Power bank or power station for an outage? What each can run, how long, and which fits a phone only kit or a fridge and furnace fan plan.
- A power bank charges phones and small devices; it has no AC outlet in most cases.
- A power station has AC outlets and much more capacity, so it can run Wi-Fi, lights and some appliances.
- Buy a power bank for every kit; add a power station if you need to run more.
Both store power, but they are very different tools.
Power bank
Small, cheap and portable. Good for phones, headlamps and radios. Most have no AC outlet. See best power banks and keeping phones charged.
Power station
Bigger, with AC outlets, so it can run a router, lights, a CPAP or a fridge for a time: fridge runtime. See sizing.
Which should you buy?
- Phones only: a power bank.
- Wi-Fi, lights, CPAP: a small power station.
- Fridge or furnace fan: a mid size power station.
Compare brands: Jackery vs EcoFlow vs Bluetti.
Backup power picks (Canada)
Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| BBLUETTI | Large lineup, expandable home systems |
| JJackery | Wide range, compact to home backup sizes |
Power stations and solar generators with fast charging. Compare capacity and warranty.
Larger capacity power stations that can run a fridge, with expandable batteries.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
Popular portable power stations and solar kits for short outages.
- Has a Canadian storeHas a US store
- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
Quick answers
Is a power bank enough for an outage?
For phones and small devices, yes. For anything with a plug, no.
Can a power bank run a fridge?
No.
Do I need both?
A power bank in every kit, plus a power station for more.