Comparison

Osprey vs Roam

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Osprey

Find and use rapid electric vehicle charging stations across Great Britain. Get real-time availability, track charging history, and pay easily with integrated payment options. All charging is powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Highlights
  • Nationwide rapid chargepoint network
  • Real-time station availability
  • Charging history and VAT receipts
  • Integrated Apple/Google Pay
  • 100% renewable electricity
  • Push notifications
Features
Read full description

Charge for less with the Osprey app. Osprey is one of the UK's largest public rapid charging networks, voted an EV Driver Recommended network six years running and named Chargepoint Network of the Year three years running. Rates in the app are cheaper than contactless, so the app delivers savings from your first charge. Why drivers choose Osprey: Cheaper charging. Pay less per kWh in the app than you would with contactless or roaming. Off-peak saver rates. Charge at off-peak times and pay even less, applied automatically when you start a charge in the app. Osprey Go. Once you're set up, just plug in and your session starts itself. No tapping, no card. Payment is handled by the card on your account. Rapid and ultra-rapid charging. Speeds up to 300kW, so you charge in minutes and get back on the road. A network you can rely on. Over 400 locations from John o' Groats to Land's End. Find working chargepoints on the live map, check availability before you arrive, and see real-time charging speeds. Everything in one place. Track your session live, view your charging history, and download VAT receipts whenever you need them. Prefer to tap and go? Every Osprey chargepoint takes contactless too. But the app is where charging costs less. Download the Osprey app and start charging for less.

About

Roam

Easily locate EV charging stations, check real-time availability, and manage your charging sessions. Start, monitor, and pay for charging directly from your phone, with options to track history and save with membership.

Highlights
  • Find nearby EV chargers
  • Check live charger availability
  • Start charging from phone
  • Monitor charging sessions
  • Secure payments
  • Track charging history
  • Roam Membership savings
Features
Read full description

Find EV charging stations, check live availability and manage every charge with the Roam EV Charging app. Whether you are planning ahead or need to charge nearby, the Roam app makes it easy to find an available EV charge point, start your session and stay in control from your phone. Find nearby EV chargers Explore the Roam EV charging network using the in-app map. Search by location, find nearby charging stations and identify a convenient charge point wherever your day takes you. Check live charger availability View the real-time status of Roam charge points before you arrive. Use the map filters to hide unavailable chargers and find a suitable EV charging station without an unnecessary detour. Start charging from your phone Once you arrive, select your charger in the Roam app and follow the simple steps to begin your charging session. The app brings everything together in one place, making electric car charging straightforward from the moment you plug in. Monitor your charging session Keep track of your active session directly through the app. View your energy use and charging costs in real time, receive useful session notifications and see when your electric vehicle is ready. Make secure payments Add and manage your preferred payment card within your Roam account. Charging payments are handled securely through the app, with the cost of each session recorded for easy reference. Track your charging history View your previous EV charging sessions, including where you charged, how much energy was delivered and what each session cost. Your charging activity is stored in one convenient place whenever you need it. Save with Roam Membership Regularly charge with Roam? Join Roam Membership through the app to access lower charging rates across the Roam network. Members can save up to 8p per kWh at eligible charge points for a small monthly membership fee. Manage your account Update your personal information, manage payment details and access your charging history from within the app. Your Roam account gives you one place to manage your electric vehicle charging. Get support when you need it If you need assistance with the app, your account or a charging session, Roam’s UK-based support team is available 24/7 to help get you back on your way. Download the Roam EV Charging app today to find EV charging stations, check charger availability, pay for charging and manage your sessions wherever you charge with Roam.

Screenshots

Osprey4 screens
Roam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Osprey at 5.0 against Roam's 1.7. Osprey also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Roam's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Osprey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Osprey's written reviews are positive against 30% of Roam's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Osprey ships an update monthly, Roam every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Osprey versus Roam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOspreyRoam
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better1.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews35.3% of reviews — better30.2% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB91 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOSPREY CHARGING NETWORK LTDEV Chargers Ltd

Customer experience

Osprey

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive35.3%
Neutral14.7%
Negative50.0%

Roam

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive30.2%
Neutral1.6%
Negative68.3%

Bugs and requests

Osprey

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Roam

Reported bugs

25 issues
  • App blocks account access
  • Repeated login errors
  • Password reset emails not received
  • Holding payment twice
  • Failed to initiate charge
Show 20 more
  • Spinning circle on registration/confirmation
  • App completely stopped working
  • App just spins constantly
  • Unable to charge on Sundays
  • App just won't load
  • Charge button moved off screen
  • Entry fields invisible during registration
  • App doesn't work with smaller screens
  • Start charging button below navigation bar
  • App doesn't download or connect properly
  • App doesn't recognise charging point
  • App not showing chargers
  • App keeps logging out
  • Email not recognized for password reset
  • Wouldn't disconnect from charging point
  • Charger stopped working due to error
  • Charger not connected to car error
  • Charger faulty, not indicated
  • App broken after recent update
  • Can't open app before updating

Requested features

10 requests
  • Fix charge button placement
  • Add option to find other chargers nearby
  • Display charging cost on charger
  • Indicate charger type (kW)
  • Improve invoicing clarity
Show 5 more
  • Integrate with Zap Map
  • Allow payment of balance through app
  • Fix app not working on smaller screens
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve UX and reduce friction

In-app purchases

None

Osprey

No in-app purchases

None

Roam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Osprey free?
Osprey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Roam free?
Roam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Osprey or Roam?
Osprey is rated higher. Osprey averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Roam averages 1.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Osprey or Roam have ads?
Osprey shows ads; Roam does not.
Which is updated more often, Osprey or Roam?
Osprey ships an update monthly, and Roam every 3 weeks. Most recently, Osprey was updated on November 7, 2026 and Roam on November 7, 2026.

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