When you’re shopping for portable power stations, two of the best and most common options that you’ll see are the brands Anker and Jackery. These two brands are known for the reliability and durability of their products, so what are the differences? What makes these two brands stand out from the rest of their competition and from each other?

In this article, we will go over power storage options from Anker and Jackery and see how they compare. By the end, you will have a better idea of which power station brand is better for you and how each brand’s products can meet your power station needs.

Both Anker and Jackery have great reputations in the tech industry. Anker was originally founded as an electronics accessory company, originally making products like cords and cables, chargers, and power banks.

Jackery was founded in 2012 and began by manufacturing portable power for outdoors enthusiasts. They have since risen to become the industry leader in portable power, and are also well known for their solar charging options.

Both brands are known for high-quality products and good customer service, so the most useful way to compare the two is to look at their products directly.

As we mentioned, Jackery is the market leader for power stations. Both Anker and Jackery  make power stations of various sizes, and both also offer solar options. If you aren’t familiar with power stations, these are essentially big batteries that store power you can use in case of an emergency.

They are also great for camping to power things like fans, speakers, and other appliances. If you’d like to know more about power stations, we have a complete guide that you should check out.

Before we get into the different power station options, let’s briefly look at what each size of power station is, and what you can use them for.

The smallest power station that Anker makes is the Anker 511 PowerHouse, while the smallest one that Jackery makes is the Jackery Explorer 160. Here is how these two power stations compare head to head.

In the battle of the two smallest power stations, the Jackery Explorer 160 is the clear winner. You get substantially more power storage at a lower price point. The Anker 511 PowerHouse can’t handle surge power and has only a little more than half of the capacity of the Jackery Explorer 160.

The small power station category includes power stations that are great for quick weekend getaways where you don’t need much power– but would like to use some small appliances, like fans or speakers.

These power stations are perfect for brief camping trips because they don’t weigh very much. They are also compatible with their manufacturers’ portable solar panels, so you can extend their use by leaving them charging in the sun at your base camp. Let’s compare the Jackery Explorer 240 vs. Anker Powerhouse 521.

When it comes to a small portable power station for camping, it’s hard to beat the Anker PowerHouse 521. The Anker PowerHouse 521 is designed to be rugged and durable; the company advertises it as “drop-proof,” and it seems to have been made with camping in mind. The integrated handle is really nice and makes this power station easy to transport. It also has a built-in warm-tone LED light source and a power-saving mode.

However, there is one major advantage that the Jackery Explorer 240 has, and that is its carry weight. It weighs a little more than six and a half pounds; the Anker PowerHouse 521 weighs almost 10 pounds. You should think carefully about how much weight you want to invest in your power station; you may find that it’s worth it to save that nearly 3.5-pound difference for extra food, water, or clothing.

Mid-sized power stations offer reliable home or camping backup power and are versatile for travel. If you work remotely, taking one of these with you can let you work almost anywhere. They’re not as light as power banks or small power stations, but they’re more portable than the larger models—a nice “Goldilocks” option for a lot of people.

Take a look at how the two mid-sized power station options—the Explorer 1000 vs the PowerHouse 555—from Jackery and Anker compare.

Much like the smaller Anker PowerHouse 521, the Anker PowerHouse 555 has lots of nice features for camping, including the warm-toned LED light source. It also features a drop-proof body, so you can take it along when the terrain is rugged. It charges faster than the Jackery Explorer 1000 and is optimized for fast solar charging. It has a slightly larger battery capacity, although not by much, and is $200 cheaper for essentially the same capacity with more outlets and faster charging.

This is also a better choice for daily use since the batteries can cycle up to 3,000 times without losing capacity. The Jackery Explorer 1000’s batteries can only cycle up to 500 times before they start to lose their holding capacity. This is actually one of the reasons that Anker’s market share has begun to increase; their battery technology tends to have a longer lifespan than anybody else’s. They also have a warranty to back it up.

Large power stations have high power output capabilities and can run larger appliances with ease. You can run almost anything other than things like ovens and laundry machines that have really demanding power needs, making them ideal for backup power at home.

The large power station from Jackery is the Explorer 1500, which we’re comparing to the Anker PowerHouse 757.

If you’re planning on using your large power station while camping, the Jackery Explorer 1500 weighs more than eight pounds less and has a greater capacity. You probably won’t need an 1800-watt output out in the woods, but if you’re car camping or using it during your van life, that extra output might be really useful. The Jackery Explorer 1500 can also handle 1.5 times the surge power draw of the Anker PowerHouse 757. It’s a bit more expensive, but the features and extra capacity make it a smart buy.

However, if you’re planning on using a large power station to work remotely, the Anker PowerHouse 757 might be the better option. It has twice as many USB-A ports and AC outlets, so you can use it to power quite a few laptops or tablets at once. If you’re working remotely with friends, the Anker PowerHouse 757’s extra power sockets and lightning-fast charge time might be more useful than the Jackery Explorer 1500’s extra capacity.

Extra-large power stations are the largest power stations available. These are heavy units that are really good for car camping, RV use, van life, or anything where you’ve got some assistance carrying them. With a power station this size, you can use power tools, run large appliances, and not worry about power on extended car camping trips.

Jackery’s extra-large power station is the Explorer 2000. Here’s how it stacks up against the Anker PowerHouse 767.

Both the Jackery and Anker extra-large power stations are solar-compatible, so neither of them has an advantage that way. However, the Anker PowerHouse 767 has some serious advantages. With its massive power output, the Anker 767 can power most household appliances. It has wheels and a handle, making it easier to haul than other large power stations.

Additionally, if you are using a power station for backup home power, there is an option to add an extra battery to the Anker 767. When the extra battery is added, the power station can store a whopping 4,096 Wh. It is an expensive option, but in an emergency, that kind of extra power can make a huge difference.

Ultimately, the Anker 767 is cheaper than the Jackery 2000 and has only slightly less battery capacity. The wheels and handle make it much easier to take on adventures with you, so if you need a heavy-duty, high-capacity power station for extended trips, this might be your best buy. While the Jackery 2000 Pro is significantly lighter, many people find it more awkward to transport because it doesn’t have wheels.

In addition to power stations that plug into the wall to charge, both Anker and Jackery make solar generators. Anker produces solar versions of their 7 series and 5 series power stations. Jackery makes solar panels that are compatible with all of their power stations. Both companies bundle their power stations with solar panels and include solar charging cables with their power stations.

Expect solar panels to add a few hundred dollars to the price of your purchase– and consider them an investment. Solar panels mean you can keep recharging your power station while you’re camping.

Power banks are another portable power option. These devices are smaller than power stations, hold a smaller amount of power, and can’t support larger electronic devices and appliances.

Anker is the market leader for power banks, as you can see in our in-depth comparison guide to their different products. However, if you’re looking for a Jackery power bank, you’re out of luck; they stopped manufacturing them to focus on developing their line of power stations.

Power banks come in several sizes, and can be roughly broken into categories based on capacity.

Mini, small, and medium power banks are good options for many daily power needs. Here are some of the best options that Anker makes in each size category.

While Jackery is the market leader for portable power, Anker is catching up to them. Their longer battery life, higher number of ports and outlets, and innovations in design mean that Anker’s power stations are often a better buy for the money. While Jackery’s products are still extremely reliable and high quality, you should feel confident buying from either brand if their product is what meets your needs.