Francis Energy vs Universal EV
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Francis Energy
Locate and manage electric vehicle charging sessions with real-time availability updates. View charger details, save favorites, and monitor your charging progress and history. Supports a wide range of EV models and charging connector types.
- Real-time charger availability
- Charger details and favorites
- Remote charging session control
- Live charging information
- Charging history and statements
- Supports CCS and CHAdeMo
- Finds Level 2 chargers
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When you sign up for a free Francis Energy account, you can use the app to: • Check the availability of chargers in real-time • See charger details and save your favorite charging locations • Start and stop your charging session from your phone • View live charging information while you take a break from the road • See your charging history and view statements Francis Energy’s DC fast charging stations support all CCS (SAE Combo) and CHAdeMo compatible EVs. You can also use the app to find Level 2 chargers (with J1772 connectors) You can charge almost all electric vehicles on the road with us from manufacturers including: Audi BMW Chevrolet Ford Hyundai Kia Mercedes-Benz Nissan Polestar Porsche Rivian Tesla Toyota Volkswagen
Universal EV
Locate electric vehicle charging stations, view real-time availability and pricing, and reserve spots in advance. Manage payments and track charging sessions for a seamless charging experience.
- Find nearby charging stations
- Real-time availability and pricing
- Streamlined payment process
- Track charging session activity
- Reserve charging spots
- Future smart charging features
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Charge Smarter with Universal EV Universal EV makes electric vehicle charging simple, convenient, and connected. Find nearby charging stations, check availability, view charging details, start charging sessions, manage payments, and track your charging activity—all from one app. FIND CHARGING STATIONS Easily discover nearby Universal EV charging stations using the in-app map. Find charging locations when you need them and plan your charging stops with greater confidence. CHECK AVAILABILITY & DETAILS View available charging station information before you arrive. Check station availability, connector compatibility, charger type, pricing, and other available details to choose the right charging location for your vehicle. START & MANAGE CHARGING Start your charging session through the app at supported Universal EV stations. Monitor your session and stay informed while your vehicle is charging. CONVENIENT PAYMENTS Manage your payment information and pay for supported charging sessions directly through the app. Keep your charging experience simple and organized. TRACK YOUR CHARGING ACTIVITY Keep track of your EV charging sessions and review useful information such as charging duration, energy consumed, and amount spent. Your charging history helps you stay informed about your charging activity. RESERVE A CHARGER At supported locations, reserve a charging spot in advance and plan your charging stop with greater peace of mind. A GROWING EV CHARGING NETWORK Universal EV is building a growing charging network across the United States, with Level 2 and DC Fast Charging solutions designed for everyday drivers, commuters, travelers, and EV owners. CHARGE WITH CONFIDENCE Whether you need a quick DC fast charge or a longer Level 2 session, Universal EV brings essential charging tools together in one convenient app. Download Universal EV and make your EV charging experience easier—from finding a charger to completing your charging session.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Universal EV at monthly against Francis Energy's every 15 months. Universal EV also leads on rating (1.8 vs 1.5) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Universal EV holds the better App Store score, 1.8 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 25 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 10% of Francis Energy's written reviews are positive against 8% of Universal EV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Francis Energy ships an update every 15 months, Universal EV monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Francis Energy | Universal EV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.5 (28 ratings) | 1.8 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 9.8% of reviews — better | 8.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 25 |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Francis Energy, LLC | Universal EV LLC |
Customer experience
Francis Energy
Universal EV
Bugs and requests
Francis Energy
Reported bugs
25 issues- App crashes immediately after starting charge
- App crashes on iOS 17.3.1
- App gets stuck in a billing history loop
- App doesn't remember password
- App doesn't integrate with Google or Apple for login
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- App doesn't allow password visibility
- App doesn't seem to have a working timer
- App won't allow cutoff at 80%
- App requires license plate number
- App requires excessive personal information
- App crashes after starting charger
- App doesn't load chargers quickly
- App doesn't accurately display chargers
- App says chargers work when they don't
- App doesn't load charging data
- Charging ends when leaving the app
- Permission failure at charging station
- Chargers have hardware issues
- Credit card reader failures
- Station timed out during initial connection
- Cannot enter car model or change password in app
- Error message: car belongs to someone else
- Password incorrect, no reset email received
- Customer service doesn't know why chargers work/don't work
- App doesn't show chargers in the area
Requested features
13 requests- Fix non-working chargers
- Improve app reliability and fix bugs
- Make app more user-friendly
- Offer dark mode
- Integrate with car's in-dash system (new Chevy EVs)
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Allow password autofill/remember me functionality
- Allow password visibility toggle
- Implement charging timer and 80% cutoff
- Don't force app signup for basic charging
- Reduce required personal information for signup
- Put stations on a major charging network
- Transfer user accounts/funds from old apps
- Improve customer service responsiveness and knowledge
Universal EV
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Francis Energy
No in-app purchases
Universal EV
No in-app purchases
