Has your car battery died? If you’re in the market for a new battery charger, there’s one industry-leading brand worth delving into – CTEK. The manufacturer produces some of the best battery-preservation accessories in the business, along with many other quality products.
CTEK was founded over 25 years ago in a small Swedish village by inventor Bengt Wahlqvist. Despite the company’s relative infancy in comparison to its competitors such as NOCO, CTEK is now regarded as one of the world’s leading suppliers of battery chargers and other related tech. But what makes its products so good? We’ve broken down why we like CTEK so much with some of our favourite products for you to check out.
In 1997, Wahlqvist created the first ever battery charger to use electronic pulse technology for smoother, faster and safer battery charging – the first smart battery charger had been invented. Since then, the company has worked tirelessly to advance battery management technology, and today boasts a wide range of products to suit different engine sizes, vehicle types and battery chemistries, such as portable battery chargers, that double as power banks.
The best CTEK battery chargers at a glance:
We’ve long admired CTEK battery and trickle chargers for their sturdy build, fast charging performance and user-friendliness – these really are plug-in-and-go chargers that any motorist can easily grasp.
How we tested CTEK chargers
We have tested a number of CTEK devices, so our knowledge and experience with them is pretty well-rounded. Some devices were tested over the winter period while our old cars were off the road, whereas others were tested using different functions – such as the battery boost setting with the CTEK CS FREE.
While we’ve included the reviews of the CTEK products we’ve tested in this guide, we’ve also outlined what range of items the brand offers – it is more extensive than you might expect. Not only does it include battery chargers, but also industrial-grade equipment as well as a genius portable EV charger for remote life support of your EV.
The best CTEK products 2025
CS Series
The best CTEK battery charger
While the CS FREE can be left to safely charge your battery back to full health and then enter its trickle mode for maintenance once fully charged, it can also restore a completely dead battery to working order in under 15 minutes and all free from connection to the mains.
If the rest of your personal devices run out of juice while on the go, this battery charger features USB-A and USB-C charging ports to get them back up and running, though we especially like this example for its sleek, buttonless design. With its countdown LEDs and easy-to-read display, this is one of the most user-friendly chargers out there.
We've tried out the CS FREE in a number of scenarios. What impressed me the most was how it managed to charge up a dead battery in a matter of 15-minutes before the car in question fired up without fault.
It can, albeit slowly, be used as a battery jump starter - which differentiates the CS FREE from other CTEK trickle chargers. The brand doesn't manufacture jump starters, so this is the next best thing to one. It even pairs up to a solar panel if you want to provide power to things completely wirelessly - ideal for camping in the summer.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Doubles as a power bank, which is useful when camping
- Portable, meaning you can charge a car battery or other things on the go
- Easy to use and easy-to-read countdown indicator
Cons
- Can only charge up to 130Ah batteries, which is less than other CTEKs
The most adaptive CTEK charger
Got a dodgy cell? The CS One is also capable of detecting a battery that can’t be fully charged and will notify you accordingly. However, assuming everything is in order, the countdown indicator will show you when you can restart your vehicle and how long is left to go until fully charged. It might be an expensive example, but this really is the only battery charger you would ever need.
Pros
- Compatible for both lead acid and lithium batteries, unlike most others
- Polarity free clamps make connecting and disconnecting a bit easier
- Countdown indicator built within and additional app functions
Cons
- Possibly a bit overkill for what most people require
MXS Series
The best overall CTEK trickle charger
It has an eight-stage charging and reconditioning process, is weatherproof and is popular among motorists that don't regularly use their car.
I sampled one for myself and was greatly impressed by its build quality; it feels like a premium product and belongs in a premium car showroom, trickling away special vehicles. I was also impressed by the fact that every time I disconnected it, the engine on my car fired right up without hesitation. This indicates to me that the MXS 5.0 kept it in good health over the cold winter period.
I also tested it out when charging up a battery from a colleague's Mazda MX5. I left it on charge for about seven-hours, and within that time, the indicator went from completely flat to the seventh stage of the charging process. I then placed it back into the vehicle, and joy of joys, it fired right up without issues.
What I didn't find pleasing was just how much the optional extras in my sample charger added up to. I worked out in the end that the whole bundle would've totalled north of £140 - and that's including buying the item in the first place.
Read our full review of the CTEK MXS 5.0 here
Pros
- Very premium-feel and overall build quality - it's designed to work in extreme tempretures
- Keeps most car batteries in good health, requiring no effort from the user
- The IP65 waterproof rating adds reassurance against little splashes
Cons
- The CTEK extras do add up in price, which limits the appeal in lower-end models
The best mid-range CTEK battery charger
The same sense of durability and premium feel is evident in the MXS 7.0 as it is the 5.0, and it can easily handle both sides of extreme weather conditions. Quite frankly, we'd trust it to keep a battery charged up in the Arctic Circle if we really wanted to.
The simplicity of the indicators and setup also scores the MXS 7.0 points. It's just as easy as the 5.0, and really, that's all you could ask for. Everything is pretty much done automatically, and that's all that most people could ask for in a battery trickle charger.
Pros
- The 7.0 can handle seven amps rather than five in the MXS 5.0
- Has the same premium-feeling materials and sense of quality
- The battery indicators are easy to navigate and the modes are simple to set up
Cons
- The cost of accessories is sky-high for CTEK products, which is rather annoying
The best CTEK trickle charger for performance cars
The charging process is eight-stage, much like the 5.0, and it delivers twice the charging AMP (10A rather than 5A). It comes with the same level of extra equipment as the 5.0, meaning if you wanted to shell out on an extension cable and other accessories, it would cost quite a bit more on top of your standard purchase.
Pros
- Temperature sensor means it can optimise charging better than others, depending on the weather conditions
- IP65 waterproof rating makes it safe against splashes and dust
- Sublime build quality and materials, as well as more powerful charging than the 5.0
Cons
- The optional extras still cost a massive amount on top of the charger
CT5 Series
The best CTEK charger design
This charger also features CTEK’s reconditioning mode, as well as its patented sulphation function: the pulsing of current and voltage to safely remove sulphate from the lead plates, restoring the battery’s health. Compatible with all 12-volt lead-acid battery types and complete with a reconditioning mode
Pros
- Very cool Gulf livery design in reference to historic motorsport
- IP65 waterproof rating ensures it's safe from splashes
- Has a time indicator and reconditioning mode
Cons
- Won't support lead acid batteries
The best CTEK battery charger for stop/start systems
CTEK's recommendation is hooking one of these up to a stop/start system vehicle once you begin to notice that it doesn't shut off the engine in traffic as often as it should. That's the sign of a battery running on a lower charge, and that's where this CT5 model steps in.
Pros
- Excellently capable and affordable charger for vehicles with stop/start systems
- Still provides all the capability of a top-quality trickle charger
- Comes with a five-year waranty, which is handy for consumers
Cons
- Can only handle up to 3.8A, which may not be enough for vehicles with larger engines
PRO Series
The best powerful CTEK battery charger
Even so, it's capable of testing, maintaining, or even restoring batteries of both 12V and 24V guise, maintaining all the qualities of all the other coveted CTEK chargers. It has a lead-acid battery reconditioning system and all the usual dials that are familiar with existing CTEK units. While it's massively overkill for most people, if you're running a little workshop or simply desire a powerful charging unit, the PRO25 is the one for you.
Pros
- Useful for professional environments and heavy-duty charging
- Provides all the same properties as all the other CTEK chargers, only bigger
- Fairly good valu for money, considering how powerful it is, providing up to 25A
Cons
- Is going to be overkill for most normal consumers
The best heavy-duty CTEK charger
It has an Adaptive Charging mode which automatically works out the best settings for the battery at hand and how to charge it. There's a simple control panel and you can adjust the voltage between 12.6 to 14.8V in 0.1 increments. It's a rather hefty unit at 16.02kg, so manoeuvrability is going to be slightly trickier than your usual CTEK MXS charger.
Pros
- Simple to use with automatic detection of a battery's condition and appropriate charging
- Perfect for professional environments, including diagnostic workshops
- Suits all types of 12V batteries, from lithium units to AGM and EFB types
Cons
- Very, very overkill for normal consumer use - it's primarily designed for garages and busineses
24V Series
The best CTEK battery charger for commercial vehicles
It can trickle charge batteries that provide up to 500Ah, making the MXT 14 a brilliantly capable charger that possesses all the qualities of what makes CTEK great. The hot and cold temperature capabilities, build quality, and materials are shared across the whole range.
Pros
- Premium feeling build quality and materials awell as being able to deal with extreme hot and cold tempretures
- Ideal for charging and conditioning batteries up to 24V - rather than the usual 12V
- Easy to navigate with the simple charge indicators
Cons
- Suitable for 24V batteries only - it can't charge 12V batteries as well
The best CTEK battery charger for multiple equipment
It's primarily designed for garage and showroom environments and has an eight-step charging process, much like the other CTEK machines on offer. Because it's designed for indoor environments, you don't get as great waterproof protection, with only an IP20 resistant rating.
Pros
- Easy eight-step charging process which is shared with other CTEK devices, making it ultra-simple to use
- Suitable for both 12V and 24V batteries, increasing its versatility
- Tempreture sensor intrgreated, making it capable in both hot and cold environments
Cons
- Not as waterproof as other CTEK devices, with it only having an IP20 rating
EV Chargers
The best CTEK portable EV charger
Pros
- Very useful item to carry in the back of an EV
- Can be controlled by your phone via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Copes well in extreme temperatures, thanks to cooling tech
Cons
- Will never be as powerful as a rapid charger or similar
CTEK: FAQs about battery chargers
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Are battery/trickle chargers safe to use in the rain?
The best thing you can do is look out for an IP65 waterproof rating when looking for your next car battery charger. An IP65 indicates that a product is splash proof, but not completely waterproof. An IP66 can resist against water pressure, and IP67 is labelled on products that are completely watertight for up to 30 minutes under 1m of water depth.
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What is the difference between the CTEK CT5 and MXS 5.0?
The main difference is the compatibility of the batteries they can charge. The CT5 charges anything between 20 to 160Ah, whereas the MXS 5.0 can happily charge batteries that are as small as 1.2Ah, but still being able to go up to 160Ah units. The CT5 also has a battery countdown indicator which tells you when your battery will be fully charged, via the hour labels on the face of the unit. If you do have capability on your mind, you can read our full guide on battery boosters for large engines here.
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What is the difference between the CTEK MXS 5.0 and 3.8?
If you're shopping for a CTEK battery charger, you will come across these two options at under the £100 mark. The main difference is that the 5.0 comes with a battery reconditioning mode, and the 3.8 doesn't as it uses a slightly more rudimentary pulse maintenance setting - which isn't quite as advanced. The MXS 3.8's battery capabilities are a little smaller as it can only charge batteries with up to a 130Ah capacity, whereas the 5.0 can charge up to 160Ah units.
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Can you leave a CTEK charger on all the time?
If you have one designed for trickle charging, you absolutely can. That's what they're designed for. Many owners of cars that aren't in use for a while at a time tend to use trickle charges to stop the batteries from going flat. CTEK and NOCO are the preferred brands for them, and you will find that many prestige car dealers will use CTEK units to keep their stock in check.
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