Renting vs Buying a Power Bank: When Each One Wins
Buying a power bank costs $26-$200 and wears out after a few hundred charges. Renting one only when you actually need it is often cheaper and lighter.
Rent a power bank when you need backup power occasionally and don't want to carry, charge, or replace one. Buy one when you top up daily from the same desk or bag. That is the whole decision, and most people get it backwards because they price the purchase once and never price the ownership.
What owning a power bank actually costs you
The sticker price is the small part. A reliable everyday power bank in the 10,000 mAh class currently runs from about $26 to $200, according to GearJunkie's 2026 buying guide, which tested models from the Anker 313 at the low end up to premium laptop-capable units near the top.1 That is the number most buying guides stop at. It is not the number that matters.
Lithium-ion cells degrade with use whether or not you own the device. Anker's own service documentation states that its portable chargers "can last up to 300-500 complete charge cycles" before performance drops.2 GearJunkie's independent testing puts the ceiling higher, "about 1,000 times before they no longer function," which it translates to roughly 3 to 5 years for a typical user.1 Split the difference and a power bank you buy today is a wasting asset from day one, whether you use it twice a week or twice a year. Anker's own guidance recommends topping it up every few months even if you never touch it, because storage alone drains the cell.
Then there is the travel math. The FAA/TSA caps spare lithium-ion batteries at 100 watt-hours without airline approval, and every rule requires them in carry-on only, never checked luggage.3 A common 20,000 mAh "just in case" power bank, rated at roughly 74 Wh using the standard 3.7V lithium-ion conversion, still clears that limit, but it is also the size and weight you now carry through security on every trip, used or not, because you already own it.
What renting solves that owning can't
A Brick powerbank rental sidesteps the sizing problem entirely. You don't guess at 10,000 mAh versus 20,000 mAh before you travel; you take one from a station when you actually need it and put it back at any other station in the network when you don't, not necessarily the one you rented it from.4 Brick's own TP5002 unit is rated at 5,000 mAh with a 500-charge lifecycle, which is deliberately smaller than most "buy it once" units because it is meant to top up a phone for a few hours, not run a laptop for a week.5
There is no app requirement either: a Brick station can be started three ways, with the Brick app, by scanning the station's QR code for an appless web checkout, or by tapping a contactless card or phone directly on the station's payment terminal.4 Whichever way you start, the rental ends the moment you dock the powerbank back into any station, and there is no deposit to chase down afterward.
The choice Brick doesn't make you commit to upfront
The usual rent-or-buy framing assumes you have to decide before you start. Brick's model quietly removes that decision: keep a rented powerbank for more than five days and you're charged the full rental cost plus a purchase fee, at which point it's yours.6 You don't fill out a form or make a call. If your occasional need turns out to be an ongoing one, the rental converts into a purchase automatically. Return it after the five-day mark anyway and Brick will process a partial refund of the purchase cost through customer support, so the automatic conversion isn't a trap, just a default.6
| Buy your own | Rent from Brick |
|---|---|
| $26-$200 upfront, before you've used it once | Pay per rental, priced by the venue's local partner |
| You size the capacity before you know the need | Grab one when the need is in front of you |
| Degrades on a shelf, 300-1,000 cycles either way | Brick maintains and rotates the fleet |
| You carry it, charge it, remember it, every time | Return to any station in the network, not just the one you started at |
| Counts toward your 100 Wh airline carry-on limit | Not yours to carry through security at all |
FAQ
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a power bank?
It depends entirely on how often you'd actually use one. Brick doesn't publish one fixed rental price because each local partner sets the rate for their own market, so check the price on the station's screen before you tap to start. As a rule of thumb: if a power bank would sit in a drawer between uses, renting only when you need one beats paying $26-$200 upfront for a battery that degrades whether you use it or not.1
How many times can you use a power bank before it wears out?
Estimates vary by brand and use pattern. Anker's own documentation states its chargers last "up to 300-500 complete charge cycles."2 GearJunkie's 2026 testing found some modern units reaching roughly 1,000 cycles, translating to 3-5 years for most users.1 Brick's own TP5002 powerbank is rated for 500 charges.5
Can I bring a power bank on a plane?
Yes, as a carry-on item. The FAA/TSA caps spare lithium-ion batteries at 100 watt-hours without airline approval, and they must never go in checked luggage.3 A rented Brick powerbank never has to fly with you at all; you rent one at your destination instead.
What happens if I don't return a rented Brick powerbank?
Keep it for more than five days and Brick charges the full rental cost plus a purchase fee, at which point you own it outright.6 Return it later anyway and you can request a partial refund of the purchase cost through customer support.6
Do I need the Brick app to rent a powerbank?
No. You can rent with the app, by scanning the station's QR code for an appless web checkout, or by tapping a contactless card or phone directly on the station.4
Most people who ask "should I buy a power bank" have already answered a different question: how often do I actually run low? If that's most days at the same desk, buy one and let it earn its price back. If it's a festival, a flight, or a night out you can't quite predict, the better trade is not owning the problem at all. Find a Brick station near you next time the battery icon turns red.
1. GearJunkie, "The 14 Best Power Banks of 2026"
2. Anker, "Battery's lifespan and temperature FAQ"
3. TSA.gov, "Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours"
4. Brick, "How to Rent a Power Bank? Step-by-Step Guide" and Brick, "Appless Powerbank Rental (Web Checkout)"
5. Brick, "5 Ways Brick Is Different from Other Power Bank Sharing Companies"
6. Brick, "Everything and Anything About the Brick Powerbank"
