The quickest way to find a charger is a dedicated app. PlugShare is the most comprehensive - a crowd-sourced map of 800,000+ chargers worldwide across every major network, with user check-ins that flag broken or busy stalls. For trip routing, use A Better Routeplanner (ABRP). Your car's built-in navigation (especially Tesla/NACS) shows live availability on its network. Google Maps and Waze also let you search 'EV charging' and show connector types. Filter by connector, speed, network and availability, and read recent check-ins before you rely on a station.
Ways to find a charger at a glance
| Tool | Coverage | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlugShare | 800,000+ globally, all networks | Finding & verifying any charger | Free |
| Car's native nav | Its own network (e.g. Supercharger) | Live availability on that network | Included |
| ABRP | All networks, route-based | Trip routing with charging stops | Free / premium |
| Google Maps / Waze | Broad, growing | Quick nearby search | Free |
| Network apps | Single network | Pricing & starting a session | Free |
Start with PlugShare
If you install one charging app, make it PlugShare. It maps hundreds of thousands of chargers worldwide - over 800,000 by 2026 - across every major network including Tesla, Electrify America, EVgo and ChargePoint. Its real power is the community: drivers leave check-ins, photos and comments that reveal whether a charger actually works, how to find it, and whether there's a queue. A station that looks perfect on a map may have been broken for weeks; PlugShare's recent check-ins tell you before you drive there.
How to filter effectively
- Connector type: show only stations with your plug (NACS, CCS, Type 2, etc.).
- Charging speed: filter to DC fast chargers when you need a quick top-up, or Level 2 for a longer stay.
- Network: narrow to networks you have accounts with, or that you trust.
- Availability & reliability: sort by recent positive check-ins and a high reliability score.
- Amenities: find chargers near food, restrooms or shelter for longer stops.
Use your car's built-in navigation
Many EVs now include charger-finding in the dashboard navigation. This is especially strong for Tesla and NACS-equipped cars on the Supercharger network, where the car shows live stall availability - so you can avoid a full station - plus estimated charge time and arrival battery level. Several other manufacturers build similar features into their infotainment. Native navigation is often the fastest tool for the network it knows best; pair it with PlugShare for everything else.
Plan trips with ABRP
For longer journeys, A Better Routeplanner finds chargers along your route and optimises where to stop based on your car's range and charging curve, rather than just showing what's nearby. It's the right tool when 'find a charger' really means 'plan a route with charging stops.' Use it to build the trip, then verify each stop on PlugShare. (See our road-trip charging guide for the full workflow.)
Google Maps, Waze and the simple options
For a quick 'where can I charge right now' search, Google Maps and Waze both let you search 'EV charging stations' and increasingly show connector types, charging speed and some live availability. They're convenient and always on your phone, but their reliability data is thinner than PlugShare's crowd-sourced check-ins. Use them for a fast look; use PlugShare to confirm a station is actually working.
Keep network apps installed
Finding a charger and using it are two different steps. Most non-Tesla public chargers require the relevant network's app (or an RFID card) to start and pay for a session. Install the apps for networks on your usual routes, set up payment in advance, and keep them updated. Some networks and regions are adding contactless card payment, but app coverage remains the safer assumption in 2026.
How to avoid a wasted trip to a dead charger
- Read the latest check-ins on PlugShare before relying on a station.
- Have a backup charger identified nearby in case your first choice is broken or busy.
- Prefer larger sites with multiple stalls - if one is down, another may work.
- Confirm the connector and speed match your car before you go.
- On a trip, don't run the battery so low that you have no margin to reach an alternate charger.
Public charging keeps growing fast - by 2026 the US alone had well over 200,000 public charging ports across 75,000+ locations, up sharply year over year. Finding a charger is rarely the problem now; finding a working, available one quickly is, which is exactly what crowd-sourced apps like PlugShare solve.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best app to find EV charging stations?
Can I find EV chargers on Google Maps?
How do I know if a charger is working before I drive there?
Do I need an app to use a public charger?
How do I filter chargers by connector type?
Sources & further reading
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