Ohme vs Zappi vs Easee: Home Chargers Compared

Ohme, Zappi, and Easee are three of the most popular home EV charger brands in the UK, but they take noticeably different approaches, and the right one for your home depends on your priorities. Ohme is built around smart tariff integration and is particularly popular with drivers on time-of-use energy tariffs. Zappi, made by myenergi, is the charger most associated with solar energy diversion, letting surplus renewable generation charge your car before it exports. Easee is a Scandinavian brand known for a slim, minimalist design and a flexible ecosystem that suits both homes and multi-unit residential buildings. For prices and full specs, go directly to each manufacturer or a UK-approved installer, as these change. Whatever charger you choose, if you go untethered you will need a Type 2 charging cable to connect your car.

What makes Ohme stand out?

Ohme's biggest selling point is its deep integration with smart energy tariffs, particularly Octopus Energy's Intelligent Octopus Go product. The charger communicates with your tariff and automatically schedules charging during the cheapest overnight windows without you having to set anything manually. For drivers who want genuinely hands-off, cost-optimised charging, this integration is compelling. Ohme offers both tethered and untethered (socket) versions, and the app provides real-time cost tracking so you can see what each session is costing you. It is a practical, software-led charger rather than a feature-rich hardware unit, and that suits most everyday EV drivers well.

What makes Zappi different from the others?

Zappi is made by myenergi, the same company behind the Eddi solar diverter and Libbi home battery. The charger's defining feature is its built-in ability to divert surplus solar energy from your panels to charge your car, rather than exporting that generation back to the grid. It has three charging modes: fast (uses grid power at full speed), eco (blends surplus solar with grid power), and eco+ (charges only from surplus solar, pausing when none is available). For households with solar panels, this is a genuinely useful feature that can reduce the cost of charging. Zappi also integrates with the rest of the myenergi ecosystem. It is not the most intuitive charger on the market for non-technical users, but for solar homes it has a strong following for good reason.

What does Easee offer that the others do not?

Easee is a Norwegian brand with a distinctly different design philosophy. The unit itself is notably compact and minimal compared to most British wallboxes, which appeals to buyers who want a charger that does not look like industrial kit on the side of their house. Easee only produces an untethered socket version, which means you always need a cable to connect your car. On the technical side, Easee supports load balancing across multiple chargers from a single installation, making it a popular choice for apartment blocks, small business car parks, and properties where more than one EV needs to charge simultaneously. The app is clean and functional. For a single-car home, the absence of a tethered option is the main trade-off to be aware of.

Does the charger brand matter for smart tariff compatibility?

It can, and this is worth checking before you buy. Some energy suppliers and smart tariff products work with specific chargers and control them directly via the app or API. Ohme has the strongest out-of-the-box integration with Octopus Intelligent tariffs, which is why it is a common recommendation for Octopus customers. Zappi and Easee can both be scheduled via their own apps and work with time-of-use tariffs, but the level of automatic integration varies by supplier. Before committing to a charger, check which tariff you are on or plan to move to, and verify that the charger you want is compatible. Doing it the other way round, picking your charger first and then finding a tariff, is fine too, but you may leave savings on the table if the two do not integrate closely.

Are all three available through the EV Chargepoint Grant?

All three brands appear on OZEV's approved product list, which means installations of qualifying models can be eligible for the EV Chargepoint Grant for renters, flat owners, and landlords. The specific models approved can vary, so always confirm the exact model number is on the current list with your installer before ordering. As with any grant-eligible installation, you must use an OZEV-authorised installer who applies the grant on your behalf. Check gov.uk for the current approved product list, as it is updated periodically.

Which home charger should you choose?

For most drivers, the decision comes down to a few practical factors. If you are on or planning to move to an intelligent time-of-use tariff, Ohme is the strongest choice for seamless tariff integration. If you have solar panels and want to maximise self-consumption, Zappi is the obvious pick. If design matters to you or you need to scale to multiple charging points, Easee is worth a close look. All three are well-regarded, OZEV-approved, and well-supported in the UK. Get quotes from approved installers for each option, confirm the grant situation, and factor in whether you want a tethered cable (not available on Easee) or are happy to store a cable in the car.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch between charger brands later if I change my mind?

You can replace one wallbox with another brand, but it involves a new installation and, potentially, a new grant application if you have not already claimed. Most installers can swap out a unit in a few hours. The cabling and supply may already be in place, which can reduce the cost of a swap. If you think you might switch, choosing an untethered socket charger from the start means you keep the same cable regardless of which box you change to.

Do I need solar panels to use a Zappi charger?

No. Zappi works perfectly well as a standard home charger without solar panels. You simply use it in fast mode like any other wallbox. The solar diversion feature is available if you add panels later, so some buyers choose Zappi as a future-proof option even if they do not currently generate their own power.

What cable do I need with an Easee charger?

Easee chargers use a Type 2 socket, so you need a Type 2 to Type 2 cable for most modern EVs, or a Type 2 to Type 1 cable for older vehicles with a Type 1 inlet. Because Easee does not offer a tethered version, you will always need your own cable. Browse our Type 2 charging cables to find the right length and rating for your car and installation.

Is there a meaningful difference in charging speed between these three?

All three offer standard single-phase 7kW home charging, which is the typical maximum for a domestic supply in the UK. In practice, charging speed at home is limited by your car's onboard charger and your home's electrical supply, not by which of these brands you choose at that power level. The differences between them lie in software, features, and ecosystem rather than raw hardware charging speed.

Which charger is the best for a flat with shared parking?

Easee's load-balancing capability across multiple units makes it a strong candidate for shared parking or apartment installations. Ohme and Zappi are also used in these settings, but Easee was designed with scalable multi-point installs in mind. In any communal setting, the practicalities of consent, cable management, and how costs are shared between residents are often more important than the charger brand itself.

Can I use these chargers for a plug-in hybrid as well as a full EV?

Yes. All three chargers are compatible with plug-in hybrid vehicles that use a Type 2 or Type 1 inlet. PHEVs generally have smaller batteries and charge more quickly, so the charger's smart scheduling features can be useful for ensuring the car is ready at a set time each morning. Check your vehicle's inlet type and make sure the charger or cable you choose matches it.

Whichever charger you choose, if it is untethered you will need a cable to go with it. Use our cable finder on the home page to match a cable to your car, or explore our full range of Type 2 charging cables. Our guides section also covers home charging, tariffs, and everything else you need to know as an EV owner.