ESR Meters Compared: 3 Listings
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This review compares three ESR meter listings from the source packet. The multimeter listings that came with the same packet belong to a different product type, so they are not ranked here, and the keyword’s multimeter side is therefore not answered by these listings. Each listing states its own measurement format, so the figures below cannot be placed on one scale without care. Use the table to match each listing to the capacitor or component work you plan to do, then read each product section for the exact wording of its claims. The listing figures come from the packet dated 2026-10-20 and were not checked against live product pages.
Quick answer
For ESR checks on capacitors that remain mounted in a circuit, the GME Model 236 gives the most measurement detail of the three. Its listing states a 100 kHz test frequency, a 15 mVp-p test voltage, and ESR measurement on capacitors from 0.47 µF to 2200 µF, in or out of circuit. The Signstek MESR-100 V2 puts its ESR span, 0.01R to 100R, in the title and gives no test frequency. The BSIDE ESR02 PRO is a transistor and component tester whose title names ESR, so confirm its functions against your own work before buying it for ESR checks alone.
Comparison table
| Listing | ASIN | Test figures the listing states | Power and size as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signstek MESR-100 V2 ESR meter | B00GYSFOM6 | ESR span 0.01R to 100R (title); minimum operating voltage 15 millivolts | Battery powered; 8 ounces |
| GME Professional in-circuit ESR tester, Model 236 | B01BYKXMI6 | 100 kHz test frequency; 15 mVp-p test voltage; capacitors 0.47 µF to 2200 µF | Battery or AC adapter; 1 pound; 6 x 3.5 x 2 inches |
| BSIDE ESR02 PRO transistor and component tester | B07CWTFQ52 | ESR named in title; printed typical ESR value guide; no test frequency stated | 9-volt battery; 4.8 ounces; 5.43 x 3.19 x 1.73 inches |
What ESR means in these listings
The GME bullets define ESR as equivalent series resistance and describe the tester as measuring it on capacitors in or out of circuit. That definition matters for the comparison because a meter can read a capacitor’s ESR only within the span and test conditions its listing states. The Signstek listing uses the same term in its title and bullets but does not define it. The BSIDE listing mentions ESR through a printed table of typical values for electrolytic capacitors, which the listing calls a guide for standard grade parts at room temperature.
Reading these listings side by side shows that the terms do not carry the same meaning across all three products. One listing gives a frequency, one gives a span, and one gives a reference table. A buyer who wants to compare them should first decide which of those three kinds of figure matters for the work at hand.
Signstek MESR-100 V2 ESR Meter
The listing title reads ESR Meter, Capacitor Tester/Low Ohm Meter with the span 0.01R-100R. The bullets describe a dual-terminal design with a printed ESR table for quick checks, and they describe auto-ranging capacitor ESR and low ohm measurement. The item highlights mention automatic ranging in circuit and a 2026 upgraded test clip. The spec list gives the measurement type as LCR Meter, a minimum operating voltage of 15 millivolts, battery power, and an item weight of 8 ounces. The listing does not state a test frequency or a capacitance range.
Check the Signstek MESR-100 V2 listing on Amazon
GME Professional in-circuit ESR tester, Model 236
This is the only one of the three listings that states a test frequency and a test voltage. The bullets give a microprocessor-generated 100 kHz output test frequency and a 15 mVp-p output test voltage, and they say the test voltage will not turn on solid-state devices during testing. The listing also says the tester discharges the capacitor under test automatically, sounds a buzzer that announces the ESR range, and calibrates itself on power-up with no manual zero. Its probe is described as non-polarity dependent, with gold-plated tweezers tips and an extra-long cable.
The spec list gives battery power or an AC adapter, a weight of 1 pound, dimensions of 6 x 3.5 x 2 inches, and the standards UL 61010-1, CE marking, and RoHS compliance. The listing describes the unit as designed and engineered in the USA. That is the listing’s own claim, and this review does not verify it.
Read the GME Model 236 listing on Amazon
BSIDE ESR02 PRO transistor and component tester
The BSIDE listing is built around component testing, with ESR as one of several functions. Its bullets list NPN and PNP transistors, N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs, diodes, thyristors, resistors, capacitors, and inductors as devices the unit identifies automatically. It also lists plug-in and SMD devices as compatible. The title includes ESR, and the listing includes a table of typical ESR values for electrolytic capacitors, which it labels as guidance only.
The listing gives a 9-volt battery, an auto power-off 20 seconds after measurement, and a warning to discharge a capacitor before testing it. It also says the battery should be replaced when it drops under 6 volts, so the 9-volt rating is not the full working range. The spec list gives a minimum operating voltage of 9 volts and dimensions of 5.43 x 3.19 x 1.73 inches. The listing does not state an ESR span or a test frequency, which limits how far it can be compared with the two dedicated ESR meters above.
See the BSIDE ESR02 PRO listing on Amazon
How this review chose its products
The packet for this post held twelve general multimeter-family listings and three listings that match an ESR meter. Only the three ESR-type listings are used, because the title names ESR meters and those three share one measuring purpose. The multimeter listings are a different product type and are left out rather than ranked against ESR testers. The packet did not include a price or a rating for any listing, and this review does not add either one. No unit was bought or tested for this post.
Two of the three listings describe in-circuit use. The Signstek bullet highlights automatic ranging in circuit, and the GME listing says its measurements work in or out of circuit. The BSIDE listing says it handles plug-in and SMD devices, which is a different kind of use. Matching the listing to the board layout is therefore the first filter, before span or frequency.
Worked example: comparing the stated numeric ranges
Three numbers from the listings can be put on one line. The Signstek title gives an ESR span of 0.01R to 100R, a ratio of 10,000 to 1 (100 divided by 0.01). The GME listing gives a capacitor range of 0.47 µF to 2200 µF, a ratio of about 4,681 to 1 (2200 divided by 0.47). Those two ratios measure different things, one resistance span and one capacitance span, so they should not be ranked against each other.
The GME test voltage of 15 mVp-p and the Signstek minimum operating voltage of 15 millivolts are the same number stated for two different things. A buyer who reads them as one shared specification would misread both listings, so each label should be checked on its own line.
What the listings do not say
None of the three listings states an ESR accuracy percentage, so accuracy cannot be compared from the listing data. The Signstek and BSIDE listings do not state a test frequency or a test voltage. The BSIDE typical ESR table is described as guidance for standard grade electrolytic capacitors at room temperature, not as a calibration reference. No listing states how its readings change with battery level, beyond the BSIDE battery warning.
The listings also do not say which capacitor types each unit handles best. Before buying for work on a specific board, compare each stated range with the component values you expect to test. For a wider view of capacitor testers, see the best capacitor tester guide and the best ESR tester guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ESR meter the same thing as a multimeter?
No. The three listings in this review are ESR and capacitor testers. The multimeter listings in the same packet are a different product type and were not ranked here.
What ESR range does the Signstek listing state?
The listing title states 0.01R-100R. The bullets describe auto-ranging capacitor ESR and low ohm measurement, but they do not give a separate accuracy figure.
What test frequency does the GME tester use?
The listing states a microprocessor-generated 100 kHz output test frequency and a 15 mVp-p output test voltage.
Does any listing state an ESR accuracy?
No. None of the three listings states an ESR accuracy percentage, so accuracy cannot be compared from the listing data.
Can the BSIDE listing be used for ESR checks?
Its title names ESR and it includes a printed typical ESR value guide, but the listing describes the unit mainly as a transistor and component tester. Check its functions against your own work before buying it for ESR checks alone.
Conclusion
Of the three ESR-type listings in this packet, the GME Model 236 states the most measurement detail, with a test frequency, a test voltage, and a capacitor range. The Signstek listing puts a single ESR span in its title and little else. The BSIDE listing is best read as a component tester whose title mentions ESR. Choose by the figures each listing actually states, and check the product page for anything the packet does not include. For a wider set of ESR meters, see the best ESR meter guide.
Listing links
These links go to the three listings reviewed above.
