Cheapest rapid charging networks in the UK
Pod Point is currently the cheapest UK rapid charging network at 44.0p/kWh on PAYG, ahead of Tesla Supercharger (58.0p) and Believ (66.0p).
All figures below are PAYG headline rates for chargers of 50kW or higher, as published by each operator and last verified April 2026. Subscription rates can be significantly lower — see each network page for the break-even point.
| Rank | Network | PAYG rate | Max kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pod Point | 44.0p/kWh | 50kW |
| 2 | Tesla Supercharger | 58.0p/kWh | 250kW |
| 3 | Believ | 66.0p/kWh | 75kW |
| 4 | SWARCO eVolt | 75.0p/kWh | 175kW |
| 5 | Allego | 78.0p/kWh | 300kW |
| 6 | Mer | 78.0p/kWh | 150kW |
| 7 | Be.EV | 79.0p/kWh | 300kW |
| 8 | Evyve | 79.0p/kWh | 300kW |
| 9 | Fastned | 79.0p/kWh | 400kW |
| 10 | IONITY | 79.0p/kWh | 350kW |
| 11 | MFG EV Power | 79.0p/kWh | 300kW |
| 12 | Shell Recharge | 79.0p/kWh | 175kW |
| 13 | GRIDSERVE | 85.0p/kWh | 350kW |
| 14 | BP Pulse | 89.0p/kWh | 300kW |
| 15 | Osprey | 89.0p/kWh | 175kW |
| 16 | GeniePoint | 90.0p/kWh | 150kW |
| 17 | InstaVolt | 92.0p/kWh | 160kW |
Caveats
- Coverage trade-off. The cheapest networks sometimes have the smallest UK footprints. Pod Point has 3,500 locations versus 4,500+ for BP Pulse — useful at home but not always available on a long drive.
- Off-peak windows. Several networks (InstaVolt, Be.EV) drop their rate significantly overnight. If you can shift the charge to off-peak hours, the effective rank changes.
- Subscription rates. IONITY's Passport Power at 43p/kWh undercuts everyone on PAYG above, but you pay £10.50/month — worthwhile only if you use IONITY regularly.
- VAT position. A February 2026 First-tier Tribunal ruling could move public charging to the 5% reduced rate. If networks pass that through, expect headline rates to fall during 2026.