--- title: "The Best Jump Starters: These Will Get You out of a Pickle" description: "A jump starter is not only safer for you and your car than jumper cables, but it keeps you from needing another car in emergencies." date: "2022-01-17" modified: "2025-02-11" authors: - name: "Hank O'Hop" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/hank-ohop" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/27487/best-jump-starters" categories: - "The Garage" - "Tools" tags: - "garage" --- # The Best Jump Starters: These Will Get You out of a Pickle ![]() A [jump starter]() doesn't replace a [battery charger](). It also doesn't eliminate battery maintenance or the need to replace a dead battery. It is an incredibly handy tool, however, that might save you from calling roadside services or depending on the kindness of strangers. The first time you use one of these, you're going to feel like you've entered a cheat code due to the amount of time and frustration you saved. That is, as long as you pick the right model. [Jump starters]() are nothing new, and there are equally as many duds as there are home runs out there. To help you avoid the hassle, we've rounded up the best jump starters currently on the market. We've also put together a buying guide to help you simplify your shopping experience. ## Summary List - Best Overall: [Noco Boost Plus GB40]() - Best Value: [AstroAI S8 Ultra]() - Honorable Mention: [Audewdirect Portable Jump-Starter]() - Best For Home Use: [Ryobi ONE+ Jump Starter Kit]() - Best Charger: [Schumacher SC1281 Smart Battery Charger]() - Best With Air Compressor: [Stanley J5C09 Portable Power Station]() ## Our Methodology Quite a few factors influence the selection of jump-starters on our list. One major detail being commercial demand. While hunting for jump-starters, it was clear that most people aren't after something you might find in a professional shop. That's why there aren't heavy-duty options on the list or ones that jump multiple vehicles. Most of these are what you keep in your vehicle with you for emergencies. The research comes from a few different places. Some of these [chargers]() were subjected to hands-on testing or are models our team has personal experience with. Otherwise, I made sure to stick to our usual [research routine]() to ensure anything on this list is worthy of your time and money. ## Best Jump-Starters: Reviews & Recommendations ### Best Overall: [Noco Boost Plus GB40]() The Noco GB40 is both a model that exists in our personal collections and we use it regularly. It's reliable, consistent unit that's not soon to let you down when things get tough. That said, it has long, sturdy battery cables, it's easy to use, features reverse-polarity protection, and doubles as a power bank for your smart device. This model can jump-start up to 6-liter gas engines and 3-liter diesel engines, making it the perfect match for most car owners. I have even seen this jump a [440-ci V-8]() countless times, and it's still trucking. As for the drawbacks, there are few to talk about. The storage bag it comes with isn't quite the right size for the unit and lacks in quality. It also lacks in the number of additional ports and features in comparison to many other models ### Best Value: [AstroAI S8 Ultra]() This jump starter and power bank from AstroAi recently came in for testing. Michael Febbo's review will be up shortly, but so far, he has been impressed by the quality of materials, the versatility, and the value. This is a 4,000 amp jump starter, that at the time of writing this, is available on Amazon for $149.99 with a few accessories. Besides just jump-starting your car, this also has a USB-C port that is used for charging the device, but also has power out so you can charge anything from phones and laptops, to anything USB-C really. But it also has USB-A ports, one that's capable of 5V/9V/12V and the other is a standard 5V, 2.4amp. The dongle for jumpstarting has a button for "boosting" your car battery, in case it is really dead, and has an indicator light to tell you if you got the clamps reversed — it happens. The dongle is pretty big and awkward, especially with how short the cables are, but those are really the only complaints. ### Honorable Mention: [Audewdirect Portable Jump-Starter]() The Audewdirect portable jump-starter’s overall performance claims make it a solid contender. The price is lower than most will expect to pay for a jump starter, making its ability to jump up to an eight-liter gas engine or six-liter diesel utterly shocking. While it's safe to assume those numbers may be generous, my testing did prove it to be more than capable of servicing the average motor vehicle. It's also worth pointing out that this model also features two USB ports, meaning you and a passenger can charge your phones in an emergency situation. While it will do just fine under normal circumstances, this may not be the most durable unit. We suspect it's strong enough to endure almost anything you'll encounter on the road. And the bulky protection box at the base of the cables isn’t favorable. ### Best For Home Use: [Ryobi ONE+ Jump Starter Kit]() Ryobi sent this unit to us for testing and Michael Febbo's full review [here](). To quickly sum up that review. This is a well-made jump starter that is attractive because it uses batteries you already have - assuming you own other Ryobi ONE+ 18V tools. The upside of using a tool battery is that you are far more likely to have one sitting in your garage fully charged than remembering to keep a sealed jumper charged up all the time. The downside is that you won't want to carry a tool battery, along with this larger jump starter in your trunk all the time. This is more expensive than most of the smaller disposable jumpers out there. It is designed more for the person who has cars sitting in a garage they know will need jumping on a somewhat regular basis. This model can jump multiple, big engines on one single charge. It is also very easy to operate and has instructions printed on the outside of the tool since you probably won't remember the procedure in between uses. Multiple safeguards built in won't let you try and jump the car with the connectors on the wrong terminals. It also won't shock you if you touch both alligator clamps at the same time. Yes, other jumpers offer this, but we would probably trust Ryobi to deliver on the safeguards more than the other brands that come and go regularly. ### Best Charger: [Schumacher SC1281 Smart Battery Charger]() This Schumacher has a place in any DIYer's shop. It's more than just a jumper, as it can perform diagnostic tests to help you determine what killed the battery in the first place. Not only that, but it can also charge AGM, gel, and standard batteries. This model also has exceptionally long leads, which is perfect considering the size of the unit and that many battery chargers are stricken with frustratingly short cables. It is also affordable. This unit is great for the garage, but it does rely on 120-volt power and is not portable. Furthermore, there are a concerning number of complaints about faulty units reaching customers. ### Best With Air Compressor: [Stanley J5C09 Portable Power Station]() We've all seen something like this Stanley before. It's the kind of emergency roadside tool many were given as teenagers. It does have the power to jump-start a vehicle, but the built-in compressor makes it easy to air up the tires enough to get off the side of the road. It's priced perfectly 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 up or charge devices you'll want to keep handy in an emergency. This is a great unit, but it is large. The cables are also relatively short, which can make it awkward for some car owners to use. ## Our Verdict on the Best Jump Starters The [Noco Boost Plus GB40]() is hard to beat for most car owners. The pricing is just right for the average consumer and it can easily jump-start common applications. However, the [AstroAI S8 Ultra]() is a great way to go if you want to save money. ## Things to Consider When Buying a Jump Starter It's always best to make an informed decision, especially when the item you're purchasing is designed to come to your aid in an emergency situation. Jump-starters aren't all the same, however. ### Types of Jump-Starters #### Portable Every jump-starter on the list above is a portable unit. They feature an internal battery, so there is no need to depend on external power sources. They are generally sized with vehicle storage in mind, but [motorcyclists may want to consider more compact models](). To say that portable models don't have flaws is untrue, though. The primary drawback is that they aren't doing you any favors if they don't have a full charge. It's common for the same kind of cold weather that kills your car battery to suck the life out of one of these units. Keep an eye on battery levels periodically to ensure you won't wind up with a dead jump pack. #### Wheeled Units There are no wheeled units on our list, but they are excellent tools. These models take up a considerable space in the shop, but they do many things that their portable counterparts generally cannot. It's also not out of the ordinary for these models to be far more powerful. Many wheeled units can charge batteries and run diagnostic tests as well as jump a dead battery. These are usually found in a commercial setting. However, they can be a worthwhile investment for someone who is more actively involved in DIY automotive repair. ## Jump Starter Pricing Jump starters for cars exist within a massive price range. Most consumer-grade options typically sell for $50-$100. More powerful and higher-quality components can bump the price up to the $100-$200 range, with additional features also influencing the cost. Professional-grade wheeled units can sell for much more, depending on the power and features it has to offer. ## FAQs You’ve got questions. *The Drive* has answers. ## Author Hank is a former Commerce Editor at The Drive. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]()