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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of charge card | ||||
| Cost | ||||
| Monthly cost | ||||
| One-time charge card cost (may be a setup or shipping cost) | ||||
| Cost to charge - only applies to public chargers not owned or operated by the provider (roaming) | ||||
| AC charger - under 22 kW | ||||
| DC charger - over 50 kW | ||||
| Session costs | ||||
| Blocking cost | ||||
| App | ||||
| App store rating | ||||
| Play store rating |
How much can charger costs change depending on the charge card you use?
There can be big price differences between providers, even when using the exact same public charger. Here’s the data to prove it:
We sampled a random charger from live data in the Tap app in the Netherlands on 27 October 2025 to see how much you could save by choosing the cheapest charge card.
Charger 1
Expected energy:
33 kWh
Expected power:
17.3 kW
Location:
Willem Dudokhof 109, Diemen
Operator:
TotalEnergies
Charger ID:
TNLP030624-1
Pricing information:
€0,460 / kWh
Power:
33 kW
€15.17 + €2,50 monthly subscription
The difference in charging session cost between the most expensive and cheapest charge card is €2.98.
Charge card
Estimated charging session cost + monthly subscription
Tap Roamer
Charge card with subscription
Get Tap Roamer →
€15.17
+ €2,50/month
E-Flux by Road Comfort
Charge card with subscription
€15.17
+ €3,23/month
ANWB charge card subscription
Charge card with subscription
Compare charge card →
€15.17
+ €3,99/month
Greenchoice
Charge card with subscription
€15,57
+ €3,99/month
Tap Family
2 charge cards with subscription
Get Tap Family →
€15.17
+ €4,00/month
Vattenfall InCharge
Charge card without subscription
Compare charge card →
€15,52
Greenchoice
Charge card without subscription
€15,57
Tap Light
Charge card with free subscription
Get Tap Light →
€15,93
E-Flux by Road Flex
Charge card without subscription
€16,15
ANWB charge card
Charge card without subscription
Compare charge card →
€16,31
Eneco E-Mobility
Charge card with subscription
Compare charge card →
€17,44
+ €3,00/month
Shell Recharge
Charge card without subscription
Compare charge card →
€18,15
Pro tip: Easily find the best price with Tap
Check Price Intel in the Tap app to see which charge card has the best price on networks like Equans, Fastned and TotalEnergies. Tap Roamer is usually the cheapest, and we’re upfront when it’s not – that’s how transparency works!
What you need to know about charge cards?
New to EV charging?
Here’s frequently asked questions about charging cards by new drivers.
What is a charge card?
An EV charging card is a convenient way to start and stop charging at semi-public or public chargers. It’s a small plastic card or fob with a RFID chip inside that communicates directly to the charger. When you tap it, the charger instantly knows who you are, starts the session, and automatically links the cost to your payment account so you’re billed later. This simple, reliable tap-and-go method was first created in the Netherlands to make it easy for employees with company cars to automatically track and claim their charging costs from their employer. Today, it’s a standard, convenient way for EV drivers to pay across Europe and the UK.
The networks that accept your charge card are based on agreements between your charge card provider and the networks.
Do I need a charge card?
While you won’t always need a physical charge card for every public charger, it’s highly recommended you have one if you plan to use public on-street or parking garage charging. Many public chargers aren’t equipped with payment terminals, making these cards the reliable and standard method for starting and paying for your charging session.
Can you charge without a charge card?
Yes, some charger operators offer alternative ways to start your session, such as scanning a QR code or using a payment terminal. However, using a provider like Tap is often the easiest and most reliable way to charge—your account and payment details are already set up, ensuring a quick and consistent charging experience every time.
With the Tap app, you can find chargers on our map, and start charging right away. The app works like a digital charge card, letting you easily start, stop, and pay for your session right from your phone. If you opt for a Tap subscription, your discount will be automatically applied from your next charge and your free charge card is usually shipped within one business day.
How do you use a charge card?
Simply hold your charge card against the RFID reader on the charger to charge your car. This starts and stops your charge session.
Charge card comparison checklist - what do you need to look out for?
Type of charge card: subscription vs. no subscription
Charge card providers typically offer two main pricing models, often referred to as a charge card with a subscription or a charge card without a subscription.
Charge card without subscription
Many charging providers let you use their network without a subscription. This means you have no monthly fee. This is often the best charge card option if you use public charging occasionally, or if you mainly charge at home.
With a charge card without a subscription you may pay:
- A higher charger price than if you had a subscription with the same provider.
- Starting or transaction fees for each charging session.
- A one-time fee for issuing your charge card.
A charge card without a subscription provides you with flexibility. Paying a slightly higher charger price may still offset paying a monthly subscription fee, depending on how often you charge your car.
Charge card with subscription
If you’re using public chargers frequently, particularly fast chargers, a charge card with a subscription is usually the cheapest charge card option for you. Paying a fixed monthly fee gives you access benefits like:
- The ability to pay the operator price (CPO-tarief)
- Free charge cards.
- Monthly invoicing.
- Discounted charging on certain networks.
Monthly charge card costs
Once you’ve decided on a charge card with a subscription, comparing the monthly costs is the next step. The most expensive charge card does not always mean the best value – some can cost you up to €7 per month. Always compare the fixed monthly fee against the session-based benefits.
The cheapest charge card in the Netherlands?
Tap Roamer is the cheapest charge card with a subscription, you only pay the price set by the operator only €2,50 / month and get a free charge card.
Costs per charge session
This is where you can save big. There are big price differences between providers, even when using the exact same public charger. You can save hundreds of euros per year by using a provider that offers you the best prices in the areas you usually charge.
How to compare provider costs per session:
Price per kWh:
Do they charge you the price set by the operator, do they add a surcharge, or do they offer a fixed pricing scheme? Charger operators often compete on price in an area, meaning the operator’s charger price at your favourite charger could be much lower than the fixed rate on your card.
Comparison considerations:
If your usual charging spots have a low operator price, choosing a provider that passes on that lower operator price is the easiest way to maximise your savings.
Roaming fee:
A fee charged by your provider when you use a charging station operated by a different network that has a roaming agreement.
Comparison considerations:
Check if your provider charges a flat fee per session, a per-kWh surcharge, or a percentage when you charge on a partner network. Some providers like Tap offer roaming for free.
Starting fee:
This is a fixed fee each time you start a charge session.
Comparison considerations:
This can quickly add up if you have many short sessions.
Blocking fee (also known as an idle fee):
This fee kicks in if you leave your car plugged in and it’s no longer actively charging.
Comparison considerations:
Don’t stay longer than you need to. The Tap app have a handy feature that sends you a push notification if your car has finished charging to help you avoid unnecessary costs.
Hourly fee:
This is a fee that you pay for every hour that your car is plugged into the charger.
Comparison considerations:
Don’t stay longer than you need to. The Tap app have a handy feature that sends you a push notification if your car has finished charging to help you avoid unnecessary costs.
Transaction fee:
This can be a fixed or a percentage-based fee per transaction that can be added by the charge card provider.
Comparison considerations:
- Fixed fee vs. percentage fee: If you charge frequently but in small amounts (e.g., drive a hybrid), a percentage-based fee might be lower than a high fixed fee per session.
- Transaction fees vs. subscription: If you charge very frequently –even with low percentage fee–the cumulative cost of transaction fees can quickly add up. You may save money by choosing a monthly subscription that eliminates transaction fees entirely, provided the subscription cost is lower than your typical monthly fee total.
Fast charging vs street charging
Fast chargers (also known as DC chargers) are typically double the price per kWh than on-street AC chargers.
If your charging routine involves both cheap on-street AC charging (day-to-day) and occasional expensive fast charging (like road trips), you may be better off with a low-cost subscription that passes on the operator price.
Why? This one card means you pay the lowest possible local price for your frequent AC sessions and avoids the administrative cost and extra monthly fees of managing two separate card subscriptions—one for cheap AC and one for a fast-charging discount.
Physical or digital card
Should you get a physical card? Yes! While physical cards remain the most reliable option for public charging, not all providers make you wait for one to arrive.
Some providers like Tap, allow you to charge immediately via their app effectively acting as a digital charge card from the moment you sign up. This means you don’t have to wait for the post, or need to activate your charge card before you can start your first charge.
Once you receive it, the physical card or keychain is your essential backup. It is necessary for older charging stations and in areas with poor mobile coverage.
App experience
A charge card on its own is convenient to start sessions, but you’ll need a good app with real-time insights on charger availability and prices and track your session in real-time.
The Tap Electric and ANWB apps have the highest ratings in the App and Play Store, both above 4.5 stars.
Every provider develops their apps differently and ratings vary widely – by downloading and exploring a few charging apps you will know what features are the most important to you.
From the comparison set, the Tap app has a unique set of tools to help you stay informed about your charging:
- Charger map: Compare charger price or session costs directly on the map
Price Intel: See complete pricing information including a session cost calculator - Insights: Track your monthly spend, sessions and consumption and find out which operator networks were the cheapest based on your charging habits
- Smart alerts: Tap alerts you when your car has finished charging to avoid idle costs or when the price changes at your favorite chargers.
- Session updates: Track your charge session costs, power and energy consumption in real-time.
Network coverage
In the Netherlands, most popular cards have near 100% domestic coverage, but the comparison becomes critical when you look at two areas:
- Regional coverage: Some, but not all charge point operators (CPOs) also provide their own charge cards with their lowest, exclusive rates only on their own local network. Even when using the local CPO’s card, prices can vary even on the same street! We recommend that you check operator prices every time you plug in, to make sure you’re maximising your savings every session.
- European coverage: Check the number of chargers, particularly fast chargers offered outside the Benelux and check if the provider charges any roaming fees – an extra fee added per kWh or per session – that apply when you cross the border. Comparing your Dutch card’s roaming tariff against local charge cards in your destination country. Sometimes, buying a temporary local card (e.g., for Austria or Sweden) is significantly cheaper than using your Dutch card with a high roaming surcharge.
Case A:
High monthly milage
Robert, who lives in Rotterdam, drives around 200 km/week and relies entirely on on-street AC chargers.
Robert’s comparison checklist:
- Charge frequency: With 8-10 sessions per month he wants to avoid the starting and/or transaction fee becoming his biggest expense.
- Charger type: He plans to mostly use low-cost, slow AC chargers so that he can benefit from cheap local prices. His research shows there are multiple Equans AC chargers with the same power near his house, however some are 25% more expensive than others. He wants a charging app that clearly shows him the price differences before he plugs in.
- Subscription vs no subscription: A subscription is a clear winner as it cancels out all the session fees.
Best value: The lowest fixed monthly charge card with zero starting cost and/or transaction cost.
Robert’s pick: the Tap Roamer plan.
For Robert, the decision hinges on eliminating the session fee. A ‘free’ card that charges a €0.35 starting fee would cost him €2.80–€3.50 per month just to start his session, not including any other charger prices.
Robert’s savings: A ‘free’ card would cost him €2.80–€3.50 in start fees alone. Robert gets the Tap Roamer subscription, where he only pays the charger network price for €2,50/month and he gets his charge for free.Tap the cheapest charge card for his high-frequency charging habits.
Case study B:
The occasional hybrid charger
Laura lives in Utrecht and drives a hybrid car (PHEV). She mainly charges at work but sometimes tops up at the public charger 2-3 times a month, when she takes longer weekend trips.
Laura’s comparison checklist:
- Charge frequency: With 2-3 sessions per month she wants to avoid the monthly fixed cost.
- Charger type: She plans to use low-cost, slow AC chargers. There are multiple operators near her, TotalEnergies, Equans, We Drive Solar and Shell. The fixed price of Shell is higher than the other operators, so she’d benefit from cheaper local prices.
- Subscription vs no subscription: A charge card without a subscription is a clear winner as she doesn’t charge often enough to get the benefits of the monthly subscription.
Best value: Zero monthly fees and complete flexibility.
Since Laura uses the public network so rarely, any fixed monthly fee is wasted money. She wants a ‘Charge card without a subscription’ model.
Laura’s pick: the Tap Light plan.
Laura’s savings: Laura has total flexibility with no monthly fee and she also gets a free charge card. She opted for Tap Light’s 5% transaction fee which usually works out cheaper than a starting fee (upwards of €0.35) from other providers since she spends less than €7 per session. Using the Tap app, she sees the cheapest chargers before she plugs in.
Want to know more about public charging in the Netherlands?
Check out our ultimate guide to EV charging.
Resources and expertise:
the methodology behind our data
Our experts fact checked and last updated this research on 20 November 2025.
Sources:
Charge card provider sites:
- E-flux by Road
- ANWB
- Shell Recharge
- Vandebron
- Eneco
Sampled chargers:
Data was taken from live tariff data of public chargers on 10 april 2025 incl. VAT.
Details:
Similar to websites like Laadpastop10, laadpas.net and Mountox, our experts have created this charge card comparison to help you find the right card for you. We have created comprehensive guides for popular providers that also cover their entire charging experience.
Charge card without subscription:
- Tap Light – free subscription
- E-Flux by Road Flex
- ANWB charge card with no subscription
- Eneco E-mobility charge card with no subscription
- Shell Recharge
- Vattenfall InCharge
Charge card with subscription
- Tap Groningen-Drenthe
- Tap Roamer
- Eneco E-Mobility charge card with subscription
- E-Flux by Road Comfort
- Vandebron charge card
- ANWB charge card with subscription
October 27th 2025:
- We randomly sampled charger live tariff data.