If you're choosing a home EV charge point in 2026, the shortlist almost always comes down to two names: the myenergi Zappi and the Ohme Pro. Both are 7.4kW (single-phase) smart chargers built for the UK market, both integrate with time-of-use electricity tariffs, and both are eligible for OZEV-adjacent installer schemes. But they were engineered around two different charging philosophies — solar-first versus tariff-first — and that difference should drive your buying decision more than the spec sheet does.
What Is the myenergi Zappi?
The Zappi is a solar-diverting EV charger. Its defining feature is Eco+ mode: using a current transformer (CT) clamp fitted at your consumer unit, the Zappi measures how much power your solar PV array is exporting to the grid in real time and diverts that surplus — and only that surplus — into your car. If a cloud passes overhead and export drops, charge current drops with it, down to a minimum of around 1.4kW before pausing. It's available in tethered (5m/6.5m Type 2 cable) or untethered form, in 7.4kW single-phase or 22kW three-phase versions, and includes an integrated Type A+B RCD and MID-certified meter as standard.
What Is the Ohme Pro?
The Ohme Pro takes the opposite starting point: tariff-first smart charging. It ships with a built-in 4G SIM and Wi-Fi, so it doesn't need a home broadband connection to fetch live tariff data. Ohme's app talks directly to Octopus Energy's API (among other suppliers) to pull half-hourly Agile pricing or your Intelligent Octopus Go off-peak window, then schedules charging automatically to hit the cheapest overnight rate while still meeting your target departure time and state of charge. It's 7.4kW, tethered-only (5m cable), OCPP 1.6J compliant for third-party platform integration, and noticeably smaller and lighter than the Zappi.
EV charging connector icon Both chargers use the standard UK/EU Type 2 (Mennekes) connector on the vehicle side, so cable compatibility is not a differentiator — connector type should never factor into your Zappi-vs-Ohme decision.
Zappi vs Ohme Pro: Specification Comparison
Spec | myenergi Zappi (v2) | Ohme Pro |
|---|---|---|
Max output | 7.4kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) | 7.4kW (single-phase only) |
Cable | Tethered (5m/6.5m) or untethered | Tethered only (5m) |
Solar PV diversion | Yes — Eco/Eco+ modes via CT clamp | No |
Smart tariff scheduling | Via app + supplier integration | Native, live half-hourly pricing (Agile, Intelligent Octopus Go, Cosy) |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi / Ethernet (myenergi Hub) | Built-in 4G SIM + Wi-Fi (no home broadband required) |
Protocol | Proprietary (myenergi app + Zappi API) | OCPP 1.6J |
Typical installed price (UK, 2026) | £1,050–£1,250 | £800–£950 |
Warranty | 3 years (extendable to 6) | 3 years |
Prices and firmware feature sets change frequently — always confirm current specs directly with an MCS-certified installer before ordering either unit.
Solar PV Diversion: Where the Zappi Pulls Ahead
Eco+ mode on the myenergi app throttles charge current to match live solar export, second by second.
If you have rooftop solar, this is the whole ballgame. The Zappi's CT-clamp diversion means you can charge your EV almost entirely from free daytime generation rather than importing at a flat or peak rate. Owners commonly report diverting 60–80% of a typical daily commute's charge from solar during spring and summer months. The Ohme Pro has no equivalent hardware path — it can only shift charging in time, not in response to live household generation — so it will always import from the grid, just at the cheapest available time slot.
- Zappi Eco mode: blends grid and solar power to guarantee a minimum charge rate even on cloudy days.
- Zappi Eco+ mode: solar-only, pausing entirely when generation drops below the charger's minimum threshold.
- Zappi Fast mode: full-rate grid charging on demand, identical in behaviour to the Ohme Pro's manual boost.
Smart Tariff Automation & Octopus Agile/Intelligent Compatibility
This is the Ohme Pro's home turf. Because it fetches live half-hourly Agile prices directly from Octopus's API (rather than relying on a fixed overnight window), it can automatically target the single cheapest hour of the night, including negative-price "Plunge Pricing" periods when Octopus effectively pays you to charge. It also natively supports Intelligent Octopus Go, Cosy Octopus, and several other supplier tariffs without third-party workarounds.
The Zappi can still be scheduled against a fixed off-peak window (e.g. 23:30–05:30 for a standard Go tariff), but it lacks Ohme's live half-hourly price-following logic out of the box, making it a less precise instrument for Agile optimisation specifically.
On the fence about which tariff to pair with your new charger? If you're not already on a dedicated EV tariff, check your eligibility for Octopus Energy's Intelligent Octopus Go or Agile plans — both are required to unlock the cheapest overnight rates referenced above.
Check my Octopus EV tariff & claim £50 credit →
Installation, Cable Options & Pricing
Both units require a qualified electrician for consumer unit work, earthing arrangement checks (PME vs TT), and DNO notification above certain load thresholds. Typical UK installed pricing, including a standard chargepoint grant where eligible:
- Zappi tethered, single-phase: £1,050–£1,250 installed
- Zappi untethered (bring your own cable): £950–£1,150 installed
- Ohme Pro tethered: £800–£950 installed
- Optional load-balancing/whole-current-sensing add-on (either unit): £80–£150
If your property has single-phase supply only (the vast majority of UK homes), the Zappi's 22kW three-phase capability is irrelevant — both chargers cap out at 7.4kW for you, and price becomes the dominant variable if solar diversion isn't a requirement.
App Experience: myenergi App vs Ohme App
The myenergi app is built around a wider ecosystem — Zappi, Eddi (immersion diverter), and Libbi (battery storage) all report into one dashboard, which matters if you're building out a full solar-plus-storage-plus-EV setup over time. Its charge-mode switching (Eco/Eco+/Fast) is manual unless you set boost timers.
The Ohme app is narrower but sharper for its one job: a single "target time" slider, live cost-per-charge estimates before you plug in, and a rolling log of exactly what each session cost versus what a flat-rate charge would have cost. For tariff-optimisation obsessives, it's the more satisfying interface day to day.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
myenergi Zappi
- Best-in-class solar PV diversion (Eco+)
- Untethered option available
- Three-phase 22kW variant exists for future-proofing
- Integrates with wider myenergi solar/battery ecosystem
- Higher upfront cost
- Less precise live half-hourly tariff following
Ohme Pro
- Native live Agile/Intelligent Octopus Go price-following
- Built-in 4G — no home Wi-Fi dependency
- Lower upfront and installed cost
- OCPP 1.6J for third-party platform flexibility
- No solar PV diversion capability
- Tethered-only, single-phase only
Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Zappi if you already have, or plan to install, solar PV — its Eco+ diversion is unmatched and will materially cut your effective cost-per-mile over a summer. Buy the Ohme Pro if you have no solar panels, are firmly on (or moving to) an Octopus EV tariff, and want the lowest all-in cost with the sharpest tariff-automation software. For most flat-roofed terraced houses without PV, the Ohme Pro is the more rational purchase; for anyone with south-facing roof space already generating, the Zappi pays for its price premium within two or three summers.
Ordering a new Tesla to go with your new charger? Both the Zappi and Ohme Pro pair natively with Tesla vehicles via the standard Type 2 inlet — no adapter required.
Order your Tesla & claim referral credit →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Ohme Pro be upgraded to support solar diversion later?
No. Solar diversion requires a CT clamp and diversion firmware built into the hardware at manufacture; it cannot be added to an Ohme Pro retroactively. If solar diversion is a future priority, buy the Zappi now.
Do I need a smart meter for either charger to work with Octopus Agile?
Yes. Both the Zappi's app-based scheduling and the Ohme Pro's live price-following require a working smart meter reporting half-hourly data to access Agile and Intelligent Octopus Go tariffs.
Is the Zappi or Ohme Pro compatible with all electric vehicles?
Yes — both use the universal Type 2 connector and standard Mode 3 AC charging, so they work with every EV sold in the UK, including Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, and VW Group models.