EVcourse vs PlugShare: When to Use Each Electric Car Charging App

What Does Each App Actually Do?

PlugShare and EVcourse cover two different moments in the charging journey. PlugShare is the BEFORE app. EVcourse is the WHEN-IT-BREAKS app. Here is what that means in practice.

Think of it this way: PlugShare helps you pick the restaurant. EVcourse helps you when the door is locked and no one answers. Both are useful, but at very different moments.

What Happens When the Charger Won't Start?

This is where the two apps diverge completely. You have driven to a charger, plugged in, and something is wrong. The screen shows an error, or a message you do not understand, or the charge simply will not begin.

With PlugShare, you can check recent reviews to see if other drivers reported the same issue. You can report the charger as broken. You can look for the next nearest charger and drive there instead. All of that is helpful, but none of it fixes the problem you are facing right now.

With EVcourse, you point your phone at the charger screen. The app reads the text, identifies the error or message, and shows you step-by-step instructions to resolve it. Many charger errors have simple fixes: restarting the session, using a different connector, or following a specific sequence the charger requires. EVcourse walks you through it on the spot.

The Scanner Feature: EVcourse's Biggest Difference

EVcourse can read any charger screen or car dashboard with your phone camera. This is the feature PlugShare does not have and was never designed to have.

Here is how it works: you open EVcourse, point your camera at the charger screen, and the app reads the text directly on your phone. The extracted text is matched against a database of known charger messages and error codes. If a match is found locally, you get instant help. If not, the text is sent (never the photo itself) to find the right troubleshooting scenario.

The scanner works with any charger brand and any language. It does not need a database of station locations because it reads what is actually on the screen in front of you. A charger in Germany showing a message in German gets the same treatment as a charger in California showing an English error code.

It also works on your car's dashboard. If your car shows a charging-related warning or a message you do not understand, you can scan that screen too. Photos never leave your device. Everything happens on your phone.

How Do They Handle Community Data?

Both apps collect data from real drivers, but the data they collect is fundamentally different.

PlugShare's strength is its community of drivers who rate stations, post photos, and check in when they charge. This creates a real-time picture of which stations are working, which are broken, and what conditions are like on the ground. With years of community data, PlugShare has built one of the most reliable databases of station reviews in the world.

EVcourse collects a different kind of data: charging feedback. After each charge, you log how it went (good, okay, or bad) and, if something went wrong, select up to two reasons from categories like "charger did not work," "charging was slow," "confusing process," or "app did not work." This takes 1-2 taps and builds a history of your charging experiences.

For teams, EVcourse shows which problems come up most across your colleagues. If five people on your team all report "confusing process" at different stations, that is a pattern worth knowing about. This is not something PlugShare was built to track.

Which One Has Better Coverage?

PlugShare has better station coverage. EVcourse has better problem coverage. They measure different things.

PlugShare covers 800,000+ charging stations worldwide. Its database is massive and community-maintained, with new stations added regularly. If a charger exists, PlugShare probably knows about it. That kind of location coverage is irreplaceable for planning trips and finding nearby chargers.

EVcourse does not need a database of station locations because the scanner reads whatever is on the screen in front of you. It works with any charger brand, any manufacturer, and any language. Whether you are at a brand-new station that just opened yesterday or a five-year-old charger in a rural area, EVcourse can read the screen and help you troubleshoot. Coverage, in EVcourse's case, means the breadth of problems it can solve, not the number of pins on a map.

Do You Need Both Apps?

Yes. PlugShare and EVcourse complement each other perfectly because they solve different problems.

Use PlugShare to find a working charger with good ratings and recent check-ins. Check the photos to see the station layout. Read the reviews to learn about quirks. Plan your route with confidence.

Use EVcourse when you arrive and things do not go as planned. The charger screen shows an error you have never seen. The charge starts but is painfully slow. The payment process is confusing. The connector does not fit. EVcourse has step-by-step help for all of these situations.

PlugShare gets you to the right charger. EVcourse gets the charge started. Together, they cover the full electric car charging experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

EVcourse is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PlugShare or any other company mentioned on this page. All trademarks and brand names belong to their respective owners. App features and availability may change. Always verify current information with the app developer directly.