Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station ($199 – $299).
- A mid-size station covers camping and short power cuts.
- Capacity in watt-hours decides how long devices run; output in watts decides what they can power.
In this article
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You do not need to spend a lot to get good portable power stations. These are the cheapest portable power stations we would still buy in the US, sorted by typical price.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station | Buy | 8.0/10 | $199 – $299 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station | Buy | 8.6/10 | $449 – $699 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station | Buy | 8.5/10 | $449 – $649 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 | Buy | 8.9/10 | $500 – $900 |
Budget picks in detail
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station
Day trips · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.0/10 · Typical price: $199 – $299
Why we like it: Small station for phones, laptops and lights.
Pros: Small and light · LiFePO4 battery · Good for laptops and CPAP
Cons: Low capacity · Limited AC output
Buy it if you want a small power station for laptops, phones, lights and a CPAP for a night.
Skip it if you want to run a fridge or power tools.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station
Camping value · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $449 – $699
Why we like it: Light 1 kWh station at a good price.
Pros: Relatively light · LiFePO4 battery · Fast one-hour charge mode
Cons: Fewer outlets than rivals · App features are basic
Buy it if you want a reliable 1 kWh power station for camping and outages at a fair price.
Skip it if you need to run high-wattage appliances for hours.
Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station
Best value · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.5/10 · Typical price: $449 – $649
Why we like it: Lots of outlets and fast recharge.
Pros: Many AC outlets · Fast recharge · LiFePO4 battery
Cons: Heavy · Fan can be loud
Buy it if you want plenty of outlets and fast recharge for camping and backup.
Skip it if you want the lightest 1 kWh unit.
EcoFlow DELTA 2
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $500 – $900
EcoFlow DELTA 2 is one of the portable power stations we would buy in the US. It scores 8.9/10 in our ratings and usually sells for $500 – $900.
How to save money
A mid-size station covers camping and short power cuts.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Capacity in watt-hours decides how long devices run; output in watts decides what they can power.
Common mistake: Buying by peak watts instead of continuous output.
Compare more options
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Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap portable power stations in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station, typically $199 – $299.
Are cheap portable power stations worth it?
A mid-size station covers camping and short power cuts. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Capacity in watt-hours decides how long devices run; output in watts decides what they can power.
When are portable power stations cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.