Pipe / Electrical cable detectors

[Zetec-S]

Any recommendations or suggestions for how to locate pipes and cables behind plaster? Our last house was a new build, all plasterboard, and I was reasonably confident that provided I wasn't in line horizontally or vertically with any outlets I'd be fine. We've recently moved into an older property (1950's) which has been added and extended a couple of times, so a mix of traditional plaster and more modern plasterboard, with all sorts of bodges and mystery cable/pipe runs.

Looking online for gadgets seems to be a minefield, with no guarantee a branded model costing hundreds will be any more reliable than a £20 Amazon special. So any advice or recommendations, other than crossing my figures

[Oldred_V8S]

My experience has not been good with these.
I had an extension built and the builder said they were a handy tool to have and that I should purchase one.
I bought one but it detected nothing. I mentioned this to the builder who then admitted that he had forgotten he had used foil backed plasterboard.

[dhutch]

The verdict on these appears very mixed.

For finding screw/steel and hence studs, then a good 'rare earth' magnet can work well.