Charge Smart NY vs Empire CommandIQ
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.
Empire CommandIQ
Manage your home Wi-Fi network with advanced features. Control internet access for specific devices, block unwanted content, and enhance your network's security. Customize your online experience for a safer and more personalized home environment.
- Parental controls
- Content filtering
- Device prioritization
- Network security
- Password management
- SSID management
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Customize your home Wi-Fi experience with Empire Access. From utilizing parental controls, preventing unwanted content, to prioritizing devices, you create a unique home experience. Protect your home with network security, password, and SSID management.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Empire CommandIQ at 5.0 against Charge Smart NY's 4.2. Empire CommandIQ also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). Charge Smart NY's advantage is ratings volume (230 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Empire CommandIQ 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Charge Smart NY ships an update monthly, Empire CommandIQ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Charge Smart NY | Empire CommandIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (230 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 19.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 230 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 76 MB | 138 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Grid plc | Empire Access |
Customer experience
Charge Smart NY
Empire CommandIQ
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
Empire CommandIQ
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Charge Smart NY
No in-app purchases
Empire CommandIQ
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Charge Smart NY free?
Is Empire CommandIQ free?
Which has better reviews, Charge Smart NY or Empire CommandIQ?
Do Charge Smart NY or Empire CommandIQ have ads?
Which is updated more often, Charge Smart NY or Empire CommandIQ?
Other comparisons
