3 Best Affordable Solar Generators With Proven Performance

This post breaks down the top three most affordable solar generators that deliver the highest long-term value.

Each model has a different battery size and is the cheapest system compared to its competition. The battery capacities of these models range from 240-1,500Wh and cost between $200 and $800.

If you’re looking for the best small power stations (150-200Wh), check out my related post here: Top 3 Cheapest Solar Generators: $100-$140 (Best Budget Models)

I’ve factored out other systems that had the following concerns:

• Came from an unestablished or unknown brand
• Had mixed customer feedback/ratings/reviews

Below you’ll find my top three cheapest solar generators listed out along with some of their highlights and features. But first, you should know my process for selecting these power stations.

My Ranking Process – What’s Involved In It?

I picked each model considering its price as well as its battery cycle life compared to its competition. Most solar generators have similar performance in terms of input and output power, so the long-term value was most important in my ranking process.

• In addition to low pricing, understanding how long each one lasts is crucial for solving lifetime value. This is done by reviewing the rated cycle life of each solar generator’s battery.
• For each model I compare the actual cost over the lifetime of each solar generator. Most notable are the Bluetti models due to their long-lasting batteries.

1. Cheapest Small Solar Generator – Jackery Explorer 240

Highlights: – 4.7/5 avg. customer rating on Amazon (over 19k ratings) – Simple, easy-to-use design

Battery Capacity: 240Wh

Battery Cycle Life: 500 cycles to 80% capacity

Usable Power to 80% Battery Capacity*: 120kWh

Cost Per Usable kWh**: $1.67 / kWh

Price: $200 (Amazon)

2. Cheapest 500W Solar Generator – Bluetti EB55

Highlights: – 2,500 battery lifecycles – LiFePO4 battery – High-powered AC ports: 700W (1,400W surge)

Battery Capacity: 537Wh

Battery Cycle Life: 2,500 cycles to 80% capacity

Usable Power to 80% Battery Capacity*: 1,342.5kWh

Cost Per Usable kWh**: $0.37 / kWh

Price: $500 (Amazon)

3. Cheapest 1,000W+ Solar Generator – Bluetti EB150

Highlights: – 2,500 battery lifecycles – $500-$1,000 cheaper than competition

Battery Capacity: 1,500Wh

Battery Cycle Life: 2,500 cycles to 80% capacity

Usable Power to 80% Battery Capacity*: 3,750kWh

Cost Per Usable kWh**: $0.29 / kWh

Price: $800 (Amazon)

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Table details: *Battery capacity x cycle life. **Price / usable power.

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If you’d like to dive into the specifics of what makes a solar generator worth buying, I recommend checking out my informational post here: Are Solar Generators Worth the Money? How To Decide.

1. Jackery Explorer 240

Pros	Cons
Lightweight and easy to carry	Only four output port options
Inexpensive versus competitors	No USB-C ports
High ratings on Amazon (4.7/5) with over 19k ratings	Longer charging times compared to the competition

The Jackery Explorer 240 is a portable power station designed for on-the-go power needs. Indoor or outdoor, regardless of where you need power, you can count on this compact and affordable unit.

In terms of its battery, Jackery Explorer 240 has an inbuilt 240 watt-hour (16.8Ah, 14.4V) lithium-ion battery.

The power station will automatically turn off in 6 hours when power is being drawn under 10W to ensure power saving.

It weighs just 6.6 lbs which makes it super portable. It is built for outdoor recreational activities, camping, and emergency power needs.

The Jackery power station features an AC outlet (110V 200W 400W Peak), 2 USB-A ports, and one 12V DC car port. It also features an LCD display screen.

This gives you a clear picture of power use, the battery level, and helps you visualize the discharge rate. Its backlight feature also enables easy reading under the sun.

Key Features & Specifications

Dimensions	5.19 x 9.05 x 7.67 inches
Weight	6.6 lbs (3 kg)
Battery Capacity	240Wh (14.4V, 16.8Ah)
Cell Chemistry	Lithium-ion NMC
AC Power Output	200W continuous (400W surge)
Battery Cycle Life	≥500 cycles to 80% battery capacity
Warranty	24 months

Although the Explorer 240’s specifications don’t really stand out compared to similar models, its low price creates a higher value to those who don’t mind its simple layout and few port options.

Jackery Explorer 240 vs. Yeti 200X vs. EcoFlow River

Both the Yeti 200X and EcoFlow River came out years after the Explorer 240. Due to this difference, you can see that the newer models have better port options as well as recharging times.

However, the Jackery 240 has continued to be a top-selling power station over the years because it is reliable, inexpensive, and easy to use.

Check out the differences between these systems below.

Table info: *Cycle Life: Cycles to 80% capacity

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As you can see, the Yeti 200X and EcoFlow River offer more options for recharging or powering devices/appliances.

If you don’t need USB-C ports as well as the fastest possibly recharging times, then the Explorer 240 may be the right system for you.

However, everyone’s off-grid power needs are different.

In The Box

• 1x Explorer 240 power station
• 1x AC adapter
• 1x Car charger cable
• 1x User guide

Verdict

The Jackery 240W unit is an excellent backup power source for people who don’t need advanced port options. If you want updated tech along with additional features, you can find better models out there. But for the price, the Explorer 240 can be a simple solution to off-grid energy.

You can read more information on the Explorer 240 in my review post found here: The Jackery Explorer 240 Review – Solar Charger for the Outdoors.

Next up is a larger and more advanced solar generator with over ten output ports, one of which is a wireless charging port.

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2. Bluetti EB55

Pros	Cons
Lasts much longer than the average 500Wh systems at 2,500 cycles – Typically 500 cycles	Heavy for its battery size
13 total output ports	LCD screen only shows charging status in 20% increments
Powerful AC ports	Only one USB-C port

Bluetti is one of a handful of popular solar generator companies. Throughout the years they’ve continued to innovate their power stations with advanced features while also keeping their prices competitive.

The EB55 is one of the smallest portable power stations to feature a LiFePO4 battery. This adds a lot of value to it because most similar models from other brands use a lithium-ion battery, which tends to limit its overall lifespan.

Along with good internals are its output ports. The EB55 has thirteen outputs:

• 4x AC ports
• 5x USB ports
• 1x Wireless port
• 3x 12V ports

I’ll be covering the specs of each port in my comparison table below, but one feature I want to highlight is its AC power. With its four AC ports, you can get a total of 700W of continuous power. This is higher than most other 500Wh power stations.

Its battery is also longer lasting than several other similar competitors.

At 16.5 lbs, it’s not meant for long-distance carry, but it can be a useful tool at a campsite, a tailgate, for van living, or in your home as a backup power source.

Key Features & Specifications

Dimensions	10.94 x 7.87 x 7.79 inches
Weight	16.5 lbs
Battery Capacity	537Wh
Cell Chemistry	LiFePO4
AC Power Output	700W continuous (1,400W surge)
Battery Cycle Life	2,500+ cycles to 80% battery capacity
Warranty	24 months

With its basic specs in mind, I’ll be comparing it to yet again another Goal Zero and EcoFlow power station.

Bluetti EB55 vs. Yeti 500X vs. EcoFlow River Max

Table info: *Cycle Life: Cycles to 80% capacity

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Looking at what each model offers and then reviewing prices, the EcoFlow River Max is quite competitive with the Bluetti EB55. In fact, I own the River Max because I was impressed with its features.

I like my River Max and would recommend it to anyone who wants some cool features that aren’t found in the EB55, including:

• Pairing the River Max with your smartphone with the EcoFlow App
• Fastest recharging time from a wall charger
• The ability to remove one of the batteries for a lighter and more portable system

However, what sets the EB55 apart from the River Max in terms of long-term value is its battery cycle life, which is five times higher than the River, at 2,500 cycles.

This means that if you were to use both the River Max and EB55 every day, the EB55 would last about 5.5 years longer than the River.

Model	Bluetti EB55	EcoFlow River Max
Rated Battery Cycle Life	2,500 cycles to 80%	500 cycles to 80%
Years of Daily Use*	6.85 years	1.37 years

In The Box

• 1x EB55 power station
• 1x 200W AC adapter & charging cable
• 1x Solar charging cable (MC4 to XT60-F)
• 1x Car charging cable (Car to XT60-F)
• 1x User manual

Verdict

It’s clear that when you combine the initial price, specs/features, and battery longevity together, you can distinguish which power station carries the most value for your money.

In the 500Wh range, the EB55 is the best system you can get for a return on your investment.

But there may be features on one system that fit your situation better.

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You can check out my review and testing of the River Max power station for a closer look at what it can do.

Since it can be paired to your smartphone, there are a lot of additional features that I didn’t cover in this comparison: EcoFlow River 600 Review – Testing My River Max + Comparisons.

3. Bluetti EB150

Pros	Cons
Costs significantly less than competitors	AC power is much less than the competition
Long battery cycle life	Not as many advanced features compared to competitors
5x USB ports (4x USB-A, 1x USB-C)	12V car port output is rated for 9A (most others are 10A)

As solar generators increase in battery size, there are fewer competitors. With less competition, it can be difficult to find an outlier that has both high value as well as a low price.

Since Bluetti has several solar generator models that were created after the EB150 model (with more features and higher performance specs), this model has lowered in price with each successor.

The EB150 isn’t the most advanced solar generator, but it carries the fundamentals of a good system, which allows it to retain its value to this day:

• Long battery cycle life
• Multiple useful port options
• Fast recharging times
• Intuitive LCD screen

Key Features & Specifications

Dimensions	14.6 x 6.5 x 14.4 inches
Weight	37.9 lbs
Battery Capacity	1,500Wh
Cell Chemistry	Lithium-ion
AC Power Output	1,000W continuous (1,200W surge)
Battery Cycle Life	2,500+ cycles to 80% battery capacity
Warranty	12 months

Looking at the table above, the EB150 has an average weight for its battery size, long cycle life, and compact dimensions.

One specification to take into account is its AC power output, which is below average as seen in the comparison table below.

Bluetti EB150 vs. Yeti 1500X vs. Jackery 1500

Table info: *Cycle Life: Cycles to 80% capacity

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What seems to be standing out in this table are a few things when comparing the EB150 to the others:

• AC port output – 800-1,000W lower continuous output
• DC car port output – 9A versus 10A and 13A
• Price – $500-$900 cheaper
• Battery cycle life – 5x higher
• Charge times – Competitive to the others

The main detriment of the EB150 compared to the Yeti 1500X and Explorer 1500 is its AC port output. If you need to run high-powered appliances, you will need to make sure they can run with the EB150.

For example, most large space heaters are rated at 1,500W. Both the Yeti 1500X and Explorer 1500 can run this appliance, but the EB150 can’t in most cases.

The two things that separate the EB150 from the others are its price and battery cycle life.

For the same price as the Jackery 1500, you can get the EB150 and an EB55. You can almost get two EB150s for the price of the Yeti 1500X. Because the price difference is so vast, the EB150 delivers a great value depending on the power needs of the one using it.

The second is battery cycle life. At 2,500 cycles, the Bluetti creates another vast difference compared to the others. The Yeti 1500X and Jackery 1500 have the same 500-cycle lifespan until reaching the typical 80% capacity.

If your battery will last five times longer than another one, that is literally five times the value so long as the other features correlate to your needs.

To add to this, you can get the larger Bluetti EB240 model (Amazon link) with 2,400Wh of battery power for $1,400-$1,500. It has all of the same features as the EB150 except for its larger battery.

In The Box

• 1x EB150 power station
• 1x AC wall charger (200W)
• 1x Solar charging cable(DC7909 to MC4, 1.7 meters)
• 1x Manual

Verdict

Overall, for what it can do, the EB150 is clearly the cheapest solar generator you can get in the 1,500Wh range – while also retaining high-quality features.

Of course, it doesn’t perform as well as some of its competitors in terms of AC output as well as a few other enhancements, but it retains the core of what makes a solar generator valuable longterm:

• Long cycle life
• Fast recharging times
• Practical port options