Head-to-head test
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX vs Goal Zero Yeti 500
The Yeti 500 costs $181 more and gives you less capacity, less output, and less surge — its entire case rests on a 4,000-cycle rating that only pays off if you drain it daily for a decade.
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
.webp)
EcoFlow
RIVER 3 MAX
2,472Power Score · Appliance Class
$319.00 list · direct from EcoFlow
Goal Zero
Yeti 500
1,862Power Score · Device Hub
$499.95 list · direct from Goal Zero
Spec deltas
The RIVER 3 MAX holds more energy than the Goal Zero Yeti 500 for $181 less: 572Wh against 499Wh, at $319 against $500. It also surges harder (1200W against 1000W), pushes more continuous output (600W against 500W), and weighs 6.1 lbs less at 10.4 lbs total. On nearly every line of the spec sheet, the cheaper unit is also the bigger one.
Where the Yeti earns its premium is cycle life and solar ceiling. Its LiFePO4 cells are rated for 4,000 cycles against the RIVER's 3,000, and Goal Zero frames that as over a decade of daily useB1. Its 200W solar input is also nearly double the RIVER's 110W, a real edge for anyone refilling off a panel rather than a wall outlet.
But the Yeti is a sealed system with no expansion path, and Goal Zero doesn't publish a noise rating for it at all — the one flag on this page that should give a bedroom-adjacent buyer pause. The RIVER expands, and its fan is independently tested under 30dB. For most buyers, cheaper, lighter, bigger, and provably quiet settles this without needing the Yeti's cycle-life argument.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Capacity
The Yeti's actual sales pitch is cycle life: Goal Zero rates it at 4,000+ cycles against the RIVER's 3,000B1. That's a real number, but it only converts into value for someone draining the unit almost every day for years, not for the weekend camper comparing two price tags.
RIVER 3 MAX costs $319 against the Yeti 500's $500RIVER 3 MAX holds 572Wh against the Yeti's 499Wh
Why it mattersAnyone buying for occasional camping, tailgating, or general backup power should bank the $181; the extra cycle rating isn't doing anything for them.
solar input
The RIVER's known 7.4-hour recharge already eats a full day of strong sun. Nearly double the wattage into a smaller tank means the Yeti closes that gap meaningfully faster, even though it loses on price, weight, and capacity everywhere else on this page.
Yeti 500 accepts 200W solar against the RIVER's 110WRIVER 3 MAX takes about 7.4 hours to recharge fully from solar at its ceiling
Why it mattersBuyers recharging entirely off a panel — no wall outlet in reach for days — are the one group who should weight solar ceiling above the RIVER's other advantages.
weight
Goal Zero also won't publish a decibel rating for the Yeti, while independent reviewers have already clocked the RIVER platform under 30dBA2. A heavier, sealed box with an undisclosed fan profile is a hard case to make against a lighter one with a known, quiet one.
RIVER 3 MAX is expandable with an add-on battery; the Yeti 500 has no expansion pathRIVER 3 MAX weighs 10.4 lbs against the Yeti's 16.5 lbs
Why it mattersAnyone who might add capacity later, or who's sensitive to fan noise — CPAP users, bedroom-adjacent use — should treat the Yeti's silence on decibels as a real gap, not an oversight.
rated cycles
Both units' own reviewers describe roughly a decade of lifeA3B1, but that language flattens a gap that only shows up under true daily use. Weekly or weekend use stretches the RIVER to 57.7 and 28.8 years respectively against the Yeti's 76.9 and 38.5 — numbers so far beyond any realistic ownership window that the gap stops mattering.
RIVER 3 MAX is rated for 3,000 cycles against the Yeti's 4,000Run daily, the lifetime math gives the RIVER 8.2 years of life against the Yeti's 11
Why it mattersOnly a true daily user — full-time van life, an off-grid home business running the unit every day — gets real value from the Yeti's extra cycle life; everyone else is paying for years they'll never reach.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: RIVER is cheaper both up front and per lifetime kWh, but the daily-use years flip toward the Yeti — the clearest honest tension on this pair.
cost / lifetime kWh
At $64 per warranty-year the RIVER already undercuts the Yeti's $100, and the gap holds over the full ownership window: $.19 per lifetime kWh against $.25. All of it traces back to the $181 sticker gap and the RIVER's cheaper $.56-per-Wh rate against the Yeti's $1.00 — the Yeti's longer cycle rating never closes it.
The one place the math flips is true daily use: 8.2 years for the RIVER against 11 for the Yeti, a real 2.8-year gap. Weekly use stretches both past 50 years and weekend use past 25, where the difference stops being a real-world consideration. Outside of a genuine daily-cycling buyer, the RIVER wins the ownership math outright.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: 6.1-lb gap is real and consistent with the Yeti also losing on capacity, making weight a clean secondary lens.
weight
10.4 lbs is a one-hand carry with room to spare. 16.5 lbs is the point where you start setting it down to switch hands or brace it against a hip. That's a 6.1-lb gap, and it's consistent with everything else here — the heavier unit also holds less energy, so nothing about the Yeti's spec sheet buys back the extra weight.
For anyone hauling this in and out of a trunk, up basement stairs, or across a campsite more than once a trip, the RIVER is the unit you actually want to be the one lifting.
Growth Path
Selected because: RIVER expands, Yeti is sealed — a structural difference worth its own section given the price gap runs the other way.
solar input
The RIVER accepts an add-on battery and grows past its 572Wh base without replacing the unit — reviewers already cite it as the largest-capacity option in the RIVER 3 line once that pack is attachedA1. The Yeti 500 is a closed system: what you buy on day one is the ceiling.
Outgrow 499Wh and the Yeti's fix is an entirely new unit, not a battery pack. That's not a minor asterisk for anyone whose needs might grow — more gear, longer trips, a slow build toward home backup — it's the difference between one more purchase and starting over.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Five gotchas fire here, more than any other section — expansion, noise disclosure, warranty, cycle life, and solar recharge all carry real weight.
rated cycles
Two of the five flags here cut squarely against the Yeti: it has no expansion path, and Goal Zero won't publish a noise spec at all — the one number a quiet-sensitive buyer wants before spending $500. Warranty value tells the same story: $64 per warranty-year for the RIVER against $100 for the Yeti, on an identical 5-year term.
The RIVER's own flag is refill speed — 7.4 hours to top off from empty at its 110W solar ceiling, a full day of good sun. Cycle life is the one gotcha that genuinely favors the Yeti, worth roughly 2.8 extra years of real-world life under true daily use — the single number on this page that argues for paying more.
Brand Trust
Selected because: Cross-brand pair — Goal Zero's category heritage against its premium pricing and declining support is worth naming plainly.
Goal Zero built this category and it shows in the heritage, but that heritage now comes with the most expensive Wh-per-dollar in the space, and 2025-2026 reports describe support that's slow to answer and slower to resolve — the company even shuttered its community forums. EcoFlow has its own scars, including a 2025 recall on an unrelated model and support experiences that split between smooth and frustrating, but it also runs the larger community and broader ecosystem to fall back on.
Neither brand's support record is spotless enough to be the deciding factor here. Only one of them is also charging a premium for the privilege.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX
Strengths
- +Costs $181 less
- +Lighter by 6.1 lb
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
Trade-offs
- –Shorter-lived battery — rated for 3,000 charge cycles vs the Yeti 500's 4,000, so it wears out sooner.
Goal Zero Yeti 500
Strengths
- +Faster solar charging
- +Rated for 4,000 charge cycles — much longer battery lifespan
Trade-offs
- –Substantially more expensive (+$181) than the RIVER 3 MAX.
- –Sealed capacity — the RIVER 3 MAX can add batteries to grow past 499Wh; this one can't.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on six real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 · 2 nights · needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Both come up well short here — this scenario runs over 2,000Wh across a multi-day trip, and neither 500-600Wh unit is built to solo it. Bring solar, plan on a recharge, or use either one for a single device rather than the whole camp.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Phone Charger 15W×6h · LED Lights 40W×8h · Box Fan 75W×14h · CPAP Machine 40W×16h
SCN-02 · 8 hours · needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 1,645Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Fridge 150W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40W×6h · Phone Charger 15W×3h
SCN-03 · 8 hours · needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption — the #1 medical use case
Either unit
Both clear this one comfortably — the RIVER at two-thirds of capacity, the Yeti at three-quarters. It's a genuine tie on runtime, so break it on fan noise instead: the RIVER's disclosed, independently-tested rating is the one that actually lets you sleep through it.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD CPAP Machine 40W×8h
SCN-04 · 8 hours · needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 910Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Laptop 60W×8h · External Monitor 30W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · Phone Charger 15W×2h
SCN-05 · 4 hours · needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 670Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Blender 400W×0.5h · LED TV (55") 80W×4h · Bluetooth Speaker 15W×4h · Phone Charger (×3) 45W×2h
SCN-06 · 24 hours · needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living — the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 4,685Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Mini-Fridge 150W×24h · Laptop 60W×4h · Phone Charger 15W×3h · LED Lights 40W×5h · Fan 75W×8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh × 0.85) ÷ LOAD
None of the six scenarios above exactly yours? Build it. Toggle what you'd plug in; both units are tested against the combined draw.
Essentials
Comfort & Convenience
High-Draw Appliances
Test duration
8h
Continuous draw
205W
Projected runtime
For this load: RIVER 3 MAX runs 2.4h vs 2.1h.
$319 list · direct from EcoFlow
Modeled from the spec record — same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.¹
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0–32.4hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–6.5hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limits¹ Runtime = (capacity × 0.85) ÷ appliance watts. Within each group, all bars share one time scale (the group's longest runtime), so lengths are comparable across appliances; identical runtimes collapse into a single blue/orange bar. Actual runtime varies with battery age, temperature, and simultaneous loads — see methodology.
Conclusion
July 14, 2026
Verdict: the RIVER 3 MAX
Take the RIVER 3 MAX. At $319 against the Yeti 500's $500, it holds more energy (572Wh against 499Wh), surges harder (1200W against 1000W), weighs 6.1 lbs less, and expands with an add-on battery while the Yeti is a sealed box. The Yeti's real advantages are a 4,000-cycle rating against the RIVER's 3,000 and a 200W solar ceiling nearly double the RIVER's 110W — both genuine, neither worth $181 for anyone who isn't cycling this unit almost every day or recharging entirely off a panel. Goal Zero also won't publish a noise spec for the Yeti at all, while the RIVER is independently tested under 30dB. Buy the RIVER unless you're the daily-use or off-grid-solar exception.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of July 14, 2026. The links below open EcoFlow's and Goal Zero's current prices.
$319.00 list · direct from EcoFlow
or check the Yeti 500 price$499.95 list
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated July 14, 2026
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): Solar Generator.
Full specifications
ᵈ Derived: price ÷ rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons →
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool →How these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it — no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews — see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity × 0.85 inverter efficiency) ÷ device wattage. Solar recharge estimates assume panels deliver 70% of rated output. Cold weather, battery age, and stacked loads reduce real-world results.
Power Score
Computed from 14 published spec dimensions, weighted per use-case bench. Higher is better; a unit must meet a bench's minimum threshold to be rated.
See the full weight table and data sourcing on our methodology page →Class ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews — no buyer opinions feed it. We score every station on size-independent quality (value, output, portability, endurance, ports, warranty, and more), then percentile-rank it against the other units in its capacity class, so a class-leading compact unit and a class-leading whole-home unit can both earn 5★. Here, RIVER 3 MAX rates 4.7/5 (83rd percentile of 19 Compact-class units), and Yeti 500 rates 4.7/5 (81st percentile of 22 Personal-class units).
How the class ranking is computed →Test Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
RIVER 3 MAX: Solar Recharge Takes 7.4h
That's a full day of strong sun to top off from empty at the RIVER's 110W ceiling. The Yeti's 200W input is nearly double the wattage, even feeding a smaller tank.
Yeti 500: No Expansion Path
What you buy is the ceiling. Outgrow 499Wh and the fix is an entirely new unit, not a battery pack — the RIVER's growth path is the more forgiving one long-term.
Warranty Value Comparison
$64 per warranty-year for the RIVER against $100 for the Yeti, on the same 5-year term — one more place the Yeti's premium price doesn't buy a matching improvement in coverage.
Battery Lifespan in Real Years
Run either unit daily and the gap is real: about 8.2 years for the RIVER against 11 for the Yeti. Weekly or weekend use stretches both well past any realistic ownership window, and the difference stops mattering.
Yeti 500: Noise Level Not Disclosed
Goal Zero doesn't publish a decibel rating for the Yeti 500. The RIVER's is public and independently tested under 30dB — worth weighing if this is running near where you sleep.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the RIVER 3 MAX.
Check RIVER 3 MAX price →or check the Yeti 500 priceOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy — true cost of ownership, brand trust, and growth potential.
Lifetime value
Service lifeyears at one full cycle per day
Lifetime energy delivered
Cost per delivered kWh
│ warranty ends · Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains — degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The RIVER 3 MAX wins on both sticker price and long-term value. At $0.19/kWh over its lifetime, it's meaningfully cheaper to own. Clear value winner.
Brand trust
EcoFlow
Ecosystem
Largest in portable power — 12-15 models across DELTA Pro, DELTA 3, and RIVER 3 series, plus solar panels and smart home panels
Support
US-based phone/email/chat support (1-800-368-8604). Experiences are polarized — many report hassle-free prepaid-label replacements, but others report long waits and refurbished units sent for new claims. Pro tip: buying from Costco or Amazon gives you a stronger return safety net.
Community
Largest community in the space — Reddit r/Ecoflow_community (~31K members), multiple Facebook groups, and an official community forum
App experience
Rated 4.6/5 iOS (~8,400 ratings) · 4.2/5 Android (~17,000 ratings)
Unique strength
Fastest-charging technology (X-Stream), deepest product ecosystem, and most active innovation cadence. Supports up to 180kWh modular expansion with DELTA Pro Ultra X.
Worth knowing
The Oct 2025 DELTA Max 2000 recall (overheating/fire risk, 6 incidents) is worth noting. Also tested subscription paywalls for advanced app features in early 2025 before community backlash paused the plan. No parts or service offered out of warranty.
Goal Zero
Ecosystem
Focused — 5-6 active portable power station models across Yeti and Yeti Pro series, plus Alta coolers, Nomad/Ranger solar panels, and vehicle integration kits
Support
US-based company (Salt Lake City, owned by NRG Energy). Historically considered premium support, but 2025-2026 reports describe long wait times, unresponsive email communication, and tickets going unaddressed for weeks. The "premium support justifies premium pricing" argument is weakening.
Community
Small but loyal — strong following in overlanding and preparedness communities. Official community forums were recently shuttered, frustrating long-time users.
App experience
Rated 4.4/5 iOS (~1,200 ratings) but recent reviews skew negative — recurring connectivity issues, crashes, and stability problems.
Unique strength
Pioneer of the portable power market — strongest brand heritage. US-based company with ruggedized, weather-resistant designs (IPX4). Integrated "Yeti-Ready" ecosystem with coolers, lights, and vehicle kits.
Worth knowing
Widely acknowledged as the most expensive brand (lowest Wh per dollar). Support quality has declined from its "premium" standard. Perceived as competitively stagnant vs. faster-innovating Chinese competitors. Reliability reports on newer models are concerning.
Analyst note
EcoFlow and Goal Zero are close competitors. Both have established support channels and growing ecosystems. Compare their specific warranty terms and community size for your peace of mind.
Growth path
RIVER 3 MAX
EXPANDABLESupports EcoFlow expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 572Wh.
Accepts up to 110W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Expansion batteries are EcoFlow-specific. You're investing in the EcoFlow ecosystem.
Yeti 500
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 499Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 200W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
The Yeti 500 is sealed at 499Wh, which is fine if that covers you. The RIVER 3 MAX starts at 572Wh and can grow beyond it with EcoFlow expansion batteries — real headroom the Yeti 500 doesn't have if your needs climb toward partial-home backup.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX
Reviewers who've tested the RIVER 3 MAX platform keep landing on the same two points: it runs whisper-quiet under 30dB, and it's IP54-rugged for a unit this sizeA2. Its LiFePO4 cells are rated past 3,000 cycles, which reviewers translate to roughly a decade of daily useA3. With the add-on battery attached, it's also praised as the largest-capacity option in EcoFlow's RIVER 3 line for buyers who want room to growA1.
“Offers up to 858Wh of LFP battery storage — the largest capacity in the RIVER 3 line — as a compact, portable unit.”
Sources
powerstationadvisor.com · ecoflow.com · backuppowerhub.com · amazon.com · portablepowernerd.com
Goal Zero Yeti 500
Goal Zero's newer LFP Yeti 500 draws real praise for its 4,000-cycle rating, which the company frames as over a decade of daily useB1, and one long-term reviewer put it through extensive charge cycling in 2026 with barely any observed degradationB4. It's also positioned as blackout insurance — owners can run a full-size fridge off it for up to six hours to keep food from spoiling during an outageB2. The tradeoff for that upgrade from the older NMC-based Yeti 500X is real weight, at 16.5 lbsB3.
“The Yeti 500's LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000+ cycles, meaning daily use for over 10 years (to 80% capacity at 75F).”
Sources
goalzero.com · rei.com · propaneva.com · portablepowernerd.com
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- Largest RIVER 3 capacity (up to 858Wh), quiet IP54 build, and 3,000-cycle LFP are the standout points. [RIVER 3 MAX · 3 entries]
- High 4,000+ cycle LFP rating and outage-backup capability (including running a fridge for hours) are the standout points. [Yeti 500 · 2 entries]
- A1
“Offers up to 858Wh of LFP battery storage — the largest capacity in the RIVER 3 line — as a compact, portable unit.”
powerstationadvisor.com / ecoflow.com — RIVER 3 line review · 2026 · [positive]
- A2
“Built on the same RIVER 3 platform reviewers praise for sub-30dB whisper-quiet operation and IP54 ruggedness.”
backuppowerhub.com — RIVER 3 review · 2026 · [positive]
- A3
“LiFePO4 chemistry rated for 3,000+ cycles to 80% — roughly a decade of everyday use.”
backuppowerhub.com / amazon.com — RIVER 3 line · 2026 · [positive]
- B1
“The Yeti 500's LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000+ cycles, meaning daily use for over 10 years (to 80% capacity at 75F).”
goalzero.com / rei.com — Yeti 500 LFP · 2026 · [positive]
- B2
“Acts as a backup power supply when the grid drops — you can plug a full-size refrigerator directly in for up to six hours of runtime to prevent food waste.”
goalzero.com — Yeti 500 backup · 2026 · [positive]
- B3
“Weighs about 16 lbs, upgraded to LiFePO4 battery technology from the older NMC-based Yeti 500X.”
goalzero.com / propaneva.com — Yeti 500 review · 2026 · [mixed]
- B4
“One 2026 reviewer completed 180+ charge/discharge cycles with minimal observed degradation.”
portablepowernerd.com — Yeti 500 long-term review · 2026 · [positive]
Research compiled July 14, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the RIVER 3 MAX if you…
- →Weekend campers, tailgaters, and general backup-power buyers who want the cheaper, lighter unit and might add a battery pack later.
- →Anyone sensitive to fan noise or running a CPAP nearby — the RIVER's noise rating is disclosed and independently tested; Goal Zero doesn't publish one for the Yeti at all.
Buy the Yeti 500 if you…
- →Buyers who cycle a unit almost every single day for years and want the longer-rated battery life to show for it.
- →Off-grid campers recharging entirely from a solar panel, where the Yeti's near-double solar ceiling shortens the wait.
If neither fits
If you need real multi-day or whole-outage coverage, skip both — an 8-hour blackout alone needs roughly 1,645Wh, and neither of these 500-600Wh units gets close. Look at something in the 1kWh-plus class with a bigger inverter instead.
The Bottom Line
Take the RIVER 3 MAX. It's $181 cheaper, holds 73Wh more, weighs 6.1 lbs less, and expands — while testing quieter than a Yeti that won't even publish a decibel rating.
The Yeti's one real case is cycle life for a buyer draining it every single day for a decade. Save it for that exact scenario, and take the RIVER everywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX or Goal Zero Yeti 500 better for camping?
For general camping, the RIVER 3 MAX — it's $181 cheaper, holds more energy, and weighs 6.1 lbs less. Neither is sized for a full weekend camping trip on its own, since that scenario needs well over 2,000Wh, so treat either as a supplement rather than the whole power system.
Can the Goal Zero Yeti 500 run a refrigerator during a power outage?
Yes — Goal Zero rates it to run a full-size fridge for up to six hours, enough to bridge a short outage before food spoils. For anything longer, its 499Wh tank runs out fast; an 8-hour blackout needs roughly 1,645Wh, well beyond what either unit here holds.
Why is the Goal Zero Yeti 500 more expensive than the RIVER 3 MAX despite holding less capacity?
Mostly the 4,000-cycle battery rating against the RIVER's 3,000, plus Goal Zero's premium brand positioning — it's widely acknowledged as the priciest Wh-per-dollar in the category. You're paying for cycle life and heritage, not extra capacity or output.
Can I add more battery capacity to either unit later?
Only the RIVER 3 MAX. It accepts an add-on battery and grows past its base capacity without replacing the unit. The Yeti 500 is a sealed system — outgrowing 499Wh means buying an entirely new unit.
Which one is quieter?
The RIVER 3 MAX is independently tested under 30dB. Goal Zero doesn't publish a noise spec for the Yeti 500 at all, which is a real gap to weigh if you're planning to run it near where you sleep.
Where to buy
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAXPick
$319.00
$319.00 list · direct from EcoFlow
Goal Zero Yeti 500
$499.95
$499.95 list · direct from Goal Zero
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.