myenergi Zappi GLO vs Pod Point Solo 3S: Solar Smarts vs Hassle-Free Installation

Solar Specialist vs the Hassle-Free Package

These two chargers sit at opposite ends of the EV charging philosophy spectrum. The myenergi Zappi GLO is built for homeowners who want granular control over their energy — particularly those with solar panels who want to charge their car for free from surplus generation. The Pod Point Solo 3S, meanwhile, is designed for drivers who simply want a reliable charger on the wall with minimal fuss, bundled with professional installation in a single price.

You might be comparing these two because you've seen the Zappi GLO's reputation as the UK's go-to solar charger, but you're also tempted by Pod Point's all-inclusive package that removes the headache of finding your own installer. They're both well-established British brands, both OZEV approved, and both deliver solid 7kW charging for the typical UK single-phase home. But beyond those basics, they take very different approaches to what a home charger should do.

In a nutshell:

• myenergi Zappi GLO (£779): The undisputed king of solar diversion, with three charging modes that let you charge entirely from surplus solar energy — plus smart tariff support and a growing whole-home energy ecosystem.
• Pod Point Solo 3S (£999 installed): A convenient all-in-one package with professional installation included, backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty and one of the UK's most recognised charging brands.

Spec Comparison

Solar Diversion: No Contest

This is where the Zappi GLO leaves the Pod Point Solo 3S in the dust. The Zappi GLO offers three distinct charging modes — Eco+ charges your EV exclusively from surplus solar generation (completely free electricity), Eco blends solar and grid power to maintain a minimum charge rate, and Fast draws full power from the grid when you need a quick top-up. As electriccarguide.co.uk notes, this solar integration is best-in-class, and the Zappi GLO works seamlessly with the broader myenergi ecosystem including the eddi hot water diverter and libbi home battery.

The Pod Point Solo 3S is listed as "solar compatible," but this is basic compatibility rather than intelligent diversion. It won't dynamically adjust its charge rate based on how much surplus solar your panels are producing. If you've invested £5,000–£8,000 in a rooftop solar array, the Zappi GLO's ability to harvest every spare watt makes a meaningful difference to your annual running costs. On a sunny summer day, you could add 30–40 miles of range to your Tesla without drawing a single unit from the grid.

For homes without solar panels, this advantage evaporates entirely — and you're paying a premium for features you'll never use.

Smart Tariff Integration

The Zappi GLO supports smart tariff integration, including compatibility with Intelligent Octopus Go, which offers off-peak electricity at around 7p/kWh. As viablepower.co.uk highlights, smart tariff integration is increasingly important for keeping EV running costs low. With the Zappi GLO on Intelligent Octopus Go, charging a 60kWh Tesla Model 3 battery from empty would cost roughly £4.20 — compared to around £16 at the current average standard tariff rate.

The Pod Point Solo 3S has no smart tariff integration. You can schedule charging via the Pod Point app to coincide with off-peak hours if you're on a simple time-of-use tariff like Octopus Go (where off-peak runs 00:30–04:30), but you'll need to set those times manually. There's no dynamic, API-level tariff connection that automatically shifts charging to the cheapest slots. For drivers on variable tariffs like Octopus Agile, this is a significant limitation — you'd be leaving money on the table every single night.

As evenergyhub.com points out, matching your charger to your energy tariff ecosystem is one of the most important decisions you can make for long-term savings.

Power and Charging Speed

Both chargers deliver similar real-world performance for the vast majority of UK homes. On a standard single-phase supply, the Zappi GLO charges at 7kW and the Pod Point Solo 3S at 7.4kW — a marginal difference that translates to roughly 20 minutes less charging time on a full 60kWh battery for the Pod Point (approximately 8.1 hours versus 8.5 hours). In practice, you'll never notice this overnight.

Where the Zappi GLO pulls ahead is future-proofing. It supports 22kW charging on three-phase power supplies, which would slash a full charge to around 2.7 hours. While three-phase is rare in UK homes today (less than 5% of properties), it's increasingly common in new builds and commercial premises. The Pod Point Solo 3S is locked to single-phase 7.4kW with no three-phase option. If you're running a small business from home or have a three-phase supply, the Zappi GLO is the only choice here.

The Zappi GLO also comes with a longer 6.5-metre tethered cable compared to the Pod Point's 5-metre cable — a practical advantage if your parking spot isn't directly adjacent to where the charger is mounted.

App, Connectivity and Build Quality

The myenergi app provides real-time energy monitoring, charging schedules, and control over the Eco/Eco+/Fast modes. It also supports RFID access for up to 126 users — genuinely useful for shared driveways or small workplace installations. That said, the app has historically drawn criticism for being less polished than competitors like Ohme and Tesla, though it has improved significantly. The Zappi GLO relies on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with no built-in 4G fallback — worth considering if your charger location has a weak Wi-Fi signal.

The Pod Point app is functional but basic. You get scheduled charging and session tracking, but that's about it. There's no smart tariff integration, no detailed energy flow monitoring, and no ecosystem of connected devices. It does the job without any frills.

On build quality, the Zappi GLO has the edge with its IP65 rating (fully dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction) versus the Pod Point's IP54 (protected against splashing water). Both will handle British weather perfectly well, but the Zappi GLO offers greater peace of mind if your charger is fully exposed to the elements. The GLO version has dropped the on-unit LCD screen found on the older Zappi 2.1, which some users miss, but it does result in a 35% reduction in embodied carbon.

Price and Value

On pure installed cost, the Pod Point Solo 3S wins comfortably. At £999 all-in, it undercuts even the cheapest Zappi GLO installation scenario by £180. If you qualify for the OZEV grant (available to eligible renters and flat owners), the Pod Point drops to just £649 — exceptional value for a charger with a 5-year warranty from a major brand.

However, the Zappi GLO's value proposition changes dramatically if you have solar panels. Free solar charging could save you £200–£400 per year depending on your mileage and solar generation, meaning the higher upfront cost pays for itself within 12–18 months. Add smart tariff savings on top, and the Zappi GLO becomes the more economical choice over its lifetime despite the higher purchase price.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the myenergi Zappi GLO if:

• You have solar panels or are planning to install them — the Eco+ mode is unmatched
• You want smart tariff integration to automatically charge at the cheapest rates
• You're building a whole-home energy system with myenergi's eddi or libbi products
• You have a three-phase supply and want 22kW charging speeds
• You need RFID access for multiple users on a shared driveway

Buy the Pod Point Solo 3S if:

• You want a simple, all-inclusive price with no installation surprises
• You value a longer warranty — 5 years versus 3 years
• You don't have solar panels and don't plan to install them
• You qualify for the OZEV grant and want the lowest possible installed cost
• You'd rather not deal with sourcing and vetting your own installer

Our recommendation: For the average UK homeowner without solar panels who just wants a reliable charger on the wall, the Pod Point Solo 3S offers unbeatable convenience and value — particularly at £649 after the OZEV grant. But if you have solar panels, or you're on a smart tariff like Intelligent Octopus Go and want your charger to actively save you money, the myenergi Zappi GLO is worth every penny of the premium. Its solar diversion capabilities are genuinely unique in this price bracket, and the potential for free solar charging makes it the smarter long-term investment for energy-conscious households.

Read our full myenergi Zappi GLO review or Pod Point Solo 3S review.

Compare all chargers →