Planning a road trip in your EV? It's a whole new ball game! Forget just checking gas prices, you need an app that shows you charging stations, their availability, and how much they cost. With so many apps out there, it can be tough to choose. That's why we've rounded up the best 8 EV route planning apps for Android and iPhone, covering everything from finding charging stations to optimizing your route and even helping you pay for your charges.
We've tried and tested a bunch of apps and our top 3 picks are PlugShare, ChargePoint, and Chargemap. Each app has unique features, so we'll break down what makes them stand out, and which one might be the perfect fit for your electric adventures.
| App | Logo | Available On | Reviews | Downloads | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. PlugShare |  | Android, iOS | 4.5/5 | 3M+ | Accurate EV charging station map, Detailed station information |
| 2. ChargePoint |  | Android, iOS | 4.5/5 | 2M+ | Real-time station availability, Roaming partner network |
| 3. Chargemap |  | Android, iOS | 4.6/5 | 1M+ | 500,000+ charge points, Covers most European networks |
| 4. A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) |  | Android, iOS | 3.7/5 | 783K+ | Real-time trip updates, EV-specific navigation, Detailed charging information |
| 5. EVgo |  | Android, iOS | 4.4/5 | 543K+ | Find nearby chargers, Real-time charger details, Reserve and charge |
| 6. Electrify America |  | Android, iOS | 4.6/5 | 378K+ | Real-time charger availability, Remote charging start/stop |
| 7. Chargehub EV & Tesla Charging |  | Android, iOS | 4.9/5 | 232K+ | Finds EV charging stations, Gets driving directions |
1. PlugShare
Locate charging stations globally, Plan EV routes with charging stops
Cost:
Free (Free), PlugShare Premium ($12.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | EV route planning app |
| Downloads | Over 2.6 million downloads |
| Features | PlugShare helps EV drivers find charging stations, plan routes, track charging history, and connect with other EV drivers. |
| Who It’s For | Electric vehicle drivers |
- Tags:
- Accurate EV charging map
- Detailed station information
- Filter by plug type & speed
PlugShare is a robust EV route planning app that empowers drivers to navigate the world of electric charging with ease. While its intuitive interface sometimes requires a refresher after a period of disuse, the app shines in its ability to locate charging stations, filter by network and charger type, and even initiate charges on some networks. It's essentially the GasBuddy for EV drivers, providing valuable information like station availability and user-submitted reviews and photos. While the app could benefit from a streamlined user experience and more detailed charging data, its focus on helping EV drivers find reliable charging options on the road makes it a valuable resource for the growing electric vehicle community.
Pros & Cons
- Good EV charger data
- Shows chargers in area
- Filters networks and types
- Initiates charges on networks
- Doesn't show charger count
- Doesn't show charging rates
- Filter by charge rate is poor
Why we chose it?
I'm a huge fan of PlugShare for planning EV road trips! It's packed with features like user-submitted reviews and photos of charging stations, making it easy to find the best spots. Plus, it's got an amazing community of EV drivers sharing tips and advice, which makes the whole experience more fun and less stressful. And best of all, it helps me find the fastest and most convenient charging options along the way.
✨ Read more: app for trip planning
2. ChargePoint
Find charging stations along route, Real-time availability and pricing
Download:
Application information
| Category | EV route planning app |
| Downloads | Over 1.5 million downloads |
| Features | The ChargePoint app provides real-time station availability, charging progress tracking, payment processing, and route planning to help EV drivers find charging stations along their journeys. |
| Who It’s For | Electric vehicle drivers looking for an easy way to find, use, and pay for charging stations on the go. |
- Tags:
- Real-time availability
- Roaming partner integration
- Customizable station filters
ChargePoint is a popular EV route planning app that helps drivers find and charge their electric vehicles. It boasts a vast network of charging stations, making it a go-to resource for EV owners. However, recent updates have introduced some frustrating bugs, like map glitches and unreliable connection issues. While the app remains useful for locating charging stations, users have reported difficulties with its functionality, including issues with logging in, RFID authorization, and overall app stability. These problems can make the charging process cumbersome and unreliable, especially in remote areas with limited data connectivity.
Pros & Cons
- Find EV charging stations
- Provides charging station details
- Connects to charging stations
- Offers payment options
- App is unreliable and buggy
- Frequent updates cause issues
- Difficult to use for charging
Why we chose it?
As someone who relies on ChargePoint for all my EV adventures, I'd highly recommend it! It's packed with features that make planning road trips a breeze. I love that it not only finds me charging stations along the way but also considers factors like station availability and connector types, ensuring I never get stuck with a dead battery. Plus, the app seamlessly integrates with my ChargePoint account, making it easy to pay and manage my charging sessions.
✨ Read more: app for directions
3. Chargemap
Locate charging stations globally, Plan EV routes with charging stops
Cost:
Free (Free), Chargemap Pass ($9.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Maps & Navigation |
| Downloads | Over 1.4 million downloads |
| Features | Chargemap offers real-time charging station availability, route planning with charging stops, and payment options, making it an ideal companion for EV drivers. |
| Who It’s For | EV drivers seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly app for route planning and charging station discovery. |
- Tags:
- Real-time availability
- Detailed station info
- Trip planning tools
Chargemap is a powerful EV route planning app that helps drivers find charging stations across Europe, with over 500,000 points mapped. While users praise its comprehensive coverage and reliability, some have noted limitations when using it through Android Auto, finding the map functionality restricted. The app also lacks real-time battery level updates, making it challenging to accurately predict range changes, especially when factors like roof racks are involved. Despite these shortcomings, Chargemap offers valuable peace of mind, ensuring drivers can always find a charging option, even when their preferred network isn't available.
Pros & Cons
- Reliable and good coverage
- Good for EV route planning
- Offers alternative charging options
- Avoids one-off card fees
- Limited Android Auto functionality
- Doesn't update battery level usage
- May not always navigate efficiently
Why we chose it?
Chargemap is my go-to app for EV route planning because it's incredibly comprehensive, offering a huge database of charging stations across Europe. I love that it lets me filter by connector type, price, and availability, ensuring I always find the perfect charging station for my needs. Plus, its real-time availability data and estimated charging times make it a breeze to plan trips, giving me the confidence to hit the road knowing I'll never be caught short of juice!
✨ Read more: app for car
4. A Better Routeplanner (ABRP)
Detailed route planning for EVs, Real-time charging station updates
Cost:
Free (Free), Premium ($8.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | EV route planning app |
| Downloads | Over 782,000 downloads |
| Features | A Better Routeplanner provides comprehensive route planning for electric vehicles, factoring in charging stops, range estimates, and real-time traffic updates to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey. |
| Who It’s For | Electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts who want to plan long-distance trips with confidence and ease. |
- Tags:
- Trip planning
- Real-Time Updates
- EV-specific routing
A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) is an EV route planning app that aims to make long-distance trips in electric vehicles a breeze. While some users rave about its comprehensive features, others find it a bit clunky to use. Some users have highlighted the app's lack of unit flexibility (specifically, the inability to switch between metric and imperial units), and a few bugs have been reported, such as the app crashing when using the "avoid on route" setting. Despite its quirks, ABRP stands out for its detailed route planning capabilities, including the ability to incorporate real-time weather conditions and charging station availability, helping to ensure a smooth and efficient journey.
Pros & Cons
- Pre-plans long distance EV trips
- Detailed route planning for EVs
- Considers charging stops & time
- Popular among EV drivers
- Difficult to use & confusing
- Units cannot be changed easily
- Live data feature is non-functional
Why we chose it?
I absolutely love ABRP for planning my EV road trips! It's super accurate, providing realistic range estimates and charging stop recommendations, which is crucial for peace of mind. Plus, it's incredibly easy to use, with features like route optimization and real-time charging station updates. If you're serious about EV road trips, ABRP is a must-have!
✨ Read more: app for planning trips
5. EVgo
Real-time charger availability and pricing, Easy navigation to nearby charging stations
Download:
Application information
| Category | Auto & Vehicles |
| Downloads | Over half a million downloads |
| Features | EVgo helps you find charging stations, see real-time availability, reserve chargers, manage your account, and track charging progress. |
| Who It’s For | EV owners looking for a convenient and reliable way to charge their vehicles on the go. |
- Tags:
- Real-time charger details
- Reserve and charge
- Fast charging
EVgo is a mobile app designed to help EV drivers plan their routes and locate charging stations. While praised for its membership card feature and general accuracy, users have voiced concerns about its sluggish performance and lack of detailed information. The app's slow response times, from opening to initiating charging, have been described as frustrating, particularly when compared to a simple RFID payment option. Additionally, the app's navigation features have been criticized for leading to ambiguous locations and a lack of clarity regarding station availability and status. Despite these drawbacks, many users find EVgo's route planning functionality reliable and its membership card convenient, making it a viable option for those seeking an EV route planning app.
Pros & Cons
- Easy membership card
- Accurate station location
- Wide network coverage
- Good for route planning
- Slow app performance
- Inaccurate station status
- Lack of RFID payment option
- Limited station details
Why we chose it?
EVgo is my go-to app for planning EV road trips because it's super easy to use and shows real-time charger availability, which is a lifesaver when you're on the road. Plus, their network is huge, so I'm always sure to find a charging station when I need one. Whether you're planning a long road trip or just need to charge up for a quick errand, EVgo is the app that makes it easy!
✨ Read more: app for ev charging stations
6. Electrify America
Find nearby charging stations, Track charging session progress
Download:
Application information
| Category | Maps & Navigation |
| Downloads | Over 378,000 downloads |
| Features | The Electrify America app lets you find charging stations, get directions, start and stop charging sessions, track charging progress, and manage your account. |
| Who It’s For | EV drivers looking for a reliable and convenient way to charge their vehicles on the go. |
- Tags:
- Real-time charger availability
- Remote charging start/stop
- Pass+ membership discounts
Electrify America's mobile app is a powerful tool for EV drivers seeking to plan long-distance trips, offering a network of fast charging stations across the country. While users praise the app's ability to help find charging stations and manage charging sessions, frustrations arise from its inconsistent performance. Common complaints include the app's tendency to zoom out excessively after selecting a station, making navigation cumbersome. The lack of a clear visual indicator for available chargers, such as a green/yellow/red system, further hinders the planning process. Many users, especially those on long trips, are also frustrated by frequent payment processing errors and limited charging stall availability compared to competitors like Tesla. Despite these shortcomings, the app's potential is clear, and improvements in reliability and user interface could make Electrify America's app an indispensable tool for any EV driver.
Pros & Cons
- Large network of stations
- Convenient station finding
- Discounted rates for members
- Good charging experience overall
- Map zooms out constantly
- Payment processing errors occur
- App usability is inconsistent
Why we chose it?
I absolutely love the Electrify America app for planning EV road trips! It's incredibly easy to use, with a user-friendly interface that makes finding charging stations a breeze. Plus, it seamlessly integrates with the Electrify America network, so you can effortlessly manage your charging sessions and track your charging history – making it a must-have for any EV driver.
7. Chargehub EV & Tesla Charging
Find charging stations globally, Plan optimal EV routes, Monitor charging progress
Download:
Application information
| Category | Maps & Navigation |
| Downloads | Over 232 thousand downloads |
| Features | This EV route planning app provides a comprehensive map of charging stations, real-time availability updates, route optimization for EV travel, and supports all major charging networks, including Tesla. |
| Who It’s For | Electric vehicle owners looking for a reliable and user-friendly EV route planning app. |
- Tags:
- Find EV Charging Stations
- Driving Directions to Stations
- 120,000+ EV Plugs
Chargehub EV & Tesla Charging is a comprehensive EV route planning app that aims to provide a clear view of charging station locations across the US and Canada. While it boasts a vast database of over 120,000 charging plugs, user feedback highlights the need for greater accuracy and accessibility information, especially in urban areas. The app struggles with some technical issues, such as freezing on certain devices and difficulty uploading photos, but still manages to provide a more complete picture of charging station availability than many other apps. Although its limitations mirror those of the broader charging infrastructure itself, Chargehub shines as a solid starting point for EV drivers looking to plan routes and find reliable charging options.
Pros & Cons
- Good overview of charging stations
- Shows stations regardless of affiliation
- Straightforward and easy to use
- Helpful for mall charging location
- Public stations may not be accessible
- App freezes frequently on Android
- Charging station status can be inaccurate
Why we chose it?
ChargeHub is my go-to app for planning EV road trips! I love that it shows me all the charging stations along my route, including Tesla Superchargers, and lets me filter by connector type to ensure compatibility. Plus, with real-time availability and pricing information, I can always find the best charging station for my needs.
8. Chargeway
Personalized charging route planning, Real-time charging station availability
Download:
Application information
| Category | EV route planning app |
| Downloads | Over 21,000 |
| Features | Chargeway helps you plan EV trips with features like real-time charging station availability, estimated charging times, route optimization, and charging cost calculations. |
| Who It’s For | Drivers of electric vehicles who want to make long-distance trips with ease and confidence. |
- Tags:
- Personalized charging
- Trip planning
- Real-time availability
Chargeway is an EV route planning app that simplifies the electric driving experience. Users rave about its intuitive setup, allowing them to easily manage multiple vehicles and visualize charging station power levels directly on the map. The trip planning tool takes the guesswork out of long journeys by providing clear charging recommendations, although some users report occasional connectivity issues. While the app's range estimates appear accurate and its design is well-received, integration with Android Auto and Google Maps remains a crucial area for improvement. Overall, Chargeway offers a promising foundation for an effective EV route planning app, and further development could cement its position as a leading solution in the market.
Pros & Cons
- Easy account setup
- Power level display
- Trip planning tool
- Accurate range estimates
- Internet connection issues
- No Android Auto support
- Charging to 100% often
Why we chose it?
Chargeway is my go-to app for EV route planning because it's super intuitive and easy to use. I love that it automatically factors in charging time and cost, and always finds the best route for my specific vehicle. No more guessing or worrying about running out of juice - Chargeway keeps me rolling!