Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Jackery Explorer 240
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 240 costs $500 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 holds 108% more energy (499Wh vs 240Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 has 600W more surge headroom (1000W vs 400W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Jackery Explorer 240 is 6.3 lb lighter (6.6 lb vs 12.9 lb).
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 uses LiFePO4 while the other uses NMC — roughly double the usable cycle life.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 500 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
The Goal Zero Yeti 500 is poor value on paper: 0.71 Wh per dollar versus 1.21 for the Jackery Explorer 240. Only worth it if you specifically need its higher output or 240V capability — otherwise you're paying a large premium per watt-hour.
A rugged, water-resistant unit for people who'll actually beat it up. You pay a premium over similar-capacity rivals for that durability.
Best for: Overlanders and job sites where the unit will get wet, dusty and knocked around.
Where it falls short:
- $699 for 499Wh is expensive per watt-hour
- Only a 2-year warranty vs 5 years from most rivals
- 120W solar input is very low
A very old, very small unit still sold on price alone. The LiFePO4 Explorer 240 v2 beats it on cycles and charging for similar money.
Best for: Only if it’s markedly cheaper than the 240 v2.
Where it falls short:
- ~500 Li-ion cycles
- 200W output, no USB-C PD
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $199 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 240 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 200 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 400 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | NMC |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 6.6 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 65 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 5h |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | ❌ |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 6.5 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | ❌ |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 5.1 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |