Multimeters (DMMs)

The instrument you reach for first. A good DMM resolves the questions a scope can't answer cheaply (true RMS AC, low-current, milliohm, capacitance) and a great one stays calibrated for years. Pair with Oscilloscopes for transients, Power Supplies for sourcing, and Component Testers for parts on the bench. For the boards you're measuring see PCB / EDA Suites; for parts to characterize see Datasheet & Part Aggregators.

Handheld — best $/value

• ★ Brymen BM235 / BM257s / BM257 — the EEVblog-anointed value pick for a decade and still the right answer in 2026. True-RMS, fast continuity, low burden voltage, excellent build. ~$100–$150. Made in Taiwan.
• ★ Brymen BM867s / BM869s — bench-grade 50,000-count handhelds. ~$300. The right move if you want one DMM forever.
• Fluke 87V / 87V MAX — the legacy gold standard. Bulletproof, calibrated forever, 4½ digits. Expensive (~$500+) and arguably outclassed on raw specs by Brymen, but resale value is real and CAT-rating is genuine.
• Fluke 117 / 115 / 101 — the cheaper Fluke handhelds. Fine but the Brymen BM235 outperforms the 117 at half the price.
• UNI-T UT61E+ / UT139C — solid mid-budget Chinese DMMs; UT61E+ is a perennial $80 recommendation.
• Aneng AN8009 / AN870 — the "$25 DMM that's shockingly OK." Buy two as glovebox / loaner units; don't trust them with mains.
• AMprobe AM-220 / AM-160-A — Fluke's value sub-brand; OK but uninspiring.

Bench DMMs

• ★ Owon XDM2041 / XDM3041 — 4½–6½ digit bench DMMs at ~$300–$600. Surprisingly capable for the money; SCPI over USB and LAN. The hobbyist bench-DMM upgrade.
• ★ Siglent SDM3045X / SDM3055 / SDM3065X — 4½ to 6½ digits, well-built, SCPI, LAN. The Rigol/Siglent house-brand bench DMM most labs end up with.
• Rigol DM3058 / DM3068 — older-generation 5½ / 6½ digit bench meters; still sold, still fine.
• Keithley 2000 / DMM6500 / DMM7510 — Tektronix's premium bench DMMs. The DMM7510 is a 7½-digit graphical sampling DMM and is genuinely amazing if you can justify $2k+.
• Keysight 34461A / 34465A / 34470A — the Truevolt line. Premium, 6½–7½ digits, well-supported.
• HP 3478A / 34401A (used) — the immortal bench DMMs of the '90s; still calibratable, still excellent on eBay.

Wireless / app-connected

• Mooshimeter — BLE 2-channel meter; Android/iOS app graphs both channels live. Niche but the only thing of its kind under $150.
• Fluke 3000 FC / Connect — Fluke's wireless module ecosystem; works but lock-in.
• Owon OW18E — Bluetooth handheld; cheap and the app is OK.

License / pricing notes

• All bench DMMs above expose SCPI over USB-TMC and/or LXI/LAN — drive them from Python with pyvisa (see Instrument Software). No paid software required.
• Brymen publishes optical-isolated UART logging cables; protocol is reverse-engineered with FOSS tools.
• Fluke software (FlukeView Forms) is closed and license-fee'd; not needed for the meter to work.
• CAT ratings matter on real mains work; cheap DMMs lie about CAT-IV. Believe Fluke / Brymen, distrust the rest.

Pick this if…

• Best handheld $/value, 2026: Brymen BM235 (or BM257s for the upgrade).
• Lifetime tool, premium handheld: Brymen BM869s or Fluke 87V.
• Bench DMM under $400: Owon XDM2041 or Siglent SDM3045X.
• Bench DMM forever: Keithley DMM6500 / Keysight 34465A.
• Used-eBay bargain, calibratable: HP 34401A.
• Two-channel logging on your phone: Mooshimeter.
• $25 throwaway / loaner: Aneng AN8009.