Emergency radios that keep working when the power goes out.
Hand crank, solar and NOAA weather radios and two-way radios compared on the specs that matter in an outage. Every claim comes with its source. Every store we show delivers to your country.
- Crank & solarMidland ER2109.6 / 10
- NOAA & SAMEMidland WR120B9.8 / 10
- GMRS & FRSRocky Talkie Mountain Radio9.5 / 10
Shortlists
Best emergency radios
All 20 ranked
Compact crank and solar weather alert radio with a 130-lumen flashlight and 2,000 mAh battery.
- 2Kaito KA5008.8/10
- 3Eton FRX3+8.7/10Eton (American Red Cross)
- 4RunningSnail MD-090P8.4/10
- 5Sangean MMR-998.3/10
- 6FosPower Model A18.3/10
Best NOAA weather alert radios
All 20 ranked
Dedicated NOAA SAME alert radio with a 90 dB siren and jacks for a strobe or bed shaker.
Best walkie talkies and GMRS radios for emergencies
All 20 ranked
License-free FRS radio built for the mountains with a climbing carabiner and days of battery.
Emergency radio accessories and power
All 16 ranked
Works without the grid
Hand crank, solar, batteries. We list how each radio keeps running when the outlets go dead.
Ranked on specs, not commission
The order comes from features, tester picks and how many people search for a model. Our method is public.
Stores that deliver to you
We show only the stores that ship to your country, so you never land on a shop that cannot deliver.
Sources for every claim
Specs come from the maker. Where a figure is a claim by the maker, we say so.
Questions people ask
- GMRS vs FRS: what is the difference?FRS radios need no license in the US and are limited to 2 watts ERP at most. GMRS needs an FCC license that requires no exam and covers family members. GMRS adds 8 repeater input channels on 467 MHz.
- Do you need a GMRS license, and how do you get one?Yes, you need an FCC license to transmit on GMRS. It requires no exam, lasts ten years and covers family members. You apply online through the FCC's license system and pay a fee.
- GMRS vs ham radio: which one do you need?GMRS needs an FCC license that requires no exam and covers family members. Amateur (ham) radio needs an FCC amateur license and you get one by passing an exam. For family or group use without study GMRS is the simpler path.
- GMRS vs CB radio for emergenciesCB radio in the US needs no individual license and has 40 channels between 26.965 and 27.405 MHz. Power is up to 4 watts carrier power on AM and 12 watts peak envelope power on SSB. GMRS needs an FCC license without an exam and GMRS repeaters can extend range but are optional.
- What is a SAME weather radio?A SAME weather radio sounds an alert only for the counties or areas you program into it. SAME stands for Specific Area Message Encoding. It filters NOAA Weather Radio warnings to the area you choose.
- What are the NOAA weather radio frequencies?NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven VHF frequencies from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz. Each NOAA Weather Radio transmitter broadcasts on one of the seven frequencies. A radio has to be set to the frequency of a nearby transmitter.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a radio an emergency radio?
An emergency radio keeps working when the power and the cell network are down. Most models charge in more than one way, usually a hand crank, a small solar panel and USB. Many add a flashlight and a USB port that can top up a phone.
Do I need a NOAA weather radio?
A NOAA weather radio receives the National Weather Service broadcasts on seven frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz. A model with an alert function switches on by itself for a warning, which matters most at night. Pick one with SAME coding if you only want alerts for your own county.
Do GMRS walkie talkies need a license?
Yes. Transmitting on GMRS in the US requires an FCC license. There is no exam, and one license covers your family members. FRS radios need no license but are limited to 2 watts on most channels.
Can I use these radios outside the US?
AM and FM work in any country, so a crank radio stays useful abroad. The NOAA band is a US service, and Weatheradio Canada shut down in March 2026. GMRS radios are not legal in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
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Some store links are affiliate links. If you buy after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. Your price does not change. Commissions are not part of how we rank radios.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. The price stays the same for you, and commissions do not decide which emergency radios we recommend.