What AmpUp is, and who should stay
AmpUp is based in Santa Clara, California. Its EV Cloud manages Level 2 and DC fast chargers in the US and Canada for fleets, workplaces, multifamily buildings, hotels, cities and installers, and it has its own driver app (iOS, Android and web) to find, reserve and pay. It speaks OCPP 1.6 and OCPI 2.2.1, describes itself as hardware-agnostic, and lists chargers from 14 brands.
One thing it has that matters in California: its software holds CTEP certification (the state's weights-and-measures type evaluation) with several charger brands, which you need to sell charging by the kWh at public chargers there. If that is your case, AmpUp is a strong option and you should stay.
People look for an AmpUp alternative when:
- They want a published price instead of a quote.
- They want their own brand in front of drivers, not the AmpUp app.
- They operate outside the US and Canada, where AmpUp doesn't say it works.
Five alternatives
1. EV Connect — one US contract with hardware, installation and a call centre
Californian, OCPP 2.0.1 certified, partner hardware, installation, a US call centre and roaming through Passport Hub. Trade-off: no published prices and an implementation budget. EV Connect alternatives.
2. ChargePoint — the best-known network, hardware and software together
The biggest network in North America; since 2024 its software also manages certified third-party chargers. Trade-off: per-port cloud plans quoted with the hardware, and ChargePoint stations can't be moved to another platform. ChargePoint alternatives.
3. ChargeLab — if your charger reseller bundles it
Canadian, OCPP-native, the software behind several manufacturers' and installers' offers. Trade-off: below large volumes you buy it through a reseller, so price and support depend on them.
4. Monta — public pricing and a polished driver app
Danish, selling in Europe and the US, with prices published on its European site (Starter: €300 platform fee for the first year plus 5% on paid charges). Trade-off: a percentage on every paid charge and the Monta brand in front of your drivers.
5. askacharge.com — any OCPP charger, your brand and a flat price
Ours. €20/month with unlimited chargers ($20 in the US and Mexico), no per-point fee, no setup fee, no minimum term; driver payments 2% + €0.25 per charge with card processing (Stripe) already inside that figure. Sign up online, connect any OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1 charger by changing its server URL, OCPI 2.2 roaming, a roaming hub between members at 1% per session, QR payment without an app or account, white label with your own domain, an API and an MCP server so an AI agent can run the network, and automatic Verifactu/TicketBAI invoicing in Spain. 30-day free trial.
The honest trade-offs: we are a small company and support is by email from Spain, with no call centre; there is no native driver app (it's a web app drivers can install); our roaming hub has no external partner connected yet; and a few secondary screens of the dashboard (help, webhooks) are still only in Spanish. If you need an enterprise SLA and an implementation team, one of the platforms above is the better fit. Full price list.
And on CTEP: askacharge.com has no CTEP certification. If you sell charging by the kWh at public chargers in California, that rules us out for those sites today. Check with the California Division of Measurement Standards what applies to your sites.
Side by side
| AmpUp | askacharge.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not published (quote) | $20/month, unlimited chargers |
| Fee on driver payments | Not published | 2% + $0.25, card processing included |
| Countries | US and Canada | Any country with Stripe; US, Canada, Europe, Mexico |
| Chargers | OCPP 1.6, 14 brands listed | Any OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1 charger |
| Roaming | OCPI 2.2.1 | OCPI 2.2 + own hub at 1% (no external partner yet) |
| Driver app | Native iOS/Android + web | Web app, QR payment without app |
| Your brand | AmpUp app | White label, your own domain |
| California CTEP | Yes, with several charger brands | No |
Before you switch: three checks
- Can your chargers change server? Standard OCPP chargers let you edit the central system URL (manufacturer's app, the charger's web page, or an OCPP
ChangeConfigurationfrom the current platform). If it is locked, get it unlocked in writing before you cancel anything. How to change the OCPP server URL, by brand. - Export what you own while you still have access: RFID cards, tariffs, customers and session history.
- Move one charger first. Do a full cycle on the new platform — start, charge, pay, invoice — and only then move the rest. Cancel the old subscription last.