How we tested.
You will not get far in an EV without the right apps on your phone. Unlike gas stations that are visible on every corner and take any payment method, EV chargers are found through apps, started through apps, and paid through apps. Most EV owners end up with four or five charging-related apps on their phone within the first month of ownership.
Here are the essential ones you should install before your first road trip.
PlugShare
PlugShare is the most comprehensive map of EV chargers in North America.
It aggregates data from every major charging network (Tesla, Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVgo, Blink, and more) into one searchable map. You can filter by connector type, charging speed, network, and availability.
The real value of PlugShare is the community. Users leave reviews on individual charging stations with details about reliability, ease of access, nearby amenities, and whether the charger was actually working when they visited.
This crowd-sourced information is invaluable because official network apps often show stations as available when they are actually broken, blocked, or ICEd (blocked by a gas car).
PlugShare is free with optional premium features. Install it first.
A Better Route Planner (ABRP)
ABRP is the trip planning app. You tell it your car, your starting charge level, your destination, and it plans every charging stop along the route.
It calculates arrival charge at each stop, charging duration, and total trip time with stops included.
What makes ABRP better than basic GPS routing is that it understands EV charging curves. It knows that your car charges fastest between 10% and 80%, so it optimizes stops to keep you in that efficient range. It also factors in elevation, temperature, and driving speed to give realistic range predictions rather than optimistic EPA estimates.
The free version covers basic planning.
The premium version ($5/month or $50/year) adds live car data integration, real-time adjustment, and alternative route options.
Network-Specific Apps
Each charging network has its own app for starting and paying for sessions. You will need the apps for whatever networks exist along your regular routes.
Tesla app: Required for Supercharger access on Tesla vehicles. Non-Tesla vehicles using Superchargers with NACS can often plug and charge if their account is set up through the Tesla app.
Electrify America: The second-largest DC fast charging network.
The app lets you start sessions, track charging, and manage your Electrify America Pass+ subscription ($4/month for discounted rates).
ChargePoint: The largest Level 2 network in North America, with growing DC fast charging as well. The app shows station availability, lets you start and stop sessions, and provides charging history.
EVgo: Focused on DC fast charging in urban areas.
The app handles session management and payment. EVgo Autocharge+ lets you plug in and charge without touching your phone if your car supports it.
You probably will not use all of these on every trip, but having them installed and accounts created means you are never stuck at a charger with no way to start it.
Your Vehicle Manufacturer App
Every EV manufacturer has a companion app that lets you monitor charge status, pre-condition the cabin, set charging schedules, and locate your vehicle.
Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, GM, and Rivian apps all provide these features.
The most useful function is remote charge monitoring. You can check your battery level from your desk, see estimated time to full charge, and get alerts when charging is complete or if charging stops unexpectedly. Setting a charging schedule through the app lets you take advantage of off-peak electricity rates if your utility offers them.
Optiwatt
Optiwatt is a free app that connects to your EV and your utility account to optimize when your car charges based on electricity prices.
It automatically starts charging when rates are lowest and stops when they rise. In areas with time-of-use pricing, Optiwatt can save $30 to $50 per month on charging costs without any effort on your part.
It also tracks your total charging costs, energy consumption, and CO2 offset over time. The data is interesting even if you do not use the automatic scheduling.
Google Maps and Apple Maps
Both Google Maps and Apple Maps now show EV charger locations, availability, and connector types directly in the map interface. Google Maps is particularly useful because it displays real-time availability data from some networks and includes charger speed information.
For quick local searches when you just need to find the nearest charger, Google Maps or Apple Maps is often faster than opening PlugShare. For detailed station information and community reviews, PlugShare remains the better option.
Setting Up Your App Stack
Before your first road trip, install all the network apps, create accounts, and add a payment method. The worst time to set up an Electrify America account is standing at a charger in the rain with 5% battery. Do it at home, on your couch, with a cup of coffee.
Create a folder on your phone for EV apps. You will reference them regularly, and having them organized saves time. The apps you use most will rise to the top naturally, but having all of them available means you are never caught without a way to charge.