A jump starter is not the same thing as a battery charger. It also doesn’t get rid of the need to change the battery in your car every so often. But it is a very useful tool that might keep you from having to call roadside assistance or rely on the kindness of strangers. When you add one of these to your collection for the first time, you’ll feel like you’ve found a cheat code because it will save you so much time and trouble. As long as you choose the right model, though. Jump starters have been around for a long time, and there are just as many duds as there are hits. We’ve been able to find a few jump-starters that are worth thinking about.
The jump-starters on our list were chosen based on a number of factors. But one thing that hasn’t been talked about is business demand. While looking for jump-starters, it was clear that most people don’t want something you could find in a professional shop. That’s why there aren’t any heavy-duty options or ones that can jump over more than one car on the list. Most of these are made to be kept in your car in case of an emergency.
The information comes from several places. Some of these chargers have been put through hands-on tests or are models that our team has used. Other than that, I stuck to our usual research process to make sure that everything on this list is worth your time and money.
Table of Contents
Best Jump Starters Reviews
Noco GB40 Boost Plus
Specs
- Manufacturer: Noco
- Model Number: Boost Plus GB40
- Amps at the start: 1,000 amps
Pros
- Always the same
- Ideal for most people who own cars
- Most jumper cables aren’t as good as heavy-duty ones.
Cons
- Poorly made bag to store things
- Not many more power ports
The Noco GB40 is a model that both of us have in our personal collections and has been tested by hand. It has shown itself to be a reliable, consistent unit that doesn’t give up easily when things get hard. So, it has long, strong battery cables, is easy to use, has protection against reverse polarity, and can also be used as a power bank for your smart device. This model can jump-start gas engines up to 6 liters and diesel engines up to 3 liters. This makes it a good choice for most car owners. I’ve seen this jump a 440-ci V-8 a lot of times, and it keeps going.
As for the bad things, there aren’t that many. The bag that comes with it is too small for the unit and isn’t very good. Compared to many other models, it also doesn’t have as many extra ports and features.
Tacklife T8
Specs
- Tacklife is the maker.
- Model Number: T8
- 800 amps at the start.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Plenty of power for the average driver
- Lots of extra ports and functions
Cons
- Box for safety that is hard to use
- Poor placement of the flashlight
It is hard to ignore the Tacklife 800A T8. The low price is the first thing that will catch your eye, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. My tests showed that this is a real contender. Aside from being reliable, it has a lot of power. It can jump-start gas engines up to 7 liters and diesel engines up to 5 liters. It’s still not big enough for people who drive big trucks, but it’s more than enough for the average driver. It also comes with a lot of bells and whistles for charging laptops, smart devices, and anything else with USB ports.
The biggest problem with this unit is the big safety box at the bottom of the clamp leads. It doesn’t matter what it does. It’s just not as good as other designs. Also, the location of the light makes it hard to use the flashlight to connect the cables to the battery.
Audrew Portable Jump-Starter
Specs
- Audew is the maker.
- Model Number: Audew
- Amps at start: 1,000 amps
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Surprisingly good for the price
- a lot of extra ports and functions
Cons
- Not very long-lasting.
- Cables with a big box to protect them
The overall performance claims for the Audew portable jump starter make it a strong contender. The price is lower than most people would expect to pay for a jump starter, which makes the fact that it can start up to an 8-liter gas engine or a 6-liter diesel engine a total surprise. Even though those numbers may be too high, my tests showed that it was more than capable of taking care of the average car. It’s also important to note that this model has two USB ports, so you and a passenger can both charge your phones in case of an emergency.
Even though it will work fine most of the time, this unit may not be the most durable. We think it’s strong enough to last through most things you’ll find on the road. And the big protection box at the cables’ base isn’t a good thing.
XP-3 Micro-Start
Specs
- Antigravity Batteries is who made them.
- Model Number: AG-XP-MS-3
- Amps at the start: 200 amps
Pros
- Small in size
- Quite a lot of power for how small it is.
- Plentiful additional features
Cons
- The price is pretty high
- Problems with quality control
If you don’t have much room, the XP-3 is what you need. This model is only an inch thick and small enough to fit in your pocket. Still, it might be better to keep it in a backpack. We’d really recommend this to people who like power sports and motorcycles, but it’s a good choice for most people because it can jump-start up to a 5-liter gas engine. It also has two USB ports, which can come in handy in a lot of situations.
This is a good choice, but there are things we don’t like about it. The price is a little high for how little power it puts out and how few features it has. There have been a number of complaints about broken units, which makes us think there is a problem with quality control.
Gooloo GP2000 2000 Amp Car Battery jump-starter
Specs
- Gooloo makes them.
- Model Number: GP2000
- 2,000 amps at the start.
Pros
- Plenty of power for most cars
- There are lots of places to charge devices.
- Can be used to power other tools for cars
Cons
- Cables with a big box to protect them
- Poor placement of the flashlight
The Gooloo GP2000 is a wonderful choice. It has enough power to jump-start gas engines up to 9 liters and diesel engines up to 7 liters. This makes it a good choice for almost any car owner. It has two USB charging ports and one type C charging port. It also has a 5-volt/10-amp DC output that can be used to power tools like tire inflators and vacuums. With all of these features, it’s one of the best-equipped small starters on our list.
This is yet another model with a big protection box and a flashlight that isn’t in the right place. Most people don’t think these are big problems, but for the price, you should expect better designs.
Schumacher SC1281 Smart Battery Charger
Specs
- Manufacturer: Schumacher
- Model Number: SC1281
- Amps at the start: 100 amps
Pros
- Can charge the battery and do tests.
- A long wire
- The price isn’t too high
Cons
- Problems with quality control are common.
- Not portable
This Schumacher belongs in the shop of any DIYer. It’s more than just a jumper because it can help you figure out why the battery died in the first place. It can also charge AGM, gel, and standard batteries. This model also has very long cables, which is great considering how small it is and how many battery chargers have cables that are too short to be useful. It is also very cheap.
This unit is great for the garage, but it isn’t portable and needs 120-volt power. Also, there are a worrying number of complaints about customers getting broken units.
Stanley J5C09 Portable Power Station
Specs
- Stanley is the maker.
- Model Number: J5C09
- Amps at the start: 1,000 amps
Pros
- Compressor built-in
- can power/charge a lot of things
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Uses up a lot of room
- Battery cables that aren’t too long
Stanley is like something we’ve all seen before. It’s the kind of roadside tool that many teenagers were given when they were younger. It does have enough power to jump-start a car, but the built-in compressor makes it easy to pump up the tires enough to get off the side of the road. It’s priced right for the average consumer, which isn’t much of a surprise coming from Stanley. Also, the USB charging port and 12-volt DC port make it easy to power or charge devices you might need in an emergency.
This unit is great, but it’s big. Also, the cables aren’t very long, which can make it hard for some people to use.
Our Verdict
Most car owners will find it hard to beat the Noco Boost Plus GB40. It’s just the right price, and it’s easy to get common applications up and running. But if you want to save money, the Tacklife T8 is a great choice.
When Buying a Jump-Starter, Things to Think About
It’s always best to make a decision based on what you know, especially if the item you’re buying is meant to help you in an emergency. But not all jump starters are the same.
How Jump-Starters Work
potable
All of the jump starters on the list are portable. They have a battery inside, so they don’t need to be charged by something else. Most of the time, they are made to fit in a car, but motorcyclists may want to look at smaller models.
But it’s not true to say that portable models have no flaws. The main problem with them is that they don’t help you if they aren’t fully charged. It’s common for these units to die in the same way that cold weather kills your car’s battery. Check the battery level every now and then to make sure you don’t end up with a dead jump pack.
Units on Wheels
Wheeled units are great tools, but they are not on our list. These models take up a lot of room in the shop, but they can do a lot of things that most portable models can’t. It’s also not unusual for these models to be a lot stronger.
A lot of wheeled units can charge batteries, run diagnostic tests, and jump-start a battery that has died. Most of the time, these are found in a business setting. But they can be a good investment for someone who does a lot of auto repair work themselves.
