Charge Smart NY vs BUFF311
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Charge Smart NY
This app allows users to connect their National Grid account and enroll in a smart charging program. It facilitates the connection of electric vehicles or chargers through existing manufacturer login details.
- Connect National Grid account
- Enroll in smart charging program
- Connect vehicle or charger
- Use existing manufacturer login
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Download the National Grid Charge Smart NY app. Connect your National Grid account. Connect your vehicle or charger using your existing manufacturer login details to enroll in the program.
BUFF311
Report city issues, request services, and access information for the City of Buffalo. Track the status of your requests and engage with local officials for a better quality of life.
- Report city issues
- Request city services
- Track service request status
- Access city information
- Create user accounts
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Buffalo 311 provides access to City of Buffalo services, information, and non-emergency police services with the highest possible levels of customer service and satisfaction. BUFF311 is the mobile application for Buffalo 311. This application makes it easy for residents to report quality of life issues and other important matters to City of Buffalo officials who can help. Whether you are reporting potholes, concerns with a property, or requesting information about city services, BUFF311 is your go-to platform for efficient communication with The City of Buffalo. With an easy-to-use interface and intuitive features, BUFF311 aims to enhance civic engagement and improve residents' and visitors' overall quality of life. Key Features: - Create New Service Requests: Report issues like potholes, streetlight outages, or damaged sidewalks directly from the app. - Create Account: Users can register for an account to personalize their experience, allowing for seamless tracking of service requests and efficient communication - Track Status of Requests: Stay informed about the progress of your service requests in real-time, from submission to resolution. You can also see the status of other requests around you. - Find Information: Access information about city departments, facilities, and services to better understand the resources available and how to utilize them effectively. Download the app today!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Charge Smart NY at 4.2 against BUFF311's 3.0. Charge Smart NY also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (230 vs 3). BUFF311's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 18.6). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Charge Smart NY holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Charge Smart NY has 230 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Charge Smart NY's written reviews are positive against 0% of BUFF311's.
Charge Smart NY ships an update monthly, BUFF311 every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Charge Smart NY | BUFF311 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (230 ratings) — better | 3.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 19.6% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 230 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 76 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Grid plc | City of Buffalo |
Customer experience
Charge Smart NY
BUFF311
Bugs and requests
Charge Smart NY
Reported bugs
58 issues- App needs update but no update available
- Vehicle account needs reconnection errors
- Charger shows offline after factory reset
- App conflicts with car manufacturer apps (Tesla, Toyota)
- Intermittently functional, stops working
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- Does not read anything correctly
- Super glitchy, stops charging sometimes
- Live session shows percentage but no other info
- Does not work with Prius Prime
- Keeps telling user app is out of date
- No opportunity to update in App Store
- No residential account connected despite login
- Won't pair with Tesla
- Charging sessions at home show 'away from home'
- App blocks charging even during off-peak hours
- Wrong calculations for kWh values
- Missed monthly incentive due to incorrect values
- Won't sign into National Grid account
- Doesn't sync to car properly, loses connection
- Rarely registers charging
- No solar option under smart tab
- Half the time doesn't charge to set limit
- Starts charging at wrong times
- General issues with car not charging
- Unable to boost charge
- Unreliable charging, uncertainty about overnight charge
- Shows wildly incorrect data for charging times/amounts
- Bug in computing off-peak hours
- Phantom on-peak charging, false records
- Creates phantom charges during on-peak
- Does not allow changing car model after incorrect selection
- Smart charging schedule doesn't work
- Car won't charge when linked to app
- App keeps not allowing password entry
- Only registers charging ~50-60% of the time
- Accurate charging data only on rare occasions
- Vehicle status offline
- Never records charging sessions
- Tesla showing offline, doesn't charge off-peak
- No longer works, won't load info
- Vehicle update fails
- Instructions are wrong
- App and car incompatible
- Inconsistent charging schedule timing
- Issue with National Grid VTOU paperwork
- App says ineligible despite eligible rate plan
- Nightmare signing up, account issues
- Confused between plugged-in times and actual off-peak charging
- Ineligible address
- Locked out of on-peak charging
- NYS account ineligible after app removal
- Hijacks Tesla app charging functions
- Force to pair multiple vehicles
- Requires constant GPS and spare keys for Tesla
- Set vehicle to Leaf incorrectly
- Glitchy first month, lost connection to vehicle
- Cannot override settings when away from home
- Unenroll button inaccessible
Requested features
8 requests- Update app to connect
- Option to delete/unlink charger
- Support for more vehicle brands (GM, Honda)
- Solar charging option
- Improved user interface
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- Better customer support responsiveness
- Clearer documentation on VTOU paperwork
- Ability to restart interview/fix vehicle details
BUFF311
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Charge Smart NY
No in-app purchases
BUFF311
No in-app purchases
