The two most popular plug-in solar kits in the UK are the EcoFlow STREAM 800W and the Anker SOLIX RS40P. Both generate 800W, both are UKCA certified, both install in under two hours, and both come with monitoring apps and UK warranties. So which one should you buy?
The honest answer is: for most buyers, it doesn't matter much. Both are good products that will generate similar amounts of electricity from the same panels in the same location. But there are meaningful differences in price, panels, app quality, and ecosystem that make one or the other the right choice depending on your priorities. For the full financial case on either kit, use our payback calculator.
Price: Anker wins
The Anker SOLIX RS40P typically retails at £419–£449. The EcoFlow STREAM at £499. That's a £50–£80 gap. If cost is your primary consideration, Anker is the answer. There's no complicated reasoning required.
Panels: EcoFlow wins (narrowly)
EcoFlow's STREAM includes bifacial panels. Anker's RS40P uses monofacial. In a typical UK install, bifacial panels generate approximately 5–10% more due to reflected light. A modest but real advantage — not enough to change the financial case materially, but real.
App and monitoring: EcoFlow wins
The EcoFlow app is significantly more polished. Real-time wattage, daily and monthly charts, carbon tracking, clean interface. Anker's app is functional but more utilitarian. If you'll check your stats daily, EcoFlow's monitoring experience is meaningfully better. If you don't care about the app, you won't notice the difference.
Storage expandability
EcoFlow's STREAM Pro adds an integrated 1kWh battery for £979. For Anker, the Solarbank 2 Pro adds 1.6kWh storage at £599–£699. If you want maximum expandable storage, the Zendure SolarFlow works with either kit. See our home battery guide for a full comparison.
The verdict
Budget buyers who want maximum value: Anker SOLIX RS40P. Buyers who want better panels, a more polished app, and don't mind paying more: EcoFlow STREAM. Neither is a bad choice. The main thing is buying one, installing it, and starting to generate. The analysis paralysis is costing you money every quarter bills don't come down.
