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myenergi Zappi GLO vs Sync Energy Wall Charger 2: Solar or Savings?

·5 min read

If you have solar panels, the Zappi GLO is worth the premium — its Eco+ mode is unmatched. If you don't, the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 delivers solid smart charging at nearly half the price.

At a glance

Quick Stats

Price
from £599
from £362
Power
7kW / 22kW
7.4kW
Warranty
3 years
3 years
Rating
4.6/5
4.1/5
Install Cost
£400–600
£300–600
Type
Tethered (Type 2)
Untethered (Type 2)

A £237 Gap: Is the Zappi GLO Worth Nearly Double the Sync Energy?

The myenergi Zappi GLO and Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 both offer solar charging, smart tariff scheduling, and IP65 weatherproofing. On paper, they tick many of the same boxes. But one costs £599 and the other starts at £302 tethered — so what exactly are you paying for?

In a nutshell:

  • myenergi Zappi GLO: The best solar diversion charger on the market, with a mature ecosystem for whole-home energy management
  • Sync Energy Wall Charger 2: A well-specced budget smart charger with built-in PEN fault protection that keeps total install costs low

Does the Zappi GLO's Solar Charging Justify the Price?

This is really the only question that matters. Both chargers can divert surplus solar energy to your EV, but the way they do it is fundamentally different.

The Zappi GLO offers three distinct modes. Fast mode ignores solar entirely and charges at full power. Eco mode blends solar and grid power to keep charging speed up while prioritising free energy. And Eco+ mode — the standout — charges exclusively from solar surplus, meaning you pay absolutely nothing for the electricity. It's seamless, refined, and the result of myenergi being in the solar diversion game since 2018. Pair it with an eddi hot water diverter or libbi battery and you've got a proper home energy management system.

The Sync Energy's SolarCharge feature works via a CT clamp and does a respectable job of shifting charging to periods of surplus generation. But it's a simpler implementation without the granular mode control or the broader ecosystem integration. If you've got a 4kW+ solar array and want to maximise every watt, the Zappi is in a different league. For a deeper look at this category, see our best EV charger for solar guide.

The Sync Energy's Hidden Advantage: Lower Total Cost

The sticker price difference is already stark — £237 between the Zappi GLO and the Sync Energy's socketed model, or nearly £300 compared to the tethered Sync at £302. But the real gap can be even wider once you factor in installation.

The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 has built-in PEN fault protection. That means your electrician doesn't need to install an earth rod, which typically adds £80–150 to the job depending on ground conditions and location. The Zappi GLO lacks this, so you'll almost certainly need one. When you add it all up, a fully installed Sync Energy could cost you £400–500 less than a fully installed Zappi GLO.

That's significant. If you don't have solar panels, spending that extra money buys you essentially nothing you'll use.

Smart Tariff Charging: Both Capable, Neither Class-Leading

Neither charger is the best in the business for smart tariff optimisation — that crown belongs to the Ohme Home Pro — but both are competent. The Zappi GLO is compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go, which is the gold standard for cheap off-peak charging. The Sync Energy uses its TariffSense feature to schedule around off-peak windows on tariffs like Octopus Go.

One practical difference: the Sync Energy offers Ethernet connectivity alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If your charger is mounted in a garage with patchy Wi-Fi — a common complaint in user reviews of the Sync Energy — you can run a cable and forget about it. The Zappi GLO is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only, with no wired fallback. For households where the charger sits far from the router, that Ethernet port on the Sync could save real headaches. Check our EV tariff comparison page for more on which tariffs pair best with each charger.

App Experience and Build Quality

The myenergi app has improved over the years but still feels a step behind the slickest competitors. It's functional, handles scheduling and solar monitoring well enough, but the interface can feel cluttered. The Sync Energy app went through a rocky transition away from Monta, and early users reported confusion during the switch. Both apps get the job done; neither will delight you.

On build, the Zappi GLO is a clean, compact unit at 5.4 kg, though myenergi controversially removed the on-unit display from the older Zappi 2.1. The Sync Energy is smaller and lighter, boasts IK10 impact resistance on top of IP65 weatherproofing, and offers nine interchangeable fascia colours if you care about matching your brickwork. A small touch, but it shows thought about the product living on the outside of your house for years.

Both carry three-year warranties — decent but not exceptional. If warranty length is a priority, other options in our best Tesla home charger guide offer four or five years.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the myenergi Zappi GLO if:

  • You have solar panels and want the best possible solar diversion
  • You're building a myenergi ecosystem with eddi or libbi
  • You want Eco+ mode to charge entirely free from surplus solar
  • You value a mature, proven platform with a large UK user community

Buy the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 if:

  • You don't have solar panels and want a capable smart charger at a fair price
  • You want built-in PEN fault protection to keep installation costs down
  • Ethernet connectivity matters because your Wi-Fi doesn't reach the driveway
  • You'd rather spend £302–362 on the charger and put the savings elsewhere

For most Tesla owners without solar, the Sync Energy is the smarter buy. It does everything you actually need at a price that's hard to argue with. But if you've invested in solar generation, the Zappi GLO earns every penny of its premium — no other charger extracts as much value from your panels. That's the dividing line, and it's a clear one.

Detailed breakdown

Full Specs Comparison

Specificationmyenergi Zappi GLOSync Energy Wall Charger 2
Max Power Output7kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase)7.4kW (single-phase only)
Cable Length6.5 metres (tethered version)7.5 metres
ConnectorType 2 (tethered or untethered)Type 2 (tethered)
ConnectivityWi-Fi, BluetoothWi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth (setup)
Dimensions439mm × 282mm × 130mm305mm × 201mm × 115mm
Weight~5.4 kg~4–5 kg
IP RatingIP65 (fully weatherproof)IP65 + IK10 (fully weatherproof, impact-resistant)
CertificationOLEV/OZEV approvedOLEV/OZEV approved

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Frequently Asked Questions

Not really. At £599, it's one of the priciest home chargers, and its headline solar diversion features go unused without panels. Grid-only buyers get better value elsewhere.
Yes — its SolarCharge feature uses a CT clamp to divert surplus solar energy. It's functional, but lacks the Zappi GLO's dedicated Eco+ mode that charges entirely from solar surplus.
The Sync Energy typically costs less overall. Its built-in PEN fault protection removes the need for an earth rod, which can save £100+ on installation. The Zappi GLO doesn't include this.
Yes. The Zappi GLO is Intelligent Octopus Go compatible, while the Sync Energy offers TariffSense scheduling for off-peak charging. Both support smart tariff optimisation.

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