Looking for an alternative to the Jackery Explorer 500 solar generator?
You’ve come to the right place.
The Jackery 500 is one of the best portable solar generators especially for camping, road trips and other outdoor activities.
But, as we discussed in our in-depth Jackery Explorer 500 review, it has a number of limitations and missing features.
If the Jackery 500 doesn't meet your power needs, we’ve picked three alternatives. These are the Jackery Explorer 1000, the Goal Zero Yeti 500X, and the Bluetti EB3A.
Jackery 500 Issues & Limitations
When reviewing the Explorer 500, the main limitations we found are the capacity and power output.
Basically, the Jackery 500 is a fairly small power station that’s suitable only for running electronics and small appliances. That’s why I recommended it mostly for camping.
If you need to power bigger or more appliances in your home, RV or boat, the Explorer 500 is not the best choice.
The other issue we found is the lack of USB-C and Quick Charge ports. If you want a solar generator that will quickly charge your phone and devices, the Explorer 500 is not it. It’s also not ideal if you plan to work off-grid with your USB-C powered laptop.
We’ve picked the Jackery Explorer 1000 as the best alternative if you want more power and capacity while still enjoying easy portability.
We’ve picked the Goal Zero Yeti 500X if you want an alternative portable solar generator with USB-C PD and QC outlets.
And we’ve picked the Bluetti EB3A if you want a cheaper alternative to the Jackery Explorer 500.
Let’s start with The Explorer 500’s larger sibling - the Jackery Explorer 1000.
If you want a portable solar generator with more power output and a bigger battery, the Jackery Explorer 1000 is a great alternative.
Here’s how it matches up with the Explorer 500.
Jackery Explorer 500 | Jackery Explorer 1000 |
518Wh Li-ion NMC battery | 1002Wh Li-ion NMC battery |
500W continuous, 1000W peak output | 1000W continuous, 2000W peak output |
7 outlets (1 AC, 4 USB-A, 3 DC) | 8 outlets (3 AC, 2 USB-C PD, 1 USB-A QC, 1 USB-A, 1 DC) |
5.5hr AC charge time | 5.5hr AC charge time |
100W max solar input | 200W max solar input |
13.3lbs | 22lbs |
Capacity
The Jackery Explorer 1000 has double the capacity of the Explorer 500. The 1002Wh battery lets you run electronics and appliances for a few hours longer.
It also lets you power multiple appliances without draining the battery quickly.
If you often carry quite a number of electronics when camping or you’d like to power several essential appliances during a power outage, the Explorer 1000 is a better pick.
Battery chemistry is the same for both the Explorer 1000 and 500. They both have a nickel manganese cobalt li-ion battery.
It’s a lightweight battery, but has a limited lifespan compared to lithium-phosphate batteries. It lasts 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
Power output
The Explorer 1000 also doubles power output to 1000W. The advantage of the higher output is that you can plug in more appliances without overloading the inverter.
You can also power larger appliances like a small coffee maker, a large TV, and even a full size refrigerator.
Output and Input Options
Unlike the Explorer 500, the Explorer 1000 has a couple of USB-C PD outlets and one QC USB-A port. So you can charge your USB-C devices and enjoy faster charging speeds.
Unfortunately, the USB-C ports on the Explorer 1000 are rated at 18W. This is okay for smartphones, but not enough to power a laptop.
The Explorer 1000 also comes with three AC outlets and one 12V car port.
As for recharging (input), both solar generators can be charged via a wall outlet, solar or a vehicle's 12V/24V socket.
AC charging time is the same (5.5hrs) despite the Explorer 1000 having a bigger battery. The reason for this is that it comes with a more powerful AC charger.
Solar charging time is also roughly the same since the Explorer 1000 can accept up to 200W of solar power while the Explorer 500 has a max of 100W. This cancels out the difference in battery capacity.
Portability
The Jackery 1000 is obviously a bit bigger and heavier. Surprisingly, however, it’s not as heavy as we’d have expected.
Despite having double the capacity and power output, it’s still fairly lightweight at 22lbs. It’s a great pick for campers and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a capable yet easily portable solar generator.
If you want a portable solar generator with more versatile USB outlets, I recommend the Goal Zero yeti 500X.
Here’s how the Yeti 500X and the Explorer 500 match up on specs.
Jackery Explorer 500 | Goal Zero Yeti 500X |
518Wh Li-ion NMC battery | 505Wh Li-ion NMC battery |
500W continuous, 1000W peak output | 300W continuous, 1200W peak output |
7 outlets (1 AC, 4 USB-A, 3 DC) | 8 outlets (2 AC, 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 1 USB-C PD, 2 DC) |
5.5hr AC charge time | 10hr AC charge time |
100W max solar input | 150W max solar input |
13.3lbs | 12.9lbs |
Capacity
On capacity, the Jackery Explorer 500 and the Yeti 500X are matched. The 500X has a capacity of 505Wh compared to the Explorer 500’s 518Wh capacity.
The two solar generators also use a similar battery — li-ion NMC with a lifespan of 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
Power Output
The Goal Zero Yeti 500X has a continuous power output of 300W (1200W peak), which is significantly lower than the 500W output of the Explorer 500.
You can only power small appliances like a mini fridge, fan, CPAP and others.
If you need to run multiple appliances, stick with the Jackery 500 or upgrade to the Jackery 1000.
Output and Input Options
The Yeti 500X has two AC and two DC outlets, so you can power appliances as well as DC-powered electronics (via a 12V car port or a 6mm DC port).
But where the Yeti 500X outshines the Explorer 500 is the USB outlets. The Goal Zero 500X has four outlets, similar to the Jackery 500, but they are not all the same.
You get two USB-A outlets, an 18W USB-C outlet (great for fast charging devices), and a powerful 60W USB-C PD outlet for powering a laptop and other high-power gadgets.
If you have multiple devices to keep charged or you plan to work offgrid on a laptop, the Goal Zero Yeti 500X is a great choice.
As for recharging, you can charge your Yeti power station via AC outlet, solar or from your vehicle’s 12V port.
However, Goal Zero includes a low powered AC adapter that takes 10 hours to charge the Yeti 500X, which is twice as long as the Explorer 500 takes to recharge despite having a bigger battery.
Portability
Because of the smaller battery, the Yeti 500X is 0.4lbs lighter than the Explorer 500.
If portability is your main concern, both solar generators are easy to travel with. I recommend going with the more powerful Jackery 500.
3. Bluetti EB3A
If you are shopping on a budget, the Bluetti EB3A is cheaper than both the Jackery 500 and Goal Zero Yeti 500X.
It has a smaller battery, but impressive power output.
Jackery Explorer 500 | Bluetti EB3A |
518Wh Li-ion NMC battery | 268Wh LiFePO4 battery |
500W continuous, 1000W peak output | 600W continuous, 1200W peak output |
7 outlets (1 AC, 4 USB-A, 3 DC) | 9 outlets (2AC, 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C PD, 1 wireless, 3 DC) |
5.5hr AC charge time | 1.3-1.5hr AC recharge time |
100W max solar input | 200W max solar input |
13.3lbs | 10.1lbs |
Capacity
The biggest difference between the Jackery 500 and the Bluetti EB3A is the battery size. The Bluetti EB3A has half the capacity at 268Wh.
This is the main reason it’s cheaper and lighter.
I recommend getting the Bluetti EB3A if you only need to charge devices, run some lights and power one or two small appliances like a CPAP, fan or mini fridge.
If you tend to travel light, the Bluetti EB3A is perfect for you.
The battery in the EB3A is a lithium-phosphate one, which lasts much longer than the Li-ion batteries in most solar generators.
Lifespan is 3500 cycles to 80% capacity. In other words, you’ll be using the Bluetti EB3A for years and years before it dies (average lifespan for LiFePO4 power stations is 5-10 years).
Power Output
The Bluetti EB3A has a high power output for its capacity. The pure sine wave inverter produces 600W of continuous power, more than the Jackery 500 and Yeti 500X.
This lets you power more appliances at the same time or higher-powered appliances like a mini coffee maker or a personal blender.
Just keep in mind that you don't have a lot of power in the battery. It’ll drain fast if you draw a lot of power continuously.
Output and Input Options
The Bluetti EB3A has a couple of AC ports and three DC outlets.
It also offers a variety of ways to charge your devices. You get two USB-A ports, a powerful 100W USB-C PD port and a 15W wireless charging pad.
The Bluetti EB3A is an excellent pick if you have multiple devices and gadgets to charge.
To make up for the low capacity, the Bluetti EB3A offers fast recharging. Plug it into a wall outlet to recharge it in 1.3-1.5 hours.
A 200W solar array will charge it in 2-4 hours and a vehicle socket will charge it in 3.3 hours.
And if you want even faster charging, you can charge with solar and AC at the same time. It’ll take just 30 minutes to recharge the battery.
So while the Bluetti EB3A empties quickly, it also recharges quickly.
Portability
Weighing just 10.1lbs, the Bluetti EB3A is about 3lbs lighter than the Jackery Explorer 500, making it the better choice for campers who want to travel extra light.
Other Alternatives
Still can’t find the right solar generator?
See our reviews of the best portable solar generators for other great alternatives. We also have reviews for the best solar generators for camping, RVs and boats.
If you are getting a solar generator for power emergencies, see our best picks for home backup.
