What EV Connect is, and who should stay
EV Connect is a Californian charge point management platform that sells a package: the software, hardware from partner manufacturers, installation through its partner network, a US-based call centre for drivers, and roaming through Passport Hub. It is OCPP 2.0.1 certified and supports OCPP 1.6. If you are a large site host, a fleet or a utility that wants one contract and a project manager, that package is the point, and you should stay.
People search for an EV Connect alternative when the package is the problem:
- You can't see the price. EV Connect doesn't publish it. Software directories estimate around $99 per port per month, plus an implementation budget; the only reliable figure is a written quote.
- You have four ports, not four hundred. A sales-led rollout with implementation costs makes no sense at that size.
- You already own chargers and just want software, not a bundle.
- You want your own brand in front of drivers, not the vendor's.
Five alternatives
1. ChargePoint — the giant, if you want their hardware too
The largest network in the US. Chargers, cloud plans and services from one vendor, with the widest brand recognition among drivers. Best if: you want the safest corporate choice and don't mind the software being tied to the hardware. Trade-off: cloud plans are per port and quoted with the hardware; it's the same sales-led model as EV Connect, from a bigger company.
2. ChargeLab — if your charger reseller bundles it
Canadian, OCPP-native, and the software behind several manufacturers' and installers' offerings in North America (Autel in Canada, among others). Best if: you're buying chargers from a reseller who includes ChargeLab, so the CSMS comes with the installation. Trade-off: you don't buy from ChargeLab directly unless you're doing hundreds of chargers a year; pricing and support depend on the reseller.
3. AmpUp — if you're offering charging as an amenity
US-based, self-service, with a Starter plan for workplaces and multi-unit buildings that don't charge drivers, and Core/Pro plans that add payments and pricing tools. Best if: you manage a property, want a few ports live quickly and might monetise later. Trade-off: per port, and the prices only appear inside the sign-up flow.
4. Monta — if you want public pricing and a polished driver app
Danish, now selling in the US, with prices published on its European site (Starter: €300 platform fee for the first year plus 5% on paid charges; Advanced from €500/month plus per-socket fees plus 2%) — check the US site for dollar terms. Self-service sign-up. Best if: your drivers like apps and you want to be live this week. Trade-off: the percentage on every paid charge, and the Monta brand in front of your drivers.
5. askacharge.com — if you have 1 to ~100 chargers and want a flat price with your brand
Ours. $20/month with unlimited chargers, no per-port fee, no setup fee, no contract; driver payments 2% + $0.25 per charge with card processing included (Stripe). Sign up online, connect any OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1 charger by changing its server URL, take payments by QR code 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. 30-day free trial.
The honest trade-offs for a US buyer: the operator dashboard is in Spanish today — driver-facing pages (QR payment, driver portal) are in English; there is no native driver app (it's a web app); support is by email and from Europe, so no US call centre; there is no US tax-filing module (our automatic tax filing is for Spain); and our roaming hub has no external partner connected yet, so no Passport Hub equivalent. If any of those is a deal-breaker, one of the four above is the better fit. Full price list.
Side by side
| Platform | Published price | Self-service | Own hardware required | US phone support for drivers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV Connect | No (directories: ~$99/port/month) | No | No, partner hardware | Yes | Large site hosts and fleets wanting one contract |
| ChargePoint | No (per-port cloud plans) | No | Mostly yes | Yes | Corporations wanting the biggest brand |
| ChargeLab | No (via reseller) | No | Via the reseller | Via the reseller | Bundled with a charger purchase |
| AmpUp | In the sign-up flow | Yes | No | Yes | Amenity charging at properties |
| Monta | Yes (EUR on the EU site) | Yes | No | Not confirmed | App-first operators |
| askacharge.com | Yes ($20/month) | Yes | No | No (email) | Under ~100 chargers, own brand, flat price |
Before you switch: two checks
- Can your chargers change server? Standard OCPP chargers let you edit the central system URL. If EV Connect or the manufacturer has locked it, get it unlocked in writing before you cancel.
- Who holds the driver payments? With a bundled vendor, payouts often go through the vendor's merchant account. With askacharge.com and most self-service platforms, payments go to your Stripe account, and the platform takes its fee from each charge. Know which model you're in before the last invoice.
Sources
- EV Connect FAQ (OCPP 2.0.1 certification, Passport Hub, US call centre, no published pricing): evconnect.com/resources/faq
- ChargeLab pricing page: chargelab.co/pricing
- AmpUp plans FAQ: support.ampup.io
- Monta pricing: monta.com/en/pricing
- The full comparison: the best EV charging management software in 2026