# Nikola for Tesla — user reviews > 51 indexed App Store user reviews of Nikola for Tesla by Standard Fleet, Inc., rated 4.43/5 from 639 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nikola-for-tesla/id1244489779/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nikola-for-tesla/id1244489779.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 501 · 4★ 48 · 3★ 18 · 2★ 10 · 1★ 62 ## What do users think of Nikola for Tesla? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Convenient Apple Watch integration - 👍 Useful features and data tracking - 🚀 Responsive and helpful developer - 👍 Informative and easy-to-use interface **Cons** - 💰 Expensive subscription model - 🐛 Buggy and unreliable features - 🔒 Concerns over data access and privacy - 🔋 Redundant with Tesla's own app **Commonly reported bugs** - Frequent app crashes and freezes - Inconsistent data syncing and reporting - Issues with Siri Shortcuts and Apple Watch integration **Most requested features** - Add option to purchase lifetime subscription - Improve reliability and reduce bugs - Provide more transparency on pricing and features ## Newest reviews (10 of 51) ### 3/5 — Seems cool but expensive *2023-08-20* I do like a lot of its features that this app presents but I’m truly not a fan of this subscription model. $10/mo or $80/year for an APP is beginning to get out of hand. Our lives are becoming a long list of forgotten subscriptions where it seems that $10 is the base line. I personally do not drive as much and don’t live in a high income area where $10/m or $80/y is looked at as cheese burger money. I’ll wait till this drops down to something that makes sense before trying it again. ### 3/5 — Not enough *2022-06-22, version 2.8* So before I got my own Tesla I thought this app was super cool and has so much features, now after I received finally my Tesla and downloaded the Tesla app first, it literally has 80-90% of all those features except for the Apple Watch companion app and the Siri commands, and it’s completely free, + has 3D dynamic car model which is interactive with every command you do, unlike the picture like models in this app. So I personally thinks $80 subscription for watch and Siri commands isn’t really justifying the price because re adding features that already the Tesla app has but with different UI doesn’t make them new features ### 4/5 — Confusing interface *2022-01-15, version 2.7.3* I gave it 4 stars for effort. I m a firm believer in originality. What i meant by that is. This app would have been great if it can mirror the old tesla app but added more options. As of the way it is right now. The inferface need works. Its all over the place and options are not group together as in a way that a 3yrs old can follow. I dont know how to explain it. But what drove me away from this app is. All options cluster together and not clearly define and group like the old tesla app. ### 3/5 — Has potential but too many bugs *2021-12-23, version 2.7.3* Bought it because of all the Siri Shortcuts and hoping to control my Tesla hands free. But the Siri Shortcuts are very buggy to setup with random freezes or crashes ### 3/5 — Tried Nikola for about 4 weeks *2021-08-22, version 2.6.1* Nikola is the first Tesla app I came across after buying my model Y. After trying it for about four weeks I thought I’d start researching other apps. I ended up purchasing TezLab $5/month or $50/year. This is an app that has the user interface and data that I can connect with. There might be better ones out there but I’m sticking with TezLab for now. ### 3/5 — I wished it can be better. *2021-05-23, version 2.5.14* It has potential to be good. The problem I have is with existing features, there are many bugs and waiting for months to fix is unacceptable especially for a monthly subscriber. The bugs specifically is on the history and trips. It does not record all trips. Tried everything, including making sure the app is always running in the background. ### 3/5 — App is subscription based. Don’t think it is a free app. *2021-05-21, version 2.5.14* Warning - You will be asked to enter your login and information before learning that it is subscription based. Just a heads up. Not subscribing to this $10/mo Please remove all my information from app/server. ### 2/5 — Struggling with the redundancy *2021-05-17, version 2.5.13* While I absolutely appreciate the developers of the app I have to rate the actual service it provides as average at best. It also was off line more than it was on line. Very frustrating to need to unlock the car to discover the app and car are not communicating. I discovered the monthly (annual) fee was way to pricey. I again applaud the entrepreneurial spirit of the app but honestly say it has a ways to go before recommending it. **Developer response:** hey Graham, I'm so sorry the app wasn't working well for you recently. Unfortunately, there was a partial Tesla outage recently that prevented third party apps from working consistently. If you'd be open to it, I'd love to offer you an extended trial so you can see how Nikola normally works! Please drop me a line at david@nikolaapp.com. Nikola offers more features than and should generally be far more reliable than the official app. ### 4/5 — Working well. *2021-02-20, version 2.5.1* Wish spouse could control same car without paying too. ### 3/5 — Beware *2021-02-16, version 2.5* Once you submitted your Tesla user name and password to Nikola you are stuck. If you don’t like the app you will need to change the Tesla password in order to disconnect your Tesla account from Nikola database. Update: upon my request the developer manually disconnected the Tesla account from the app. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Don’t install it *2022-12-14, version 2.10.1* The app after asking me to log in, immediately was asking for a subscription and I could not even try the app. This is absolutely awful because now they have the log ins of my Tesla account unnecessarily and I couldn’t even see the app. This type of app shouldn’t be allow in the App Store. ### 1/5 — Green energy propaganda *2022-08-19, version 2.9* This is a political app, it’s just more carbon footprint lies. Tired of the rich who fly private jets and have 10,000 plus square footage home telling us regular people to do our part and cut back because the ice caps will melt and kill us all as they buy up all the beach front real estate. Don’t download don’t play into these lies, it’s all a scam to take more wealth from the 99% and transfer to the top 1%. Great rest is not a theory it’s happening and they are robbing us blind. ### 1/5 — I feel robbed *2022-02-24, version 2.7.3* First let me say that I did not want this app. I was trying the free trial. I had down loaded it once but I caught COVID so cancelled. Well now I got stuck paying the full price for a YEAR. And it does less than my regular FREE Tesla app and watch app that was $12 a year. I tried getting a refund but was told to come to you and I have been avoided for past few days. Anyways not a game-changing app. One page that does wayyyyyy less. Am I missing something? ### 1/5 — Guileful app practices, be warned. *2022-01-03, version 2.7.3* Edit: Subscriber beware: DO NOT BUY. Forbid and like me, you turn out to have a bad experience with this app and leave an undesirable review, the Developer harasses you by sending several emails to make you revise your review to paint a pretty picture the developer says the app is. Don't be fooled. Developer, you are warned. This is a cease and desist. Original review: Do not buy into their deceptive practices. First, they use your Tesla credentials to have full access to your vehicle. If you want to use the app, you must subscribe to them. The initial email is worded as if Tesla made this app, when to the contrary, if they would have, they would just integrate it to the Tesla app, so you can have access to those features. There is more about this app that is wrong. The fact they ask you to change your Tesla password when you stop using their app, that is a red flag. Be warned. No app that has complete access to your Tesla information, credentials, is worth your time and money. **Developer response:** hello, I'm the developer/engineer/founder of the app. It seems their were some misunderstandings here, so I'd like to address them one by one. 1. It is important that we get user authorization before we connect to a car. This is why we have users log in with their Tesla account. If we lived in a world where people could connect to an EV without authorization, that would be concerning. Also, our servers do not see the password. 2. Nikola does not have "full access" to a Tesla. We have the level of access that the Tesla API allows. 3. We try very hard to make clear the app is not made by Tesla. We list our independence in the App Store listing, in multiple places in the app, and in most of our correspondence, including where I link to an interview I gave about the app. I've done a quick review of our welcome emails, etc to make sure this is still the case. Most of them mentioned me as the app developer in the very first sentence. 4. We do not ask users to change their Tesla password. Instead, what we communicate is we can revoke our access if the user asks, but if they'd like, they can alternatively change their Tesla password to revoke the access of any third party app, including Nikola. We tell users this to reassure them that they have complete control over car access. 5. As a reminder, our servers don't have access to and don't see a Tesla password. We work with access tokens, not passwords. In conclusion, I hope that cleared things up. As what is stated above is inaccurate information, I'd appreciate it if you would amend your review to be accurate. Thank you ### 1/5 — App Requires You to pay before trying it *2021-10-30, version 2.7* Be warned Don’t use this app unless you want to be spammed with emails as the Dev has you login before requiring you to pay for the app. Also you don’t get to try this app out before you decide to pay. The dev does offer a trial but requires you to agree to the sub first. Verify disappointment. ### 1/5 — Deceptive billing practice *2021-08-17, version 2.6* I got an email to download the app for a 2 week trial. While the app was interesting I wasn’t seeing any value for the monthly subscription and tried to unenroll. Interestingly enough there is no place either on the app or the website where you can cancel the trial period. The only thing I could do was to delete the app. Reached out to the developer and was still charged for the first month subscription. Buyer beware since you can’t find the subscription in your Apple account under subscriptions either. Makes me wonder if this is intentional on the part of the developer but this is no way to run a business. **Developer response:** hello, I'm the Nikola developer. Sorry for the trouble. Apple unfortunately doesn't allow us to put in the app a way to cancel discounted subscriptions not set up through their payment system. When we offer people discounts and they want to cancel them, they can contact us through the app and we will always cancel them. We also can issue refunds. If you were charged and want to cancel, we'll refund you. If you don't mind, once we get this fixed for you, it would mean a lot to me if you could update this review with the new info. Thank you! Would you mind sending me a note to david@nikolaapp.com and we'll get you squared away? ### 1/5 — Cool features IF it’s FREE *2021-06-18, version 2.5.14* With the monthly payment, that’s basically adding to your monthly expenses for your Tesla. Cool features, but since it charges monthly, I wouldn’t say it’s worth it. At least add an option where you can straight out purchase a lifetime subscription. The developer is going to respond that it’s expensive to keep it running, but there will always be passive income from people who don’t think it’s worth buying a lifetime subscription. To the developer: don’t sugar coat it. I know you want the passive income but at least offer a lifetime option. **Developer response:** Hello! I'm happy to hear you like the app. There is indeed a lifetime option, it is available on the website: https://download.nikolaapp.com I default to a monthly subscription because monitoring the vehicles in an ongoing basis is pretty costly, but I am happy to offer a lifetime subscription. If you have any questions about it, please feel free to email me at david@nikolaapp.com. Also, I ask that you please update your review so people know there is indeed a lifetime option. Thank you! ### 1/5 — No Transparency *2021-05-17, version 2.5.13* I haven’t even tried the app. This review is because of the way this app tries to get you pay. There is no clear information about the fees. So you may think the app is free. Then you download the app and on first step he asks for your Tesla credentials before showing anything else. Now that he got your email and access to your Tesla account, he will hit you with the price that you MUST sign up or you can’t even access the app. The trial period that he offers is 7 days, but that’s also provided to you AFTER you give your credit card information. Because he already got your name and email, he automatically adds you to his mailing list and start sending you marketing emails, even if you don’t sign up and you delete the app immediately (which I did). So, basically, unless you give him your Tesla account access AND your credit card information, you get nothing from this app. But he gets your data to use for God knows what else in addition to marketing. The app features may be good (I don’t know because I didn’t give him my credit card info) but because the process is not honest, I don’t trust this type of people or companies. **Developer response:** Hello,I'ms sorry the app wasn't what you were looking for. That said, I hope you'll consider the harm done by negatively reviewing an app you haven't tried. I do declare in the description that the app requires at least a trial. This is because monitoring Tesla's is very expensive for me to do. Apple unfortunately doesn't have a "subscription required" declaration I can put on the download button. Would you mind updating your review so people know I'm not misleading users? Here's what's always been in the app store description: "Note: Nikola requires a subscription, paid from your App Store Account. Nikola offers an automatic one-week free trial before payment. The Nikola subscription will automatically renew and charge your account $9.99 at the end of the trial, and each month after that. You can cancel your free trial or subscription at any time by going to your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before the end of the period." Additionally, Nikola does not collect credit card info, as that is against Apple's rules. Nikola simply accepts subscriptions via your App Store account. Unlike other Tesla apps, you can try Nikola for free before paying anything. Thanks for checking out the app. ### 1/5 — It’s not a free app. *2021-05-06, version 2.5.12* The app is literally useless unless you pay for it adding that in the description should definitely be required Since the only thing you can use is the free trial which lasts one week. ### 1/5 — Misrepresentation *2021-04-12, version 2.5.8* I absolutely hate apps that don’t clearly state upfront that they are not free, which even reading details before installing didn’t make clear in this case; the way it was presented, it was reasonable to expect that subscription to additional features was OPTIONAL. I don’t care how much others praise this app, in fact the top comment in the app store admits to knowing the developer. Because this was such misrepresentation which I only fully discovered after having given this app my Tesla account credentials, I have no trust whatsoever and immediately deleted the app and will have to change my Tesla password. I installed STATS long ago and absolutely love it, but the huge difference is I knew ahead of time of the app’s cost. **Developer response:** Hello, I'm the developer of the Nikola app. I'm sorry to hear the app wasn't what you were expecting! I wanted to let you know that Nikola states in as many places as possible / Apple allows that there is a subscription after the trial. It is listed in the App Store listing as Apple requires, and on the website. Apple doesn't have an option for "subscription required" with the download button, though I wish they did. Unlike with other apps, you are free to try Nikola at zero cost to see if it's worth it. I'm also incentivized to continue making the app better, which is why Nikola has thousands of happy paying users. While I wish Nikola could be completely free, Nikola has serious ongoing costs to do vehicle and battery health monitoring, so a one-time purchase or a free App wouldn't be doable. That said, I'm happy to report I'm working on an update that does have a free tier now that I've managed to bring my costs down a bit! Anyway, feel free to reach out to me if you have any more questions. I can be reached at david@nikolaapp.com. I'd also be happy to extend a longer trial to give more time to see the value of the app. Additionally, if you feel I've addressed your concerns, it would mean a lot to me if you'd consider updating your review, as I'm representing this App as correctly as Apple allows in their rules. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Apple Watch key *2023-02-03, version 2.10.1* The best convenient and easy way to manage your Tesla with Apple Watch! ### 5/5 — My Nicola app *2022-11-01, version 2.10* I use the app on my iPhone. I wonder if it can be programmed to respond faster. The open the charge port is slow. ### 5/5 — Great! *2022-06-11, version 2.8* Lots of useful features and the devs are super responsive to suggestions too. :-) ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2022-01-27, version 2.7.3* I have tried multiple apps for my Tesla this is my favorite. If I have questions they email me back within an hour. Program is perfect ### 5/5 — Great App *2021-12-14, version 2.7.3* Great app as a companion for Tesla vehicles. I hope they can incorporate power wall products as well. Overall happy with the interface and the extent one can control the vehicle. ### 5/5 — Such an incredible value! *2021-10-30, version 2.7* My wife and I absolutely LOVE this app! The seamless connection to our Apple Watches and Siri is awesome! This app is loaded with useful, informative features. ### 5/5 — Best 3rd Party Tesla App *2021-05-13, version 2.5.12* I’ve had a couple aftermarket Tesla apps and this one is far and away the leader of the pack. Where to begin… this keeps track of your trip and charger data so you can see your stats over time and export a report. Great to have for reselling also for better health. The widget is the icing on the cake, love having my car on my Home Screen! Also the Apple Watch app is amazing. The dev actually listened to user ideas and implements them as well. 10/10. If you have a Tesla GET THIS APP! **Developer response:** Thank you so much! So glad you like the app! Would love to hear any suggestions or feedback you have for me. ### 5/5 — The Developer is Amazing! *2021-04-27, version 2.5.10* I had an issue where my vehicle was not populating on the widget or the app and David was SUPER fast about getting back to me and fixing the issue. Usually when you find bugs with other apps it takes weeks to resolve, if it’s even selected for development, but David was able to push a fix within a couple hours! Amazing! ### 5/5 — Best *2021-04-01, version 2.5.6* The best Tesla app. It works good, it lets the car sleep and have lots of useful info about drives, charges also the widget is amazing ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2021-04-01, version 2.5.6* This is great to keep track of you’re battery degradation and over all battery health. Highly suggest for new owners. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*