7 Best Cheap Multimeters (For Electronics 2024)

A multimeter is one of the basic and useful tools for measuring, analyzing, and troubleshooting various electrical and electronics circuits.

Sometimes we are not just ready to invest too much in this tool for various reasons. And we want to look for options that are affordable and yet come with decent quality.

Luckily, this tool, multimeter, is a very saturated product. We have brands that designed multimeters in almost every price range to compete in the market.

Here in this article, we will be looking at some best cheap multimeters that you can have for your electronics work, car work, or any other occasional home use.

I am not perfect, nor this article is going to be. This is just my little effort to help you somehow.

I hope you will enjoy this article and will explore some best affordable multimeters for yourself.

Table of Contents

Best Cheap Multimeters

Following is the list of the best cheap multimeters. I guess anyone of you will be able to afford them if you like any of them.

The best cheap multimeter that field professionals recommend is either the AstroAI AM33D, or the ANENG SZ08 Multimeter. They are the best because they come from trusted brands, are high quality, reliable for the long run. Yet they come with a low price tag to suit anyone’s budget and needs.

They are cheap in price but there is no comprise on the quality of the below multimeters. The low price is because they don’t have any fancy features which you will never use. They have all the basic features which I think the must have for any multimeter.

Let’s get started with our amazing list of multimeters.

1- AstroAI AM33D

You know, I think AM33D is the multimeter for someone who just heard the multimeter word for the first time and got interested and decided to buy a few buck multimeter to play with, i.e. to test the surface.

With this multimeter, you can measure the following parameters:

Resistance
AC voltages
DC voltages & currents
Circuit continuity

Moreover, this cheap multimeter has

Data Hold Button – which is very useful
Low battery indicator and continuity buzzer.
LCD Backlit Screen, which makes it easy to use in dimly light.

In a short summary, this multimeter is designed to troubleshoot a variety of automotive and household electrical problems safely and accurately.

Now, if you like this multimeter and want to know more about it. Here is the link, AstroAI AM33D (Amazon link), to follow for your own further research.

2- Klein Tools MM325 Multimeter

You are going to love this multimeter for its safety i.e., its CAT III for 600V. It has an auto power-off option which makes it really handy when you are working on simultaneous projects in your lab.

Following are measurements that you can do with this amazing device:

Resistance, voltages (Both AC and DC), AC and DC current measurements are available
Diode and continuity testing
CE certified
Data hold button
Capacitance measurements
Battery testing for 1.5V, 3V, and 9V.
Transistor testing port -ideal for engineering students

In a short summary, this Multimeter is a really useful tool for solving industrial and household electrical issues.

It is very suitable for:

Household Outlets
Fuses
Batteries (including Vehicles)
Automotive Circuit Troubleshooting
Charging System
Testing electronics in Cars etc.

If this multimeter has got your attention and wants to know more about it and its course certification. Here is the link, Klein Tools MM325 (Amazon link), for your own further investigation.

This multimeter will be a long-term tool for your lab work. If you like it then have a deep look at it.

3- Etekcity MSR-A600

The above multimeters are manual range, which means you have to select a suitable range first for your measurements.

The best cheap multimeter from Etekcity brands, i.e. the MSR-A600, is auto range. That means you don’t have to worry about suitable range selection.

Alright!

Let’s talk about some features of this device:

Its CE certified
CAT II for 600V – which makes it a safe device to work with
Can measure DC current up to 10A with internal fusing
Can measure AC currents and voltages – but be very careful when using this feature.
DC voltages
Resistance measurements
Capacitance measurements
Diode testing and continuity test option with a loud buzzer
Data hold is a very amazing feature to have. You know, when you are working, there comes a situation where you cannot hold the multimeter and write down the values because you got two hands. So data hold option will save you a lot of time in those situations.
LED Light screen – best for when working in dark.

In a short summary, this multimeter is highly safe. It has overload protection on all ranges. Built-in double explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes and reverse polarity protection – in the case when you misuse the probes.

Now, if you like this multimeter and want to know more about it yourself. Here is the link, Etekcity MSR-A600 (Amazon link), to follow for your own further investigations.

4- MSR-R500

This multimeter is from the same above brand, i.e. Etekcity. And you will notice that it somehow resembles the first multimeter we discussed above.

This cheap multimeter has a lot of useful options for various kinds of measurements. This multimeter can test:

AC/DC Voltage
DC current (Not for AC current)
Resistance
Diode
Continuity and More

It has a sampling speed of 3 times per second, which is very impressive. Furthermore, it has overload protection on all ranges and anti-burn with double fuses.

In a short summary, this multimeter is fantastic, and it comes with a protective rubber sleeve around the multimeter to add extra drop protection.

Here is the link, MSR-R500 (Amazon link), to know more about this device in case you like it.

5- HILTEX DT830B

When I look at this multimeter, it reminds me of my university days. Most of my friends have this multimeter. Because it has a very low price and delivers accurate results.

This multimeter, i.e. DT830B, is a small size multimeter with a transistor testing option (best features for electronics engineering students). Other than this feature, this device is capable of accurately measuring the following:

Resistance
DC voltages and currents
AC voltages
Diode testing
And circuit continuity testing – best for tracking PCB trances.

In a short summary, the DT830B digital multimeter (Amazon link) is specifically suited for students or anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much on the multimeter and yet wants the most required features of any decent multimeter.

It is a safe and accurate voltage and current tester for troubleshooting electrical problems in automotive and household settings.

6- Plusivo Digital Multimeter

Another best cheap multimeter is from the Plusivo brand. This brand manufactures a lot of amazing electronics testing tools for students, engineers, hobbyists, and as well as for professionals.

This multimeter comes with a bunch of extra things, i.e. screwdrivers, alligator clips, and a book to teach you how to do certain measurements.

You can use it for a variety of measurements. Following are some key features of this small-size multimeter.

Measure resistance with all standard ranges
Measure voltages (AC & DC both)
Measure DC current up to 10A
The quality of probes is amazing
Has the hold button, which is very handy in a lot of situations.
Diode testing
Circuit continuity checker with loud buzzer.

In a short summary, this little device is very handy. It has a battery function to test battery quality: it displays the current (in mA) that the battery can provide when connected to a resistive load of 40 Ohms (1.5V) or 400 Ohms (9V).

If you like this multimeter. Then you can follow this link, Plusivo Digital Multimeter (Amazon link), to find more about it yourself.

7- AstroAI WH5000A

This multimeter, i.e. WH5000A, is from the same brand AstroAI as we have seen above.

In my opinion, You can’t limit this model i.e. WH5000A to just a cheap multimeter, it can be used by anyone for almost any situation. This could be your lab device for so many years to come.

Let’s see some of the features of this best cheap multimeter:

It is auto-range, which will save you time and give you extra accuracy
6000 counts – means high precision
It is true RMS
Capable of measuring micro and milli range currents, both AC and DC
Has CAT II, III safety (To know more about these standards, click here)
High-quality internal fuse
Temperature measurement: which is very useful to check for components overheating
Backlit LCD and hold function, a huge deal
Multifunction socket, for transistor and capacitor measurements
It has a hanging magnet.

In a short summary, if you need a complete package, then AstroAI WH5000A (Amazon link) has got everything for you. It is not pricey, and you will enjoy working with it

Conclusion

A multimeter is the most fundamental tool when it comes to measuring voltages, currents, and resistances.

We use this tool to analyze and troubleshoot various electrical and electronics circuits. These circuits may include home wiring circuits, cars, PCB boards, or any other circuit.

Now, for various reasons, we at the beginning may not want to spend too much on this tool. Maybe we want to use a multimeter for occasional purposes, that is why we don’t look for an expensive one. Or we are students and don’t have enough resources.

Whatever the case might be, we want to look for affordable options on the market that we can buy for our situations.

And luckily due to the fact that multimeter is situated product. We can have any multimeter with a very low price tag.

In this article, I just try to help to give you a list of the best cheap millimeters that you can have for your electronics work or car troubleshooting.

They are cheap, i.e. they have a low price tag. But it doesn’t mean they are of low quality. They are of high quality and come from the best well-known brands.

I hope you enjoyed this article.

Thank you and have a grateful life.