Tesla Powerwall 3 vs FranklinWH aPower 2
Quick take: The Tesla Powerwall 3 costs $1,000 less; the Tesla Powerwall 3 puts out more sustained power (11,500W).
| Spec | Tesla Powerwall 3 | FranklinWH aPower 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15,000 | $16,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (900) | 4.8★ (350) |
| Type | Home Battery System | Home Battery System |
| Fuel | Battery (LiFePO4) | Battery (LiFePO4) |
| Running / Output Watts | 11,500W | 10,000W |
| Starting / Surge Watts | 22,000W | 15,000W |
| Battery Capacity | 13,500Wh | 15,000Wh |
| Expandable To | 54,000Wh | 225,000Wh |
| Noise | — | — |
| Runtime | Fridge (~150W): ~76 hrs (3+ days) per unit | Fridge (~150W): ~85 hrs (3.5 days) per unit |
| Outlets | Hardwired 120/240V whole-home via Backup Gateway 2 or Backup Switch | Hardwired 120/240V whole-home via aGate controller |
| Fuel Tank | — | — |
| Weight | 287 lbs | 357 lbs |
| Transfer-switch ready | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 10-year | 12-year |
Pros & cons
Tesla Powerwall 3
- ✓11.5kW continuous + 185A LRA starts central AC without soft-starters
- ✓Integrated 6-MPPT solar inverter saves $2,000+ on new solar installs
- ✓Lowest installed cost per kWh of any major brand
- ✓Tesla app is the consensus best monitoring experience
- ✓LFP chemistry with 10-year, 70%-retention warranty
- ✓Storm Watch auto-charges before forecast severe weather
- ✗Documented hum/vibration complaints from a minority of installs
- ✗Support routing between Tesla and certified installers frustrates owners
- ✗Installer quote variance of thousands of dollars for identical systems
- ✗DC-couples only to Tesla's own solar - existing inverters must AC-couple
- ✗No federal tax credit in 2026 (25D expired) makes payback longer
FranklinWH aPower 2
- ✓15kWh per cabinet - best single-unit capacity in the industry
- ✓15kW surge starts 5-ton HVAC without soft-start kits
- ✓AC-coupled: compatible with any existing solar inverter brand
- ✓aGate integrates generator input for indefinite outage endurance
- ✓Consistently high owner-satisfaction and installer-recommendation scores
- ✓Outdoor-rated -4°F to 122°F with 12-year warranty
- ✗Installed quotes vary by thousands between dealers
- ✗App is functional but data-thin next to Tesla's
- ✗12-year warranty trails Enphase's 15
- ✗357 lbs requires two-plus installers and solid wall mounting
- ✗Newer dealer network than Tesla/Generac in some regions