Batteries
The best RC battery chargers
The least exciting purchase in this hobby and one of the most consequential. A good charger is faster, safer and looks after the batteries you already paid for.
By Ryder M. · Published September 27, 2026 · Last reviewed
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Buy a balance charger with a built-in power supply. Our pick is the HOTA D6 Pro: it plugs straight into the wall with no separate power brick, charges two packs at once, and has enough balance current to finish quickly. If the car is a Traxxas, the EZ-Peak is the easiest option because Traxxas iD packs configure it automatically.
What balance charging actually does
A LiPo pack contains two or more cells. They drain at slightly different rates, and over time they drift apart — which is where packs get damaged. A balance charger monitors each cell individually through the small white plug on the battery and tops them up evenly. That is the whole job, and it is why you cannot charge a LiPo on a basic wall charger.
Our charger picks
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOTA D6 Pro chargerTwo channels, plugs straight into the wall, and fast enough that charging stops being the bottleneck. | The one to buy once | 8.8 | |
| 2 | Traxxas EZ-Peak chargerThe charger Traxxas itself recommends for its cars, and the one that needs no settings at all. | Traxxas households | 8.5 | |
| 3 | ISDT Q6 Nano chargerPocket-sized and capable, as long as you are patient with the balancing stage. | Small and portable | 8.0 | |
| 4 |  A LiPo-safe charging bagThe cheapest sensible thing you can add to any gift that includes a LiPo battery. | Charging safely | 8.5 |
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#1 · The one to buy once
HOTA D6 Pro charger
Two channels, plugs straight into the wall, and fast enough that charging stops being the bottleneck.
8.8/10our score for this use
A balance charger looks after each cell inside a LiPo pack individually, which is what keeps the battery healthy and safe. The D6 Pro has a built-in power supply — no separate box to buy — charges two packs at once, and around 1.6A of balance current per cell, which is why it finishes noticeably faster than the pocket chargers.
What it does well
- Built-in AC power supply: it works straight out of the box with no extra purchase
- Two independent channels, so a second pack charges while the first is in the car
- Higher balance current than the small chargers, so charging is genuinely quicker
What it does badly
- Overkill if there is only ever going to be one small battery
- The menu system takes an evening to learn
- It is another box on the bench with its own fan noise
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#2 · Traxxas households
Traxxas EZ-Peak charger
The charger Traxxas itself recommends for its cars, and the one that needs no settings at all.
8.5/10our score for this use
Traxxas' own charger. With an iD-equipped Traxxas battery it detects the pack and sets itself, which removes the part of LiPo ownership that worries people most. It charges both NiMH and LiPo.
What it does well
- Automatic setup with Traxxas iD batteries — nothing to configure, nothing to get wrong
- Handles both the NiMH packs that come with entry cars and the LiPo upgrade later
- Stocked wherever Traxxas is sold
What it does badly
- The automatic behavior only applies to Traxxas iD packs
- Single channel, so packs charge one after another
- Costs more than a generic charger of similar output
Specifications from Traxxas' batteries and chargers range.
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#3 · Small and portable
ISDT Q6 Nano charger
Pocket-sized and capable, as long as you are patient with the balancing stage.
8.0/10our score for this use
A very small DC charger — it needs a separate power supply or a 12V source, which is the trade for the size. Its balance current is 0.5A, so it takes its time finishing a large pack, but for one or two small batteries it is more than enough.
What it does well
- Genuinely small, so it travels with the car rather than living on a bench
- Cheaper than a full bench charger
- Plenty of capability for the small packs used by 1/16 and 1/18 cars
What it does badly
- No built-in mains supply: you need a separate power brick, which eats the price advantage
- Slow to finish balancing on large packs
- Only one channel
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#4 · Charging safely
A LiPo-safe charging bag
The cheapest sensible thing you can add to any gift that includes a LiPo battery.
8.5/10our score for this use
A fire-resistant pouch that the battery sits inside while it charges. LiPo batteries very rarely fail, but when they do they do it energetically, and every experienced owner charges inside a bag or a metal tin.
What it does well
- Costs very little and removes the one genuine hazard in this hobby
- Doubles as somewhere to store packs between uses
- Fits any battery, any brand
What it does badly
- Not a magic shield — a charging battery still needs to be attended
- The cheap ones have flimsy zips
- One more thing to remember to use
What to look for
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Built-in AC power supply | Otherwise you also need a separate power brick, which erases any price advantage |
| Two channels | One pack charges while the other is in the car — the difference between a session and an afternoon |
| Balance current | Higher means the balancing stage finishes sooner. The HOTA D6 Pro runs about 1.6A per cell; the pocket ISDT Q6 Nano about 0.5A |
| A storage-charge mode | The single most useful button for battery longevity — see making a battery last longer |
| NiMH support | Needed if the car came with a NiMH pack, which entry hobby cars often do |
Charging safety, in four lines
- Charge in a fire-resistant bag or a metal tin. A LiPo bag costs very little and is the one accessory we would call non-negotiable.
- Never leave a charging battery unattended, and never charge overnight.
- Charge at about 1C — a current equal to the pack's capacity — unless you have a reason not to.
- Never charge a swollen or damaged pack. Dispose of it properly instead.
How we picked
On built-in power supply, channel count and balance current — the three specifications that decide whether charging is a bottleneck. Figures come from the manufacturers' own materials. See our methodology page.