Best Public EV Charging Networks in the UK for 2026

The UK has dozens of public EV charging networks, from the 14,500-strong Shell Recharge estate to boutique operators with a handful of dedicated motorway hubs. Picking the right one depends on where you drive, how often you charge publicly, and whether you want the cheapest possible rate or the most reliable experience. This guide ranks the main networks by use case, based on chargepoint counts, pricing and reliability data from Zap-Map, ChargeUK and network operator pages updated to May 2026.

Quick comparison table

Network	Total UK chargers	Rapid/ultra-rapid	Best PAYG rate	Membership option	Reliability
GRIDSERVE Electric Highway	~2,100	90–350 kW	~75p/kWh	App (free)	Good
InstaVolt	~2,100	50–300 kW	55p/kWh off-peak	App (free, off-peak only)	Very good
Tesla Supercharger	~2,900	72–250 kW	45p/kWh (non-Tesla)	Tesla account	Excellent
Osprey	~2,838	50–150 kW	82p/kWh (app)	App (free)	Very good
BP Pulse	~2,491 rapid + slower	7–150 kW	69p/kWh (subscriber)	£7.85/month	Mixed
MFG EV Power	~2,866 rapid	150–360 kW	~79p/kWh	None	Good
IONITY	~788	150–350 kW	43p/kWh (annual plan)	£10.50/month	Good
Fastned	~226	50–300 kW	~79p/kWh; 30% off (Gold)	£9.99/month	Good
Shell Recharge	~14,500 total	Various	79p/kWh	£9.99/month	Mixed
Pod Point	~8,200	7–50 kW	44p+ /kWh (Tesco)	App (free)	Mixed
Connected Kerb	~7,040	3–7 kW mainly	From 35p/kWh	None	Varies

Figures from Zap-Map and network operator pricing pages, April/May 2026. PAYG rates change frequently.

Best for motorway driving: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway

GRIDSERVE operates at around 85% of UK motorway services, making it the most consistently present rapid network on the strategic road network. Its 2,100 chargers include units at 90 kW to 350 kW, and new Super Hub sites developed with Extra MSA Group are adding 400 kW-capable hardware at Beaconsfield, Baldock, Cambridge, Cobham, Cullompton, Leeds Skelton Lake and Peterborough through late 2026.

GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourts at Braintree, Norwich, Stevenage and London Gatwick offer the best amenities of any UK charging location: Costa Coffee, retail, office pods and up to 36 high-power bays. PAYG contactless is accepted at all GRIDSERVE chargers, and the free app gives better session management and receipts. Pricing of around 75p per kWh is not the cheapest on the market, but the reliability and coverage justify it for motorway driving.

Verdict: Best single network for UK motorway journeys.

Best for reliability: InstaVolt and Tesla Supercharger

Both networks consistently top Zap-Map user ratings and independent reliability assessments.

InstaVolt operates around 2,100 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (50 kW to 300 kW) at supermarkets, retail parks and forecourts across the UK. No membership is required: contactless is standard at every unit, and there are no connection fees. Off-peak pricing of 55p per kWh (8pm to 7am, via the free app) is one of the best rates available anywhere on the UK rapid network. InstaVolt’s hardware is relatively modern and its monitoring and maintenance record is strong.

Tesla Supercharger benefits from a vertically integrated system where Tesla controls the charger hardware, software and backend, meaning faults are identified and resolved faster than on most third-party networks. Around half of the UK’s approximately 2,900 Supercharger sockets are now accessible to non-Tesla EVs, paying around 45p to 56p per kWh. Tesla account holders pay significantly less: typically 22p to 30p per kWh, making Superchargers by far the cheapest rapid option for Tesla owners.

Verdict: InstaVolt for non-Tesla reliability across the network; Tesla Supercharger for Tesla owners or occasional non-Tesla use.

Best for value on long journeys: IONITY (with an annual plan)

IONITY’s standard PAYG rate of 74p per kWh is not particularly cheap, but the annual Power plan at 43p per kWh is the lowest fixed rate available on any major UK ultra-rapid network in 2026. For a driver who regularly uses motorway ultra-rapid chargers on long journeys, IONITY’s 43p rate versus an average 79p PAYG represents a saving of around £14 per 100 kWh added, or roughly £70 per month for a frequent long-distance driver.

IONITY has 788 chargers at Extra motorway services and retail locations, all at 150 kW to 350 kW. Coverage is more limited than GRIDSERVE but the hardware quality is high and reliability good.

Verdict: Best per-kWh rate for committed long-distance drivers on the annual plan.

Best for urban and on-street charging: Shell Recharge and Connected Kerb

Shell Recharge absorbed Ubitricity’s UK on-street network, giving it around 14,500 chargepoints nationwide, including the largest on-street footprint in the UK. Pricing ranges from 52p to 85p per kWh depending on speed and location. A £9.99/month subscription gives 30% off for regular users. Shell Recharge is the dominant force in London’s on-street charging infrastructure and is essential for urban EV drivers without a driveway.

Connected Kerb operates around 7,040 chargepoints, mainly slow on-street units (3 kW to 7 kW) installed in collaboration with more than 27 local authorities. Pricing starts from 35p per kWh, making it the cheapest mainstream on-street option. Connected Kerb is particularly relevant for flat and terrace dwellers in cities without off-street parking.

Verdict: Shell Recharge for widest on-street coverage; Connected Kerb for the lowest price on slow residential charging.

Best for supermarket and destination charging: Pod Point (Tesco and others)

Pod Point operates around 8,200 chargepoints at Tesco, Lidl, and other retail destinations. Tesco’s 2,700 Pod Point chargers at 619 stores offer rates starting from 44p per kWh, which is among the cheapest on any mainstream public network. Speeds are typically 7 kW to 22 kW: not rapid, but if you are doing a 45-minute shop you can add 40 to 70 miles for under £3.

Verdict: Best choice for regular weekly charging during errands. Not suited for motorway driving.

Best for Scotland and rural areas: ChargePlace Scotland transitioning to ScottishPower

ChargePlace Scotland has historically been the main provider in Scotland’s rural and island areas, with around 4,373 chargepoints. In 2026, the network is transitioning to ScottishPower for Highlands, Islands and Argyll and Bute locations. The infrastructure is funded by the Scottish Government and a £17.8 million commitment for 2026 to 2027 specifically targets rural, island and low-income households.

For most of Scotland’s populated areas, GRIDSERVE, BP Pulse, Osprey and InstaVolt are also present. ChargePlace Scotland / ScottishPower remains essential for the NC500 and remote areas.

Verdict: ScottishPower (formerly ChargePlace Scotland) for rural Scotland; commercial networks for cities and trunk roads.

Who should pay for a subscription?

A charging subscription makes financial sense if you add more than 50 to 60 kWh per month via public rapid chargers. Below that level, the monthly fee usually erases the per-kWh saving. The networks offering the best subscription value:

• IONITY Power: 43p/kWh on ultra-rapid; best for frequent long-distance drivers
• Shell Recharge: 30% off app pricing; best for urban drivers using on-street regularly
• Be.EV: 39p/kWh off-peak; excellent value in the North of England where Be.EV has strong coverage

Further reading

For detailed head-to-head comparisons between specific networks, see our comparison guides:

• GRIDSERVE vs InstaVolt
• BP Pulse vs Shell Recharge
• IONITY vs Tesla Supercharger

For the full overview of how the public charging system works, visit our Public Charging guide.