Head-to-head test
EcoFlow RIVER 3 vs EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUS
EcoFlow RIVER 3 vs EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUS: buy the RIVER 3 PLUS, since the RIVER 3 has left EcoFlow's store, but keep a RIVER 3 you already own if your loads stay under 300W and you never plan to add a battery.
Full profiles: EcoFlow RIVER 3 β Β· EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUS β
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
EcoFlow has stopped selling the base RIVER 3. Its product page now forwards to the RIVER 3 Max, and the RIVER 3 PLUS is the smallest RIVER 3 still on sale. So this page is for two people. One owns a RIVER 3 and wonders if it's time to trade up. The other has found a leftover RIVER 3 at a retailer and wants to know what they'd be giving up.
On paper the two are close. Their batteries sit 41Wh apart. Both use LiFePO4 cells, a lithium chemistry built for a long life, and both carry the same cycle rating and five-year warranty. The PLUS sells for $259 and weighs 2.6 lb more.
They split on what you can plug in. I live out of a Subaru, and output is the thing I'd notice first. The RIVER 3 stops at 300W of continuous power. The PLUS doubles that, which reviewers say is enough to briefly run a small coffee maker or a microwaveB3.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first β the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
continuous output
That headroom is what lets the PLUS briefly run a coffee maker, a microwave or a small space heater, according to reviewersB3. The RIVER 3's 300W ceiling stops short of all three.
RIVER 3 outputs 300W continuous with a 600W surge; RIVER 3 PLUS outputs 600W continuous with a 1,200W surgeBoth units are rated at 30dB noise
Why it mattersIf your day ends at phones, a camera and a laptop, the RIVER 3 already covers it. If you've ever wanted hot coffee at a trailhead, the PLUS is the one that can try.
UPS switchover is the gap between the wall power dropping and the battery taking over. The fussiest desktop power supplies sit near the 20ms line. An expansion battery is a second pack that plugs in and adds capacity, so the PLUS can grow without being replaced.
Over 3,000 cycles the RIVER 3 PLUS's 286Wh delivers 858 kWh against the RIVER 3's 735 kWh, at $0.30 per lifetime kWh for the PLUSRIVER 3 PLUS is rated to switch over in 10ms or less against the RIVER 3's 20ms, and accepts expansion batteries the RIVER 3 doesn't
Why it mattersFor a router or a lamp, either rating is fine. For a desktop with unsaved work, or for anyone unsure how much power they'll want next year, the PLUS covers both.
Stepping up to the PLUS doesn't work that way. You get more, and you carry more.
Review coverage recommends the RIVER 3 as the better buy over the RIVER 2 for most buyers in 2026A3That same coverage says the RIVER 3 holds more capacity, weighs less, and costs less than the RIVER 2 it replacedA4
Why it mattersAn owner whose RIVER 3 already does the job has no reason to sell it. The PLUS earns its extra weight only if one of its upgrades solves a problem you already have.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units β everything else is a tie.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Expansion and UPS speed are the two real differences once noise is set aside.
Three flags fire on this pair, and one of them is a tie. Both units carry a five-year warranty and a 3,000-cycle rating, so coverage won't separate them.
The other two are real. The RIVER 3 has no expansion port, so 245Wh is all it will ever hold. Its UPS is rated at 20ms or less, against 10ms for the PLUS. Both figures are EcoFlow's published ceilings. Nobody has timed either one for this page.
PowerScore Breakdown
Selected because: A clear score gap on two units that share a noise rating, a warranty and a cycle rating.
overall power score
The PLUS scores clearly higher. That stands out on two units that share a noise rating, a warranty and a cycle rating.
The gap comes from the hardware the PLUS adds: doubled output and surge, the faster UPS rating, the extra 41Wh and the expansion port. The score counts all of them. I'd count only the ones I'd actually use.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The RIVER 3 PLUS carries more lifetime energy on the same cycle rating, and it's the only one still sold.
Both are rated for 3,000 cycles. A cycle is one full drain and refill. The PLUS holds a little more, so each of its cycles moves a little more energy, and over its rated life it works out to $0.30 per lifetime kWh.
The RIVER 3 gets no figure here. It's no longer on sale, so there's no price to divide. If you own one, its rated life is the same 3,000 cycles, which at one a day runs past eight years.
Growth Path
Selected because: The one structural difference between two otherwise close siblings.
solar input
The RIVER 3 is a sealed 245Wh box. The PLUS takes EcoFlow expansion batteries, so its ceiling can move later without buying a second station.
If you've sized your needs and they won't change, this doesn't matter. If you're still working out how much power you need, the port is the upgrade that keeps paying after the day you buy.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow RIVER 3
Strengths
- +Lighter by 2.6 lb
Trade-offs
- βSealed capacity β the RIVER 3 PLUS can add batteries to grow past 245Wh; this one can't.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUS
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- βNo major technical downsides compared to rival.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on seven real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 Β· 2 nights Β· needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 2,100Wh: the RIVER 3 comes up 1,892Wh short (about 10% covered), the RIVER 3 PLUS 1,857Wh (12%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Phone Charger 15WΓ6h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ8h Β· Box Fan 75WΓ14h Β· CPAP Machine 40WΓ16h
SCN-02 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 1,645Wh: the RIVER 3 comes up 1,437Wh short (about 13% covered), the RIVER 3 PLUS 1,402Wh (15%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Fridge 150WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40WΓ6h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h
SCN-03 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption β the #1 medical use case
Neither unit
A CPAP night in our model needs about 320Wh. Neither battery covers all of it. The PLUS gets about three-quarters of the way and the RIVER 3 about two-thirds. On the PLUS, an expansion battery is one way to close the gap. The RIVER 3 has no such option.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β CPAP Machine 40WΓ8h
SCN-04 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Neither unit
A full remote workday in our model needs about 910Wh. The RIVER 3 comes up 702Wh short and the PLUS 667Wh short. The PLUS's extra capacity closes 35Wh of that. For a day at a desk, look at a larger station.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Laptop 60WΓ8h Β· External Monitor 30WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ2h
SCN-05 Β· 4 hours Β· needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Neither unit
The RIVER 3 can start the 400W peak but not hold it β 600W of surge gets it going, then the 300W continuous rating takes over, so capacity never gets a say. This is the wrong size of unit for the job rather than a close call. The RIVER 3 PLUS doesn't have the energy either β 243Wh usable against 670Wh, 427Wh short β so neither route works.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Blender 400WΓ0.5h Β· LED TV (55") 80WΓ4h Β· Bluetooth Speaker 15WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger (Γ3) 45WΓ2h
SCN-06 Β· 24 hours Β· needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living β the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 4,685Wh: the RIVER 3 comes up 4,477Wh short (about 4% covered), the RIVER 3 PLUS 4,442Wh (5%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Mini-Fridge 150WΓ24h Β· Laptop 60WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ5h Β· Fan 75WΓ8h
SCN-07 Β· an afternoon Β· needs 100Wh
Afternoon Off-Grid
Phones and a speaker at the park, beach, or campsite β the small-unit job description
Either unit
This is the job these two are built for. Phones and a speaker across an afternoon use under half of either battery. The RIVER 3 is the lighter carry, but it's no longer sold, so the PLUS is the one to plan around.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Phone Charger (Γ2) 30WΓ2h Β· Bluetooth Speaker 10WΓ4h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh Γ 0.85) Γ· LOAD
None of the 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 PLUS runs 1.2h vs 1h.
$259 list Β· direct from EcoFlow
Planning for more than this? Describe your whole setup and get it sizedΒ β
Modeled from the spec record β same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.ΒΉ
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0β16.2hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0β3.2hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsΒΉ Runtime = (capacity Γ 0.85) Γ· 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 β see methodology.
Conclusion
October 25, 2026
Verdict: the RIVER 3 PLUS, on Power Score margin
The RIVER 3 has left EcoFlow's store, so the RIVER 3 PLUS is the only one of the two you can buy new. It would earn the pick anyway. It doubles continuous output, its UPS is rated to switch over in half the time, and it takes an expansion battery. Both carry the same noise rating, so none of that costs you quiet. It does cost weight: 10.4 lb against 7.8. If you already own a RIVER 3 and nothing you plug in goes past 300W, keep it.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 25, 2026. The links below open EcoFlow's current price.
$299.00 Β· direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester Β· Station Arena Test Desk Β· Updated October 25, 2026
Black Friday Β· 26 days out
Price to beat:RIVER 3 PLUS $259
We have never seen it discounted, so any real cut would be a first.
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
α΅ Derived: price Γ· rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons β
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool βHow these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it β no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews β see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity Γ 0.85 inverter efficiency) Γ· 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 βClass ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews β 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 5β . Here, RIVER 3 rates 4.1/5 (50th percentile of 25 Personal-class units), and RIVER 3 PLUS rates 5.0/5 (99th percentile of 25 Personal-class units).
How the class ranking is computed βTest Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
RIVER 3: No Expansion Port
245Wh is the permanent ceiling. The RIVER 3 PLUS takes EcoFlow expansion batteries and can grow past its 286Wh base without a second station.
UPS Speed: Rated 10ms vs 20ms
Switchover is how long the battery takes to pick up the load when the wall power drops. The RIVER 3 PLUS is rated at 10ms or less, the RIVER 3 at 20ms or less. Both suit routers and most electronics. The fussiest PC power supplies sit near the 20ms line. Both are published ratings, and nobody has timed them here.
Same Coverage
Both units carry a five-year warranty and a 3,000-cycle rating. Coverage won't break the tie.
Full record above β the Test Desk pick is the RIVER 3 PLUS.
Check RIVER 3 PLUS price βOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy β 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
β warranty ends Β· Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains β degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The RIVER 3 is no longer sold, so there is no price to work its cost per kWh from, and this comparison doesn't quote one. On what you can actually buy today, the RIVER 3 PLUS works out at $0.30/kWh over its rated life. If you already own the RIVER 3, the hardware comparison still holds: over its rated life the RIVER 3 delivers about 735 kWh and the RIVER 3 PLUS about 858 kWh. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 3,000-cycle rating, so the lifetime rows are sticker price and capacity in disguise β the wear horizon is identical and decides nothing here.
Growth path
RIVER 3
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 245Wh, with no expansion β so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 110W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Limited ports. You'll likely need a power strip or splitter.
RIVER 3 PLUS
EXPANDABLESupports EcoFlow expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit β useful if your needs may climb past 286Wh.
Accepts up to 220W 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.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output β see methodology
Analyst note
Growth only counts if you can still buy in, and the RIVER 3 is no longer sold, replaced by the RIVER 3 PLUS beside it. That leaves the RIVER 3 PLUS: it starts at 286Wh and takes EcoFlow expansion batteries, so the ceiling moves if your needs do. The RIVER 3's fixed 245Wh still matters if you already own one, but it isn't a reason to pick it over the RIVER 3 PLUS.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews β every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow RIVER 3
Coverage of the RIVER 3 mostly measures it against the RIVER 2 it replaced. It runs under 30dB, which EcoFlow says is quieter than a libraryA1. It added IP54 protection, a rating for dust and splashes, along with a faster UPS switchover and a 2x runtime modeA2.
Reviewers named it the better buy for most people in 2026, for camping, van life or home backupA3. It also held more, weighed less and cost less than the RIVER 2A4. Against the PLUS it's the lighter one, and the one EcoFlow no longer sells.
βThe RIVER 3 operates under 30 dB β EcoFlow calls it 'whisper quiet,' quieter than a library β one of the most significant upgrades over the louder RIVER 2.β
Sources
backuppowerhub.com Β· ecoflow.com Β· rv.com Β· versus.com
EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUS
Reviewers keep coming back to what the extra output lets the PLUS do. At about 10.4 lb it stays easy to carry, and it can still briefly run a coffee maker, a microwave or a space heaterB3.
They also note twice the inverter and solar input of the base RIVER 3, plus expansion-battery supportB1. The inverter is the part that turns the battery's DC into wall-style AC. The cells are LiFePO4 rated for 3,000 cyclesB4, the same rating the RIVER 3 carries.
β286Wh base, expandable to 572Wh (EB300) or 858Wh (EB600), with a genuine 600W inverter (1,200W X-Boost) and 220W solar input β twice the inverter and solar of the base RIVER 3.β
Sources
ecoflow.com Β· bestgeneratorsolar.com Β· thepowerpick.com Β· storagereview.com Β· phonearena.com Β· greenreviewshub.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
- The RIVER 3 improves on the RIVER 2 across the board β quieter (sub-30 dB), IP54-rugged, faster UPS, more capacity, lighter, and cheaper β a rare strict upgrade. [RIVER 3 Β· 3 entries]
- Expandable capacity, doubled inverter and solar over the base RIVER 3, remarkable sub-30dB quiet, and light weight are the praise. [RIVER 3 PLUS Β· 3 entries]
- A1
βThe RIVER 3 operates under 30 dB β EcoFlow calls it 'whisper quiet,' quieter than a library β one of the most significant upgrades over the louder RIVER 2.β
backuppowerhub.com / ecoflow.com β RIVER 2 vs RIVER 3 Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A2
βOver the RIVER 2, the RIVER 3 adds IP54 waterproofing, a faster UPS switchover, a 2x runtime mode, and a more compact, lighter form factor.β
backuppowerhub.com β RIVER 2 vs RIVER 3 Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A3
βRecommended as the better buy for most in 2026 β for camping, van life, or home UPS backup, where durability and noise matter, the data consistently favors the RIVER 3.β
backuppowerhub.com / rv.com β RIVER 3 review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A4
βHolds more capacity and weighs less than the RIVER 2 while costing less, making it effectively a strict upgrade on the same platform.β
ecoflow.com / versus.com β RIVER 2 vs RIVER 3 Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B1
β286Wh base, expandable to 572Wh (EB300) or 858Wh (EB600), with a genuine 600W inverter (1,200W X-Boost) and 220W solar input β twice the inverter and solar of the base RIVER 3.β
ecoflow.com / bestgeneratorsolar.com β RIVER 3 Plus review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B3
βWeighs about 10.4 lbs and is highly portable; a small-format station that grows with you, able to briefly run a coffee maker, microwave, or space heater.β
storagereview.com / phonearena.com β RIVER 3 Plus review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B4
βLiFePO4 rated for 3,000 charge cycles β around 10 years of everyday use before capacity drops to 80%.β
greenreviewshub.com / bestgeneratorsolar.com β RIVER 3 Plus review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
Research compiled October 25, 2026.
What Owners Actually Report
Drawn from 43 comments on independent review channels β not from retailer reviews, which skew to the first week of ownership. Each line is our summary of one commenter's claim, linked to the original. We record what they said, including where it contradicts the spec sheet.
EcoFlow RIVER 3
35 claims from 21 comments Β· 30 from owners Β· 9 with figures
- UPS switchover
- 5 Β· 47% negative
- Price & value
- 6 Β· 17% negative
- Runtime
- 2 Β· 0% negative
- Warranty & support
- 6 Β· 73% negative
- Other
- 2 Β· 100% negative
What owners complain about
Accepts 80V-170V before switching over, which he calls poor for a home-office UPS.
UPS switchovermeasuredowner34 agreedsource β
Surge protection is only 150J, so he keeps it behind an older UPS's surge-only port.
Othermeasuredowner34 agreedsource β
Screen showed jumbled alphanumeric symbols, and the returned unit came back with Wi-Fi disabled.
Durabilityowner6 agreedsource β
What owners praise
Kept router and switch alive about 4 hours per charge during the 5 day post-Milton outage.
Runtimemeasuredowner38 agreedsource β
Happy sticking with their RIVER 3 units at $169 each.
Price & valuemeasuredowner45 agreedsource β
Works awesome as a UPS for Starlink router, switch and camera through rural spikes and outages.
UPS switchoverowner38 agreedsource β
EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUS
50 claims from 22 comments Β· 44 from owners Β· 14 with figures
- UPS switchover
- 7 Β· 48% negative
- Price & value
- 4 Β· 0% negative
- App & firmware
- 7 Β· 54% negative
- Inverter & surge
- 4 Β· 43% negative
- Expandability
- 3 Β· 0% negative
What owners complain about
River 3 Plus overloaded with error 502 on a hotpot drawing only 345W of its 600W rating.
Inverter & surgemeasuredowner9 agreedsource β
Testing gave only 85-87% of the rated 286Wh through AC before the unit hit 0%.
Runtimemeasuredownersource β
AC outputs kept shutting off, dropping from hours to every 15 minutes.
UPS switchovermeasuredownersource β
What owners praise
10ms cutover means his modem, router and computer never blip.
UPS switchovermeasuredowner34 agreedsource β
Bought it for $219 at Costco plus a $58 100W folding panel.
Price & valuemeasuredowner43 agreedsource β
With X-Boost on, the same 600W hotpot runs and boils water, so the feature has a real use case.
Othermeasuredowner9 agreedsource β
Claims are weighted by how specific they are, whether the commenter owns the unit, and how many readers agreed. Comments that mention a product under a rival's review count for more, because the commenter had no reason to be there. This is what buyers report, not our test results β for measurements we ran ourselves, see the methodology.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the RIVER 3 if youβ¦
- βYou already own one, or found one in retailer stock, and your loads are phones, laptops, a camera or a CPAP for part of the night. Nothing that needs more than 300W.
- βYou want the lighter carry, 7.8 lb to the PLUS's 10.4, and you're sure you won't need to add a battery later.
Buy the RIVER 3 PLUS if youβ¦
- βYou want to briefly run something with real draw, like a small coffee maker, or you want the faster UPS rating for a desktop.
- βThere's a real chance your needs grow, and you want the expansion port from day one.
- βYou'd use the solar input. The PLUS takes 220W from panels to the RIVER 3's 110W.
If neither fits
Neither is sized for a weekend away or a long blackout. A weekend's loads in our model come to about 2,100Wh, and an 8-hour blackout to about 1,645Wh. Both units cover a small fraction of either. For those jobs I'd look at an EcoFlow DELTA sized to the numbers.
The Bottom Line
Same noise rating, same warranty, same cycle life, and batteries 41Wh apart. What separates them is what each can push out and grow into. The PLUS doubles output and surge, halves the rated UPS switchover and adds an expansion port.
The RIVER 3 has left EcoFlow's store, and its lighter body is a fair reason to keep one you already own. If you're buying, the PLUS is the one on sale. Take it when one of those three upgrades matches how you'll use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
What's actually different between the RIVER 3 and the RIVER 3 PLUS?
Output, UPS speed, solar input and expansion. The PLUS doubles continuous output to 600W and surge to 1,200W, cuts the rated UPS switchover from 20ms to 10ms or less, doubles solar input from 110W to 220W, and accepts EcoFlow expansion batteries the plain RIVER 3 doesn't. Capacity is close, 245Wh against 286Wh, the PLUS weighs 2.6 lb more, and both run at the same 30dB noise rating.
Is the RIVER 3 PLUS quieter than the RIVER 3?
No. Both are rated at the same 30dB maximum. The PLUS's step up buys output headroom, UPS speed and an expansion port.
Can the RIVER 3 be expanded like the PLUS?
No. The RIVER 3 is a closed 245Wh system for the life of the unit. Only the RIVER 3 PLUS accepts EcoFlow expansion batteries to grow past its shipped capacity.
Should I pick the RIVER 3 PLUS over the RIVER 3?
If you're buying new, yes. The RIVER 3 has left EcoFlow's store, and the PLUS is the smallest RIVER 3 still sold. It also brings more than 300W of continuous output, a faster power-outage switchover and room to expand later. If you already own a RIVER 3, your loads are small electronics only and you won't need more capacity, there's no reason to trade up.
I already passed on the RIVER 2 for the RIVER 3. Should I go one step further to the PLUS?
Only if you have a specific reason to: a load over 300W, a need for the faster UPS, or a real chance you'll want to expand capacity later. The RIVER 3 was a strict upgrade over the RIVER 2 on price and capacity both. The PLUS is a tradeoff, better but heavier. If you haven't bought yet, it's the one EcoFlow still sells.
Related comparisons
Related buying guides
Where to buy
EcoFlow RIVER 3
Left EcoFlow's store
EcoFlow RIVER 3 PLUSPick
$299.00
$299.00 Β· direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.