Chargemap has become so dominant in public EV charging in France that its name has turned into a generic term. But being the most recognized option doesn't make it the best fit: the Pass card charges roughly a 10 % commission per session without a Boost subscription, and its network, however broad, still doesn't cover every charger. As a result, many EV drivers, and fleet managers in particular, are looking for a Chargemap alternative that better matches their needs. This comparison reviews the serious contenders (Fulli, Shell Recharge, Ulys Electric, Electra+, EVzen, Ionity…), their real-world pricing, and the coverage they actually provide.
- No single card covers every charger: the market remains fragmented despite the roaming infrastructure orchestrated by marketplaces such as Gireve.
- Chargemap Pass remains the coverage benchmark (around 1,000,000 points across Europe), but charges a commission; Fulli takes a different approach with a low flat subscription and zero commission[1].
- For a fleet, the right tool must handle both charging and fuel in one place, not another app to juggle alongside expense reports.
Why look for a Chargemap alternative
Chargemap Pass does a lot of things right: a single badge, a solid app for locating chargers, and broad multi-network coverage. The downside is the business model. Without a subscription, Chargemap takes roughly a 10 % commission on every session[2]. The Boost subscription (from €6.49/month with an annual commitment, €8.99/month without[3]) removes that commission, but it only pays for itself if you charge frequently enough. For occasional users, costs add up quickly.
There is also the question of residual coverage gaps. Even with close to a million points across Europe, Chargemap does not reach everything: certain chargers run by national operators (motorway networks, municipalities, hypermarkets) remain closed to its badge. That is exactly where alternatives carve out their space. Each targets a niche, whether it is price per kWh, motorway network reach, ultra-fast charging, or fleet management.
A quick vocabulary note before listing the players. What we call a charging "card" is almost always an EMSP (Electric Mobility Service Provider): an operator that sells you access, via roaming agreements, to chargers it does not own. The owners of those chargers are CPOs (Charge Point Operators). Keeping that distinction in mind avoids comparing apples and oranges. Ionity, for example, is primarily a charging network, even though it also issues a badge.
Roaming: why no card covers everything
Roaming is at the heart of the matter. Technically, it means getting mobility operators (EMSPs) to cooperate so that a user on one network can charge on another network's chargers[4]. In France, the Gireve marketplace (whose name literally stands for "Groupement pour l'Itinérance de la Recharge Électrique des Véhicules") has been structuring these agreements since 2013[5]. The underlying technical exchanges rely on open protocols such as OCPI and OIOX.
In practice, that means a "multi-network" card is never truly universal. It opens the chargers its issuer has signed roaming agreements with. The more agreements, the more useful the card, but there will always be isolated chargers left out (a local operator that has signed with no one, a closed network tied to a single badge). That is why many drivers keep two cards in the glove box: one broad primary card and one backup for the cases where the first fails.
Comparing raw charger counts is meaningless. An operator can list 300,000 points without covering a single strategic station on your daily route. Check coverage where you actually drive (motorway, home, workplace) before committing.
The main Chargemap alternatives in 2026
The market splits into three families: generalist multi-network cards (Fulli, Shell Recharge, Ulys), offerings tied to proprietary charging networks (Electra+, Ionity, TotalEnergies Charge+), and emerging EMSP operators (EVzen). Below are the positions documented by specialist comparison sites[1][6]:
| App / card | Main advantage | Coverage / pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chargemap Pass | Widest coverage | ~1,000,000 pts Europe, €19.90 card, ~10% commission (without Boost) | Itinerant consumers |
| Fulli (TotalEnergies) | Low subscription, 0 commission | Multi-network, free Nomade card, €2.50/month | Regular users, cost-conscious |
| Shell Recharge | International network | ~275,000 public chargers, free card, no subscription | Cross-border travellers |
| Ulys Electric (Vinci) | Motorway charging | Vinci Autoroutes network, €14.90 card, ~€2.20/session | Motorway drivers |
| Electra+ Boost | Very low price per kWh | €0.29/kWh on Electra network, €9.99/month | Frequent ultra-fast charging |
| EVzen | Emerging EMSP operator | ~150,000 chargers in France, ~300,000 in Europe, app + badge | All-round use |
| Ionity (badge) | Ultra-fast on major routes | 350 kW stations on European motorways | Long-distance travel |
Comparison sites consistently reach the same verdict: Fulli is regularly ranked as the best overall value in 2026, thanks to a €2.50/month subscription with zero commission[1], while Chargemap is hard to beat on raw coverage. For ultra-fast charging, Electra+ has undercut the market at €0.29/kWh on its network[7], provided you are willing to take the subscription.
Real cost: free card vs. subscription
As with fuel cards, the advertised rate does not tell the whole story. The real cost driver is what you pay beyond the kWh itself. Three models coexist: a card with a per-session commission (Chargemap without Boost), a card with a flat subscription and no commission (Fulli), and a card tied to a closed network with a negotiated rate (Electra+, Ionity). The right choice depends on how often you charge.
The decision rule is straightforward. If you charge several times a week away from home, a flat subscription (Fulli, or Chargemap Boost) is almost always cheaper. If you only plug in on holidays or the occasional long trip, you are better off with a no-subscription card and a small commission. You pay as you go rather than for a fixed cost you never recoup.
Calculate your total annual cost before choosing. Multiply your monthly charging sessions by the commission or subscription amount, then add the cost of the card itself. A "free" card can end up costing twice as much as a flat subscription from the second month onwards.
The fleet use case
For a fleet manager, the equation changes entirely. The problem is no longer "which card works for me" but "how do I bill 30 drivers without drowning in expense reports." Consumer cards like Chargemap Pass or Fulli are not built for that: no per-driver spending limits, no structured accounting export, no consolidation with fuel. You end up stacking a charging badge, a fuel card, and an expense management app. That is exactly the fragmentation you were trying to avoid.
Rather than adding yet another app alongside Chargemap, a multi-network fuel card that also covers EV charging brings both cost centres into a single back-office with limits, geolocation, and reporting. It also makes ESG data more reliable: one source of truth for kWh, litres, and the corresponding emissions. For the infrastructure side, our guide on EV chargers and the business charger comparison complete the picture.
Choosing by profile
1) Do you charge frequently away from home? If yes, a flat subscription with no commission (Fulli, or Chargemap Boost) will save you money. If no, stick with a no-subscription card (Shell Recharge, Chargemap without Boost) and accept a per-session commission.
2) Do you drive a lot on motorways or abroad? For French motorways, Ulys Electric (Vinci) or Fulli are well positioned. Across Europe, Shell Recharge and Chargemap Pass offer the broadest coverage. For ultra-fast charging on major corridors, Electra+ and Ionity are the specialists.
3) Do you manage multiple vehicles? From two drivers upward, shift to a fleet logic: a single tool covering charging and fuel, with per-driver tracking. That is where a dedicated solution makes a genuine cost-management difference compared to a consumer card.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Chargemap alternative in 2026?
There is no single answer. Fulli is consistently ranked as the best total value thanks to its €2.50/month subscription with no commission[1]. Chargemap is unmatched on raw coverage. For fast charging, Electra+ at €0.29/kWh is highly competitive[7]. The right choice depends on your charging frequency and the routes you drive.
Does Chargemap Pass charge a commission?
Yes. Without a subscription, Chargemap takes roughly a 10 % commission on every charging session[2]. The Boost subscription (from €6.49/month with an annual commitment) removes that commission[3]. It only pays off above a certain monthly charging volume.
Does a truly universal charging card exist?
No. No card covers 100 % of chargers, even with the roaming infrastructure organized by Gireve[5]. The broadest offerings (Chargemap, Shell Recharge) unlock several hundred thousand points, but isolated chargers are always left out. Carrying two different cards is a sensible precaution for long journeys.
Fulli or Chargemap: which should I choose?
If you charge regularly, Fulli (€2.50/month, no commission) tends to come out cheaper[1]. If maximum coverage and the app experience are your priorities, Chargemap remains the reference. The decision comes down to your total annual cost, not the sticker price of the card.
What is EV charging roaming?
It is the cooperation between mobility operators (EMSPs) that allows a user to charge on another network's chargers[4]. In France, the Gireve marketplace has been structuring these agreements since 2013[5]. This mechanism is what makes "multi-network" cards possible.
Can a charging card also handle fuel?
For individual drivers, no. Consumer cards are dedicated to EV charging only. For a fleet, yes: certain professional tools consolidate EV charging and fuel in a single back-office, with per-driver limits and reporting. That is the use case where a dedicated solution genuinely outperforms a consumer card.
Pillar guide: this article is part of our corporate mobility white paper.
References
- Clubic, Best EV charging card 2026: full comparison (Fulli ranked #1, €2.50/month no commission; Chargemap Pass €19.90, ~1,000,000 points). clubic.com. ↩
- Frandroid, Chargemap Boost: removing the 10% per-session commission. frandroid.com. ↩
- Frandroid / Actu Rental Solution, Chargemap Boost pricing (from €6.49/month with annual commitment, €8.99/month without). frandroid.com. ↩
- Virta, EV charging: why roaming is on everyone's lips. virta.global. ↩
- GIREVE, Roaming services — Groupement pour l'Itinérance de la Recharge Électrique des Véhicules. gireve.com. ↩
- 01net, Best EV charging card (2026): which one to choose? (Chargemap Pass, Fulli, Shell Recharge, Ulys, Electra+). 01net.com. ↩
- Electra, Electra+ Boost: charging at €0.29/kWh on the Electra network, €9.99/month subscription. go-electra.com. ↩
