Goal Zero Yeti 1000 vs Jackery Explorer 500
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
Jackery Explorer 500 costs $700 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 holds 91% more energy (988Wh vs 518Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 has 2600W more surge headroom (3600W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Jackery Explorer 500 is 22.0 lb lighter (13.3 lb vs 35.3 lb).
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 uses LiFePO4 while the other uses NMC — roughly double the usable cycle life.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 500 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
If you plan to cycle the battery daily, think twice about the Jackery Explorer 500. Its NMC cells are rated for 500 cycles against the LiFePO4 rival's longer life — over years of regular use that's the more expensive unit, whatever the sticker says.
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
A long-running compact that's now firmly dated: one AC outlet, no USB-C, Li-ion cells and a very slow recharge. Only its ubiquity keeps it around.
Best for: Light, occasional device charging when found cheap.
Where it falls short:
- ~500 cycles
- One AC outlet, no USB-C
- 7.5-hour recharge
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | Jackery Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199 | $499 |
| Capacity | 988 Wh | 518 Wh |
| Continuous output | 2000 W | 500 W |
| Surge output | 3600 W | 1000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | NMC |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 35.3 lb | 13.3 lb |
| Max solar | 600 W | 100 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 12m | 7h 30m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | Jackery Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 14.0 hrs | 7.3 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 26.7 hrs | 14.0 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 10.5 hrs | 5.5 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 21.0 hrs | 11.0 hrs |
| Sump pump | 1.0 hrs | ❌ |