your entire home, but if you’re looking for something to use now and again, here are the appliances that they can power:
- Light bulbs
- Laptop computers
- Desktop computers
- Certain coffee makers (a 4-cup with 600 watts would work)
- Flat-screen TV between 26 and 40 inches
- Dishwasher
- Blender
- Slow cooker
- Portable fan
What you can’t expect to work with a 1000watt portable station:
- Microwave (unless it’s 650 watts or lower)
- Fridges
- Cars
If you’re looking to power larger and more demanding devices, I suggest getting your hands on more powerful generators.
Best portable power station with 1000Watts power capacity
1. Bluetti 2400wh/1000w Portable Power Station EB240 – Best overall
Highlighted features
- Quiet operation
- Solar panels included
- High load capability
- Lithium-ion battery
After testing several different stations, I was recommended Bluetti by a friend. I must say, I was slightly skeptical when he suggested I gave it a try, as I’d tested many stations by that point. To be honest, I wasn’t convinced this power station would be any different, but I decided to give it a try. What also bothered me was the fact that the solar panels aren’t included in the initial price of this solar generator. However, they give you a discount when purchasing both together (which is what I decided to go for as I was looking for solar-powered portable generators).
Bluetti power station is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, such as campers and RVs, and cabins. I’ll admit, it’s heavier than I’d like, but it does the job of powering appliances well, so no complaints there. It’s reliable and performs flawlessly; it met my expectations after some initial tests.
Bluetti from MAXOAK works is great for charging phones and tablets, roof fans and portable fans, lamps, and air purifiers, PS4, and even e-bikes. You should know that the station won’t charge devices over 1000w: heaters, air conditioning, and it doesn’t allow any overload.
Pros
- Pure sine wave output
- Solar and wall recharging
- Foldable solar panels (for additional cost)
- Battery longevity
- Excellent customer service
- 24-month warranty
Cons
- Won’t run under 32F
2. Jackery Explorer 1000 – Best with solar panels

Highlighted features:
- Quiet operation
- Built-in MPPT controller
- Solar panels included
- Best for outdoors
Jackery Explorer is a compact, well-rounded portable power station, and an excellent value for money. This was one of the first portable stations I got my hands on when getting into clean energy. It was the positive reviews and solar panels that convinced me to give it a go.
Jackery promises to power a TV, blender, electric grill, mini cooler, and much more. You can charge it in your car while driving as well. We tested it quite extensively; it won’t power as much as it claims, though it’s great for devices that operate at less than 1000 watts. What’s useful though is that the solar panel comes with 2 USB output ports (A and C).
While Jackery is suitable for both indoor and outdoor operations, I’ve found it best for camping and fishing trips, and other activities as it’s smaller in size. This portable power station comes with solar panels, which is a plus since it makes just much more practical. Just make sure to use solar panels only when it’s sunshine; they can’t handle anything wet (rain, ice, sleet…). You can also get just the power station without the solar panels and expect to pay about $500 less.
Pros
- Easy-to-read display
- Two solar panels included
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Pure sine wave output
Cons
- Carrying case not included
- Poor customer service
3. EBL Portable Power Station– A Cheaper Jackery Alternative
Highlighted features:
- 4 different AC outlets (2 grounded)
- 3 ways to charge the unit
- Accurate battery reading
- Pure sine wave
Excellent for users who’re not too demanding, the EBL portable powder station can easily power computers, smartphones, USB lights, and other appliances. What’s more, the device has an inbuilt MPPT controller, and it works well for the money. Bring it with you on camping trips or long road trips; take the liberty of working from anywhere.
Essentially, EBL 1000 comes with a Jackery-like color and appearance design. It’s a box with a battery and a handle, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. The unit is solid enough; it’s similar to Jackery 1000, with the two major differences; it charges slightly faster and costs less money, even though the quality isn’t the same as with Jackery. You pay what you get here. You can charge it with AC and solar power (in full sun).
Pros
- Generic yet sturdy design
- Great for camping trips
- Straightforward and precise display
- Pure sine wave
Cons
- Poor customer service
- Can get loud
4. Rockpals Portable Power Station 1000W – Best as a backup generator
Highlighted features
- Pure sine wave
- LiFePO4 Battery
- Emergency power for CPAP
Rockpals portable station promises to charge in approximately 9 to 12 hours on solar panels, depending on your location and the weather conditions. The generator comes with a standard Rockpals warranty, but many users commented that it’s a hassle to actually make use of the warranty because of their inefficient customer service. I have used this model as a backup generator when we run out of electricity and I have to say that while it has a decent battery life, I wouldn’t use it for anything else.
What I don’t like is that it’s missing some features that you’d find similar models, such as a precise display of the remaining battery life. In other words, Rockpals is a solid device that’ll serve you well as a backup generator when you run out of electricity, but I don’t use it on my fishing trips. It’s a good power station though, slightly heavy, but solid enough to do its job well.
Pros
- Two 110AC outlets
- Bright LED display
- User-friendly
- 18-months warranty
Cons
- Ineffective customer service
- The battery charger gets hot
- No cover
5. Allpowers Portable Power Station 500w – Best for budget
Highlighted features
- Fairly quick charging
- Peak 1400W
- High battery voltage
Portable, durable, and affordable, this power station is well-built, even though it’s not nearly as powerful as others on the list. I tested it a couple of times (bought it when I thought cheaper is equally good when it comes to solar energy). It’s not my portable station of choice, but it’s a good option for all who are looking for something more affordable and good enough.
This machine is good value overall, easy to use, and lightweight. Most importantly, it’s easy to connect with solar panels and the battery is solid. However, it won’t last as long and is more suitable if you’re looking for something to use a few times a month.
This power station will charge anything like power lights, phones, speakers, and even a mini projector. I keep it outside mostly and use it whenever I we have guests over, or a sleepover forkids in the summer.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to set up and use
- Portable and durable
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Solar panels not included
- Not as powerful
Things to consider when buying a portable power station
Compatibility and number of charging ports
Ideally, a good power station has a variety of ports so that it can accommodate different devices (at least a USB-A and C, and one AC wall outlet; a 12-volt port or cigarette lighter outlet is also quite common), as well as enough ports so that you’re able to work with the generator comfortably and effectively.
Power output
Before buying a portable generator, make sure to check how much power it can store. The higher the number of watt-hours, the more energy you can expect to consume. But the more watt-hours the station has, the heavier and bulkier will be. That means it’ll be more difficult to carry it around. Also, the larger beasts take much longer to recharge than smaller stations.
Display screen
Generators usually come with a display screen where they show you how much power they have left. Some have an easy-to-read LCD screen, others come with lights that change when the device is charging or when power is low.
How to care for your portable solar power station?
By looking after your devices, they will last you years to come. None of them are waterproof, so don’t leave them out during bad weather and very humid conditions. Also, don’t store them in hot places (car trunk in summer, etc.).
With time, the battery will lose power (though you can bring some batteries back to life after they die), and won’t have the same power as does when it’s brand new. Using them in the heat can even quicken their capacity of charging and working.
Best Portable Power Station Generators: A recap
As you can see, there are different options to choose from when it comes to the best portable power station options. My choice of generators is always solar-powered and that’s how I compiled this list, reviewing only portable stations that have an option to be charged by solar power. After all, this renewable energy comes with its obvious advantages, such as saving money, being travel-friendly, and reducing carbon footprint.
While all the devices listed in the article make a good choice, there is one that I would choose over the others: Bluetti E240 solar generator. It’s quiet when working, which is a very welcoming feature (and not easy to find in generators of 1000w and less), it comes with a high-load capacity (though it doesn’t allow for any overload). What’s more, the battery will last you for a long time (it’s lithium-ion) and the device is heavy but well-built, sturdy, and durable. You can get two solar panels with it on the Maxoak website for a discounted price, to make the most of this generator, which is what I would recommend. Last but not least, this station comes with a 2-year warranty and excellent customer service.
Compared to other devices on the list, I’d have to say that Jackery Explorer 1000 is a very close match, with one major difference: they lack good customer service, which can be a serious con if something goes wrong. While you can get Jackery and two solar panels included for the same price as Bluetti, it just lacks some specific features that put Bluetti at the top of my list. The choice of which station to get is naturally yours; whichever of the generators you choose, they both make a great portable station.
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