Last updated: March 2026 | Reading time: 10 min
Three names keep coming up every time European EV drivers discuss charging cards: Shell Recharge, Electroverse (by Octopus Energy), and Chargemap. Each takes a fundamentally different approach to solving the same problem — making public charging less painful. But which one actually deserves a spot in your glovebox?
We’ve been using all three across 12 European countries since early 2025. This comparison isn’t based on marketing claims — it’s based on hundreds of real charging sessions, price checks, and the kind of frustrations that only surface after months of daily use.
The Quick Verdict
Electroverse wins for most European drivers. It offers the largest roaming network, competitive pricing (especially if you’re an Octopus Energy customer), and a genuinely good app. Shell Recharge is your best bet for highway charging on IONITY and TotalEnergies stations, but its app transition has been rough and customer service reviews are dire. Chargemap is the unsung hero for coverage of small, local networks across France and Southern Europe, but its pricing can be the most expensive of the three due to roaming fees.
Network Coverage: Where Can You Actually Charge?
This is where the three services differ most dramatically.
Electroverse claims access to over 800,000 charge points across Europe. It’s built on Octopus Energy’s backend and aggregates dozens of roaming agreements. In practice, coverage is excellent across the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Scandinavia. It works on Shell Recharge stations (often at different prices than Shell’s own app), IONITY, Allego, Fastned, and hundreds of smaller networks. The RFID card is free to order.
Shell Recharge has around 400,000 charge points in its network across Europe. Its own stations are concentrated along major highways and at Shell petrol stations. Through roaming partnerships, it also covers IONITY, Allego, and various local networks. Coverage is strongest in the Netherlands, Germany, UK, France, and Belgium. The RFID card costs nothing to order.
Chargemap covers roughly 600,000 charge points with its Chargemap Pass. Where it truly shines is in France (its home market), Italy, Spain, and Portugal — regions where smaller networks and municipal chargers dominate. If you’re driving through rural Provence or the Italian countryside, Chargemap often knows about chargers that neither Shell nor Electroverse list. The Chargemap Pass costs €19.90 as a one-time purchase.
Pricing: The Real Cost Per kWh
This is where things get complicated — and where marketing claims fall apart.
Electroverse uses transparent per-kWh pricing shown directly in the app before you start charging. Prices vary by operator and location, but are generally competitive. Octopus Energy customers on Go or Intelligent Go tariffs get 5-8% off all Electroverse charging. No monthly subscription. No hidden fees. On IONITY stations, Electroverse typically charges around €0.69-0.79/kWh — significantly cheaper than IONITY’s pay-as-you-go rate of €0.89/kWh.
Shell Recharge also uses per-kWh pricing without a subscription. Prices on Shell’s own stations are generally competitive, especially for AC charging. However, user reports indicate that Shell’s pricing can be higher than Electroverse on the same physical charger. On IONITY, Shell typically charges €0.65-0.79/kWh, making it competitive on highway fast charging. The major issue? Shell’s £55/€65 pre-authorization hold, which can take days to be released back to your bank account.
Chargemap charges the operator’s price plus a roaming fee that can range from €0.05 to €0.15 per kWh. There’s no monthly subscription, but the upfront card cost (€19.90) and the per-session fees mean it’s often the most expensive option for frequent charging. On IONITY, expect to pay €0.79-0.89/kWh through Chargemap. However, Chargemap offers exclusive access to some small French and Italian networks where it’s the only roaming option — and those rates can be very competitive.
App Experience and Reliability
Electroverse has the best app of the three. Clean design, accurate pricing displayed upfront, good filters, and a responsive map. Trustpilot rating: 4.8/5. The app shows real-time availability and clearly distinguishes between chargers you can activate with Electroverse and those that are just shown for information. One caveat: some forum users report that the map sometimes shows inaccurate data for chargers not directly in the Electroverse network.
Shell Recharge has gone through a painful transition. The old Shell Recharge app was replaced by the general Shell app in late 2024/early 2025, and the migration was rocky. Many users reported lost RFID cards, missing payment methods, and a confusing interface that mixes EV charging with fuel station features. Trustpilot rating: 1.1/5 with over 900 reviews — one of the worst-rated charging services in Europe. The charging itself usually works fine; it’s the customer service and app that frustrate users.
Chargemap has a solid community-driven app that doubles as the best charging station map in Southern Europe. Users actively update station status, add photos, and report broken chargers. The community aspect is Chargemap’s secret weapon — you get real-time, human-verified information rather than relying solely on operator data. The app can feel a bit cluttered, but the information quality is unmatched. Rating on app stores: 4.5/5.
Cross-Border Travel: Who Wins in Europe?
For a road trip from Amsterdam to Rome, here’s what each service looks like in practice:
Electroverse handles this route seamlessly. Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Italy are all well-covered. IONITY stations along the autobahn and autostrada work without issues. You’ll find competitive pricing throughout.
Shell Recharge is strong through the Netherlands, Germany, and into Austria. Coverage thins in Italy, especially south of Milan. Highway charging is reliable, but once you leave the motorway, options decrease significantly.
Chargemap may struggle in the Netherlands and Northern Germany, but excels once you enter France, Switzerland, and Italy. For Southern European road trips (France → Spain, France → Italy), Chargemap is often the better companion.
Head-to-Head Comparison Table
| Feature | Electroverse | Shell Recharge | Chargemap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge points | 800,000+ | 400,000+ | 600,000+ |
| Card cost | Free | Free | €19.90 |
| Monthly fee | None | None | None |
| IONITY price | €0.69-0.79/kWh | €0.65-0.79/kWh | €0.79-0.89/kWh |
| Pre-auth hold | None or low | €55-65 | Varies |
| Best for | All-round Europe | Highway fast charging | France, Southern Europe |
| App rating | 4.8/5 | 1.1/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Community data | Limited | None | Excellent |
Our Recommendation: The Two-Card Strategy
No single card covers everything perfectly. Based on our testing, here’s what we recommend:
Primary card: Electroverse. It’s free, covers the most ground, has the best app, and offers the most transparent pricing. If you’re an Octopus Energy customer, the additional discount makes it a no-brainer.
Backup card: Chargemap Pass. The €19.90 investment pays for itself the first time you’re stuck at a rural French or Italian charger that only accepts Chargemap. The community-driven data is invaluable for planning stops off the beaten path.
Shell Recharge? Skip it unless you specifically need its IONITY pricing or you’re a Shell loyalty customer. The app experience is frustrating, the pre-authorization holds are annoying, and Electroverse covers most of the same chargers at similar or better prices. Shell’s Trustpilot score of 1.1/5 tells you everything you need to know about the customer experience.
The Bottom Line
The EV charging card market in Europe is maturing fast, but it’s still messy. Prices change monthly, roaming agreements shift, and what works perfectly today might frustrate you next quarter. The best strategy is to carry two complementary cards and always check the app before plugging in — the same physical charger can cost 30% more or less depending on which card you tap.
We’ll keep updating this comparison as prices and coverage change. Follow FairPlug for monthly price updates and the latest roaming agreements across European charging networks.
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