The value fight in air-cooled standby. Generac buys you the biggest installer and parts network in the country plus WiFi monitoring; Champion buys you a lower price and a 10-year warranty — the longest in the class. Our tiebreaker is service coverage: if a Champion-servicing dealer is within an hour of you, the Champion is the smart money; if not, pay the Generac premium for the network.

Pick the Generac if…

✓Dealer/service density matters where you live
✓Mobile Link WiFi monitoring appeals
✓Slightly more capacity for load management

Pick the Champion if…

✓A Champion servicer is nearby (check first)
✓Lowest cost of automatic backup
✓The 10-year warranty seals it

Spec by spec

Spec	Generac Guardian 14kW (with 100A ATS)	Champion 12.5kW Home Standby (with 100A ATS)
Our score	8.8 / 10	8.4 / 10
Rated power	14kW (LP) / 13kW (NG)	12.5kW (LP) / 11kW (NG)
Fuel	Natural gas or propane	Natural gas or propane
Engine	816cc G-Force V-twin	717cc Champion V-twin
Transfer switch	100–200A ATS options	100A / 200A options
Noise	~66 dBA @ 23 ft	~63 dBA @ 23 ft
Monitoring	Mobile Link WiFi	—
Self-test	Weekly, quiet mode	Weekly Quiet Test
Warranty	5-year limited	10-year limited
Cold start	—	Rated to −22°F

Still deciding?

Read the full reviews for the complete story, or check both current prices — sale pricing swings this class of decision all the time.

~$5,399 typical price

Buy on Amazon

~$4,399 typical price

Buy on Amazon