Budget Charger vs Solar-Ready Brit: Which Actually Delivers?
At first glance, the Easee One and Indra Smart PRO look like they're playing in different leagues. There's almost £200 between them at retail. But the Indra bundles in a surge protection device and CT clamp that would otherwise add to your install bill — so is the price gap real, or just an illusion?
In a nutshell:
- Easee One: Lowest upfront cost, built-in lifetime 4G, absurdly lightweight at 1.5 kg
- Indra Smart PRO: Included SPD and solar diversion, smart tariff integration, British-made
Does the Indra's Included SPD Actually Close the Price Gap?
This is the first thing to unpick. The Indra Smart PRO costs £599, but it ships with a surge protection device that most installers would charge £100–150 for separately. Factor that in and the Indra's effective price drops to roughly £450–500. Against the Easee One at £405, you're looking at a real-world difference of maybe £50–100 once both are on the wall.
That said, £50–100 still favours the Easee. And the Easee's 1.5 kg weight — versus the Indra's 5 kg — makes it genuinely easier and potentially cheaper to mount, especially on lighter substrates or in awkward spots. If your installer quotes by complexity, the Easee could save you a bit more than the headline price suggests. For a full breakdown of total installed costs, see our cheapest EV charger guide.
Is the Indra Smart PRO Worth It for Solar Owners?
If you have solar panels, this comparison tilts firmly toward the Indra. It includes a CT clamp for solar diversion out of the box — no extra hardware, no extra cost. When your panels are generating more than your home needs, the Indra can route that surplus into your Tesla's battery instead of exporting it for a few pence per kWh.
The Easee One has nothing comparable. No solar mode, no CT clamp, no way to prioritise self-consumption. If solar charging matters to you, the Indra is the obvious pick here — though it's worth comparing it against dedicated solar chargers in our best EV charger for solar guide.
Easee One's 4G Edge: Why Connectivity Matters More Than You Think
A home charger that loses its internet connection can't schedule charges, can't respond to smart tariff signals, and can't receive firmware updates. The Easee One sidesteps this entirely with a built-in eSIM carrying a lifetime 4G subscription. If your Wi-Fi is patchy in the garage or driveway, the Easee stays online regardless.
The Indra relies on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That's fine for most homes, but if your charger is mounted far from your router, you might need a Wi-Fi extender — an extra £20–40 and another thing to go wrong. The Easee's approach is more elegant and more reliable.
The Indra does fight back on smart tariff integration, connecting directly to major UK energy providers to automate off-peak charging. The Easee supports scheduled charging through its app, but you'll need to set your off-peak windows manually — or lean on your Tesla's built-in scheduling. If you're on a tariff like Octopus Go and want fully automated optimisation at the charger level, the Indra handles that better. For more on tariff options, check our EV tariff comparison.
Tethered vs Untethered: A Practical Difference
The Indra comes tethered with a 6-metre cable permanently attached — walk up, plug in, done. The Easee One is untethered, so you'll need to fetch your own cable each time. Every Tesla ships with a Type 2 cable, so this isn't a dealbreaker, but it does add a small friction to every charge. Some people prefer the tidy wall-mounted look of an untethered socket; others find a dangling cable more convenient. Neither is wrong — just know what you're getting.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Easee One if you:
- Want the lowest total installed cost
- Value rock-solid connectivity via built-in 4G
- Prefer a compact, lightweight unit that's easy to mount anywhere
- Don't have solar panels and are happy scheduling off-peak charges via the Tesla app
Buy the Indra Smart PRO if you:
- Have solar panels and want built-in solar diversion without extra hardware
- Want direct smart tariff integration at the charger level
- Prefer a tethered cable for grab-and-go convenience
- Like supporting a British manufacturer
For the majority of Tesla owners without solar, the Easee One is the smarter buy. It's cheaper, lighter, and its lifetime 4G means you'll never wrestle with Wi-Fi range issues. The Indra Smart PRO earns its higher price only when you're actively using its solar mode or smart tariff features — otherwise, you're paying more for capabilities that sit idle. If you're still weighing options, our best Tesla home charger guide covers the full field.