8 Best APC UPS for Home and Small Business

The APC Back-UPS 600VA battery backup is a perfect starter option if you’re looking to power a few lower wattage devices like non-gaming computers, your wireless router, your TV or gaming consoles during an outage. That’s not to say you can’t use this UPS on a gaming computer or a sound system, but it’ll consume the battery within minutes. This could still be helpful if you’re only looking to close and save your work safely and power down safely.

It’s worth noting the Backup-UPS 600VA has a USB outlet available as well and USB-B port for connecting to your computer for tweaking alarm settings and checking the power level via the APC PowerChute software (included). You get a generous seven outlets, five of which supply battery backup and surge protection and two only for surge protection. The battery within the APC Back-UPS 600VA is replaceable in case it ever loses steam over the years. 

• Power Capacity: 600 VA / 330 Watts
• # of Outlets: 7 (2 surge, 5 surge + battery backup)
• Dimensions: 5.4" x 10.7" x 4.1"
• Weight: 7.5 lbs
• 1 USB-A charging port
• Wall-mountable
• 5’ power cord

The APC Back-UPS 425VA is very similar to the APC Back-UPS 600VA. The 425VA has lower power capacity, one less outlet and no USB-A charging port, but it does subsequently come at a lower cost. Another difference to note is the 425VA does not have a replaceable battery, so you would have to purchase a new device once it is depleted. APC batteries are warranted for two years from the date of purchase.

Neither this model nor the 600VA we first mentioned have an LCD display—you would need to connect the UPS to your computer and check via the Windows-based PowerChute app. If you’re looking to safe a little cash and don’t mind the slightly reduced features, the 425VA makes a great choice for a home UPS.

• Power Capacity: 425VA / 225W
• # of Outlets: 6 (2 surge, 4 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 10” x 5.5” x 4.1”
• Weight: 5.7 lbs
• Wall-mountable
• 5’ power cord

With the most outlets so far, the APC Back-UPS 550VA could accommodate a desk’s worth of electronics, for most of us at least. Half the outlets are surge only and the other half have battery backup, too. This UPS is a great home office option with the most outlets of any UPS mentioned thus far.

Another difference from the previously two mentioned UPS battery backups is the form factor: the 600VA and 425VA models have a decidedly toaster-like appearance with all the outlets in a straight line like a traditional power strip, whereas the 550VA is flatter and wider, with outlets arranged on both sides, and significantly heavier.

You may have noticed this model has 550VA vs 600VA for the APC Back-UPS 600VA, but they have the same wattage. VA stands for volt-amphere, which is a measure of apparent power, or demand. Wattage, or W, is a measure of real power drawn from the device.

The ratio of watts to VA is known as a power factor (expressed as a decimal or percentage) and determines how much additional wattage there is for expanding backup battery output to more devices or increasing run time. A power factor closer to 1.0 or 100% means the UPS battery uses power more efficiently. However, this a miniscule factor for most home/small business use cases and comes into play more in larger power solutions.

• Power Capacity: 550 VA / 330 Watts
• # of Outlets: 8 (4 surge, 4 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 10” x 5.5” x 4.1”
• Weight: 13 lbs
• 5’ power cord

Aside from increased power capacity, you get more outlets and 2 USB-A charging ports with the APC Back-UPS 850VA. You’ve probably already noticed the trend of increasing power capacity, outlets and total number of outlets as you spend more. 850VA will give you ample time to shut down sensitive electronics or keep your internet up through the duration of an extended outage. For a frame of reference, 850VA would keep a 118.5 W desktop computer (like an iMac) running for about 30 minutes, provided there’s nothing else plugged into the UPS outlets.

Besides the 550VA, all the APC UPS battery backups mentioned so far have hanging keyhole slots for wall mounting. This allows for better cable management and prevents you from accidentally kicking out a plug or a flood potentially submerging your UPS.

• Power Capacity: 850VA / 450W
• # of Outlets: 9 (3 surge, 6 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 12” x 5.5” x 4.1”
• Weight: 9.6 lbs
• 5’ power cord
• 2 USB-A charging ports

The APC Back-UPS Pro 700VA is the first of the best APC UPS for home and small business that has an LCD display that shows the battery levels without having to use the PowerChute app, among other things. Here are the major bits of information shown on the display:

• Load Capacity: indicated by five bars, with each bar representing 20% of the load
• Overload: an indicator that activates if the load exceeds the device’s power capacity
• Event: A count that shows the number of events that caused the UPS to switch on
• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR): the UPS will alert you to low and high voltage states
• Mute: an indicator appears if you mute the UPS alarm, which can be activated from a variety of conditions including operation on battery power, low battery, capacity overload
• Replace Battery: a light will come on when it’s time to replace your battery as well as when your UPS shifts to “on battery” mode.

Other than the LCD display, the basic functionality of the unit is the same as the APC backup batteries without a display. If you’re looking for a more in-depth insight into your power conditions or the state of your battery, this is the unit for you.

• Power Capacity: 700VA / 420W
• # of Outlets: 6 (3 surge, 3 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 7.5” x 3.6” x 12.2”
• Weight: 15.8 lbs
• 6’ power cord

The extended power capacity of the APC Back-UPS Pro 1000VA will provide approximately 50 minutes of battery runtime to an average desktop PC, laptop, modem and router (equal to about 120W worth of devices). Other than the increased outlet count and power capacity, this particular model offers true sinewave output. True sinewave output is the best waveform for electronic equipment to take in and generates less electric noise which can potentially damage sensitive electronics or reduce their overall lifespan.

This would be a great selection for home users who may be professional who rely on consistent web uptime to do their jobs, a gamer with a high-end PC who wants to finish the round when the power goes out, or a small office with sensitive, particularly expensive equipment.

• Power Capacity: 1000VA / 600W
• # of Outlets: 10 (4 surge, 6 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 10.24" x 3.94" x 14.49"
• Weight: 22.4 lbs
• 6’ power cord
• 2 USB charging ports (1 Type-A, 1 Type-C)

You can think of the APC Back-UPS Pro Compact 1000VA as a 1000VA backup battery on a diet—this model has the same power capacity as the last APC UPS we mentioned but weighs nearly seven pounds less. It’s also almost three inches slimmer. You do sacrifice 2 surge and battery backup outlets, however. If you’re wanting to tote your UPS to different locations often and don’t care as much about having many outlets, this APC UPS may be the way to go. You should also consider this model if you’re strapped for additional space in your current setup.

• Power Capacity: 1000VA / 600W
• # of Outlets: 8 (4 surge, 4 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 3.6" x 12.2"
• Weight: 15.9 lbs
• 6’ power cord

This is the flagship product of the Back-UPS Pro series and your best UPS bet if you’re looking for a device for a serious home office or small business given its generous power capacity and ample number of outlets. From the outside, it looks like many of the other vertically oriented UPSs in the series, with a modern matte black finish and red APC lettering. It features an LCD display with information on Load Capacity, Battery Charge and an Overload indicator as well as an Automatic Voltage Regulation indicator (for a more comprehensive look at what the LCD display can tell you, check out our coverage of the APC Back-UPS Pro 700VA).

A bit more info on Automatic Voltage Regulation, or AVR—you may not realize it, but sometimes your devices get too much or too little power. The AVR feature on this UPS makes sure your devices get the proper amount of stable power. 

• Power Capacity: 1500VA / 865W
• # of Outlets: 10 (5 surge, 5 surge and battery backup)
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 3.9" x 15"
• Weight: 24.3 lbs
• 6’ power cord