Ionity vs Tesla Supercharger: Best for Non-Tesla EVs in the UK?

IONITY and Tesla Supercharger are the two UK networks most associated with ultra-rapid charging and European long-distance travel. For Tesla drivers, the comparison is simple: Superchargers win on price and reliability every time. For drivers of all other EVs, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen, Polestar, Mercedes, Audi and every other CCS-compatible car, the question is more interesting. Tesla now allows non-Tesla EVs to charge at a growing number of UK Superchargers, making it a genuine competitor to IONITY for the first time.

Bottom line: For non-Tesla EVs, IONITY’s annual Power plan at 43p per kWh is the best-value ultra-rapid option in the UK if you can commit to the annual subscription. If not, Tesla Supercharger PAYG at 45p to 56p per kWh is now cheaper than IONITY PAYG at 74p per kWh, wherever open Supercharger sites are available.

Head to head: the key numbers

Factor	IONITY	Tesla Supercharger (non-Tesla)
UK chargepoints	~788	~2,900 (total); ~50% open to non-Tesla
Maximum power	350 kW	250 kW (V3); newer V4 sites higher
PAYG rate (non-Tesla)	74p/kWh	45–56p/kWh
App/IONITY Go rate	71p/kWh	Same as PAYG (no separate app discount)
Subscription (Motion)	53p/kWh, £6.99/month	N/A
Subscription (Power)	43p/kWh, ~£10.50/month	N/A
Tesla account (Tesla cars)	N/A	22–30p/kWh
Connector type	CCS (always tethered)	CCS (when open to non-Tesla)
Contactless payment	Yes	Yes (at open sites)
Typical locations	Extra MSA, village hotels	Motorway services, retail, urban
UK charger count (open to non-Tesla)	788 (all accessible)	~1,450 (approx)

Coverage: Tesla wins on sheer numbers; IONITY has the motorway services

Tesla’s 2,900-strong UK network dwarfs IONITY’s 788 chargepoints. However, only around half of Tesla Supercharger sockets were open to non-Tesla vehicles as of May 2026, giving an effective non-Tesla figure of approximately 1,450 sockets, still nearly double IONITY’s total.

IONITY’s locations are specifically chosen for motorway and trunk-road convenience. Extra MSA locations (Cobham on the M25, Reading on the M4, Exeter on the M5, and others) are at precisely the points where long-distance EV drivers need them most. Village hotel IONITY sites give drivers the option to eat inside while the car charges outside.

Tesla’s non-Tesla open sites are less predictable in location. Some are at motorway services; others are at retail parks, Tesla showrooms and urban hubs. Check the Tesla app before planning a non-Tesla stop to confirm whether your intended site is accessible.

Winner on coverage for non-Tesla: IONITY is more consistently accessible (all 788 chargers are open to non-Tesla by design). Tesla’s open non-Tesla sites add more absolute numbers but require site-by-site verification.

Price: Tesla PAYG beats IONITY PAYG; IONITY Power plan beats everything

At PAYG contactless, Tesla Supercharger now charges non-Tesla drivers around 45p to 56p per kWh in the UK. This is substantially cheaper than IONITY’s 74p per kWh PAYG. For a 40 kWh charge:

• IONITY PAYG: £29.60
• Tesla PAYG (non-Tesla): £18–£22.40

That is a gap of £7 to £11.60 per session, significant on a long journey with multiple stops.

However, IONITY’s annual Power plan at approximately 43p per kWh changes the equation for frequent long-distance drivers:

• IONITY Power (annual): 40 x 43p = £17.20 + monthly fee element
• Tesla PAYG (non-Tesla): 40 x 50p = £20

At three or more motorway stops per month using IONITY Power, the subscription pays for itself and IONITY becomes the cheaper option overall.

Winner on PAYG price: Tesla Supercharger (45–56p vs IONITY’s 74p). Winner for frequent subscribers: IONITY Power plan (43p, lowest rate on any major UK ultra-rapid network).

Speed: IONITY has the higher ceiling

IONITY’s hardware delivers up to 350 kW. Tesla’s V3 Superchargers deliver up to 250 kW; newer V4 hardware deployed at some UK sites can theoretically exceed this, though the UK rollout of V4 is ongoing.

For most EVs in 2026, the practical difference is minimal. A Hyundai Ioniq 6 accepts 233 kW maximum; a Kia EV6 up to 235 kW; a BMW iX up to 200 kW. Both IONITY (350 kW) and Tesla V3 (250 kW) provide more power than any of these cars can accept, so neither charger becomes the limiting factor. The session speed is determined by the car’s battery management system, not the charger ceiling.

Where the distinction begins to matter is with future-proof ultra-high-acceptance-rate EVs. As cars with 300 kW+ acceptance rates arrive in the UK later in the 2020s, IONITY’s higher hardware ceiling will deliver faster sessions.

Winner on speed: IONITY (350 kW ceiling vs Tesla V3’s 250 kW), though irrelevant for most current EVs.

Reliability: Tesla wins

Tesla’s reliability record is the benchmark for UK public charging. Its vertically integrated hardware-software-backend model means faults are identified in real time and resolved faster than on third-party networks. Uptime consistently exceeds 99%, and Tesla’s monitoring detects and flags faults to drivers before they arrive.

IONITY’s reliability is generally good but not at Tesla’s level. Hardware quality is high and the network is relatively small and new (fewer aging units), but it relies on third-party site operators for access and maintenance in ways that Tesla does not.

Winner on reliability: Tesla Supercharger, convincingly.

User experience

IONITY requires either contactless PAYG or the IONITY app for access. Non-Tesla drivers at Superchargers need to set up a Tesla account (free) and use the Tesla app to activate a session; contactless payment is also available at open sites.

IONITY’s site experience at Extra MSA locations is clean and professional. Village hotel IONITY sites vary by property quality. Tesla Supercharger sites at motorway services are well-lit and well-maintained; the brand consistency of a Tesla site is notable.

For IONITY subscribers, session management and billing are handled through the IONITY app, which is functional if not feature-rich. Tesla’s app integration for non-Tesla cars is improving but still less seamless than the native Tesla experience.

Who should choose which?

Choose IONITY if you:

• Drive long distances frequently on routes served by Extra MSA or village hotel sites
• Are willing to commit to an annual subscription for 43p per kWh
• Need 350 kW ultra-rapid hardware for a very high-acceptance-rate EV
• Want guaranteed access without checking site-by-site non-Tesla eligibility

Choose Tesla Supercharger if you:

• Drive a non-Tesla and make occasional long journeys (PAYG at 45–56p is cheaper than IONITY PAYG)
• Are a Tesla driver (the comparison is not close: Supercharger wins outright)
• Want the best reliability and support infrastructure
• Are flexible on planning and can verify site accessibility via the Tesla app

Where to find more

For a full ranking of UK ultra-rapid charging hubs, see Best Ultra-Rapid Charging Hubs in the UK.

For a complete comparison of all UK charging networks, see Best Public EV Charging Networks in the UK.

For the complete overview of UK public charging, visit our Public Charging guide.