The Ohme Home Pro and Pod Point Solo 3 are two of the most popular home EV chargers in the UK — and they represent two genuinely different approaches to charging. One prioritises smart energy management and tariff optimisation. The other keeps things simple, reliable, and affordable. So which one should you actually buy? We've put them side by side across every category that matters.

Quick Comparison

Ohme Home Pro Pod Point Solo 3
Price (inc. install) ~£799 ~£699
Price after OZEV grant ~£449 ~£349
Charging speed 7.4kW 7.2kW
Cable length 7.5m 5m
IP rating IP54 IP65
Smart tariff integration ✅ Intelligent Octopus, Agile, Go ❌ Manual scheduling only
Solar compatible ✅ Via CT clamp ❌
Warranty 3 years 3 years
OZEV grant eligible ✅ ✅
## Price and Value for Money Let's start with the obvious one. The Pod Point Solo 3 is cheaper — roughly £100 less than the Ohme Home Pro before any grant deductions. After the £350 OZEV grant (available to renters and flat owners), you're looking at approximately £349 for the Pod Point versus £449 for the Ohme. That's a real difference, and for many buyers it'll be the deciding factor. But the full picture is more nuanced than the sticker price suggests. If you're on a smart electricity tariff — Octopus Intelligent Go, Octopus Agile, or E.ON Drive Anytime — the Ohme Home Pro can automatically schedule your charging for the cheapest off-peak slots. Depending on your driving habits, this can save £300–£500 per year compared to charging on a standard flat-rate tariff. The Pod Point can't do this automatically; you set a schedule manually. **The maths:** If smart tariff savings net you even £200 per year, the Ohme's £100 premium pays for itself within six months. If you're on a standard tariff with no off-peak rates, the Pod Point's lower price is the better deal. ## Smart Features This is where the two chargers diverge most sharply. ### Ohme Home Pro: Built for Smart Tariffs The Ohme Home Pro's headline feature is its deep integration with smart energy tariffs. With Octopus Intelligent Go, you simply tell the Ohme what time you need the car ready and to what charge level. It communicates directly with Octopus's systems and schedules charging across the cheapest overnight slots — no timers to set, no manual intervention. It also works brilliantly with Octopus Agile (variable half-hourly pricing), Octopus Go, and E.ON Drive Anytime. The charger reads real-time electricity prices and makes genuinely intelligent decisions about when to draw power. Beyond tariff integration, the Ohme supports solar panel charging via a CT clamp. In solar-priority mode, it diverts surplus solar energy to your car before drawing from the grid. It's not as sophisticated as the [myenergi Zappi's](/reviews/zappi-v2-review/) Eco+ mode, but it's a useful addition if you have panels. ### Pod Point Solo 3: Simple Scheduling The Pod Point Solo 3 connects via Wi-Fi and supports scheduled charging through its app. You set a time window — say, midnight to 6am — and it charges during those hours. Simple, effective, and it works. What it doesn't do is talk to your energy provider. There's no Intelligent Octopus integration, no dynamic pricing optimisation, and no solar panel support. If your cheap-rate window changes, you'll need to update the schedule manually. For many people, this is absolutely fine. You set it once, forget about it, and save money overnight. But if you want the charger to do the thinking for you, the Ohme is in a different league. ## The Apps ### Ohme App The Ohme app is one of the best in the EV charging space. It's well-designed, responsive (mostly), and packed with useful data: - Real-time charge status and power draw - Cost per session in pence - Smart schedule management - Carbon intensity tracking - Historical usage trends The one recurring gripe: the app can take 30–60 seconds to update the current charge state when you first open it. It's a minor irritation, not a dealbreaker. ### Pod Point App The Pod Point app is functional. It handles scheduling, real-time monitoring, and usage history. It won't win design awards, but it works reliably and doesn't crash — which, frankly, puts it ahead of some competitors. A nice bonus: if you use public Pod Point chargers (there are thousands at Tesco, Lidl, and various car parks across the UK), the same app manages those too. **App verdict:** The Ohme app is meaningfully better — more polished, more data-rich, and more useful. But the Pod Point app does what most people need without fuss. ## Charging Speed The Ohme Home Pro charges at 7.4kW; the Pod Point Solo 3 at 7.2kW. In practice, this difference is negligible — we're talking perhaps 10–15 extra minutes on a full overnight charge. Neither is slow, and both will comfortably charge any EV from near-empty to full overnight. Unless you're charging multiple vehicles back-to-back, charging speed is not a meaningful differentiator between these two. ## Design and Build Quality Both chargers are compact, white, wall-mounted units that look perfectly presentable on any home exterior. Neither will win a beauty contest against the Andersen A2, but neither looks out of place either. The Pod Point Solo 3 has a slight edge on weather resistance — it's IP65 rated (fully protected against water jets from any direction), compared to the Ohme's IP54 (splashproof). In the UK's climate, both ratings are perfectly adequate, but if your charger is in a particularly exposed position, the Pod Point's higher rating offers a bit more peace of mind. Cable length is worth noting: the Ohme comes with a 7.5m tethered cable, while the Pod Point's is 5m. If your parking spot is further from the wall — a common issue with detached garages or wider driveways — the Ohme's longer cable is a genuine practical advantage. ## Installation Both chargers are OZEV grant eligible and have established networks of approved installers across the UK. Installation is typically straightforward — mount the unit on an exterior wall, run a cable to your consumer unit, configure the Wi-Fi — and completes in 2–4 hours. Pod Point has the edge here in terms of process simplicity. They offer an end-to-end service (charger plus installation bundled together), which means less hassle sourcing separate quotes. Pod Point has been installing chargers at scale for years and the process is well-optimised. Ohme's installation process is also smooth, and their customer support during installation is notably responsive. Both are good — Pod Point is just slightly more streamlined as an end-to-end package. ## OZEV Grant Eligibility Both chargers are eligible for the UK government's OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant, which covers up to £350 towards installation costs. The grant is currently available to: - Renters (private and social housing) - Flat/apartment owners - Landlords installing chargers for tenants Homeowners who own their own house are **not** currently eligible for the OZEV grant. For a full breakdown, see our [OZEV grant guide](/guides/ev-charger-government-grant-uk/). ## Who Should Buy Which? ### Buy the Ohme Home Pro if: - You're on Octopus Intelligent Go, Octopus Agile, or another smart tariff - You want automated charging optimisation without setting timers - You have solar panels (or plan to install them) - You want a longer cable (7.5m vs 5m) - You care about detailed energy data and a polished app experience - You're willing to pay a premium now for ongoing energy savings ### Buy the Pod Point Solo 3 if: - You want the most reliable charger at the lowest price - You're on a standard electricity tariff with no off-peak rates - You prefer simplicity over smart features - You want a hassle-free, bundled charger-plus-installation package - You don't have solar panels and don't plan to get them - You use public Pod Point chargers and want one app for everything ## Our Verdict **Winner: Ohme Home Pro** — but only if you'll actually use the smart features. The Ohme Home Pro is the better charger on paper and in practice. Its tariff integration is genuinely brilliant, the app is superior, the cable is longer, and the potential energy savings are real and substantial. For anyone on a smart electricity tariff, it's a no-brainer — the £100 premium pays for itself rapidly. But the Pod Point Solo 3 isn't the "losing" option here. It's a thoroughly competent, well-priced charger from a trusted brand. If you don't need smart tariff integration and just want reliable overnight charging at the best price, the Pod Point is excellent value and you won't regret it. The wrong choice isn't buying either of these. The wrong choice is overthinking it.

Our Recommendation

Ohme Home Pro — Best for smart tariff users. Save money automatically.

Check Ohme Home Pro Price →

Pod Point Solo 3 — Best value for simple, reliable charging.

Check Pod Point Solo 3 Price →
--- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is the Ohme Home Pro worth the extra money over the Pod Point Solo 3? Yes — if you're on a smart electricity tariff like Octopus Intelligent Go or Agile. The automated tariff integration can save £300–£500 per year, making the £100 price difference trivial. If you're on a standard flat-rate tariff, the Pod Point's lower price makes it the better value choice. ### Can I switch from a Pod Point to an Ohme later? Yes, but it involves a new installation (and cost). It's worth getting the right charger first time. If there's any chance you'll switch to a smart tariff in the next couple of years, the Ohme is the safer bet. ### Do both chargers work with all electric vehicles? Yes. Both use the Type 2 connector, which is the standard for all EVs currently sold in the UK. They're compatible with every mainstream electric car. ### Which charger has better customer support? Both have good reputations. Pod Point benefits from being backed by EDF Energy, giving it the resources of a major energy company. Ohme has a responsive dedicated support team. Neither is notably bad. ### Can I install either charger myself? No. UK regulations require that EV chargers are installed by a qualified, registered electrician. Both Ohme and Pod Point have networks of approved installers. For the OZEV grant, you'll need an OZEV-registered installer specifically. --- *See also: [Ohme Home Pro Review](/reviews/ohme-home-pro-review/) · [Pod Point Solo 3 Review](/reviews/pod-point-solo-3-review/) · [Best Home EV Chargers UK 2026](/best-picks/best-home-ev-chargers-uk/)*

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