Easee One vs Indra Smart PRO: Budget Hero vs Solar-Ready Brit

The Lightweight Norwegian vs the Solar-Ready Brit

These two chargers sit at different ends of the "smart 7.4kW charger" spectrum, yet they're closer competitors than you might think. The Easee One is the charger world's minimalist — astonishingly light at just 1.5 kg, with built-in lifetime 4G connectivity and a price tag that undercuts almost everything else on the market. The Indra Smart PRO, meanwhile, is a British-designed unit that bundles in extras like solar diversion and surge protection that would otherwise add to your installation bill.

If you've got solar panels on the roof, or you want a tethered cable ready and waiting on the wall, the Indra makes a compelling case. If you want the cheapest possible route to a reliable smart charger with rock-solid connectivity, the Easee One is genuinely hard to beat. Let's dig into the details.

In a nutshell:

• Easee One (£405): The cheapest smart charger on the market with lifetime 4G built in — outstanding value for a no-fuss setup.
• Indra Smart PRO (£599): A solar-ready, British-made charger with surge protection included as standard — potentially saving you £100–150 on installation.

Spec Comparison

Smart Tariff Integration

This is one area where the Indra Smart PRO pulls clearly ahead. It offers direct smart tariff integration with major UK energy providers, meaning it can automatically charge during the cheapest rate windows on tariffs like Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh between 00:30 and 04:30) or Octopus Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh off-peak). That kind of automation is genuinely valuable — on Intelligent Go, a full 60kWh charge costs roughly £4.20 instead of £15+ at standard rates. Over a year of typical UK driving (~7,400 miles), that difference adds up to hundreds of pounds.

The Easee One offers scheduled charging through the Easee app, so you can absolutely set it to charge overnight during off-peak hours. However, it lacks the direct tariff integration that automatically adjusts to variable-rate tariffs like Octopus Agile, where prices shift every 30 minutes. If you're on a simple off-peak tariff with fixed cheap hours, the Easee's scheduling works perfectly well. But if you want the charger to do the thinking for you on a dynamic tariff, the Indra has the edge.

Solar Diversion

If you've got solar panels — or you're planning to install them — this section matters a lot. The Indra Smart PRO includes a CT clamp as standard, enabling solar diversion mode. This means the charger can detect when your panels are generating surplus electricity and automatically route that free energy into your car. With the average UK solar array generating around 3,500–4,000 kWh per year, even diverting a portion of that into your EV can save meaningful money and reduce your reliance on the grid.

The Easee One does not support solar integration. Full stop. If solar charging is on your radar, the Indra wins this category outright. It's worth noting that competitors like the myenergi Zappi also offer solar diversion, but they typically cost more than the Indra once you factor in the included CT clamp. For a solar household, the Indra Smart PRO is genuinely well-positioned.

App and Connectivity

Connectivity is where the Easee One plays its trump card. It has a built-in eSIM with a lifetime 4G subscription at no ongoing cost, plus Wi-Fi as a backup. This is a significant practical advantage — if your home Wi-Fi doesn't reach the driveway (a surprisingly common problem in UK homes with thick walls or detached garages), the Easee will still work flawlessly via 4G. You'll never lose access to scheduling, monitoring, or firmware updates. As topcharger.co.uk noted in their review, the Easee One also receives over-the-air firmware updates through this connection, keeping the charger current without any effort on your part.

The Indra Smart PRO relies on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That's perfectly fine if your router signal reaches your charger, but it does mean you may need a Wi-Fi extender if your charging point is far from the house. The Indra app itself is described as basic compared to market leaders — it does the job for scheduling and monitoring, but don't expect the polish of something like the Ohme app. The Easee app, while not perfect, benefits from the company having sold over one million chargers globally since 2018, giving them a larger user base and more development momentum.

Installation Considerations

Both chargers fall into the standard £400–600 installation range, but the real-world cost can differ meaningfully. The Easee One weighs just 1.5 kg — lighter than a bag of sugar — making it one of the easiest chargers for installers to mount. It also includes integrated RCD Type-B and open PEN protection, which means your electrician won't need to install these separately. That can save £50–100 on the electrical work.

The Indra Smart PRO counters with its included surge protection device (SPD). Since the 18th Edition wiring regulations, SPDs are required in many UK installations, and electricians typically charge £100–150 to supply and fit one. With the Indra, it's already built in. As heatable.co.uk pointed out in their comparison coverage, these bundled extras can significantly change the effective cost of a charger. The Indra also supports RFID locking for security — handy if your charger is accessible from a public path.

One practical note: the Easee One is untethered, meaning you'll need to carry and plug in your own Type 2 cable each time. Most Teslas come with a Type 2 cable, so this isn't a dealbreaker, but a tethered unit like the Indra (with its 6-metre cable) is undeniably more convenient — just grab and plug in.

The Easee One also supports expanding up to three chargers from a single 32A supply with dynamic load balancing, which is a genuine advantage for multi-EV households, though additional Easee hardware is required.

Price and Value

On face value, the Easee One is nearly £200 cheaper. But factor in the Indra's included SPD (saving £100–150 at installation) and the gap narrows to perhaps £50–100 in real terms. If you also value solar diversion and smart tariff integration, the Indra's extras start to justify the price difference. Conversely, the Easee's lifetime 4G connectivity is a feature you'd struggle to add to any other charger at any price — it's genuinely unique at this price point.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Easee One if:

• You want the lowest upfront cost for a fully smart, OZEV-approved charger
• Your Wi-Fi doesn't reach your driveway — the built-in 4G is a lifesaver
• You prefer a clean, untethered wall mount and don't mind plugging in your own cable
• You have (or plan to have) multiple EVs and want expandable load balancing
• You want the lightest, simplest installation possible

Buy the Indra Smart PRO if:

• You have solar panels and want to charge your EV from surplus generation
• You want direct smart tariff integration for hands-off overnight charging
• You prefer a tethered cable ready to grab and go
• You want the included SPD to reduce your installation costs
• You like supporting a British-designed and manufactured product

Our recommendation: For most buyers, the Easee One's combination of rock-bottom pricing and lifetime 4G connectivity makes it the smarter buy — especially if you don't have solar panels. It's the charger that asks the least of you in terms of cost and hassle. However, if you've got solar panels on your roof, the Indra Smart PRO becomes the obvious choice. That built-in solar diversion with included CT clamp is a genuine money-saver that the Easee simply can't match. The Indra's smart tariff integration is also a meaningful advantage for anyone on a dynamic energy tariff. Two good chargers, two different sweet spots.

Read our full Easee One review or Indra Smart PRO review.

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