Compressor coolers: our selection and buying guide
Our selection
Engel MR-040F
599.00€ (12)
A historic reference among compressor coolers: rugged, virtually unbreakable, it switches from fridge (+10°C) to freezer (-18°C) with ease.
- Capacity : 40 litres (38 L usable)
- Temperature : Continuously adjustable from +10°C to -18°C
- Power supply : 12V / 24V (vehicle) and 230V (mains)
- Engel swing compressor: virtually unbreakable, shock resistant
Dometic CoolFreeze CFX3 35 Wifi
Check price and availability (9)
Connected compressor cooler: the CFX3 35 can be controlled and monitored remotely from a smartphone thanks to built-in Wifi.
- Capacity : 36 litres gross / 32 litres usable
- Type : Compressor (compressor-driven)
- Temperature : Adjustable down to -22°C
- Wifi/Bluetooth connectivity with the CFX3 app for remote control and monitoring, ExoFrame structure and folding aluminium handles
Dometic CoolFreeze CFX5 55
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The new Dometic generation: a more powerful compressor, vacuum insulation and a built-in ice maker, for anyone who wants the best of the brand.
- Capacity : 55 litres (up to 80 cans)
- Type : Compressor (VMSO 3.5)
- Temperature : Adjustable from +20°C to -22°C
- Next-generation compressor, vacuum insulation (VIP), built-in ice maker
Mobicool FR40
Check price and availability (33)
The Dometic group's compressor cooler in its accessible guise: same technical foundations, without the connectivity, for a more contained price.
- Capacity : 38 litres (up to 61 cans)
- Type : Compressor (compact hermetic unit)
- Temperature : Adjustable from +10°C to -10°C
- Strong value for money, over 4,000 Amazon reviews at 4.5/5
Alpicool Y20T
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The most compact compressor cooler in our selection: 20 litres, down to -20°C, sized for solo use in a car.
- Capacity : 20 litres
- Type : Compressor
- Temperature : Down to -20°C, fridge or freezer
- Compact size, 3-level car battery protection, Amazon's Choice
Vevor Electric Cooler 55L
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The most affordable 55-litre compressor cooler in our selection, with a built-in water dispenser and transport wheels.
- Capacity : 55 litres
- Type : Compressor
- Temperature : Adjustable from -20°C to 20°C
- Very accessible price for 55L, built-in water dispenser, wheels
EcoFlow Glacier
1199.00£ 899.00£
(2)
The first compressor cooler with a built-in ice maker: dual zone, removable 298Wh battery, up to 40 hours cordless.
- Capacity : 38 litres, independent dual zone
- Type : Compressor with built-in removable battery
- Temperature : From +10°C to -25°C per zone
- Built-in ice maker, removable 298Wh battery, up to 40h cordless
Anker SOLIX EverFrost 2 58L
1099.99£ (5)
The largest capacity in our battery-powered selection: 58 litres, dual zone, up to 3.2 days of runtime with two batteries.
- Capacity : 58 litres, independent dual zone
- Type : Compressor with removable LFP battery
- Temperature : Adjustable from -20°C to 20°C
- Expandable battery (up to 2 units, up to 3.2 days), 3-year warranty, trusted Anker brand
Dometic CoolFreeze CFX3 45
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Dometic's compressor cooler built for vans and boats: down to -22°C, controllable via the CFX3 app, in a compact 41-litre footprint.
- Capacity : 41 usable litres (up to 67 cans)
- Type : Compressor (CFX3 technology, VMSO3)
- Temperature : Down to -22°C, holds up to 20°C
- Remote control via the CFX3 app, solar-compatible
Dometic CoolFreeze CFX5 95DZ
1199.00£ (5)
Dometic's flagship: 94 litres split into two independently adjustable compartments, vacuum insulation and the most powerful compressor in the range.
- Capacity : 94 litres, two independently adjustable compartments
- Type : Compressor (most powerful in the Dometic range)
- Temperature : Down to -22°C in each compartment
- Two independent zones, vacuum insulation, app control
Mobicool MCF32
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The compact size in the Mobicool range: hermetic compressor, room for 1-litre bottles standing upright, at a price that stays low.
- Capacity : 31 litres, room for 1L bottles standing upright
- Type : Compressor (compact hermetic unit)
- Temperature : Adjustable from +10°C to -10°C
- Fast cooldown, tall enough for upright bottles
Engel MT45F
1053.91€
The digital-display take on the Engel classic: precise LCD screen, the brand's long-standing mechanical robustness, in a versatile 40-litre size.
- Capacity : 40 litres
- Type : Compressor (Engel unit, digital LCD screen)
- Temperature : Adjustable from -18°C to +10°C
- Precise digital screen, only 38 dB at full load
Engel MT35F
1072.66€
The compact, digital-display size of the Engel classic: long-standing mechanical robustness, precise digital screen, 10cm shorter than the MT45F.
- Capacity : 32 litres
- Type : Compressor (Engel unit, digital screen)
- Temperature : Adjustable from -18°C to +10°C
- 10cm shorter than the MT45F, for near-identical usable capacity
Alpicool K25
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An LG compressor at a low price: 25 litres, two operating modes, at a budget that stays under £150.
- Capacity : 25 litres (44 x 330ml cans)
- Type : Compressor (LG unit)
- Temperature : Adjustable from -20°C to +20°C
- MAX and ECO modes, well-regarded LG compressor, under £150
Alpicool GE50
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An affordable connected cooler: app control, tie-down slots and anti-vibration system, for 45 litres at under £250.
- Capacity : 45.3 litres
- Type : Compressor, app-controllable
- Temperature : Adjustable from -20°C to +20°C
- Tie-down slots and anti-vibration system for the road
Vevor 45L
243.99£ (20)
The family size in the Vevor range: LED screen, Bluetooth control, room for up to 48 cans, at a price that stays under £250.
- Capacity : 45 litres (48 x 330ml cans)
- Type : Compressor, Bluetooth control
- Temperature : Adjustable from -20°C to 20°C
- LED screen and Bluetooth control for under £250
Vevor 35L
189.99£ (20)
The mid-size pick in the Vevor range: digital LCD screen, Bluetooth control, room for up to 36 cans, at under £190.
- Capacity : 35 litres (36 x 330ml cans)
- Type : Compressor, Bluetooth control
- Temperature : Adjustable from -20°C to 20°C
- Digital LCD screen and Bluetooth for under £190
Related questions
Allow roughly 15 to 20 litres for solo or occasional use in a car, 30 to 40 litres for a van or regular use for two, and 45 to 55 litres or more for family or motorhome use over several days.
A compressor cooler has a genuine compressor, just like a refrigerator, letting it reach sub-zero temperatures and keep working efficiently even in hot weather. A classic electric cooler (absorption or Peltier) is usually limited to a smaller temperature drop and loses performance when it's very hot outside.
Power draw varies by size and setting, but many models now include a battery protection feature that automatically cuts power before the battery drains too far. Some recent models even carry their own removable battery, running fully independently of the vehicle's.
It's not essential: models without connectivity remain reliable and simpler to use. The mobile app (Bluetooth or WiFi) mainly adds remote monitoring comfort, useful if the unit is out of easy reach (say, in the back of a van) or for checking a built-in battery's charge level.
Generally yes: the compressor adds weight compared with a passive or Peltier cooler. Expect 8 to 12 kg for a compact size, and up to 20 to 29 kg for the largest models, especially those with a built-in battery.

































