Charge Smart NY vs MicroVPP
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.
MicroVPP
Monitor your home's energy system in real-time, receive smart optimization tips to reduce electricity bills, and potentially earn rewards by participating in grid savings programs. This app is designed for homeowners with compatible inverter and battery systems.
- Real-time battery and energy monitoring
- Smart optimization guidance for bill reduction
- Grid participation for potential rewards
- Works with compatible inverter brands
- Free account registration required
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MicroVPP is a smart companion app designed for homeowners with compatible inverter and battery systems. It helps you unlock more value from your energy setup through real-time monitoring, intelligent optimization insights, and opportunities to participate in grid savings programs. Key Features: • Free Battery & Energy Monitoring Track your battery’s charging, discharging, and usage patterns in real time. Requires a free account registration. • Smart Optimization Guidance Receive personalized tips based on your utility’s time-of-use (TOU) pricing to help reduce your electricity bills. • Grid Participation Ready In select locations, MicroVPP users may participate in energy-sharing programs that reward them for supporting the grid. These features are optional and activated externally. • Seamless Setup Works with compatible inverter brands (e.g., CloudInverter). Simply connect your system and begin monitoring. Who Can Use This App? Homeowners with compatible energy systems, installed by certified local installers. Important Note: MicroVPP is free to download and use. Users must register a free account within the app to enable monitoring and optimization. There are no in-app purchases or paid content. Optional advanced services may be activated separately and are not transacted within the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MicroVPP at 5.0 against Charge Smart NY's 4.2. MicroVPP also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and device support (3 vs 1). Charge Smart NY's advantage is ratings volume (230 vs 2). 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.
MicroVPP holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Charge Smart NY has 230 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Charge Smart NY ships an update monthly, MicroVPP every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Charge Smart NY | MicroVPP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (230 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 19.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 230 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 76 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Grid plc | Zengpan Fan |
Customer experience
Charge Smart NY
MicroVPP
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
MicroVPP
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Charge Smart NY
No in-app purchases
MicroVPP
No in-app purchases
