Best Car Charger in 2020 (August Reviews)

To help you find the best car charger available today to keep your devices charged on the go, we spent over 12 hours testing 25 different options. We plugged each of the car chargers we purchased into our cars and used them to charge our phones, measuring them on their ability to quickly charge each device, keep cables securely plugged in and protect your devices from overheating and other damage. We also measured each charger based on their versatility in charging multiple devices simultaneously.

As a result of our testing, we’ve picked the HUSSELL car charger to fill our top spot. With its fast charging functionality and built-in protection from overcharging, this compact charger is the most convenient and effective option on our list. Keep on reading to learn more about the HUSSELL car charger and the other charging devices we selected as our winners for this list.

Top 6 Best Car Chargers

 #1  HUSSELL Car Charger – Top Pick

WHY WE LIKE IT: The HUSSELL car charger is powerful, versatile and durable, making it an easy choice for our top pick spot. This is a high-quality car charger that can charge a wide variety of devices, up to two at a time.

The HUSSELL car charger features dual ports for simultaneous charging, a standard feature that you’ll see in most of the chargers on our list. However, it offers both a Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port for fast charging purposes. Both ports performed excellently, but we favored the Quick Charge USB port since it could juice up our phone in a short time period. You also get universal compatibility with this charger, so you can charge both Android and iOS devices without problem.

The HUSSELL fast car charger is also designed well with a compact body that sits almost entirely flush against your car’s dashboard. Each of the USB ports is also lit with LED lights, but the lights weren’t as bright as we had hoped. This isn’t too big of a deal, since you can still see the ports, even at night, but some of the chargers on our list are brighter. We were most impressed with the HUSSELL’s internal intelligent adaptive technology, which senses what kind of device is plugged in to provide the fastest charge possible. It also protects your devices from overheating and over-charging. A charger may not be a cosmetic upgrade, like the best car floor mats, but it will keep you on the road.

 #2  Maxboost  with SmartUSB Port Car Charger – Honorable Mention

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Maxboost car charger with SmartUSB Port is a simple, yet efficient option that offers two USB-A ports and an extra durable design. If you’re looking for a tough car charger that can take a drop or two, look no further.

Read Full Review: Maxboost Car Charger

The best thing we noticed about the Maxboost car charger is its unassuming and durable design. This isn’t the flashiest charger out there, but it’s built with durability and drop resistance in mind. The protective framing absorbs the shock from drops and bumps so you don’t have to worry about the internal components getting damaged in an accident. This extra-protective casing does make the Maxboost a little larger than the competition, but not so much to be obtrusive in your car by any means.

With two 12 watt USB ports, the unit charges two devices at once. It’s also a universal car charger, including smartphones, tablets and even portable cameras. While we wish the Maxboost offered some kind of fast charging, the two ports it does include are still more than enough to get the job done. They’re both SmartUSB ports, so they can adjust the amount of power output necessary to charge your device in the fastest way possible. Each port is light with bright blue LED lights, as well, which made plugging devices in at night so much easier. This and the best car jack will help you keep your car running good.

 #3  AmazonBasics Coiled Cable Lightning Car Charger – Best iPhone

WHY WE LIKE IT: The AmazonBasics Coiled Cable Lightning car charger is about as simple as it gets; a lightning car charger that gets the job done as efficiently as any other charger on our list.

The AmazonBasics lightning car charger has one purpose and one purpose alone: charge all the Apple devices and keep them charged while you’re on the go in your car. Of course, this unfortunately means it will only work for Apple devices and not anything else. You can also only charge a single device at a time. However, these drawbacks are really easy to overlook when you consider just how well the AmazonBasics charger does its job. It charges quickly and efficiently so you’re never out of touch during the day.

The coiled cable is reminiscent of traditional car chargers. You won’t have to buy your own USB cable after buying this charger, and you’ll get a total of 1.5 feet of coiled length and 3.9 feet of stretched out length. The cable is a little stiff when you first start using the charger, but over time it gets more flexible. If you need a car charger without all the frills, you can’t go wrong with the AmazonBasics coiled car charger. The best garage lighting will help you see everything when fixing your car.

 #4  RAVPower Mini Dual USB Car Adapter – Best Budget

WHY WE LIKE IT: The RAVPower Mini Dual USB car charger is the most compact option on our list, and it doesn’t sacrifice power and efficiency for that small size. If you want a car charger that sits flush with your dash, this is it.

Read Full Review: RAVPower Mini Dual USB Car Adapter Review

The RAVPower Mini car charger is by far the most compact and portable car chargers on our list. Measuring in at only 2.2 inches long and 0.8 inches wide, the RAVPower 24W charger is literally the size of a thumb and sits almost entirely flush against your car’s cigarette lighter port. This tight fit can make for some difficulty in removing the charger once you’re done with it, but the versatility far outweighs that aspect.

Neither of the dual USB ports are fast chargers, but they feature iSmart 2.0, RAVPower’s proprietary intelligent charging technology that optimizes the flow of energy into your device so you get as fast a charge as possible with a 2.4A USB port. The overall charger is designed with durability in mind, too, with its aluminum alloy body that is resistant to scratches and dings. If you’re searching for the smallest car charger your money can buy, look no further than the RAVPower Mini. You can use it under the best carport or anywhere.

 #5  AUKEY Car Charger – Best Quality

WHY WE LIKE IT: The AUKEY car charger offers tons of value and quality through certified dual fast charging USB 3.0 ports and tons of protection from over charging and overheating.

Read Full Review: AUKEY Car Charger

The AUKEY car charger is the best fast charging option on our list, especially since it offers dual Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 USB ports. This way, no matter what device you plug into which port, you’ll be getting a fast charge. The car charger works with both Android and Apple devices and its adaptive charging technology adjusts the power flow to give each individual device exactly the amount it needs for the most efficient charge.

This car charger also excels at protecting your devices during charging. It uses a proprietary technology called EntireProtect to prevent your phone from overheating and overcharging. Once the AUKEY car charger is done charging your phone, it will stop the charging process to prevent excess current from ruining your phone’s battery. Just keep in mind that this charger isn’t quite as durable as other options and it’s larger than others, too. However, these are minimal downsides when you consider the overall benefit this charger provides you. For quick jumps, you’ll need the best jump starter.

 #6  SCOSCHE USBC242M Revolt Car Charger – Best Dual USB

WHY WE LIKE IT: The SCOSCHE USBC242M Revolt car charger is low profile, lightweight and compact, with two LED USB ports which makes plugging devices in the dark easy.

Read Full Review: SCOSCHE USBC242M Review

One of the best features on the SCOSCHE USBC242M Revolt car charger is its “Perfect Charge” technology, which automatically detects the kind of device currently plugged in and adjusts the power output accordingly, up to a total of 2.4 amp output. Unfortunately, this isn’t technically fast charging, but it still charges devices as quick as possible for their individual batteries.

We were also impressed with the compact and portable size of the SCOSCHE Revolt charger. The dual port USB car charger is one of the smallest options on our list with its low profile design, and it sits almost entirely flat against your car’s cigarette lighter. This low profile design can make it a little more difficult to remove the charger from the cigarette lighter, but for the most part, the majority of people simply leave the unit plugged in.

How We Decided

When we first started researching the best car chargers, all of the options seemed too similar, but as we dug a little deeper, we started to find more nuanced differences between them. For starters, we looked for chargers that offered the most versatility in power output and port availability. Most people have more than one device they need to charge and will benefit from being able to charge two devices while they’re on the go, and the best car chargers should be able to handle that. This is especially true for family road trips where everyone has a smart device that needs charging. Therefore, we preferred models that allowed users to charge two devices at once.

We also focused on chargers that offered some kind of quick charge capability, whether it was through a USB-C port or a Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port. This isn’t a 100% necessity, but it’s always helpful to have faster charging capacity, especially when it’s more likely that you’ll be driving for a few minutes at a time instead of hours at a time.

Finally, we only included car chargers of the highest quality on our list of top picks. It does you no good to have a port go out just a week into using the device. Most car chargers are pretty inconspicuous and fit almost flush against your car’s dashboard, but there are still plenty of ways they can get broken, especially when you’re constantly plugging and unplugging. This is why we only included car chargers that were the least likely to break with heavy daily usage.

Best Car Charger Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

1. Port Availability and Type
   Car chargers are only useful if they can effectively charge your device while you’re driving around, and we recommend options that offer more than one port. The best car chargers offer at least two charging ports, but there are some options that offer even more. Most car chargers offer USB-A ports, which is the most commonly used charging cable today. However, USB-C is becoming more and more popular, so keep your eye out for USB-C ports on newer car chargers. We didn’t include any USB-C car chargers on our list this time, but that may change as they become more widely used. Another area we didn’t focus on for this round of reviews is wireless charging pads. This is very brand new and cutting-edge, but we found that the tech is still fairly expensive when compared to leading car chargers available today and not as efficient or fast as USB car chargers.
2. Power Output
   The amount of power your charger can funnel into your phone is another important piece to the puzzle when it comes to buying the best car charger. By today’s standards, you shouldn’t purchase a car charger that outputs anything lower than 12 watts, or 5V/2.4A). Anything lower than this will charge slower than you should come to expect. Of course, the type of port can have a huge effect on charge speed. USB-A ports should offer more than 12 watts, but USB-C ports should offer between 18 watts and 45 watts. Many USB-A car chargers also offer a QuickCharge 3.0 port that can charge compatible devices much faster than the standard.
3. Build Quality/Design
   If you’re buying a car charger, it’s likely that you’re going to be using it a lot. Maybe you’re an Uber driver or simply travel a lot for work. Whatever your reason, you’ll want to be sure your charger can take a beating. As such, you should only purchase a car charger that is designed well and with durable materials. We’ve taken up the responsibility for finding the most durable options on the market, and accounted for that in our testing. The charger you buy should be able to handle being plugged in and unplugged multiple times a day, and its ports should be able to handle the same.

FAQs

•  What is the most powerful USB car charger?
  The most powerful USB car charger offers the fastest charge and the ability to output enough power for even the most energy hungry devices like iPads. Chargers that rank highest for power are often USB-C chargers, so if you’re looking purely for power, we’d recommend a USB-C option.
• Do car chargers drain your car’s battery?
  Simply put, yes, car chargers do drain your car’s battery, but not to the extent you might think. Some car batteries constantly provide power to the cigarette lighter socket, while others shut off that power when the car is turned off. Others have a timer that shuts the socket off a few minutes after the car is shut down. However, in any case, car chargers have such little power drain that you should have no worries keeping your car charger plugged in all the time.
• Can car chargers damage your phone?
  There is always a possibility of a car charger damaging your phone, but the best car chargers regulate their power output to a degree that you shouldn’t have to worry about it. You get what you pay for, so we recommend buying a high-quality car charger, even if it is a little more expensive. That way you won’t have to worry about buying a whole new phone just because you skimped on a few dollars for the cheaper car charger.