Ohme Home Pro vs Ohme ePod: Same Brains, Different Bodies

Same Brains, Different Bodies — Which Ohme Is Right for You?

Choosing between the Ohme Home Pro and the Ohme ePod is a bit like choosing between a smartphone and a smartwatch — they run the same software and share the same intelligence, but the form factor changes everything about how you live with them day to day. Both chargers sit on Ohme's acclaimed smart platform, both integrate seamlessly with the UK's best off-peak tariffs, and both charge at the same 7.4kW rate. The real question is whether you want the convenience of a tethered cable and a colour display, or the compact minimalism of the smallest smart charger on the UK market.

This is a genuinely common dilemma. Ohme dominates the smart-charging conversation in the UK, and for good reason — no other brand matches its depth of tariff integration with the likes of Octopus Intelligent Go, Agile, OVO, and British Gas (mcnallyev.uk). So if you have already decided on Ohme, the choice comes down to lifestyle, budget, and how your driveway is set up.

In a nutshell:

• Ohme Home Pro (£535): The full-featured flagship with a tethered cable, colour display, and plug-and-charge convenience.
• Ohme ePod (£409): The ultra-compact, untethered alternative that delivers the same smart-tariff savings in a package weighing just 1.48 kg.

Spec Comparison

Smart Tariff Integration

This is where both chargers truly shine — and where they leave most competitors in the dust. The Ohme platform connects directly to your energy supplier's API, meaning it does not simply follow a fixed timer. Instead, it reads real-time pricing data and automatically shifts your charging into the cheapest half-hour slots. On Octopus Intelligent Go, that means charging at roughly 7p/kWh, which works out at around 2p per mile in a Tesla Model 3. Over 7,400 miles of average UK driving, you are looking at annual fuel costs of roughly £150 — a fraction of what you would pay on a flat-rate tariff.

The Home Pro is officially recommended by Octopus Energy for the Intelligent Go tariff, and the ePod supports the same integration along with Octopus Agile, OVO Smart Charge, and British Gas Electric Driver (evergy.co.uk). The ePod also offers a neat "Price Cap" feature that lets you set a maximum price per kWh you are willing to pay — particularly handy on Agile, where prices swing every 30 minutes. In practice, tariff performance is identical across both units. The software is the same; only the hardware wrapper differs.

Solar Compatibility

Both chargers support solar charging, but they label the modes slightly differently. The Home Pro offers "solar diverting," which routes surplus generation from your panels into your car rather than exporting it to the grid. The ePod goes a step further in naming, with distinct "Solar Boost" and "Solar Only" modes — Solar Boost tops up grid power with your solar surplus, while Solar Only ensures the car charges exclusively from your panels (warmzilla.co.uk).

Both require a CT clamp on your consumer unit to measure export, and both work through the Ohme app. If you have a typical 4kW domestic solar array, expect to divert roughly 8–12 kWh on a sunny summer day — enough for around 30–40 miles of range at zero marginal cost. Neither charger supports three-phase solar inverters, but that is rarely relevant for UK residential installs.

App, Connectivity and Controls

Here is where the day-to-day experience diverges most noticeably. The Home Pro features a colour LCD screen on the unit itself, so you can glance at charging status, session cost, and power draw without reaching for your phone. It also connects via both Wi-Fi and 4G, giving you a fallback if your broadband drops (electriccarguide.co.uk).

The ePod, by contrast, is app-only — there is no on-unit display at all. It relies entirely on its built-in 3G/4G SIM for connectivity, with no Wi-Fi option. That is actually an advantage in garages or outbuildings with poor broadband reach, since cellular coverage is often more reliable in those spots. But if you prefer a quick visual check as you walk past the charger, the Home Pro's screen is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade.

Both chargers receive over-the-air firmware updates, and Ohme includes a 3-year SIM data plan with each unit — so there are no hidden subscription fees during the warranty period.

Build Quality and Installation

The ePod is remarkably small — at 1.48 kg and 230 mm × 140 mm × 100 mm, it is comfortably the most compact smart charger on the UK market. If you want something discreet on a garage wall, it practically disappears. The Home Pro is heavier at around 3.5 kg and a touch larger, though still compact by industry standards at 170 mm × 200 mm × 100 mm.

Weatherproofing is one area where the Home Pro pulls ahead. Its IP65 rating means it is fully protected against water jets from any direction — perfectly happy on an exposed front wall. The ePod's IP54 rating handles rain and splashes but is better suited to a sheltered location or inside a garage (ohme-ev.com). If your charging spot is on an exposed driveway with no overhang, the Home Pro is the safer bet.

Installation is straightforward for both. Standard installation is included when purchasing directly from Ohme (from £999 for the Home Pro, from £949 for the ePod), though prices vary if you buy the unit separately and use an independent installer. Both are OZEV-approved, so eligible renters and flat owners can claim up to £500 off installation costs.

Price and Value

On paper, the ePod looks cheaper — and it is, if you already own a Type 2 cable. But factor in a decent 5-metre cable at around £120–£150, and the gap narrows considerably. The Home Pro's all-in simplicity — cable included, screen included, higher IP rating — makes it easier to budget for. The ePod's real value proposition is flexibility: you can choose your own cable length, carry it with you for destination charging, and enjoy a lower entry price if you are watching every penny.

Both chargers deliver identical energy-cost savings. On Octopus Intelligent Go at 7p/kWh versus a flat rate of around 24p/kWh, a typical Tesla driver covering 7,400 miles annually saves roughly £350 per year — meaning either charger effectively pays for itself within two to three years through tariff savings alone.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Ohme Home Pro if:

• You want plug-and-charge convenience with a tethered cable ready to go
• You like seeing charging status at a glance on the colour display without opening an app
• Your charger will be mounted on an exposed wall (IP65 weatherproofing)
• You value Wi-Fi as a backup connectivity option alongside 4G
• You prefer a single purchase with no extra accessories to source

Buy the Ohme ePod if:

• You want the most discreet, compact charger possible on your wall
• You already own a Type 2 cable or want to choose your own length
• Your charger will be in a garage or sheltered spot (IP54 is sufficient)
• You want the lowest possible upfront cost for the same smart-tariff platform
• You like the flexibility of carrying your cable for use at destination chargers

Our recommendation: For most UK Tesla owners, the Ohme Home Pro is the better all-round choice. The included cable, colour screen, IP65 rating, and dual connectivity make it the more complete package — and the price difference shrinks once you factor in buying a separate cable for the ePod. However, if you are on a tight budget, have a sheltered mounting spot, or genuinely value the minimalist aesthetic and portability of an untethered setup, the ePod delivers every bit of the same smart-charging intelligence for less money. You cannot go wrong with either — Ohme's software is the real star, and both chargers run it identically.

For the full specs-level breakdown, see our Ohme Home Pro vs Ohme ePod comparison page.

Read our full Ohme Home Pro review or Ohme ePod review.

For smart tariff integration rankings, see our best smart EV charger guide.

Compare EV tariffs → | UK EV Charging Cost Index →

Compare all chargers →