The Best Apps for Finding Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on the Road

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One of the biggest changes you need to get used to when owning an EV is figuring out where you want to charge it. There are charging network-specific apps like ChargePoint and Electrify America, and apps like PlugShare show you every charger available in your area. But which one is best to have on your phone?

Here's our list of the top 5 best EV charging apps on the iOS and Android app stores.

5. EVgo

EVgo is a charging network that's steadily growing in the United States. We've included its app because it has one of the best UI designs of any app on this list. It directs you to add your electric vehicle upon signup and adjusts the charging filters automatically.

Remember that your home may not be near many EVgo chargers depending on your location. However, this is more of a con of the network itself rather than the mobile app, but it's worth considering regardless.

An interesting aspect of EVgo's application is its Reservations feature. EVgo allows members to reserve a charger at their destination up to 20 minutes before arriving to ensure a charger is available. This feature is only available at certain chargers, and you must pay $3 in advance to reserve.

Though the app looks nice, it is missing some basic features, such as adding a route and bookmarking your favorite chargers. Although EVgo states that it has "more than 850 convenient and reliable fast-charging stations [in the United States]", it's not enough to be a reliable charging network for everyone.

Download: EVgo for Android | iOS (Free)

4. Electrify America

Electrify America has been quickly growing its EV charging network for years now. They're aiming to build 1,700 fast-charging stations (a total of around 10,000 individual chargers) in the United States by 2025.

At the time of writing, Electrify America has 670 charging stations (approximately 2,900 individual CCS fast chargers) spread throughout the country. It's prioritizing clean energy and building the fastest chargers possible, as it thinks about the EV owners first.

Over time, the app has significantly improved; it has many large UI elements, clean animations, and easy-to-use, essential filters. Like the other best charging apps, it directs you to add your EV upon signing up, automatically adjusting which plugs it supports. You can easily change the charger's output, up to 350kW, and filter by currently available chargers.

In the app, you'll find a section to link your Electrify HomeStation. The built-in map will also show how many chargers are available and their prices per kWh or minute.

An EV charging app is only as good as the network itself. Electrify America is quickly building its fast-charging network, and if you're near many of them, you won't be disappointed with the app.

Bookmarking your favorite chargers is quick and easy, and the UI design is perfect for new EV owners. However, we'd like the ability to add your own route to see which chargers are available along the drive.

Download: Electrify America for Android | iOS (Free)

3. Chargeway

Chargeway is a simple yet great app used mainly as a trip planner. Whether you're on your commute or a several hundred-mile road trip, you need a way of finding exactly where working chargers are on your route and if you have enough range to reach them; that's where Chargeway comes in.

First, add your electric vehicle to find appropriate chargers. The app will only show you chargers that work with your car, although it does allow you to find other charging stations as you wish. The Trip Planner is the best part of the app, letting you set your current location, destination, and your vehicle's current battery percentage.

We found that it shows fewer charging stations than other apps, even with the same EV added; however, this may be a good sign that Chargeway plays it safe, only displaying chargers that work with your specific EV.

Download: Chargeway for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Plugshare

PlugShare is one of the most prominent apps on the App Store to find EV chargers. It helps you locate a wide range of vehicle chargers from multiple networks, including the big names such as Electrify America, Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint, and many more.

When you first sign up for a PlugShare account, it directs you to add which EV you own. This is an excellent feature as it will automatically filter chargers that work with your EV without you needing to do anything. The filters also work well, giving you options to narrow your search down to a specific charging speed.

PlugShare lets you add multiple trips to your profile to show you which chargers are available on your route to work, a friend's house, or your upcoming road trip. This is also a great feature for future EV owners to see if charging an all-electric vehicle on their work route is viable for them.

PlugShare is a fantastic app for finding every single EV charger available on your route. However, it could benefit from a nicer-looking UI, animations, and a quick-start guide to help new users navigate the app easier.

Download: PlugShare for Android | iOS (Free)

1. ChargeHub

ChargeHub has a fantastic user interface and helps you locate all the major EV charging networks in your area. When you first open the app, it welcomes you with a map view of all the available chargers around you with four tabs at the bottom of the screen: Map, Trips, Community, and Profile. This clean user interface helps new users navigate the app easily.

The Trips section is easy to use, allowing you to add a charger to your route and use the ChargeHub app for navigation. The app has a fair share of filters you can use without it looking overwhelming, including important ones such as connector type, minimum kW, price, and network.

The Profile section is also pretty straightforward, allowing you to add your EV make and model, view your favorite chargers, saved trips, etc. ChargeHub even includes a charging guide for new EV owners to better understand the different types of chargers, connectors, the pros and cons of various networks, and lots more. This is an excellent sign of an app that thinks about its users first.

The Community section is attractive; it shows the latest activity from users around the globe that use the app, showing when they checked in, chargers they've reviewed, etc.

However, even with location services turned on, ChargeHub still wants to show users in Maine, Ontario, Canada, California, and other faraway places. Several apps attempt a similar way of connecting EV owners, but we believe there should be a better way of doing so.

Overall, ChargeHub is the best on our list, with a beautiful user interface, accurate info on available chargers, and every feature you could ask for in an EV charger app.

Download: ChargeHub for Android | iOS (Free)

The Perfect App for EV Owners Doesn't Exist Yet

Although ChargeHub is one of the best overall EV charger locaters on the Play Store and the App Store, it doesn't do everything in one application. If you get a home charger, you'll need to use the manufacturer's app to use additional features. For instance, if you get an Electrify America HomeStatation, you could use its app to locate public chargers and use HomeStation features, but it doesn't show any other charging networks in its app.

The perfect application with a great user interface, useful trip planner, filters, the ability to pay for any charger through the app, and connecting your home charger regardless of the brand is not available yet. But we believe that incredible software will eventually make its way as the world of electric vehicles grow in the upcoming years.

10 Best Electric Vehicle Charging Map Apps to Download in 2024

Although most areas have gas stations on every corner, finding an EV charging station can be challenging. New drivers who may not realize there are tricks to planning their route before they leave home are the ones who suffer the most. Luckily, there are plenty of useful apps that can help you navigate with a full charge, no matter where you are going. Here we have listed the top 10 best electric vehicle charging map apps for this year and beyond, so you can try them to see which one works best for you.

ChargePoint

ChargePoint promises access to thousands of places to charge whether you are in North America or Europe. The easy-to-use app shows you places where you can get a charge based on price and speed. If there is a fee, you can pay for the charge from your phone or card. Beyond that, you can immediately see how much money youre saving by using the map.

ChargeHub

On the ChargeHub app, you can find charging stations wherever you are. It allows you to see whether there is space available for you to use, the level of the station, stations that are compatible with your vehicle, and more. There are stations along the east coast, west coast, southern states, and scattered throughout the central U.S. You can plan your trips based on where a charge is most easily located. Additionally, if you need a charger for your home, it can help you find the best deals.

Chargemap

With Chargemap, your smartphone becomes a route planner that shows you the shortest distance to the nearest charging station. It gives you access to the Chargemap community, where other drivers will help each other out. The company was established in 2009 when the founder, Yoann, needed a charge and couldnt find one. However, the company didnt really kick off until 2011, when documenting charge terminals became possible. Since the map shows any charging station, it is good no matter where you are in the United States.

Charge Way

The Charge Way EV map has many features that many will find helpful. It shows you quick views and station details and allows you to set filters. There is even a charge timer to keep track of how much time you will spend at the charging station based on the remaining charge and power levels. The map and charging stations on this app are color-coded to further simplify your travels, so you know where to go for the best charge for your Tesla, CCS Combo, or CHAdeMO charge ports.

EV Connect

Since 2009, EV Connect has provided reliable charge support to electric vehicles. The company has an app trusted by many and a customer support team that is always available. With this app, you can find out where the nearest charge is based on your location, the provided power levels, and how easily EV Connect can be accessed.

EVgo

EVgo charging stations are available in 35 states, and the company promises that there are over 800 stations, with more being added. Primarily, EVgo stations are available all along the east coast but are scattered in locations and states across the country. Since the company opened in 2010, it has promised affordability and reliability to over 300,000 customers.

EVmatch

EVmatch is a peer-to-peer charging network accessible virtually all over the United States. The company strives to make charging easy, reliable, and accessible to everyone who has an electric vehicle. One thing that sets it apart from most charging companies and apps is that EVmatch allows you to reserve a charging spot.

EV Hotels

With the EV Hotels app, you can plan the perfectly charged road trip because it shows you where to stay and where to charge. It makes it possible for you to enjoy over 25,000 EV Hotels and 100,000 roadside charging stations, no matter where you are in the world. If there isnt a hotel that offers charges, the app can show you places to charge up within walking distance.

Open Charge Map

The Open Charge Map app is exactly as it sounds, a map showing you all the nearby locations of EV stations you can use. It allows users to travel based on locations that enable you to charge up and see photos, ratings, and comments from people who have used the station before. The app claims that it has the most extensive public registry of EV charging stations available, and it is suitable for all over the United States.

PlugShare

PlugShare allows you to find EV stations and see photos of how busy nearby locations are in real-time. There are tips and tricks for drivers to use to make charging more effortless, which is excellent for new electric vehicle owners. With it, you can filter out stations that will not charge your vehicle, ensuring you do not waste your time waiting on a charge at a station that will not work for your electric car.