Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus
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
Goal Zero Yeti 500 costs $2800 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus holds 910% more energy (5040Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus has 13400W more surge headroom (14400W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 132.6 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 145.5 lb).
Goal Zero Yeti 500
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
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus
A generator replacement in a box. 5040Wh and 7200W with 240V output — it competes with standby generators, not power stations.
Best for: Whole-home backup where a gas generator isn't an option.
Where it falls short:
- 145.5 lb — wheels required, not portable
- $3499
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $3499 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 5040 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 7200 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 14400 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 145.5 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 5400 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 2h |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 71.4 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 136.0 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 53.5 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 107.1 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 5.4 hrs |