For most Indian households, an inverter is the better choice. It switches to battery backup within 10–20 milliseconds of a power cut, runs silently, costs from Rs. 3,000 upwards, and is safe indoors. A generator is the better choice when you need to run an air conditioner, a motor pump, or heavy machinery — or when outages last many hours and battery capacity is not enough. Generators start at Rs. 25,000 for a 1kVA petrol unit and require outdoor installation.
- Inverter: Uses stored battery power; switches in 10–20 ms; silent; no emissions; safe indoors; starts at Rs. 3,000 (700VA); best for home appliances during routine outages
- Generator: Burns petrol or diesel to produce electricity; takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes to start; noisy; must be used outdoors; starts at Rs. 25,000 (1kVA petrol); best for heavy loads and extended outages
- Running cost: A 1kVA petrol generator consumes 0.5–0.7 litres per hour at Rs. 95–105 per litre; inverters cost only the price of electricity to charge the battery
- Maintenance: Inverters require periodic battery water topping; generators require oil changes, fuel filter replacement, and engine servicing
- Indoor safety: Inverters are safe indoors; generators produce carbon monoxide and must never be used inside a home or enclosed space
- Can you use both: Yes — an inverter handles daily short outages silently while a generator recharges the battery or handles heavy appliances during extended cuts
You can buy inverters and inverter batteries on Easy EMIs at over 1.5 lakh partner stores across 4,000 cities, including Reliance Digital, Croma, and Vijay Sales. Check your loan eligibility in a few clicks before visiting a store.
