Four Formidable Apps for Finding Public Charging Stations

In your day-to-day life, you probably have your electric vehicle charging needs pretty much worked out. Maybe you drive to work and back, and charge while you sleep. But with the holidays coming up, you may be looking at a longer drive to visit family. Find yourself in need of a public charging pit-stop or two to extend your range? There are some great apps out there to guide you on your way.

Best for Road Trips: ChargeHub

Covering charging stations all over North America, the ChargeHub app includes a clever trip planning tool. New or nervous EV drivers can ease range anxiety by carefully mapping out charging stops along their route. You can filter by charging speed, plug type, and network too. May peace of mind be yours on the road.

Best for Free Charging: PlugShare

PlugShare started as a way for EV charger owners to open their units up to the world. Since those early days, it has expanded into a comprehensive map of public charging stations across the U.S. Its standout feature: a filter specifically for free chargers. PlugShare's tight-knit community of real drivers continuously feeds data into the system, so be sure to read recent reviews for the latest intel — including whether that free charger is still free when you arrive.

Best for Fast Charging: Electrify America

Electrify America runs one of the country's largest fast-charging networks, and its app gives you everything you need to actually find the charger — including whether it's tucked away in a parking lot around the back. When you're running low on power, you won't want to drive around the block twenty times. The app also shows whether the charger is operational and available at your estimated arrival time.

Best All Around: Google Maps

No introduction needed. Google Maps has long included EV charging stations in its search options, and now lets you filter for fast charging and specific plug types too. It's not quite as granular as dedicated EV apps on the filtering side, but it delivers reliable results — and it's ideal for drivers who don't want to sign up for yet another app. Already on your phone, already trusted.

Best for a Quick Nap While You Wait: EVHotels

This clever app helps you find hotels with or near a public charging station, so you can rest while your EV powers up. You can filter by preferred hotel chains, customize the walking distance from the charging unit, and choose between Superchargers, DC fast chargers, and standard Level 2 units. EVHotels is available on the App Store only; all other apps above are available on both the App Store and Google Play.