Comparison

National Grid vs U

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

Head to head
About

National Grid

Securely manage your utility account on the go. Access billing, schedule payments, and report outages with ease. Biometric login provides quick and secure access to your account information and support.

Highlights
  • Biometric account access
  • View account and billing information
  • Schedule payments
  • Report power outages and gas emergencies
  • View outage map
  • Enroll in paperless billing
Features
Read full description

The National Grid mobile app makes it easier to securely manage your account from anywhere. Set up biometrics so you can access your account quickly and securely. With biometrics, you can sign in without having to enter your username and password again. Once you’re signed in, you can easily: • View essential account and billing information • Enroll in paperless billing • View and download a PDF of your current bill • Schedule a payment in-app or via Speedpay • Find nearby payment locations • Report a power outage or gas emergency • View the outage map
 • Explore your usage Now you can schedule a payment with your bank account, without having to leave the app. Use a new or saved bank account to pay your current bill, account balance or any other amount, just like you would on our website. We’ve also made it easier to report power outages and gas emergencies — with our mobile app, you’ve got access to emergency support right at your fingertips.

About

U

Streamline your parking experience with this app. Easily park and retrieve your vehicles, receive real-time updates, and manage multiple cars and garages. Get instant 24/7 human support for any assistance needed.

Highlights
  • Park and retrieve cars
  • Real-time retrieval updates
  • Manage multiple cars and garages
  • 24/7 live human support
  • EV charging support
  • Nickname and avatar customization
Features
Read full description

The parking experience of the future is here! Drivers use the app to park and retrieve their cars, get real-time updates on the retrieval process, manage multiple cars and garages, and get live help 24/7/365. Sign-up is quick and easy. Provide your basic info, get verified, and start using the app right away. Park your car using the app through easy and intuitive steps. Add your payment details and pay for parking, view your parking history details, and download the receipts. If you need help, hit the "Live Help" button and you'll immediately be connected to our 24/7 human support team. Manage all your cars, give them a nickname, and choose a unique avatar for each one. Park and charge your car in Utron garages that support electric vehicle (EV) charging. Utron has created the perfect automated parking experience. Stay tuned for updates!

Screenshots

National Grid4 screens
U4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: National Grid at 4.8 against U's 1.8. National Grid also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 11) and review sentiment (25% vs 0%). U's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

National Grid holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: National Grid has 15K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of National Grid's written reviews are positive against 0% of U's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

National Grid ships an update every 6 weeks, U every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
National Grid versus U: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNational GridU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (15K ratings) — better1.8 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews24.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings15K — better11
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNational Grid plcUNITRONICS AUTOMATED SOLUTIONS LTD

Customer experience

National Grid

All ratings13,178 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews302 reviews
Positive24.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative73.2%

U

All ratings11 ratings
Positive18.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative81.8%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

National Grid

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unexpected account data errors
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Payment processing failures

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to view billing history and usage details
  • Seamless integration with existing online accounts
  • Biometric login options

U

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

National Grid

No in-app purchases

None

U

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is National Grid free?
National Grid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is U free?
U is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, National Grid or U?
National Grid is rated higher. National Grid averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while U averages 1.8 from 11 ratings.
Do National Grid or U have ads?
Neither National Grid nor U shows ads.
Which is updated more often, National Grid or U?
National Grid ships an update every 6 weeks, and U every 3 weeks. Most recently, National Grid was updated on November 9, 2026 and U on November 3, 2026.

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