Bluetti AC180 vs EcoFlow RIVER 3
Side-by-side on the specs that decide it — surge, capacity, runtime and price.
Both models' specs verified against manufacturer listings · Last updated
The short answer
EcoFlow RIVER 3 costs $560 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Bluetti AC180 holds 370% more energy (1152Wh vs 245Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Bluetti AC180 has 2100W more surge headroom (2700W vs 600W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 is 29.6 lb lighter (7.8 lb vs 37.4 lb).
- Bluetti AC180 is rated for 3,500 cycles vs 3,000 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
Neither of these will start a sump pump or well pump — both surge below the ~3,400W those motors need. If home backup with pumps is your use case, look at higher-surge models instead of either of these.
A solid mid-size unit that competes on price rather than any standout spec. 1152Wh is a useful step above the 1kWh crowd.
Best for: Buyers who catch it on sale and want slightly more than 1kWh.
Where it falls short:
- 37.4 lb is heavy for its capacity
- 2700W surge is mid-pack
- Not expandable
A glorified power bank with AC outlets — and that's fine if that's what you need. 245Wh runs devices, not appliances.
Best for: Weekend campers charging phones, cameras and a laptop.
Where it falls short:
- 300W output rules out anything with a heating element
- No expansion path
| Spec | Bluetti AC180 | EcoFlow RIVER 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 | $239 |
| Capacity | 1152 Wh | 245 Wh |
| Continuous output | 1800 W | 300 W |
| Surge output | 2700 W | 600 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 3,500 | 3,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 37.4 lb | 7.8 lb |
| Max solar | 500 W | 110 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 30m | 1h |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Bluetti AC180 | EcoFlow RIVER 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 16.3 hrs | ❌ |
| Mini fridge | 31.1 hrs | 6.6 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 12.2 hrs | ❌ |
| CPAP machine | 24.5 hrs | 5.2 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |