Choosing Between a Portable and Stationary Oxygen Concentrator

One of the most common questions we get from families is whether to choose a portable or a stationary oxygen concentrator. The honest answer is: it depends on daily routine as much as it depends on the prescription.

Stationary concentrators, like our PureLife 5L and 10L models, are built for continuous, higher-flow use. They're the right fit for patients who spend most of their time at home and need dependable, uninterrupted oxygen delivery, particularly overnight.

Portable concentrators, like GoAir, use pulse-dose delivery and run on rechargeable batteries. They trade a bit of flow capacity for freedom of movement — ideal for patients who are still active, travelling, or attending regular appointments outside the home.

Many of our patients actually use both: a stationary unit for home and overnight use, paired with a portable unit for errands and travel. This combination is often more cost-effective as a rental bundle than buying two full-flow machines.

The most important factor is always your prescribed flow rate. Pulse-dose portable units aren't suitable for every prescription, so it's worth checking with your physician or our team before deciding based on convenience alone.

If you're unsure, our team can talk through your daily routine and recommend a setup — including short-term rental — so you can try before committing to a purchase.