Comparison

PlugShare vs Zero Charging

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

Head to head
About

PlugShare

Discover and share EV charging stations worldwide. This app provides a comprehensive map with real-time reviews, photos, and filtering options for various plug types and charging speeds. Plan your electric vehicle trips and find compatible chargers easily.

Highlights
  • EV charging station map
  • Community reviews and photos
  • Filter by plug type and charging speed
  • Real-time station availability
  • EV trip planner
  • Pay with PlugShare
  • Add new stations
Features
Read full description

Download the most accurate EV and Tesla charging station map. PlugShare is the world’s largest EV driver community. Drivers contribute station reviews and photos to help the EV community make the most informed charging decisions possible. Drivers can filter the PlugShare map by plug type, including CHAdeMO and SAE/CCS, as well as charging speed, including Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers such as Tesla Superchargers. You can also filter by charging provider – the PlugShare map includes detailed station information for every major EV charging network in North America, Europe, and much of the rest of the world, including: - ChargePoint - Tesla Destination - Electrify America - Supercharger - EVgo - FLO - SemaConnect - Shell Recharge - Renovatio Asset Management - Chargefox - Blink - SemaCharge - Volta - bp pulse - BC Hydro EV - GRIDSERVE Electric Highway - ChargeNet - Sun Country - NRMA - Petro-Canada - Circuit Electrique - Pod Point - Evie Networks - GeniePoint - Vector - Lidl eCharge - Ivy - Osprey Charging Network Ltd With PlugShare, you can: - Find public charging stations compatible with your EV (or EVs if you have multiple electric vehicles) - See each station’s PlugScore™ rating to quickly gauge charger reliability based on real driver reviews - Filter for connector type, charging speed, and amenities like food or bathrooms - Check for station functionality and current availability - Link to your favorite navigation app for directions to your selected charger - Pay for charging with Pay with PlugShare (at participating locations) and monitor your session - Add new charging stations to the map as you discover them - Receive notifications when a new charger is installed nearby - Find all the charging stations along a road trip route with a built-in EV trip planner - Use PlugShare with Apple CarPlay to browse nearby charging locations, bookmarked locations, and trips you've planned from the built-in display of CarPlay compatible vehicles - And more! PlugShare helps drivers find chargers compatible with any EV, including Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y, and Tesla Model 3; the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevrolet Bolt, VW ID.4, Nissan LEAF, BMW i3, Audi e-tron, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Porsche Taycan, Kia e-Niro, Volvo XC40, Polestar and all other electric vehicles on the market. Download PlugShare and join the PlugShare community today! Privacy Policy: https://company.plugshare.com/privacy.html Terms and Conditions: https://company.plugshare.com/terms-embed.html

About

Zero Charging

This app helps electric vehicle owners find and manage charging stations across New Zealand. It allows users to locate available chargers, start and track charging sessions, and manage payments all within a single platform.

Highlights
  • Find EV chargers by availability and type
  • Interactive map of charging stations
  • Start charging by scanning QR code
  • Real-time charging status updates
  • Track charging sessions
  • Save favorite chargers
  • View charging statistics
  • Add credit/debit card for payment
Features
Read full description

Keep your EV charged up with Zero. Brought to you by Meridian Energy, Zero is an EV charging network made to help you get around Aotearoa even easier. To use Zero EV chargers, you’ll need to download our app. It’s the one-stop-shop for all things EV charging, so once it’s at your fingertips, you’ll be good to go. Features include: • Find chargers near you – search by availability and charger type or use our interactive map. • Starting your charge is simple – just scan the QR code on the charger. You’ll receive real time updates on your charging status. • Track your charge – keep an eye on your charge while you’re busy enjoying life. • Personalise your experience – save your frequently used chargers and view your charging stats any time. • Payment made easy – simply add your credit or debit card details and you’re good to go. From starting your charge to paying for your session, everything you need is in one place. The Zero App and Zero Charging Network is powered by Meridian Energy. We believe in doing good for the planet and that means supporting drivers like you who are aiming for zero emissions!

Screenshots

PlugShare4 screens
Zero Charging4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PlugShare at 4.7 against Zero Charging's 4.0. PlugShare also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 19%) and ratings volume (142K vs 1). Zero Charging's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. PlugShare sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Zero Charging asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PlugShare holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlugShare has 142K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of PlugShare's written reviews are positive against 19% of Zero Charging's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlugShare ships an update every 3 weeks, Zero Charging every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
PlugShare versus Zero Charging: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlugShareZero Charging
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (142K ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews54.3% of reviews — better18.8% of reviews
Number of ratings142K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#42 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRecargo, Inc.Meridian Energy

Customer experience

PlugShare

All ratings141,757 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews994 reviews
Positive54.3%
Neutral9.2%
Negative36.5%

Zero Charging

Written reviews16 reviews
Positive18.8%
Neutral12.5%
Negative68.8%

Bugs and requests

PlugShare

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes or freezes on certain devices
  • Inconsistent behavior when checking in at chargers
  • Issues with saving or syncing user preferences
  • Incorrect or outdated charger information

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved trip planning with multiple stops
  • Ability to view charger availability in real-time
  • Integration with in-car navigation systems
  • Customizable filters and sorting options
  • Notification system for charger status updates

Zero Charging

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PlugShare

Subscriptions2
  • PlugShare Ad-Free (Monthly)$1.491 Month
  • PlugShare Ad-Free (Annual)$14.991 Year
None

Zero Charging

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlugShare free?
PlugShare is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zero Charging free?
Zero Charging is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PlugShare or Zero Charging?
PlugShare is rated higher. PlugShare averages 4.7 out of 5 from 142K ratings, while Zero Charging averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PlugShare or Zero Charging have ads?
Both PlugShare and Zero Charging show ads.
Which is updated more often, PlugShare or Zero Charging?
PlugShare ships an update every 3 weeks, and Zero Charging every 3 months. Most recently, PlugShare was updated on October 15, 2026 and Zero Charging on October 1, 2026.

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