Best Smart EV Chargers for Octopus Energy Tariffs

If you are on Intelligent Octopus Go, your charger choice matters more than most people realise. True API integration with Octopus means the charger automatically finds the cheapest charging slots, charges your whole home at 8p per kWh overnight, and can identify bonus low-cost periods outside the standard window. Without API integration, you can still schedule overnight charging manually on Octopus Go, but you miss the smart-dispatch system that saves the extra £50-£150 per year. Here are the chargers that get the most from Octopus tariffs.

How does Intelligent Octopus Go work with a smart charger?

Intelligent Octopus Go is not just a fixed overnight rate. It works by:

1. The charger or car’s API connects to the Octopus Energy platform.
2. You set a departure time and target charge in the Octopus app.
3. Octopus schedules charging during the guaranteed off-peak window (11:30pm to 5:30am, 8p/kWh from April 2026).
4. Beyond the guaranteed window, the system identifies additional low-cost slots when grid renewable generation is high and schedules extra charging at the same 8p rate.
5. The whole home benefits from the 8p rate during the off-peak window, not just the car charger.

Without a compatible charger or car, you can use Octopus Go instead (simpler, manual schedule, 9.5p/kWh, five-hour window). Intelligent Octopus Go at 8p is not available without a compatible API integration.

As of 2026, Octopus also applies a six-hour daily cap on the smart-dispatch discount. Hours beyond six in a 24-hour period are billed at the standard daytime rate.

Which chargers are compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go?

Compatible home chargers as of May 2026:

Charger	Intelligent Octopus Go	Octopus Go	Notable features
Ohme Home Pro	Yes (native API)	Yes	Best-in-class tariff integration, colour screen, 4G
Ohme ePod	Yes (native API)	Yes	More affordable Ohme option
Hypervolt Home 3 Pro	Yes (via Hypervolt platform)	Yes	IP66, solar mode, premium design
myenergi Zappi	Yes (via myenergi Hub)	Yes	Best solar diversion mode
Easee One	Yes	Yes	Tethered or untethered, 4G eSIM
Pod Point Solo 3S	Yes	Yes	Most affordable on Octopus-compatible list
Indra Smart Pro	Yes	Yes	CT clamp solar mode included
Indra Smart Lux	Yes	Yes	Premium variant of Smart Pro
Andersen A3	Yes	Yes	Premium design, extensive colour options
Andersen Quartz	Yes	Yes	Andersen’s socket-only model
VCHRGD Seven Pro	Yes	Yes	New entrant with strong integration

Any charger (smart or otherwise) can use Octopus Go with a manual schedule. Only the chargers listed above integrate at the API level with Intelligent Octopus Go for automatic smart dispatch.

Which is the best charger for Octopus?

Best Octopus integration: Ohme Home Pro

The Ohme was designed specifically around EV tariff integration. It connects directly to Octopus’s API and receives live price signals. On Octopus Agile (a variable-rate tariff where prices change every 30 minutes), the Ohme reads tomorrow’s price schedule and automatically books the cheapest half-hour slots. No other home charger does this as effectively.

The built-in colour screen shows the current tariff rate, cost per session, and schedule status without opening the app. A 4G SIM (three years included with purchase) ensures connectivity even on poor home Wi-Fi, which matters when the smart dispatch relies on a live connection.

Unit price: ~£535. Installed from ~£999. OZEV grant applies for eligible buyers.

Best all-round option: Hypervolt Home 3 Pro

The Hypervolt Home 3 Pro combines Intelligent Octopus Go support with a solar CT clamp, an IP66 weatherproof enclosure, and one of the best apps in the market. The 2026 firmware update added improved energy monitoring and Hypervolt Connect household sharing.

The trade-off versus Ohme is that solar and Octopus integration are handled through the Hypervolt platform rather than a direct API, which means some additional setup. The result is the same automatic off-peak scheduling, but with a slightly more complex initial configuration.

Unit price: ~£690. Installed from ~£1,100+.

Best budget Octopus-compatible option: Pod Point Solo 3S

The Pod Point Solo 3S recently joined the Intelligent Octopus Go compatible list. It is the most affordable charger with native integration, typically installed for £800-£1,000 all-in before the OZEV grant. The Pod Point app is functional rather than polished, but schedules work reliably.

Unit price: ~£350. Installed from ~£800+.

Best for solar plus Octopus: myenergi Zappi (with Hub)

The Zappi alone can use Intelligent Octopus Go, but the full integration requires the myenergi Hub (a separate networking device, ~£100). With the Hub, the Zappi connects to Octopus’s smart dispatch system while also managing solar diversion. The combination means the car prioritises solar during the day and cheapest grid electricity overnight, without any user input.

Unit price: ~£700-£800 (plus ~£100 for Hub). Installed from ~£1,100+.

Comparison: Intelligent Octopus Go vs Octopus Go

Feature	Intelligent Octopus Go	Octopus Go
Off-peak rate	8p/kWh	9.5p/kWh
Off-peak window	11:30pm-5:30am (6 hrs)	12:30am-5:30am (5 hrs)
Smart dispatch bonus slots	Yes	No
Compatible charger/car required	Yes	No
Annual saving vs standard rate (est.)	~£771	~£680

Intelligent Octopus Go is worth the extra setup complexity if your charger is compatible. If not, Octopus Go is still a substantial saving and works with any smart charger on a manual schedule.

What if I already have a charger that is not on the compatibility list?

Your existing charger can still benefit from Octopus Go with a manual overnight schedule. Set the charger timer to start at 12:30am and end at 5:30am. You will charge at 9.5p per kWh rather than 8p, and without the bonus smart-dispatch slots. The difference in annual saving versus Intelligent Octopus Go is approximately £50-£150 for a typical driver.

When you next replace your charger, switch to a compatible model and upgrade to Intelligent Octopus Go at the same time.

How to switch to Intelligent Octopus Go

1. Check whether your car or charger is on the Octopus compatible list (available on the Octopus website).
2. If eligible, apply directly on the Octopus website.
3. You need a SMETS2 smart meter (or compatible SMETS1) to be switched on half-hourly reads.
4. Octopus arranges the switch, typically within a few weeks.
5. Download the Octopus app, link your charger or car, and set your departure time.

See our best EV charging tariffs guide for a comparison of all UK EV tariffs. The complete guide to smart EV charging explains how the technology works. For the full range of home charger options, see the best home EV chargers guide.