What actually matters when choosing
All five chargers on this page are 7.4 kW single-phase units. On a standard UK home supply, that's the maximum you can get. So charging speed is identical across the board. A 60 kWh battery goes from 20% to 80% in roughly 5 hours on any of them.
What differs is the software. Specifically: can the charger talk to your energy tariff and automatically shift charging to the cheapest half-hours? This is called smart tariff integration, and it is by far the most valuable feature a home charger can have.
Solar diversion, the ability to use excess solar generation to charge your car, only matters if you have solar panels. If you do, it's genuinely useful. If you don't, ignore it entirely.
The honest maths
Your charger doesn't affect how much electricity you use. It only affects when you use it. A car that needs 2,300 kWh per year (roughly 8,000 miles at 3.5 mi/kWh) needs that energy regardless of which box is on your wall.
But timing matters enormously. On a smart off-peak rate of around 7.5p/kWh, that 2,300 kWh costs about £170. On the standard price cap rate of around 24p/kWh, the same energy costs about £550. That's a saving of roughly £380 per year, and for higher-mileage drivers the gap is £500 to £700.
This makes tariff integration the single most important feature. A charger that automatically schedules around Octopus Intelligent Go or a similar smart tariff pays for itself within 12 to 18 months compared to charging on the flat rate. For a deeper look at tariff options, see our EV tariffs compared guide.
Ohme Home Pro
Price: £850 to £1,050 installed. Power: 7.4 kW.
The Ohme is the standout for smart tariff integration. It connects directly to Octopus Energy (including Intelligent Go), and automatically shifts charging to the cheapest half-hour slots each night. You plug in, walk away, and it handles the rest. No timer setting, no guessing.
The hardware is straightforward. The app can be buggy, particularly after firmware updates, and Ohme's support has had mixed reviews. But when it works, which is most of the time, nothing else matches it for hands-off cheap charging.
Best for: anyone on an off-peak or smart tariff. If you're on Octopus Intelligent Go or planning to switch to it, this is the obvious choice.
Myenergi Zappi
Price: £950 to £1,200 installed. Power: 7.4 kW.
The Zappi is designed around solar. It has three modes: Fast (full power from the grid), Eco (blends solar and grid to maintain a minimum charge rate), and Eco+ (solar only, so it stops when the sun goes in). If you have solar panels, Eco+ mode can charge your car almost for free on a sunny day.
It's British designed, built by Myenergi in Lincolnshire, and requires no subscription. The hardware is solid and well-regarded by installers. The app, however, looks dated and the user experience is not as polished as competitors. It also lacks the deep smart tariff integration that Ohme offers.
Best for: solar panel owners. If you have panels and want to maximise self-consumption, the Zappi is the clear winner.
Wallbox Pulsar Max
Price: £800 to £1,050 installed. Power: 7.4 kW.
The Pulsar Max is the smallest charger on this list, roughly the size of a large book. It looks clean on a wall and the build quality is good. The app is well designed with detailed energy stats and scheduling.
It supports OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), which means it can work with third-party energy management systems. It does not have native solar diversion, so if that's important you'll need an external controller or a different charger. Smart tariff support exists but isn't as seamless as the Ohme's direct Octopus link.
Best for: people who want a compact, reliable unit with a decent app and aren't fussed about solar diversion.
Hypervolt Home 3
Price: £900 to £1,100 installed. Power: 7.4 kW.
The Hypervolt looks premium. More importantly, it supports OCPP 2.0 and is described as V2G (vehicle-to-grid) and bidirectional-ready, meaning it's built to support future functionality where your car feeds energy back to the grid or your home. Whether that materialises in the near term depends on car manufacturers and grid regulation, but the hardware won't be the bottleneck.
It has built-in energy monitoring, so you can see exactly what you're using without a separate CT clamp or meter. The app is clean and well maintained.
Best for: future-proofing. If you want the charger that's most likely to support bidirectional charging when it arrives, this is the one.
Pod Point Solo 3S
Price: £800 to £950 installed. Power: 7.4 kW.
Pod Point has been making chargers since 2009. The Solo 3S is available in both tethered (cable attached) and untethered (socket only) versions. If you have two EVs with different connectors, or simply prefer a tidier wall mount, the socket option is useful.
The app is basic but functional. It handles scheduling and energy tracking without unnecessary complexity. Smart tariff integration is limited compared to the Ohme. Pod Point's strength is straightforward reliability and an established service network.
Best for: people who want simplicity. Plug in, set a timer, done. No frills, no subscriptions, no learning curve.
Installation costs and the OZEV grant
The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant covers up to £350 off a home charger installation. Check eligibility on the government website: you'll generally need to own or lease an eligible EV and have off-street parking. Renters and flat owners may qualify under separate schemes.
After the grant, a typical total installed cost is £500 to £850 depending on the charger and the complexity of the cable run. Get at least two quotes. The installation price varies more than the hardware price.
For a full breakdown of what installation involves, see our home EV charging guide.
What we'd pick
On a smart tariff (or planning to switch to one): Ohme Home Pro. The automatic scheduling against Octopus Intelligent Go is the single most money-saving feature any charger offers. Yes, the app has rough edges. The savings more than compensate.
With solar panels: Myenergi Zappi. Nothing else matches its solar diversion modes. Pair it with a cheap overnight tariff for winter and you're covered year-round.
Just want something reliable and simple: Wallbox Pulsar Max or Pod Point Solo 3S. Both are well-established, competitively priced, and do the job without complexity. The Wallbox has the better app; Pod Point has the longer track record.
Thinking long-term about V2G: Hypervolt Home 3. It costs a bit more, but if bidirectional charging becomes a reality in the next few years, you won't need to replace your charger.
Whichever you choose, the charger itself is not where the savings come from. The tariff is. Get on a cheap off-peak rate, set your charger to use it, and the specific hardware matters far less than you'd think. See our tariff comparison to find the best rate for your situation.