How We Compare Chargers

What our scores are - and are not

Every product carries a score out of 10, and a breakdown across four to five metrics. Those scores are judgments from documented research, not bench measurements. We do not own the chargers, we do not have a test lab, and we will not write "in our testing" as though we do. What a score reflects is how a product stacks up on published, checkable evidence against a consistent rubric. If you can read a spec sheet, you can audit our reasoning.

The evidence we use

• Manufacturer spec sheets and manuals.Amperage, kW, cable length, connector type, weatherproof rating, warranty - taken from the manufacturer's own listing and documentation.
• Safety listings. We check for UL or ETL listings (and UL 2251/2252 on adapters), because on a device pushing 40 amps for hours, certification is the spec we weigh hardest.
• Electrical-code math.We size breakers and wire to the NEC continuous-load rule (125 percent of the charger's current) so our amperage guidance matches real installation practice - see the amperage guide.
• Cost data. Running-cost figures come from US EIA residential electricity data and DOE / fueleconomy.gov, with the formula shown so you can reproduce it - see the cost to charge guide.
• Aggregated owner reviews. Where we mention real-world reliability or a recurring complaint (like a cable stiffening in the cold), it is described as aggregated owner sentiment, not our own testing.

The scoring rubric

For chargers we score five metrics; for adapters and accessories, four. Each is a 0-10 judgment against the evidence above, and the overall score is their average, rounded to one decimal.

• Charge speed - rated amperage and kW, relative to what a typical home circuit and car can use.
• Build and weather - enclosure material, weatherproof/NEMA rating, and overall durability signals.
• Smart features - scheduling, energy monitoring, load sharing, and connectivity that actually saves money or prevents problems (not novelty).
• Cable and connector - cable length and flexibility, connector type, and included cable management.
• Value - what the unit delivers relative to its typical price band. A cheaper charger that keeps the certification and the cable scores well here.

For adapters we score compatibility, safety listing, build quality, and value; for accessories, usefulness, build quality, fit, and value. The metrics are shown on every product card so you can see what a score is made of.

How prices work

We never type a price into an article. Every price on the site is pulled live from Amazon's API and stamped with the date we checked it. If our price data is more than 48 hours old, the number disappears and the button reads "Check price on Amazon" instead - we would rather show you nothing than a stale figure. We never publish a price we cannot verify live, and we never invent ratings or review counts.

What we will not do

• Claim hands-on testing, a lab, or owned units we do not have.
• Invent reviews, testimonials, star ratings, or review counts.
• Print a price we cannot verify live, or a spec we cannot source.
• Let a commission change a ranking - the better buy wins, cheaper or not.
• Give electrical instructions; we defer anything panel-or-wiring to a licensed electrician.

Keeping it current

Prices refresh continuously behind the 48-hour freshness gate. We re-verify picks and specs periodically and whenever a major product or standards change (like the NACS transition) warrants it, and we date every article with a "last updated" that reflects real revisions. If you spot something out of date or wrong, the contact page is the fastest way to tell us - we aim to fix genuine errors within 48 hours, and our correction approach is in the editorial policy.