Is a battery tester better than a multimeter? Multimeters can be useful if you don't need the most accurate charge reading, but if you do require a precise measurement, a battery tester is the way to go. Many testers apply a greater load on the battery due to having a low impedance; this affects how much of a voltage load can be applied. Most batteries can still carry some voltage even when depleted, which is why a battery tester is generally more accurate.