EV charging apps and maps compared (2026)
There is no single "best" EV charging app. Most drivers end up with two: a map to find a working charger, and a way to pay for it. The apps below overlap, but each was built for a different job. This page compares them on the questions drivers actually ask: does it show if a charger is free right now, does it cover my country, can I pay with it, and does it plan routes?
Quick comparison
| App or map | Built mainly for | Live availability | Pay at the charger | Route planning | Account needed to browse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlugShare | Finding chargers, driver check-ins and reviews | For networks that share it | Some networks | Trip planner | No |
| Chargemap | Map + community, Chargemap Pass RFID card (Europe) | For networks that share it | Yes, with the Pass | Yes | No |
| Octopus Electroverse | One card and app to pay on many networks | For networks that share it | Yes, core feature | Yes | Yes, to charge |
| A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) | Long-trip planning with charging stops | For networks that share it | No | Core feature | No |
| Google Maps | Everyday navigation with a charging filter | Some networks | No | Navigation | No |
| Open Charge Map | Open, community-maintained charger registry | No | No | No | No |
| LiveChargeMap | Live map built from operators' own feeds and national open data | Shown only when fresh | Where the charger allows it | No | No |
"For networks that share it" is the honest answer for almost every app: live status only exists where the charge point operator publishes it (usually through OCPI or a national open-data feed). An app cannot invent it.
PlugShare
PlugShare is one of the most widely used charging maps, and part of EVgo since 2021. Its strength is the community: drivers check in at stations, leave reviews and photos, and the PlugScore summarises recent experiences. It is strongest in North America and works worldwide. Use it when you want to know what other drivers said about a site.
Chargemap
Chargemap started in France and is popular across Europe. The map is free; the Chargemap Pass is an RFID card that starts sessions on many European networks. Use it if you drive in Europe and want one card plus a community map.
Octopus Electroverse
Electroverse, from Octopus Energy, is first of all a way to pay: one card and app that work on a very large number of networks in the UK and Europe, with an app-based map. Use it when the problem is "I don't want ten apps and ten cards".
A Better Routeplanner (ABRP)
ABRP (part of Rivian since 2023) is a route planner: tell it your car and destination, and it plans charging stops using the car's consumption model. Use it before a long trip.
Google Maps
Google Maps shows chargers with a filter by plug type and, for some networks, live port availability. It is the most convenient option for short trips because you are already navigating with it, but coverage of live status varies by country and network.
Open Charge Map
Open Charge Map is an open, community-maintained registry of charging locations with a free API. It is a common data source for developers and smaller apps rather than a driver-first experience.
LiveChargeMap
LiveChargeMap is a free web map of public charging stations built from charge point operators' own OCPI feeds and national open-data registries. We only show a charger as available when its status is fresh, and we label stations that publish no live status instead of guessing. There is no account and no app to install (you can add it to your home screen). LiveChargeMap does not take payments itself, but where the charger allows it you can pay at the charger; the station details show the payment options the operator publishes (for example contactless or card). See how live charger status works and the share of chargers with live status in each country.
Which one should I use?
- Short trip, need a working charger now: a live map. Check the status age, not only the colour.
- Long trip: a route planner such as ABRP, then check stops on a live map before you leave.
- Paying on many networks: a roaming card or app (Electroverse, Chargemap Pass, or your car maker's app).
- What other drivers said: PlugShare check-ins.
- Building an app or doing research: open data — see free EV charging station data.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one app that works with every charging network?
No. Payment apps such as Electroverse or the Chargemap Pass cover many networks through roaming agreements, but not all. Maps can show almost every charger, but live status and payment still depend on what each operator shares.
Which EV charging map shows real-time availability?
Several do, but only for networks that publish live status. LiveChargeMap shows how many chargers in each country publish it on its statistics page, and labels each station that publishes no live status.
Are EV charging maps free?
Browsing is free on all the maps on this page. Some charge for extra features (premium plans), and payment apps charge for the charging session itself.
Can I pay with LiveChargeMap?
LiveChargeMap does not process payments itself. Where the charger allows it, you can pay directly at the charger (for example contactless or by card); the station details show the payment options the operator publishes. Otherwise, start and pay with the operator's app, card or a roaming card.