EcoFlow RIVER 3 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1000
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 $960 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 holds 303% more energy (988Wh vs 245Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 has 3000W more surge headroom (3600W vs 600W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 is 27.5 lb lighter (7.8 lb vs 35.3 lb).
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 3,000 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
EcoFlow RIVER 3
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
Goal Zero Yeti 1000
The 6th-gen Yeti 1000 finally brings a real 2,000W inverter to Goal Zero's mid-size. Now it competes on output, not just toughness.
Best for: Buyers who want Goal Zero's ruggedness with real appliance-starting output.
Where it falls short:
- 35.3 lb for under 1kWh is heavy
- Premium price against lighter rivals
| Spec | EcoFlow RIVER 3 | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239 | $1199 |
| Capacity | 245 Wh | 988 Wh |
| Continuous output | 300 W | 2000 W |
| Surge output | 600 W | 3600 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 3,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 7.8 lb | 35.3 lb |
| Max solar | 110 W | 600 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h | 1h 12m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | EcoFlow RIVER 3 | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | ❌ | 14.0 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 6.6 hrs | 26.7 hrs |
| Chest freezer | ❌ | 10.5 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 5.2 hrs | 21.0 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 1.0 hrs |