Goal Zero Yeti 500 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 $200 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Jackery Explorer 500 holds 4% more energy (518Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 0.4 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 13.3 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.
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.
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 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 500 | Jackery Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $499 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 518 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 500 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 1000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | NMC |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 13.3 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 100 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 7h 30m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 7.3 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 14.0 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 5.5 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 11.0 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |