Many of us depend on our gadgets throughout the day and being disconnected can cause unnecessary anxiety. If you’re looking for a way to stay connected even when the power is out, consider a power station as an emergency backup power source. A portable power station is the best piece of technology to have around when the power is out. Whether it’s for traveling, camping or an unplanned power outage, portable power stations offer an inexpensive backup solution to emergencies where a generator is out of budget. However, not all power stations are created equal. Some are big and bulky but can run for days, even powering a refrigerator. Others are lightweight and portable but only good for a few hours of cellphone charging.

We’ve tested over 100 models for battery life, input and output charging options, capacity, charge time and additional features. Here’s how we ranked them.

Which is the best portable power station?

After countless hours of testing, our CNET experts found a clear answer to which portable power station was the best — the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus. Jackery’s offerings have never failed us in the portable power station arena, and this one is certainly no exception with its incredible features, such as wireless charging. What set the Jackery 2000 Plus apart was the ability to expand it by adding external batteries, increasing its overall capacity and capabilities, although this is also a feature that competitors like Ecoflow are adopting.