The main considerations between propane gas freezers and DC chest freezers are the initial cost and availability of power. Power is DC, propane gas, or natural gas.

If solar, wind, or hydropower is available or likely to be in your location, then a dc freezer with a low initial cost will be the best option.

The performance between a DC-powered or compressor-driven unit and a gas chiller or absorption system unit differs only in the so-called "recovery time". This is the time it takes for the temperature to drop or return to the temperature set by the thermostat. Both types will get equally cold, but the compressor drive has the advantage of recovery speed. It is estimated to be four times larger than an absorption refrigeration cabinet.

If you open any of the freezer doors or lids to retrieve some groceries, recovery time for any one unit will only be a few minutes. In this case, the difference between the two types doesn't matter. The difference in recovery speed shows up when placing unfrozen items in the freezer. The greatest difference in recovery speed occurs when the unit is started from the ambient air temperature state. Typical cooling times for DC solar freezers are about 2 hours, while propane gas freezers can take up to 8 hours.

Both units can be portable. Due to the nature of propane in a tank, propane gas freezers are very portable. DC freezers are also portable if the unit is operated from a portable power source, such as a vehicle battery or a small solar system. The weight of the equipment is another consideration. Gas freezers must weigh at least 80 lbs. Due to the weight of the absorption system.

Currently, there are a very limited number of manufacturers of both types. DC solar freezers are available from a handful of manufacturers and are cabinet-only. Gas absorption freezers are only available from one manufacturer and only in a vertical configuration.

Cixi Zhuoyue Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. is a chest freezer factory in China. The company not only provides home chest freezers but also sells commercial Water dispensers.