# Charge Smart NY vs BUFF311

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.

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 25, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Charge Smart NY | BUFF311 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (230 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charge-smart-ny/id6444802715/reviews)** | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buff311/id6480121709/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **230** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **19.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 76 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **12.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [National Grid plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/526723083) | [City of Buffalo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454507606) |

## What reviewers say

### Charge Smart NY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charge-smart-ny/id6444802715)

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.

**Highlights:** Connect National Grid account, Enroll in smart charging program, Connect vehicle or charger, Use existing manufacturer login

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Saves money on charging
- 💡 Manages off-peak charging
- 📈 Tracks electricity usage
- 👍 Simple and easy setup (for some)
- ✅ Good for National Grid customers in NY

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constantly buggy and unreliable
- 🔌 Fails to connect to car/charger
- 📉 Inaccurate charging data
- ⚠️ Blocks car from charging
- 🚫 Limited vehicle compatibility

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Update app to connect
- Option to delete/unlink charger
- Support for more vehicle brands (GM, Honda)
- Solar charging option
- Improved user interface


### BUFF311

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buff311/id6480121709)

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.

**Highlights:** Report city issues, Request city services, Track service request status, Access city information, Create user accounts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Charge Smart NY free?

Charge Smart NY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BUFF311 free?

BUFF311 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Charge Smart NY or BUFF311?

Charge Smart NY is rated higher. Charge Smart NY averages 4.2 out of 5 from 230 ratings, while BUFF311 averages 3.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Charge Smart NY or BUFF311 have ads?

Neither Charge Smart NY nor BUFF311 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Charge Smart NY or BUFF311?

Charge Smart NY ships an update monthly, and BUFF311 every 9 months. Most recently, Charge Smart NY was updated on September 25, 2026 and BUFF311 on July 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*