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Find the right backup power setup before you overspend.

Use free calculators, setup guides, and comparison tools to estimate battery runtime, size your power station, and understand what gear you actually need.

Use the Runtime Calculator Compare Backup Power Setups
  • Free calculators
  • No fake reviews
  • Estimate before you buy
  • Built for outages, travel, remote work, and backup internet
PF-01 Battery runtime Sample card

Top 3 quick picks

In a hurry? These are the three stations we'd point most people at, by budget — with the honest caveat that sizing your own load first (below) is always the better buy.

Some links on this page may be paid links. If you buy through them, Cynosure LLC may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not claim to have personally tested products unless clearly stated.

Best budget

EcoFlow

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Portable Power Station

  • 245Wh
  • 300W AC
  • $149–$219

Keeps internet, phones, and lights alive through an evening outage for the least money.

See current price

Best mid-size

Jackery

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Portable Power Station

  • 632Wh
  • 800W AC
  • $300–$500

A full work-from-home day — laptop, router, phones — at a weight you can still carry.

See current price

Best for big outages

Jackery

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station

  • 2,042Wh
  • 2,200W AC
  • $700–$1,100

Days of essentials, or a full-size fridge in duty cycles, when the outage runs long.

See current price

Prices last checked between 2026-07-08 and 2026-07-09. We have not hands-on tested these units — verify capacity, output, and current price on the listing. Not sure which size fits? Size your load first or take the Gear Finder.

Run the numbers first

Backup power is just math: watts, hours, and watt-hours. These tools do the math with honest assumptions, so the size you buy matches the outage you're planning for.

PF-01 Calculator

Battery Runtime Calculator

Best for: Answering "how long will this battery run my device?" before you buy it.

 PF-02 Calculator

Power Station Sizing Calculator

Best for: Turning device watts and desired hours into the capacity you should shop for.

 PF-03 Calculator

Solar Recharge Calculator

Best for: Checking whether a solar panel can realistically refill your battery each day.

 PF-05 Calculator

Multi-Device Load Builder

Best for: Sizing your whole outage plan — every device at once, fridge duty cycles included.

 PF-04 Decision wizard

Gear Finder

Best for: Getting a full setup suggestion from six quick questions — no specs knowledge needed.

Start from your situation

What are you trying to keep running?

Pick the scenario closest to yours and the Gear Finder pre-loads it — typical wattage, a sensible capacity class, and what to verify before buying.

Router & modem backup

Keep home internet up during an outage

Class Under 300Wh

Laptop through a full workday

Power a laptop for 8+ hours during an outage or away from outlets

Class 500–1,000Wh

Backup internet (satellite or hotspot)

Keep a backup internet connection online when home service or power fails

Class 500–1,000Wh

Apartment outage kit

Ride out a multi-hour outage in an apartment: lights, phones, internet, and a fan

Class 1,000–2,000Wh

Weekend camping power

Run lights, phones, and small electronics at a campsite for a weekend

Class 500–1,000Wh

Budget emergency basics

Cover phones, lights, and internet in an outage without overspending

Class 500–1,000Wh

Small fridge backup

Keep a mini fridge or compact refrigerator cold through an outage

Class 500–1,000Wh

Remote work anywhere

Power a laptop, monitor, hotspot, and accessories away from reliable outlets

Class 1,000–2,000Wh

Capacity badges show the class we'd suggest for a standard 8–12 hour target. Shorter or longer outages shift the math — the Gear Finder adjusts it for you.

Power station vs UPS vs power bank

Most backup-power overspending starts with buying the wrong category, not the wrong model. Here's how the three options actually differ — in honest, generic ranges.

Some links on this page may be paid links. If you buy through them, Cynosure LLC may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not claim to have personally tested products unless clearly stated.

Backup power options at a glance
Feature Portable power station UPS (battery backup) USB power bank
Best for Longer outages, camping, and off-grid work Instant switchover for desk and network gear Phones, tablets, and small USB devices
Capacity 300Wh to 2,000Wh+ depending on class Small — often roughly 300–500Wh equivalent ~90Wh for a typical 25,000mAh bank
AC output Yes — inverters from ~300W to 2,000W+ Yes — a few outlets, sized for short bridging Usually none — USB ports only
Runtime for a router (~15W) A 300Wh model: roughly 20+ hours Typically ~1–3 hours Most can't power a router directly — phones only
Portability Luggable — roughly 7–50 lb by class Meant to stay put; heavy for its capacity Fits in a bag or a pocket
Typical cost $150–$2,000+ by capacity $60–$200 $20–$80

Ranges are honest category estimates, not measurements of specific products. Always verify manufacturer specs.

See the full comparison

Get the free Emergency Power Planning Checklist

The printable checklist now — then short, occasional notes when one of our recommended picks changes or we spot a real price drop. Nothing on a schedule, unsubscribe anytime.

Learn before you spend

Latest buying guides

Plain-English guides on sizing, comparing, and avoiding the usual backup-power mistakes — with the math shown, not hidden.

Beginner basics

Generator vs Battery Power Station: An Honest Decision Framework

An honest comparison of gas generators and battery power stations: CO safety, noise, cost per kWh both ways, maintenance, and which one fits your outage.

 Calculators & sizing

How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use? Sizing Battery Backup for Your Fridge

A fridge has three wattage numbers: running, surge, and average. Learn what yours really draws, how to measure it, and what battery capacity keeps food safe overnight or for 24 hours.

 Home outage setups

Hurricane Season Power Prep: Buy Calm, Not in the Cone

What hurricane outages actually look like, a realistic power priority list, honest sizing math before the storm, and a day-by-day countdown once a storm is named.

 Home outage setups

Keeping Food Safe During a Power Outage

How long is food good without power? The FDA and USDA windows (4 hours fridge, 24-48 hours freezer), what to do the moment power drops, and honest cooler vs battery math.

 Backup internet

Backup Internet Power Planning: A Complete Walkthrough

A step-by-step plan for backup internet power: inventory your gear, budget watts for primary and fallback paths, and build tiered 2-hour to multi-day plans.

 Backup internet

Backup Power for Satellite Internet Terminals

How to size backup power for a satellite internet terminal: realistic wattage, evening vs all-day sizing math, DC-direct options, and pairing with solar.

Browse all guides

How Power Preflight works

Estimate. Compare. Buy once.

We publish our formulas and assumptions, we don't write fake reviews, and we'd rather you buy the right size than the biggest one.

  1. Estimate

    Add up your real device watts, then use the free calculators to turn them into runtime and capacity numbers.

  2. Compare

    Put capacity classes and setup types side by side so the trade-offs are clear before you shop.

  3. Buy once

    Verify the specs that matter and buy the size you actually need — nothing bigger. Our methodology is public.

See exactly how we estimate

Calculations are estimates. Verify manufacturer specs. Some links may earn commissions.

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