Head-to-head test
Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Goal Zero Yeti 700
The Yeti 500 and Yeti 700 are one design at two sizes, and the step up buys watt-hours and 100W of output without moving a single load profile from fail to pass.
Full profiles: Goal Zero Yeti 500 β Β· Goal Zero Yeti 700 β
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
I spent seven years reading contracts for the one clause that changed. Put these two spec sheets side by side and you get a short redline. Capacity, continuous output and weight move. The cycle rating, warranty, solar input, USB-C, surge ceiling and 20ms switchover are the same numbers printed twice.
The Yeti 500 is $500 and the 700 is $700. The gap buys 178 watt-hours, and each of those costs more than the watt-hours already inside the 500. In most product families the bigger size is the better rate. Here it's the other way round.
The extra capacity also doesn't flip a result. We run six load profiles against every pair. Both units finish the CPAP night and neither finishes the other five. The one place the 700 earns its keep is a steady draw between 500W and 600W, which its inverter holds and the 500's refuses.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first β the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Capacity
Neither unit expands. If you outgrow the 500, the only move is a second box, and a second Yeti 500 prices its watt-hours at the base rate. The upgrade at checkout prices them higher.
Yeti 500: $500 for 499WhYeti 700: $700 for 677WhThe step between them is 178Wh for $200
Why it mattersBuying the 700 as insurance means paying the top rate to hedge a risk the smaller unit handles more cheaply.
continuous output
Goal Zero says a full-size refrigerator plugged straight into the Yeti 500 runs for up to six hoursA2. That's the brand's own claim. The 700 starts that fridge no better. It holds about 151Wh more usable energy, so the same fridge would run longer.
Yeti 500: 500W continuous, 1,000W surgeYeti 700: 600W continuous, the same 1,000W surge
Why it mattersIf the question is whether it starts the fridge, both give the same answer. Decide on price and weight.
Typical price
Spread over that energy, the two land close together: $0.25 per kWh for the 500 and $0.26 for the 700. The bigger pool is divided across a bigger price, and the edge cancels.
Both units are rated for 4,000 cycles on LiFePO4A1B1At a weekend pace that works out to 38.5 years for either oneLifetime energy: 1,996 kWh for the Yeti 500, 2,708 kWh for the Yeti 700
Why it mattersDon't let the lifetime-energy figure pull you up a size.
Same funnel, bigger tank. Every morning after you drain the 700's extra watt-hours, you owe the sun close to another hour to put them back, and there's no bigger input to buy.
Both units cap solar input at 200WYeti 500 holds 499Wh; Yeti 700 holds 677Wh
Why it mattersIf you camp on solar, the $200 goes further on panels than on watt-hours you then refill through the same 200W port.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units β everything else is a tie.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The decision is $200 for 178Wh, and this is where that trade gets priced against the capacity the Yeti 500 already carries.
cost / lifetime kWh
Across their rated lives the two land close together, $0.25 per kWh against $0.26. Cycle either one 4,000 times and you've paid about the same for your energy.
That sends the decision back to the sticker. The 700 costs proportionally more than the capacity it adds. Usually a bigger size in the same family gets cheaper per watt-hour. This one gets dearer.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Six load profiles, and the extra 178Wh flips none of them. Both units finish the CPAP night; neither finishes anything else.
The CPAP night is the only profile either one finishes. The 500 uses 75% of its usable energy and the 700 uses 56%. Usable energy here means the nameplate figure less a flat 15% for conversion losses.
The tailgate is the near miss. It wants 670Wh, and the 700's nameplate 677Wh looks like enough. After the allowance it comes up 95Wh short. If I were packing for a long tailgate, I'd take the 500 and a plan for a shorter party before I'd pay up for a 700 that almost gets there.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: 4.2 lb separates a 16.1 lb unit from a 20.3 lb one, the difference most likely to show up on the walk back from the car.
weight
16.1 lb is a one-hand carry. So is 20.3 lb, right up to the steep steps on the Dipsea, where I'd expect to feel every one of the extra 4.2.
Fair is fair, though. The 700 carries its energy better, 33 watt-hours per pound to the 500's 31. If you count energy per pound, the 700 wins. If you count the lift, it's about a quarter heavier.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Both units stop at 1,000W of surge, so the 700's extra 100W of continuous output buys no extra starting power.
Both units stop at 1,000W of surge, so they start the same appliances and refuse the same ones. The 500 gets there by doubling its 500W rating. The 700 stretches its 600W by two-thirds. A motor starting up only meets the ceiling.
Switchover is identical too, 20ms to battery on both. That's how long the outlets go dark when wall power drops. Whatever you're keeping alive through a flicker gets the same treatment from either unit.
Growth Path
Selected because: Neither unit expands, so the size you buy is the size you keep. That's the one honest argument for spending up.
Neither expands. They're complete units at fixed sizes, so you pick your ceiling on the day you order.
That's the honest case for the 700. If your real nightly load falls between the 500's 424Wh of usable energy and the 700's 575Wh, nothing bolts on later to close the gap. The catch is that 178Wh is a thin hedge. It covers being slightly wrong about your needs. It won't cover being properly wrong.
Strengths & trade-offs
Goal Zero Yeti 500
Strengths
- +Costs $200 less
- +Lighter by 4.2 lb
Trade-offs
- βNo major technical downsides compared to rival.
Goal Zero Yeti 700
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
Trade-offs
- βSubstantially more expensive (+$200) than the Yeti 500.
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 Β· 2 nights Β· needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Neither covers a weekend. The profile calls for 2,100Wh, and even the 700 covers only about a quarter of it. Pair either unit with the 200W of solar both accept and pace yourself, or move up a class.
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 is a whole-house blackout plan. The profile wants 1,645Wh. What these will do is keep phones, a router and a CPAP going through the night, which is often the actual job at 2 a.m. The 700 doesn't change that answer.
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
Either unit
Both finish the night with room. The Yeti 500 uses 75% of its usable energy and the Yeti 700 uses 56%. If your machine runs a heated humidifier and draws more than the modeled 40W, the 700's deeper reserve is the one place its extra capacity does real work.
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
Neither unit covers this scenario's 910Wh: the Yeti 500 comes up 486Wh short (about 47% covered), the Yeti 700 335Wh (63%). Treat this as partial cover β enough for the essentials in it, not the whole list.
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
Close, and still no. The profile wants 670Wh and the Yeti 700's nameplate is 677Wh. After the 15% conversion allowance it comes up 95Wh short, and the 500 is further back. Bring a second battery or plan a shorter party.
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 Yeti 500 comes up 4,261Wh short (about 9% covered), the Yeti 700 4,110Wh (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 Mini-Fridge 150WΓ24h Β· Laptop 60WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ5h Β· Fan 75WΓ8h
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: Yeti 700 runs 2.8h vs 2.1h.
$699.95 list Β· direct from Goal Zero
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 0β38.4hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0β7.7hHigh-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 Goal Zero Yeti 500
Buy the Yeti 500 and keep the $200. The two share LiFePO4 cells rated for 4,000 cycles, a five-year warranty, 200W of solar input, 100W USB-C and the same 1,000W surge ceiling. The 700 adds 178Wh, 100W of continuous output and 4.2 lb. Those extra watt-hours cost more each than the ones the 500 already carries. They also don't change the outcome of any load profile here. Both finish the CPAP night and neither finishes anything else. The case for the 700 is a steady draw between 500W and 600W, which its inverter holds and the 500's won't.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 25, 2026. The links below open Goal Zero's current price.
$499.95 Β· direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
or check the Yeti 700 price$699.95 list
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester Β· Station Arena Test Desk Β· Updated October 25, 2026
Black Friday Β· 26 days out
Prices to beat:Yeti 500 $500Yeti 700 $700
We have never seen either discounted, so any real cut would be a first.
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
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, Yeti 500 rates 4.5/5 (71st percentile of 25 Personal-class units), and Yeti 700 rates 3.6/5 (16th percentile of 20 Compact-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.
Same ceiling, different headroom
Both units stop at 1,000W of surge, so they start the same appliances and refuse the same ones. The Yeti 500 reaches that ceiling by doubling its 500W continuous rating. The Yeti 700 stretches its 600W by two-thirds. A motor's start-up spike only meets the ceiling, so the bigger unit's extra 100W of continuous output adds nothing at the moment a compressor kicks in.
Five years each
The coverage is identical: five years on both. The term doesn't grow when the box does, so the Yeti 700 simply pays more for the same promise.
Full record above β the Test Desk pick is the Yeti 500.
Check Yeti 500 price βor check the Yeti 700 priceOwnership 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
Both units have similar long-term ownership costs ($0.25/kWh vs $0.26/kWh). The price difference is what you see on the sticker β neither is a hidden bargain or rip-off. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 4,000-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
Yeti 500
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 499Wh, with no expansion β 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.
Yeti 700
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 677Wh, with no expansion β 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 β see methodology
Analyst note
Neither expands, and that's no knock on either β each is a complete unit at a fixed size. Buy the capacity that covers your needs now (the Yeti 700 gives you the larger ceiling); you can't add to either later.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews β every claim cited to its source below.
Goal Zero Yeti 500
The record on the Yeti 500 is thin, and most of it traces back to Goal Zero's own materialA1A2A3. The one independent long-term read logged 180-plus charge cycles with minimal degradationA4. That's encouraging. It's also a small slice of a 4,000-cycle rating.
Check which Yeti 500 you're looking at. This is the LiFePO4 unit that replaced the older NMC Yeti 500XA3, and the 4,000-cycle figure belongs to it. Some listings still mix the two up. The fridge claim is Goal Zero's own, up to six hours on a full-size refrigeratorA2. I'd file it as a brand number until someone puts a meter on it.
βThe Yeti 500's LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000+ cycles, meaning daily use for over 10 years (to 80% capacity at 75F).β
Sources
goalzero.com Β· rei.com Β· propaneva.com Β· portablepowernerd.com
Goal Zero Yeti 700
The Yeti 700's record is thinner still, and most of it is product-page copyB1B2B4. OutdoorGearLab gives the useful independent read. It calls the 700 light, simple and good for quick trips and device charging, and not the most capable box on the shelfB3.
Goal Zero lists an IPX4 water-resistance rating for the 700B2. IPX4 means it resists splashing from any direction. The 500's material doesn't say either wayA1A3. If splash resistance matters to how you camp, that's the one documented difference, and the brand is the one documenting it.
βA 6th-generation 677Wh compact power station on upgraded LiFePO4 chemistry rated for 4,000+ cycles β daily use for over 10 years.β
Sources
goalzero.com Β· amazon.com Β· campingsolar.us Β· outdoorgearlab.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
- High 4,000+ cycle LFP rating and outage-backup capability (including running a fridge for hours) are the standout points. [Yeti 500 Β· 2 entries]
- Modern LFP (4,000+ cycles), IPX4 ruggedness, and light, simple portability are the highlights; modest power and capacity. [Yeti 700 Β· 3 entries]
- A1
βThe Yeti 500's LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000+ cycles, meaning daily use for over 10 years (to 80% capacity at 75F).β
goalzero.com / rei.com β Yeti 500 LFP Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A2
βActs as a backup power supply when the grid drops β you can plug a full-size refrigerator directly in for up to six hours of runtime to prevent food waste.β
goalzero.com β Yeti 500 backup Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A3
βWeighs about 16 lbs, upgraded to LiFePO4 battery technology from the older NMC-based Yeti 500X.β
goalzero.com / propaneva.com β Yeti 500 review Β· 2026 Β· [mixed]
- A4
βOne 2026 reviewer completed 180+ charge/discharge cycles with minimal observed degradation.β
portablepowernerd.com β Yeti 500 long-term review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B1
βA 6th-generation 677Wh compact power station on upgraded LiFePO4 chemistry rated for 4,000+ cycles β daily use for over 10 years.β
goalzero.com / amazon.com β Yeti 700 Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B2
βCarries an IPX4 water-resistance rating and can handle extreme temperatures β a rugged, outdoor-ready design.β
goalzero.com / campingsolar.us β Yeti 700 review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B3
βIdeal for quick camping trips and device charging β not the most powerful or capable, but lightweight and simple, appealing to portability-focused users.β
outdoorgearlab.com β Yeti 700 review Β· 2026 Β· [mixed]
- B4
βPart of Goal Zero's 6th-gen LiFePO4 Yeti family β a modern LFP replacement for the older NMC X-series.β
goalzero.com β Yeti 6th-gen family Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
Research compiled October 25, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Yeti 500 if youβ¦
- βYou carry it more often than you drain it. At 16.1 lb it comes along without a second thought.
- βYour loads are phones, a laptop, lights, a router and a CPAP. A CPAP night uses 75% of its usable energy and still leaves room.
- βYou want short-outage fridge cover. Goal Zero rates the 500 for up to six hours on a full-size refrigeratorA2, and the 700 starts the same appliances off the same 1,000W ceiling.
- βYou'd rather spend the $200 on panels than on watt-hours you then refill through the same 200W input.
Buy the Yeti 700 if youβ¦
- βYou run a steady load between 500W and 600W. The 700's inverter holds it and the 500's refuses it.
- βYou already know your nights run past the 500's 424Wh of usable energy. Neither expands, so the day you order is the only day to size up.
- βYou want the brand's IPX4 splash rating on paperB2, or the most energy per pound that still travels in one hand.
If neither fits
If the job is a full camping weekend, an eight-hour blackout or a van-life day, close both tabs. Those profiles need 1,645Wh and up, and these are 499Wh and 677Wh boxes. Shop the 1,000 to 2,000Wh class instead.
The Bottom Line
Take the Yeti 500. It shares the 700's cells, cycle rating, warranty, surge ceiling, solar input and switchover. It costs $200 less and weighs 4.2 lb less. The 700's extra watt-hours don't move any of the six load profiles from can't to can.
The exception is real and narrow. If you run a steady 500W to 600W, or you're already pressed against the 500's usable energy on the nights that count, buy the 700 now, because neither grows later. Otherwise put the $200 toward panels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Yeti 700 worth $200 more than the Yeti 500?
Only if you have a continuous load between 500W and 600W, or you already know you need more than 424Wh of usable energy on a given night. The $200 buys 178 watt-hours, and each costs more than the watt-hours already in the Yeti 500. Everything else on the two spec sheets matches, down to the surge ceiling and the warranty.
Will the Yeti 500 run a refrigerator?
Goal Zero rates it for up to six hours with a full-size fridge plugged in directly. Both units share the same 1,000W surge ceiling, so if a compressor's startup draw trips one it trips the other. The 700 doesn't start anything the 500 can't. On a fridge, the bigger unit buys more runtime. Starting power is the same.
What's the difference between the Yeti 500 and the older Yeti 500X?
Different battery chemistry. The Yeti 500 here is the LiFePO4 unit that replaced the NMC-based Yeti 500X, and the 4,000-cycle rating belongs to the LFP version. Listings still conflate the two, so check the chemistry before you buy on the strength of a cycle number.
Can either one keep a computer alive when the power cuts?
Both do, and identically. Each switches to battery in 20ms, the same figure on both spec sheets, so cutover speed is not a way to separate these two. Choose on capacity, weight and price instead.
How long does each take to recharge from solar?
Both accept a maximum of 200W of solar input. At the full 200W that's roughly two and a half hours to fill the 500's 499Wh from empty and about three and a half for the 700's 677Wh. Real panels rarely hold rated output all day. The larger battery has the same size input, so it's the slower one to refill.
Related buying guides
Where to buy
Goal Zero Yeti 500Pick
$499.95
$499.95 Β· direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Goal Zero Yeti 700
$699.95
$699.95 Β· direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.