Jackery vs Goal Zero: which power station brand is better?
Jackery sells 15 current models from 256 to 5,040 Wh at $249–$3,499 list; Goal Zero sells 6 from 297 to 3,994 Wh at $349.95–$3,999.95. Jackery's median model gives more watt-hours per list dollar (1.62 vs 0.98). The median Jackery model weighs 32 lb against 27.8 lb for Goal Zero.
How do Jackery and Goal Zero compare spec by spec?
Comparing the median current model from each brand, Jackery leads on capacity, AC output, surge, solar input, AC charging speed, UPS switchover and Wh per list dollar and Goal Zero leads on weight. Differences under 5% count as a tie.
A median is the middle model of each lineup, so one very large or very small model doesn't skew it. Jackery has 15 current models and Goal Zero has 6; the all-brand column is the median of all 59 models we track.
| Spec | Jackery median | Goal Zero median | All brands | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,536 Wh | 838 Wh | 1,264 Wh | Jackery |
| AC output | 2,000 W | 1,300 W | 2,000 W | Jackery |
| Surge | 4,000 W | 2,300 W | 3,600 W | Jackery |
| Solar input | 800 W | 550 W | 800 W | Jackery |
| AC charging | 1,600 W | 750 W | 1,470 W | Jackery |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | About the same |
| Weight | 32 lb | 27.8 lb | 35.3 lb | Goal Zero |
| UPS switchover | 10 ms | 15 ms | 10 ms | Jackery |
| Wh per list $ | 1.62 | 0.98 | 1.45 | Jackery |
Which brand has a model in the size you need?
Jackery covers 5 of 5 size bands and Goal Zero covers 4. Only Jackery sells a model in the 2,000–2,999 Wh band.
Pick the size band from what you need to run first, then compare the two brands inside it. The cheapest column is the lowest official list price in that band.
| Size band | Jackery models | Goal Zero models | Cheapest Jackery | Cheapest Goal Zero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 500 Wh | 2 | 2 | Jackery Explorer 240 v2 ($249) | Goal Zero Yeti 300 ($349.95) |
| 500–999 Wh | 1 | 2 | Jackery Explorer 500 v2 ($399) | Goal Zero Yeti 700 ($699.95) |
| 1,000–1,999 Wh | 6 | 1 | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 ($559) | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 ($1,499.95) |
| 2,000–2,999 Wh | 2 | 0 | Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 ($999) | — |
| 3,000 Wh and up | 4 | 1 | Jackery HomePower 3000 ($1,499) | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 ($3,999.95) |
Size for size, which Jackery or Goal Zero model comes out ahead?
We paired each Jackery model with the Goal Zero model closest in capacity (within 30%), giving 15 pairs. Across them, Jackery leads on 42 spec comparisons and Goal Zero on 28, counting capacity, AC output, surge, solar input, weight and watt-hours per list dollar.
A spec only counts when the gap is more than 5%. Open a model to see every figure and its source.
| Jackery model | Closest Goal Zero | Wh | Jackery leads on | Goal Zero leads on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 240 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 300 | 256 vs 297 | weight and Wh per list dollar | capacity, AC output and solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 300 | Goal Zero Yeti 300 | 294 vs 297 | weight and Wh per list dollar | AC output and surge |
| Jackery Explorer 500 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | 512 vs 499 | weight and Wh per list dollar | — |
| Jackery HomePower 1000 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | 1,024 vs 998 | weight and Wh per list dollar | AC output and surge |
| Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | 1,024 vs 998 | weight and Wh per list dollar | AC output and solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | 1,070 vs 998 | capacity, weight and Wh per list dollar | AC output, surge and solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 1,264 vs 1,505 | surge, weight and Wh per list dollar | capacity and solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 1,536 vs 1,505 | surge, weight and Wh per list dollar | solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 1,536 vs 1,505 | weight and Wh per list dollar | AC output and solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 2,042 vs 1,505 | capacity, AC output, surge, weight and Wh per list dollar | solar input |
| Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 2,048 vs 1,505 | capacity, AC output, surge, weight and Wh per list dollar | solar input |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 3,072 vs 3,994 | weight and Wh per list dollar | capacity and solar input |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 3,584 vs 3,994 | weight and Wh per list dollar | capacity and solar input |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 3,584 vs 3,994 | weight and Wh per list dollar | capacity, AC output, surge and solar input |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 5,040 vs 3,994 | capacity, AC output, surge, solar input and Wh per list dollar | weight |
How long do matched Jackery and Goal Zero models run the same appliances?
Runtime follows battery capacity, so the model with more watt-hours in each pair runs longer; the inverter decides whether a motor load such as a fridge can start at all.
Calculated from a full charge as capacity × 85% ÷ average draw, with the fridge on about a third of the time. These are calculations from published specs, not test results.
| Pair (first vs second) | Fridge | CPAP | Router |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 240 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 300 | Can’t run vs Can’t run | 3.9 h vs 4.5 h | 11 h vs 13 h |
| Jackery Explorer 300 vs Goal Zero Yeti 300 | Can’t run vs Can’t run | 4.5 h vs 4.5 h | 12 h vs 13 h |
| Jackery Explorer 500 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Can’t run vs Can’t run | 7.8 h vs 7.6 h | 22 h vs 21 h |
| Jackery HomePower 1000 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | 13 h vs 13 h | 16 h vs 15 h | 44 h vs 42 h |
| Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | 13 h vs 13 h | 16 h vs 15 h | 44 h vs 42 h |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | 14 h vs 13 h | 16 h vs 15 h | 45 h vs 42 h |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus vs Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 16 h vs 19 h | 19 h vs 23 h | 2.2 days vs 2.7 days |
| Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 20 h vs 19 h | 23 h vs 23 h | 2.7 days vs 2.7 days |
| Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra vs Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 20 h vs 19 h | 23 h vs 23 h | 2.7 days vs 2.7 days |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 26 h vs 19 h | 31 h vs 23 h | 3.6 days vs 2.7 days |
| Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | 26 h vs 19 h | 31 h vs 23 h | 3.6 days vs 2.7 days |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 vs Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 40 h vs 2.1 days | 47 h vs 2.5 days | 5.4 days vs 7.1 days |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus vs Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 46 h vs 2.1 days | 2.3 days vs 2.5 days | 6.3 days vs 7.1 days |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max vs Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 46 h vs 2.1 days | 2.3 days vs 2.5 days | 6.3 days vs 7.1 days |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus vs Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 2.7 days vs 2.1 days | 3.2 days vs 2.5 days | 8.9 days vs 7.1 days |
Which brand has a model for each use?
Jackery has at least one qualifying model for 14 of our 14 use-case lists and Goal Zero for 12. Each cell shows how many models qualify and the lowest-priced one.
Every list filters on published requirements such as surge for a fridge or solar input for off-grid charging; the requirement is printed on each list page.
Which brand's best model leads on charging, lifespan and weight?
14 of 15 Jackery models and 6 of 6 Goal Zero models use LiFePO4 cells, the chemistry with the longer rated cycle life. The table names each brand's top model on the specs that decide everyday use.
Wall charge time is 0–100% on AC as the maker states it; solar input is the maximum the station accepts, which caps solar charging speed whatever the panel size.
| Spec | Jackery | Goal Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest wall charge | Jackery HomePower 1000 v2 (50 min) | Goal Zero Yeti 300 (50 min) |
| Highest solar input | Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus (4,000 W) | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 (3,000 W) |
| Most rated cycles | Jackery HomePower 1000 v2 (6,000 cycles) | Goal Zero Yeti 300 (4,000 cycles) |
| Fastest UPS switchover | Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus (0 ms) | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 (15 ms) |
| Lightest | Jackery Explorer 300 (7.1 lb) | Goal Zero Yeti 300 (13.7 lb) |
| Largest battery | Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus (5,040 Wh) | Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 (3,994 Wh) |
Should you buy Jackery or Goal Zero?
Neither brand wins outright on published specs; which is better depends on what you weigh most.
- Pick Jackery if capacity, AC output, surge, solar input, AC charging speed, UPS switchover and Wh per list dollar matter most to you; its median model leads there.
- Pick Goal Zero if weight matters most; its median model leads there.
- For a 2,000–2,999 Wh station, only Jackery of the two has one.
- Otherwise decide model against model: find the size you need in the table above and compare that pair, because the gap between two specific models is often bigger than the gap between brands.
What do Jackery and Goal Zero leave unpublished?
Jackery: rated cycles (1 of 15) and UPS switchover (2 of 15). Goal Zero: UPS switchover (4 of 6).
We never estimate a missing figure. A model with an unpublished spec drops out of comparisons and lists that need it, which can make a brand look weaker than its hardware is.
Related
How this page was made. Specs come from each manufacturer's official US spec page or manual, checked on the date shown; specs a manufacturer doesn't publish are marked "Not published". Runtimes are calculated (capacity × 85% inverter efficiency ÷ appliance draw), not measured. We haven't hands-on tested these units. Method and sources · Affiliate disclosure