The introduction of the smart battery charger has been a very clever way of ensuring that car batteries not only remain topped with electricity but that the internals remain healthy so the battery lasts as long as possible.
On the face of it, car batteries look to have remained largely the same for decades. A heavy box with some electrons in it. But modern car batteries are far more advanced than those fitted to your dad’s Vauxhall Cavalier to keep up with the electrical requirements of modern cars.
Modern cars demand a lot more power than the cars of yesteryear, thanks to safety systems, onboard computers, stop-start technology and all that sort of thing. Thus, batteries need to be able to hold more charge and charge faster.
The best smart battery chargers 2025 at a glance:
Smart chargers have a multi-stage cycle when charging car batteries. This begins with something called desulphation – restoring battery capacity by removing sulphate from the battery’s lead plates. The smart charger will then test the battery to see if it is able to accept charge. It’ll then go through a series of subsequent steps, including reconditioning the battery (if you have this mode selected), and once the battery is fully charged, it will automatically switch to a pulsing trickle charge to keep the battery level topped up but without over-charging it.
The best smart battery chargers 2025
The best smart battery charger
Via CTEKCapable of recharging a dead battery in as little as 15 minutes, this portable battery charger from CTEK is one of the best in the business. Not only can it bring life into a dead battery, but it doubles as a trickle charger too - and it can be solar powered as well.
It recharges via USB-C, can hold up its charge for up to a year, and has some useful power bank functions. It's an ideal power bank device for camping as well as your battery charging tasks, so it's really versatile thanks to how capable it is.
You can read our full CS FREE review here.
Pros
- Doubles as trickle charger
- Perfect for camping as a power bank
- Multiple recharging methods
Cons
- Storage case isn't included
- The solar panel is optional
Editor's pick
Aaron Hussain: CARThe CTEK MXS 5.0 is simply everything you want from a battery charger. It's well-made, affordable, fully automatic, and works on all battery types, including AGM. You can choose between a regular charge mode that skips reconditioning or one that includes it.
Upon test, we found it to be a very reliable piece of kit. At no point upon starting my car, did the battery ever feel like it was struggling for power. However, whereas my test kit came with a load of different extras and attachments, the consumer would have to fork out a load more cash than the charger is advertised for in order to gather what I had.
We've tried and tested the MXS 5.0 for ourselves, and you can read the full review here.
Pros
- IP65 rated, making it very water and splash proof
- Deep reconditioning cycle
- Automotive temperature compensation for optimising performance
Cons
- The optional extras quickly add up in price
| Dimensions: | (L) 168mm x (W) 65mm x (H) 38mm |
| Weight: | 0.6kg |
| Current: | 5A |
| Voltage: | 12V |
| IP rating: | IP65 |
| Operating temperature: | -20° to 50° C |
The best all-round smart battery charger
Via NOCOThe direct competitor to CTEK is American brand, NOCO. It also offers high-quality premium battery chargers which come with a multitude of modes and functions. Like any good trickle charger, it's designed to be plugged in and used pretty much 24/7 until you disconnect it to start up your vehicle.
The Genius 10 is one of the mid-range models of NOCO's portfolio. It comes with many functions including battery repair mode, supply mode (which provides a 10 Amp power supply) and automatic detection and repair, should it detect any potential battery damage.
Pros
- Exceedingly good build quality and premium materials
- Can be used 24/7 if you leave your car parked up for a while
- Powerful enough for a multitude of cars
Cons
- Possibly overkill for a small-engined supermini
Best value smart battery charger
Via NOCOIf you reckon the Genius 10 is slightly overkill, NOCO also offers its best-selling Genius 5 model. It benefits from being a very compact device that's packed with a number of modes from AGM battery mode to repair and even force mode.
Unlike the Genius 10 however, it doesn't have a 12V supply more, and the charging current is five amps rather than 10. Still though, if you need to keep your car's battery in good health if its parked up in the UK's cold snaps, this is the ideal device for you.
Pros
- Arguably all the battery trickle charger you ever need
- Great build quality and materials like the Genius 10
- Clever and lots of tech in a small package
Cons
- You might be left wanting a few more features
The most comprehensive trickle charger
Via CTEKWhen it comes to trickle charging larger and/or more powerful engines with multitudes of features and tech around them, the CTEK MXS 10 is one of the best units for the task.
It differs from the MXS 5.0 because it can supply up to 10 Amps rather than five, and contains a few more stages and modes. Like other CTEK chargers, it's designed to be used in the freezing Arctic climates as well as extreme heat. It's not suitable for smaller batteries, so it should only really be considered if you have a powerful car.
Pros
- Perfect for powerful vehicles
- Lots of modes to choose from
- Same premium level quality as the MXS 5.0
Cons
- Quite overkill if your car's engine is small
| Dimensions: | (L) 168mm x (W) 65mm x (H) 38mm |
| Weight: | 0.6kg |
| Current: | 5A |
| Voltage: | 12V |
| IP rating: | IP65 |
| Operating temperature: | -20° to 50° C |
Best budget smart battery charger
The RSC806 is a compact and simple-to-use charger and maintainer that works on most 6V/12V batteries. That includes start/stop, but not lithium. The RSC806 also has a 6A output for quicker fill-ups. It comes with an O-ring lead for permanent mounting and crocodile clips for ad hoc charges. Both connect to the unit's long lead with a quick-release bullet connector.
Capable of charging and maintaining cars and motorbikes, this is a very flexible product that also boasts IP65 weatherproofing and a winter maintenance mode if your vehicle is laid up during the colder months. For ease of use, the charger automatically shifts to 'long-term maintenance mode' once your battery is full and promises to keep it conditioned and topped up, ready to go in spring.
Reverse polarity and short-circuit protection are reassuring additions, as is the one-button operation - just select the mode you want and walk away. It even has a built-in hook for wall mounting. Our only real gripe is the size of the holes in the O-ring lead. They're a tad large for a motorbike battery, and the fact you have to be at just the right angle to read the screen. But as a fit-and-forget item (until winter's over at least) it's very impressive.
Pros
- IP65 rated, making it very rain proof
- Great value for money compared to the others
- Cold weather mode for winter
Cons
- O-ring holes are a bit large for motorcycle batteries
| Dimensions: | (L) 183mm x (W) 101mm x (H) 63mm |
| Weight: | 0.88kg |
| Current: | 3A or 6A |
| Voltage: | 6V, 12V |
| IP rating: | IP65 |
| Operating temperature: | Not given |
The most professional smart battery charger
Via NOCOOn the more extreme end of the spectrum, NOCO offers the Genius Pro 25 from its more professional range of battery chargers. Unlike the others on this list, this device can supply up to 25 Amps of power supply and caters for six, 12 and 24V batteries.
It's designed to operate in both hot and cold weather conditions and boasts advance battery repair and conditioner modes that helps restore the power of the battery when required, and it's suitable for tractors, trucks and boats as well as the regular cars and vans.
Pros
- Many different modes, making it very versatile
- Immensely good materials and premium build quality
- Suitable for boats and trucks as well as cars
Cons
- It's going to be overkill for many
FAQs
How long does a battery charger take to charge a car battery?
It is worth remembering that while the units above all do a great job of charging and reconditioning car batteries, it can take time. Charging times vary enormously depending on the battery size and the level of discharge. Therefore, asking how long a charge cycle will take is like asking how long a piece of string is.
Read the instructions about how to connect the charger to the battery correctly. Always connect with the car turned off.
Can you use a battery charger away from home?
Only if you can hook it up to a socket at your destination - with permission to do so, depending on where you are. Chargers like these are meant for use at home when you've got your car parked up for prolonged periods of time.
Is a car battery charger the same as a jump starter?
No. Car battery chargers are not like jump starters. The two have very different purposes: a jump starter is designed to quickly pump some life back into a battery if it falls flat. A battery trickle charger like the product selections above are designed to maintain battery power when a car is parked up - simply to prevent it from going flat.
We've tried and tested some battery jump starters to find out which one is best. So, if you are out and about and end up in the fortuitous scenario of a flat car battery, one of these devices will help you out. They are small and very handy to keep in the glovebox. Many of them also double as a regular power bank for phones and other devices, which makes them useful for camping purposes as well as their primary purposes.
Are car battery chargers worth it?
If you use your car nearly or quite literally everyday, then the merit of a car battery charger won't be big. However, if you park up your car for fairly long periods of time between driving, then a battery charger is worth it. Between the time you're not using your car, you can keep the battery in good health by letting the device look after it for you.
During winter, car batteries lose charge at a slightly quicker rate than during the other seasons. It's therefore useful to invest in one (provided you can connect it), if you plan on not driving much during the cold months.
Are car battery chargers safe?
Modern smart battery chargers are perfectly safe to use and keep attached to your vehicle on trickle. That's exactly what they're designed to do, and loads of the good quality chargers have methods of automatically preventing overcharging and other potential issues.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.