Glossary · EV charging
Key points
- A tethered charger has a pre-fitted cable that cannot be removed. An untethered charger has a socket and needs your own cable.
- Tethered chargers tend to cost more because the cable is included, and they take up more space on the wall.
- With a tethered charger, changing the cable length or connector later means changing the whole charger.
- An untethered charger lets you swap the cable without replacing the unit, which suits a future change of car.
- Government grant specifications accept both a socket outlet and a tethered cable, so the choice is about use.
How tethered and untethered chargers work
The difference is the charging cable. Pod Point describes a tethered charger as one installed with a pre-fitted cable that cannot be removed, which makes the cable an irremovable part of the unit. An untethered charger has no attached cable by default. In its place there is a socket, and you plug your own cable into it to charge your EV.[1]Pod Point, Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best?
Myenergi puts it the same way: tethered chargers feature a permanently attached cable, while untethered chargers offer a detachable one.[2]myenergi, Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers Explained
Government guidance on grant-eligible home chargepoints recognises both. It says charging equipment must use either EV socket outlets or charging stations with tethered cables, and where a socket is used it shall be a Type 2 socket.[3]Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, Residential chargepoints: minimum technical specification See Type 2 connector for the plug itself.
Side by side
| Tethered | Untethered | |
|---|---|---|
| Cable | Fixed to the unit | Your own, plugged into a socket |
| Daily use | Plug the fixed cable into the car | Fetch the cable, connect it, then pack it away afterwards |
| Cost | Higher, because the cable is included | Lower, but you may need to buy a cable |
| Size | Larger, because the cable is stored alongside | Slimmer, with a sleeker look |
| Cable theft | Harder to steal | The cable can be taken if left out |
| Changing car | May need a new charger for a different connector or cable length | Swap the cable only |
The table follows Pod Point’s guide, with the cable theft and cost points repeated by myenergi.[1]Pod Point, Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best?[2]myenergi, Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers Explained Pod Point adds that an untethered unit is needed for an older EV that is only compatible with a Type 1 connector, for example older models of the Nissan Leaf, and that it is sometimes called a universal charger.[1]Pod Point, Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best?
Which to choose
Pod Point’s guide says no charger is better than the other, and that the choice depends on convenience, cable length, cost, how often you charge and appearance.[1]Pod Point, Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best? Myenergi says tethered units are generally more convenient for home charging, while untethered units offer increased flexibility because the detachable cable can be used at home and on public chargers.[2]myenergi, Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers Explained
Both manufacturers raise the same practical point about untethered units: you must remember to take the cable with you and pack it away. Pod Point warns that if you forget to unplug it afterwards, it could in theory be unplugged by anyone.[1]Pod Point, Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best? Myenergi notes that many models offer pin protection or cable locking to reduce the risk of theft.[2]myenergi, Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers Explained
The choice is only part of the job. Fitting a charger involves the electrical installation, the network operator and any planning question. See DNO notification and planning permission for an EV charger. Our EV charger installation page explains how we approach it.
Example
Hannah in Horsforth has one electric car, parks on the drive every night and mostly wants charging to be quick. She chooses a tethered unit. Her neighbour Dev has an older car with a different connector and expects to change vehicle in a few years, so he chooses an untethered unit that takes whichever cable he needs.
What people get wrong
The common assumption is that one type charges faster or is safer. Neither claim comes from the manufacturers. Pod Point says both will do the job of charging the car, and the difference is how the cable attaches to the unit.
Another mistake is to buy for the car you own today. Pod Point notes that with a tethered unit, switching to a different connector or cable length after installation means changing the whole charger.[1]Pod Point, Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best?
The bottom line
A tethered charger has its cable built in, which is quicker to use and harder to steal. An untethered charger has a socket and takes your own cable, which is cheaper at purchase and easier to change later. The government grant specification accepts both. The choice comes down to convenience, your car and how long you expect to keep it.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, tethered or untethered?
Untethered units tend to cost less because the cable is not included, according to Pod Point. If you already own a compatible cable the saving is larger. A tethered unit includes the cable in the price.
Which is easier to use every day?
Tethered. Pod Point says you can plug the fixed cable into the car, with no need to find and attach a cable first. An untethered charger means unpacking, plugging, unplugging and packing the cable away each time.
Is one safer or more secure?
Both manufacturers say a fixed cable is harder to steal, so tethered is more secure against theft. Untethered chargers can offer features such as cable locking, and the cable can be stored out of sight when not in use.
Which is better if I change car?
Untethered is more flexible. Pod Point says you can change cable and connector without replacing the charger. With a tethered unit you may need a new charger if the new car needs a different connector or the cable length is wrong.
Sources
We cite the original source for every fact: legislation, GOV.UK, HSE, the IET, registration bodies and manufacturers' own documents. Each one shows the date we last checked it.
- Pod Point. Tethered vs Untethered EV Charger: Which is the Best?. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- myenergi. Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers Explained. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. Residential chargepoints: minimum technical specification. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
