Whether you’re going off the grid or preparing for an emergency, a portable power station can keep your electronic gear running for hours or days at a time. Top-rated models change constantly, but the title usually bounces between a few manufacturers.
Two of them are EcoFlow and Jackery. The latter has a few more years of experience, but EcoFlow made a name for itself thanks to its high-quality and high-capacity power generators.
This in-depth comparison explores the similarities and differences between the two, helping you choose the right power station for you. Let’s dive right in!
EcoFlow vs. Jackery: Side-by-Side Comparison
| EcoFlow | Jackery | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 256Wh to 3,600Wh | 240Wh to 3,024Wh |
| AC Output | 300W to 3,600W | 200W to 3,000W |
| Max Solar Input | 110W to 1,600W | 100W to 1,200W |
| AC Outlets | 2 to 4 | 1 to 4 |
| USB Outlets | 4 | 2 to 4 |
| RV Outlet? | Selected models only | Selected models only |
| Expandable? | Selected models only | No |
| App? | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Around $160 to $3,200 | Around $250 to $2,800 |
- 256Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 1-hour fast charging
- 2 up to 600W AC outlets
- Solar generator (solar panel optional)
- For outdoor camping/RVs/home use
- 240Wh backup lithium battery
- 110V/200W pure sine wave AC outlet
- Solar generator (solar panel not included)
- For outdoors, camping, travel, hunting, emergencies
EcoFlow vs. Jackery: What’s the Difference?
With less than a decade in the market, EcoFlow is one of the newest players in the portable power station world. The company was established in 2017 by Lei Wang, a former engineer at the Chinese drone company, DJI, and three other co-founders. Initially funded through Indiegogo and Kickstarter, EcoFlow managed to become one of the world’s top-rated manufacturers of portable power supply solutions.
Its current lineup includes two separate series. The RIVER series comprises four models suitable for casual use and camping. The DELTA series is suitable for high-performance or demanding tasks, including powering RVs, charging electric vehicles, or providing electricity to a whole house.
While EcoFlow’s products have won numerous design awards in the past years, the company fights for its place in the market against Jackery.
Founded in 2012 in California, the American brand has made it a mission to provide everyone with green energy. This brand launched the world’s first outdoor portable power station in 2016 and the first portable solar panels in 2018. Today, its portable power station range includes a variety of models designed for backpackers, campers, RVs, and more.
How do these products compare with the EcoFlow, and which should you choose? Let’s break down what you need to know.
Capacity
One of the most important factors to check in a portable power station is the capacity. This number tells you how much electricity, measured in watt-hours, the battery can provide. As a rule of thumb, the higher the capacity, the more devices you can plug in at once. However, a high capacity isn’t always better.
Beyond the price factor, larger batteries are heavier. If you need a truly portable power station — one that you can carry in a camping backpack — a low-capacity model is your best bet.
Jackery wins this round with its Explorer 240 model, a hiker-friendly power station that weighs 6.6 pounds and has a capacity of 240Wh. That’s enough to power all your mobile gadgets, such as a smartphone or laptop, but also any appliance with a power draw of 200W or less.
At the opposite end, the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro offers a capacity of 3,024Wh, which is enough to power your RV and all of your outdoor appliances. EcoFlow also offers reliable units with capacities starting at 256Wh and going all the way up to 3,600Wh.
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Output
The AC output is another crucial factor to check before buying. Options vary from 200W (Jackery) to 3,600W (EcoFlow), and both brands offer a variety of models within this range.
To figure out how big a power station you need, you should consider all the gadgets and appliances you plan to use or charge at once. Check the power draw of each item that you want to plug in simultaneously (you can find this info on a sticker on the rear or bottom of the product or in the user manual) and sum everything up.
Once you have the number, buy a power station that provides at least 100W more than you need, just to stay on the safe side. Beyond the continuous AC output, remember to check the surge power the unit provides as well as the surge power requirements of your appliances.
Outlets
When deciding how big a power station you need, you must consider how many gadgets and appliances you want to plug in simultaneously. However, to plug them in, you need outlets. Entry-level models from both brands typically include a few essential outlets, such as one or two AC receptacles and a couple of USB plugs.
The lowest capacity EcoFlow power station, for instance, includes two 120V AC outputs, two USB-A, one USB-C, and a 12V DC outlet. A high-capacity unit from the same brand delivers four 120V AC outlets, a 30V RV receptacle, two USB-A and two USB-C sockets, and a 12V DC output.
Jackery’s lineup generally includes fewer receptacles than EcoFlow. The Jackery Explorer 240 portable power station, which is the brand’s lowest-capacity model, only includes one 110 AC output and two USB-A outputs. The Explorer 3000 Pro is similar to the EcoFlow Delta Pro. It includes four 120V outlets, an RV-ready receptacle, a 12V DC car port, two USB-A, and two USB-C sockets.
Runtime and Charging
A portable power station is only useful if it can deliver electricity when you need it, which is why runtime is one of the most important factors to consider. Naturally, a higher battery capacity translates to longer runtime, but the brand also matters.
EcoFlow provides a slightly longer runtime than Jackery. The RIVER 2 model, which is the lowest-capacity power station from the brand, provides around three hours of continuous runtime when powering a 90W appliance. By comparison, the Explorer 240 from Jackery has a runtime of just under two hours under the same load.
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro offers around 8.5 hours of runtime under a 350W load. Jackery’s runtime for a similar load is around 6.5 hours.
EcoFlow also wins in terms of charging. Connected to a wall outlet, the RIVER 2 power station charges in about 60 minutes. Connected to portable solar panels, it fully charges off-grid in about three hours.
Jackery’s Explorer 240 power station requires about six hours of wall charging or five hours of solar charging to get the battery to 100 percent. The high-capacity units from both Jackery and EcoFlow have longer charging times, but EcoFlow is still faster.
The power stations from both brands include car charging inlets, and EcoFlow also equips its units with USB-C inlets.
Expandability
Expandability gives you the possibility to increase the battery capacity (and, consequently, the runtime) or the total AC output. However, if that’s something you need, you have to settle for EcoFlow.
The brand’s DELTA range includes expandable power stations that can pair with up to four additional batteries. The total capacity of these systems goes up to 25,000Wh, providing a substantial runtime increment.
If you’d rather get more power than operational time, you can pair a DELTA Pro unit with an X-Boost accessory to expand the power from 3,600W to 4,500W. Alternatively, you can pair (daisy-chain) two DELTA Pro units and get 7,200W of total AC output.
Jackery’s power stations are not expandable and can’t be daisy-chained.
Smart Features
Both the EcoFlow and the Jackery power stations are compatible with apps that allow you to check the battery level, current load, remaining runtime, and time of operation.
EcoFlow’s app also allows you to start or stop the unit remotely, and it sends error and maintenance alerts. A unique app feature is the Smart Generator option designed for the DELTA Pro and DELTA Max power stations. When this feature is enabled, and the generator is connected to a power source (e.g., solar panels or a wall outlet), it will automatically start charging the unit when it falls under a set charge level.
Jackery’s app doesn’t contain such a feature, but it is very similar to EcoFlow in all other aspects. You can use it to monitor and manage your power station’s performance remotely or see which ports are currently active. Both apps are compatible with Apple and Android devices.
Portability
While all EcoFlow and Jackery power stations are technically portable, not all models are easy to haul around. If you need a power station to carry on hikes, one of the entry models is your best bet. These power stations have smaller capacities, but they are also lighter.
Jackery wins this round with its Explorer 240 power station, which only weighs 6.6 pounds. EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 power station is about one pound heavier, which could make a difference when carrying it in a backpack.
The high-capacity models, such as the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro and the EcoFlow DELTA Pro, are a lot heavier. The former weighs just under 64 pounds, whereas EcoFlow’s model has a net weight of approximately 99 pounds. While you can take these power stations anywhere, they are more suitable for car camping and RVs.
©marekuliasz/Shutterstock.com
Price
EcoFlow’s entry-level line is slightly more affordable than Jackery’s. The RIVER 2 power station, for instance, is around $100 cheaper than the Explorer 240.
Tables turn for the high-capacity models. The DELTA Pro costs around $400 more than the Explorer 3000 Pro. Each additional battery adds around $2,000 to the DELTA Pro’s price, but if you need a reliable whole-house battery backup, the cost is more than worth it.
EcoFlow vs. Jackery: 5 Must-Know Facts
- Jackery is an American company founded in 2012. It was the first company in the world to launch an outdoor portable power station and portable solar panels.
- EcoFlow is five years younger than Jackery, but its portable power stations are globally considered some of the best on the market.
- Both lineups include power stations of various capacities, from lightweight low-capacity models ideal for hiking and backpacking to high-capacity units designed for RVs or home backup.
- EcoFlow’s lineup includes a few expandable models. Jackery’s power stations are not expandable.
- Jackery’s power stations are lighter and a better choice if mobility is important to you.
- 256Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 1-hour fast charging
- 2 up to 600W AC outlets
- Solar generator (solar panel optional)
- For outdoor camping/RVs/home use
- 240Wh backup lithium battery
- 110V/200W pure sine wave AC outlet
- Solar generator (solar panel not included)
- For outdoors, camping, travel, hunting, emergencies
EcoFlow vs. Jackery: Which One Should You Use?
Jackery might be a pioneer in the outdoor portable power station industry, but EcoFlow power stations are superior in almost every way. EcoFlow’s units have higher capacity batteries, can power more gadgets at once, and have longer runtimes. They also charge faster than Jackery, both from a solar panel or a wall outlet. Another of EcoFlow’s advantages is the expandability option available for some models.
Jackery’s main advantage is the lightweight design of its power stations. This factor wins Jackery some points, especially among hikers and backpackers. High-capacity units from the brand are also cheaper than EcoFlow, so that’s something to consider if you need an RV power station or a home battery backup on a budget.
