The multifunction tester is the single most expensive tool most electricians will ever buy, and the one you live with for a decade. Get it right and it disappears into the job — quick, reliable, trusted by the QS who signs off your certs. Get it wrong and you fight it on every install. Two names dominate the UK van: Fluke and Megger. Both make excellent instruments, both are trusted for BS 7671 initial verification and periodic inspection, and both cost enough that you want to be sure before you commit.
This is a straight comparison for working sparks deciding where their money goes. We look at the flagship installation testers from each — the Fluke 1664 FC and the Megger MFT1741+ — plus where each brand sits above and below those, so you can match the tester to the work you actually do.
Our quick verdict
Buy Megger if you want the familiar UK workhorse at the sharper price. The MFT range is what a huge share of British electricians learned on, the layout is intuitive, and features like TrueLoop and the Confidence Meter make everyday testing quick. At roughly £900 to £1,200 for a kit it typically undercuts the equivalent Fluke, and for domestic and general commercial work it does everything you need.
Buy Fluke if you want the fastest workflow and app-connected results. The 1664 FC’s automated insulation test sequence and Fluke Connect wireless logging genuinely save time on bigger jobs and periodic inspections where you are recording a lot of results. You pay more — around £1,100 to £1,400 for a kit — but for volume testing and anyone who values the ecosystem, it earns it.
Honestly, both are safe buys. Neither will let you down, and the choice comes down to price, workflow and which layout your thumbs already know.
At a glance: Fluke 1664 FC vs Megger MFT1741+
| Fluke 1664 FC | Megger MFT1741+ | Winner | |
| Display | Backlit, Fluke Connect app | Monochrome, no Bluetooth | Fluke |
| Auto test sequence | Yes — full insulation auto test | Confidence Meter, TrueLoop | Draw |
| Data / wireless | Fluke Connect Bluetooth | USB download only | Fluke |
| Loop testing | Fast, no-trip loop | TrueLoop, no-trip | Draw |
| Build & feel | Robust, heavier | Rugged, familiar layout | Megger |
| Approx price (kit) | £1,100–£1,400 | £900–£1,200 | Megger |
Prices are indicative UK kit prices inclusive of VAT at the time of writing and move with retailer and bundle. Always confirm the current price and what is in the kit — leads, proving unit, clamp and case make a real difference to value.
The Fluke range
Fluke 1664 FC — the connected flagship
The 1664 FC is Fluke’s top installation tester. Its headline is the automated insulation test sequence, which runs the full set of insulation resistance tests in one go rather than making you step through each conductor pairing manually — Fluke reckon it cuts testing time meaningfully on a full install. It also has an insulation pre-test that warns you if a load is still connected before you apply the test voltage, which saves the odd embarrassing pop. Fluke Connect sends results to your phone over Bluetooth so you can build certs without scribbling numbers into a pad.
Fluke 1663 — the same tester without the connectivity
If you like the Fluke feel but do not care about the app or the auto-sequence, the 1663 gives you the core testing capability for less. For a lot of domestic sparks it is the sensible Fluke to buy — you lose the wireless logging and the fastest workflow but keep the accuracy and build.
The Megger range
Megger MFT1741+ — the UK standard
The MFT1741+ is the mid-range Megger that sits in more UK vans than almost anything else. Monochrome display, USB data download rather than Bluetooth, and a layout that generations of electricians already know cold. TrueLoop gives accurate loop readings on modern supplies, the Confidence Meter helps you trust a reading rather than second-guess it, and the no-trip loop testing keeps RCDs happy. It does not have the app polish of the Fluke, but it is quick, rugged and dependable, and it typically costs less.
Megger MFT-X1 and MFT1845 — stepping up
If you want Megger with a colour touchscreen, Bluetooth and the fastest workflow the brand offers, the MFT-X1 and MFT1845 are the premium models. They close the connectivity gap with Fluke and add genuinely nice features, but they also push the price up toward and past the Fluke — so only worth it if you will use the extra capability.
Head to head
Speed and workflow
This is where the Fluke 1664 FC pulls ahead. The automated insulation sequence and app logging shave real time off a big install or a periodic inspection with a lot of circuits. The Megger MFT1741+ is quick in the hand but you step through more of it manually and download over USB at the end rather than syncing as you go. For low volumes it is a wash; for high volumes the Fluke’s workflow tells.
Display and data
The Fluke’s backlit display and Fluke Connect app are clearly ahead of the MFT1741+’s monochrome screen and USB-only download. If wireless results and cert software integration matter to how you work, that is a point to Fluke. If you are happy typing numbers into your cert package at the end of the day, it is a non-issue and you are paying for something you will not use.
Build and ergonomics
Both are built to survive a working van. The Megger layout is the one most UK electricians find instantly familiar, which counts for a lot when you are testing under time pressure. The Fluke is robust and well made but a touch heavier, and if you have not used one before there is a short learning curve.
Price and kit
Megger usually comes in cheaper for a comparable kit — roughly £900 to £1,200 against the Fluke’s £1,100 to £1,400 at the time of writing. Watch what the kit includes: a proving unit, a decent set of leads, a two-wire lead or remote probe, a clamp and a hard case all add value, and a bare instrument that looks cheap can cost more once you have bought the bits.
Calibration and support
Both brands have solid UK calibration and service networks, which matters because your tester needs certified calibration to keep your certs valid — usually annually. Neither has a real disadvantage here; factor a calibration in your running costs whichever you choose.
Which should you buy?
If you are a domestic or general commercial spark who wants a trusted tester at a keen price, the Megger MFT1741+ is the safe, sensible pick and it is what half the trade already uses. If you do high volumes of testing, periodic inspections with a lot of circuits, or you want app-based results feeding straight into your cert software, the Fluke 1664 FC’s speed and connectivity are worth the extra. And if budget is tight but you want Fluke build, the 1663 or a standard Megger MFT lower in the range will still see you right for years.
Whatever you buy, this is a decade-long tool. Buy the one whose workflow suits how you actually test, get it calibrated on schedule, and it will pay for itself many times over.
FAQs
Is Fluke or Megger better for UK electricians?
Neither is outright better — both meet BS 7671 requirements and both are trusted across the UK trade. Megger tends to be more familiar and slightly cheaper; Fluke tends to have the faster, more connected workflow. Choose on price and how you like to work.
How much does a good multifunction tester cost in 2026?
Expect roughly £900 to £1,400 for a professional installation tester kit from either brand at the time of writing, depending on model and what is in the kit. Cheaper testers exist but for professional certification work these flagship models are the standard.
Do I need Bluetooth on a multifunction tester?
Only if you want results syncing straight to an app and into your cert software. It genuinely speeds up high-volume testing, but plenty of electricians happily record results manually or via USB and never miss it. Do not pay for it if you will not use it.
How often does a multifunction tester need calibrating?
Typically once a year, and you should keep the calibration certificate — some clients and schemes will want to see it to accept your test results. Budget for annual calibration in your running costs whichever brand you choose.
The bottom line
Both Fluke and Megger make testers you can trust for a decade. The Megger MFT1741+ is the value-and-familiarity pick that suits most UK electricians; the Fluke 1664 FC is the faster, app-connected tool for anyone doing serious volumes of testing. Match it to your work, keep it calibrated, and you will not regret either.
