PlugCompass vs Google Maps for EV charging
Short answer: Use Google Maps to drive there and PlugCompass to decide where to charge. Google Maps finds chargers worldwide, filters by plug and speed and navigates you there; PlugCompass rates each charger on the facts (price, real speed, reliability, access and ports) so you can compare them before you go.
PlugCompass is a free EV charging map that turns open government data, operators' live status and drivers' check-ins into one independent 0–10 score for 240,000+ charging locations in the U.S., the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Norway and Finland, with live availability for 292,000+ charge points refreshed every few minutes. Distance and advertising never change a score.
Side by side
| What you need | PlugCompass | Google Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Independent score per charger | Yes: a 0–10 PlugCompass Score from price, speed, reliability, access and ports, with every part shown. Distance and ads never change it. | No overall charger score; star ratings and reviews from Google users. |
| Price per kWh, comparable across stations | Yes where the operator publishes a price: turned into a comparable price per kWh (start and time fees folded in). Unpublished prices are shown as "not published", never guessed. | Not found in their public documentation. |
| Live availability | Yes in Europe: 292,000+ charge points in the Netherlands, Finland, France, Norway and Sweden, refreshed every few minutes. Not in the U.S. yet. | For some networks, for example Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America in the U.S. (live data for several U.S. and UK networks since 2019). |
| Did charging work here recently? | Drivers' one-tap "Did it work?" check-ins, Open Charge Map reports and operators' live status, plus monthly charger reliability reports per network. | Google user reviews; operator status where a network shares live data. |
| Real charger power (kW) and plug filters | Per-charger kW from official data, filters for speed, plug, network, price, place type and open now. | Yes: plug filters, "fast" (50 kW+) and "very fast" (150 kW+) filters, and saved plugs. |
| What's nearby while you charge | "While you charge": cafés, food, restrooms, grocery and shops within about 300 m (OpenStreetMap). | Yes, its main strength: any place search around the charger. |
| Turn-by-turn navigation and route planning | No. Tap Directions and PlugCompass opens Google Maps for the drive. | Yes. Charging stops on long trips for cars with Google built-in and on Android Auto. |
| Where it works | the U.S., the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Norway and Finland | Worldwide. |
| Cost and account | Free, no account needed. Works in any browser and can be installed as an app. | Free; a Google account is optional. |
Use Google Maps when
- You need turn-by-turn navigation or a route with charging stops in a car with Google built-in.
- You are outside the countries PlugCompass covers.
- You want photos and reviews of the place around the charger.
Use PlugCompass when
- You want to compare chargers on price per kWh, real power and whether charging worked recently.
- You want to see why a charger is good or bad, not only a star rating.
- You are in the Netherlands, Finland, France, Norway or Sweden and want live availability from the operators' official feeds.
Best of both: find and compare chargers on the PlugCompass map, then tap Directions to drive there. See how we score for the full method.
Questions
- Is PlugCompass better than Google Maps?
- They do different jobs. Use Google Maps to drive there and PlugCompass to decide where to charge. Google Maps finds chargers worldwide, filters by plug and speed and navigates you there; PlugCompass rates each charger on the facts (price, real speed, reliability, access and ports) so you can compare them before you go.
- Is PlugCompass free?
- Free, no account needed. Works in any browser and can be installed as an app.
- Where does PlugCompass work?
- the U.S., the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Elsewhere it says the country isn't covered yet.
- Does PlugCompass show live availability?
- Yes in Europe: 292,000+ charge points in the Netherlands, Finland, France, Norway and Sweden, refreshed every few minutes. Not in the U.S. yet.
More comparisons
Checked on 23 October 2026. Information about Google Maps comes from the public sources below and can change; PlugCompass's numbers update automatically. Something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.