Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 vs Goal Zero Yeti 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
Goal Zero Yeti 500 costs $700 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 holds 309% more energy (2042Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 has 3400W more surge headroom (4400W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 26.6 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 39.5 lb).
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2
The portability champion of the 2kWh class. At 39.5 lb it's over 20 lb lighter than the Bluetti AC200L with similar capacity.
Best for: RV and van owners who need 2kWh but have to lift it in and out.
Where it falls short:
- 400W solar input is low for this capacity — slow off-grid recharge
- Not expandable
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
| Spec | Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1399 | $699 |
| Capacity | 2042 Wh | 499 Wh |
| Continuous output | 2200 W | 500 W |
| Surge output | 4400 W | 1000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 39.5 lb | 12.9 lb |
| Max solar | 400 W | 120 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 23m | 1h 25m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | Goal Zero Yeti 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 28.9 hrs | 7.1 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 55.1 hrs | 13.5 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 21.7 hrs | 5.3 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 43.4 hrs | 10.6 hrs |
| Sump pump | 2.2 hrs | ❌ |