Best for
Best power station under $500
At $500 or less, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 runs an average fridge the longest: 12.9 h for $499. The BLUETTI AC180 costs the least per Wh ($0.43). Close calls can flip: some makers list a station’s own draw, which we count, and others don’t.
Top picks
Longest on a fridge
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
12.9 h on an average fridge, 5.2 CPAP nights.
$499 at Jackery, Oct 23
Lowest $ per Wh
BLUETTI AC180
1,152 Wh at $0.43 per Wh.
$499 at BLUETTI, Oct 23
Lightest
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2
9.5 lb, 288 Wh.
$289.99 at BLUETTI, Oct 23
In stock at $500 or less
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
12.9 h average fridge
CPAP: 5.2 nights · $0.47 per Wh
Jackery price, Oct 23
See it at Jackery for the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
12.4 h average fridge
CPAP: 4.9 nights · $0.49 per Wh
Anker price, Oct 23
See it at Anker for the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2BLUETTI AC180
11.5 h average fridge
CPAP: 3.3 nights · $0.43 per Wh
BLUETTI price, Oct 23
Check price at BLUETTI for the BLUETTI AC180Paid linkEcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
3.5 h average fridge
CPAP: 1.4 nights · $1.05 per Wh
EcoFlow price, Oct 23
Check price at EcoFlow for the EcoFlow RIVER 3 PlusPaid linkBLUETTI Elite 30 V2
3.1 h average fridge
CPAP: just under 1 night · $1.01 per Wh
BLUETTI price, Oct 23
Check price at BLUETTI for the BLUETTI Elite 30 V2Paid link
In stock only (left out today: Jackery Explorer 600 v2 (sold out), BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (ships Nov 12)). Fridge at 70.4 W (EIA); CPAP 22 W with humidifier, 8-hour nights (ResMed). Rows include each station’s own draw where the maker lists it (BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 9 W, AC180 15 W). Makers that don’t list their own draw may run a little shorter at small loads. Maker prices, Oct 23, 2026, unless dated. Checkout price applies. Photos: the makers. Cards marked “Illustration” use our own drawing where we have no photo.
See every number in a table
| Station | Maker price | Capacity | $ per Wh | Average fridge | CPAP nights | Output | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | $499 | 1,070 Wh | $0.47 | 12.9 h | 5.2 | 1,500 W | 23.8 lb |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | $499.99 | 1,024 Wh | $0.49 | 12.4 h | 4.9 | 2,000 W | 24.9 lb |
| BLUETTI AC180 | $499 | 1,152 Wh | $0.43 | 11.5 h | 3.3 | 1,800 W | 35.3 lb |
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | $299 | 286 Wh | $1.05 | 3.5 h | 1.4 | 600 W | 10.4 lb |
| BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 | $289.99 | 288 Wh | $1.01 | 3.1 h | just under 1 | 600 W | 9.5 lb |
In stock only (left out today: Jackery Explorer 600 v2 (sold out), BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (ships Nov 12)). Fridge at 70.4 W (EIA); CPAP 22 W with humidifier, 8-hour nights (ResMed). Rows include each station’s own draw where the maker lists it (BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 9 W, AC180 15 W). Makers that don’t list their own draw may run a little shorter at small loads. Maker prices, Oct 23, 2026, unless dated. Checkout price applies.
Quick answers
What can a power station under $500 run?
The longest-running one here, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, keeps an average fridge on for about 12.9 h and a CPAP with humidifier for about 5.2 nights. Use the calculator on the home page for your own list.
Is a bigger battery always better value?
Not always. Compare price per Wh, but also output for high-watt appliances, weight if you carry it, and the station’s own draw on small loads.
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