According to a 2022 survey by Esurance, 81% of electric vehicle owners use companion apps to maximize their car’s features. Tesla owners constitute the majority of them.
Owning a Tesla comes with endless possibilities thanks to the constant software updates and ever-expanding ecosystem of third-party apps. With over 300,000 iOS best Tesla apps optimized for Tesla vehicles, picking the right ones can get overwhelming.
After extensive testing and research, I’ve curated a list of the 10 best Tesla apps to enhance your experience as a Tesla owner in 2023 and beyond.
The solutions on this list are packed with handy features to help you stay on top of your vehicle’s status and unlock its full potential.
(Read more about the best AI apps for iPhone.)
Table of Contents
1. Stats – Best for Detailed Analytics
Simplicity meets insightful stats with this aptly named one of the best Tesla apps tailored to Tesla vehicles.
Stats provides extraordinarily detailed trip analytics, with helpful visualizations on driving habits, efficiency, range, and more.
The post-drive analysis is particularly constructive in improving my efficiency per kWh. With an easy-to-use dashboard, I can also view real-time visualization of energy consumption when quick decision-making is needed while driving.
The app also enables convenient keyless driving and control of various car features like door locks, trunk/trunk access, charging management, and even summoning my vehicle right to me.
Handy voice commands add to the overall convenience, allowing me to gain insights and operate my Tesla through Siri shortcuts.
The hugely detailed performance metrics have helped me dramatically optimize my daily commutes, road trips, and overall energy efficiency much better than I expected.
With recent upgrades, Stats also offers handy home screen widgets for essential functions like odometer, range, and charging status. This saves me the trouble of launching the full app when I need a quick update on key metrics from the home screen.
Pricing
Priced at a reasonable $5 per month, Stats is a premium app that pays for itself through tremendously helpful driving analytics and control functionalities.
While coming at a premium price point, I believe Stats to be well worth it for the vast amount of personalization and control it enables when it comes to monitoring and optimizing my overall Tesla ownership experience. The deeper drive analytics is merely the tip of what this versatile app offers.
2. Remote for Tesla – Best for Remote Accessibility
As a frequent traveler, I profoundly rely on Remote for Tesla to stay seamlessly connected with my car wherever possible.
This ingenious app effortlessly transforms my iPhone and Apple Watch into an extraordinarily sophisticated remote control for my Tesla.
I can conveniently check the real-time charging status, turn on climate preconditioning to reach desired temperatures, open the frunk to securely receive a package delivery remotely, and so much more.
The incredible ability to access all major controls and features even when away from the car provides immense peace of mind.
Unique capabilities like setting scheduled charging sessions ahead of trips and automatically activating sentry mode monitoring before I leave the unattended car further enhance the convenience.
I never have to worry again if I’ve forgotten to plug in after a long, exhausting day out or feel anxious about whether I enabled the 24/7 security system before heading off.
The tight Siri Shortcuts integration enabling extensive voice commands through my Apple devices is the sweet cherry on top, granting hands-free operation anytime.
Pricing
Priced at $9.99, Remote for Tesla offers an immense range of functionalities that have made my hectic life much easier.
3. Chargeway – Best for Simplifying Charging
Understanding the overly complex world of electric vehicle charging can get incredibly confusing.
With the sheer variety of connectors, incompatible plugs, charging speeds, power outputs, and specifications varying vastly across stations nationwide, remembering it all becomes a massive headache.
Chargeway elegantly solves this monumental problem through its patented unified classification system, which is applied uniformly across the hundreds of thousands of stations now sprouting up.
Instead of grappling with technical mumbo-jumbo terms and numbers, the app ingeniously categorizes every station into simple-to-understand color-coded classes.
Now, all I need to do is remember the color designation, and Chargeway instantly guides me to all nearby compatible chargers fully optimized for my vehicle’s maximum charging capacity.
By streamlining the process through color codes and community wisdom, this app has become an indispensable tool for me to trust smarter and faster and avoid dreaded range anxiety spiking during road trips.
The sheer comfort of knowing Chargeway has my back throughout long journeys crossing state borders is priceless. It will intelligently guide me to the optimal stations where I can rapidly juice up my battery while relaxing with amenities nearby instead of aimlessly hunting for places to plug in.
By leveraging the collective inputs from thousands of EV drivers, Chargeway’s database and routing intelligence are continuously improving. This ensures I can access the best up-to-date information on stations everywhere, making every charging stop a breeze.
Pricing
For just $4.99 billed monthly, Chargeway confidently takes all the guesswork and anxiety out of the notoriously stressful EV charging discovery experience.
4. PlugShare – Best Charging Station Locator
PlugShare expands my charging opportunities through North America’s most extensive network of over 200,000 public stations. With crowd-sourced information on each point, I can quickly locate stations that meet my needs.
The app’s filters allow me to narrow the list to connectors, power output, and amenities available at each station. Whether I need a quick 20-minute coffee break charge or an overnight charging oasis, PlugShare shows me where to go.
Thanks to feedback from the community, I especially love the option to check recent availability details on each point. Nothing’s worse than navigating to a station only to find broken connectors or completely occupied charge pads.
Beyond its charging savviness, PlugShare fosters a fantastic community experience. I’ve discovered beautiful routes and exciting destinations I would’ve otherwise missed without recommendations from fellow users.
Pricing
The best part is that this app comes without subscription fees or ads! For enhancing road trip adventures and simplifying my public charging needs, PlugShare is an absolute essential.
5. TezLab – Best for Battery Optimization
While my Tesla’s internet-connected battery management is impressive, TezLab gives me extra insights no other app does. It functions like a fitness tracker for my battery usage.
I can diagnose battery performance in depth with metrics on rated vs. actual capacity and a breakdown of the driver’s efficiency. TezLab also guides you through best practices for maximizing longevity during regular and fast charging.
The app feeds me weekly battery health reports – an essential feature for monitoring degradation over my vehicle’s lifetime. With early anomaly detection, I’m also alerted to any issues needing attention by Tesla service teams.
Pricing
For $4.99 a month, I can better understand my battery, learn how to optimize its performance and longevity, and catch any problems early.
Hands down, it is one of the best Tesla apps for diligent Tesla owners.
6. TeslaScope – Best Third-Party Data Platform
While Tesla provides a wealth of vehicle data, TeslaScope expands insights to an exhaustive level no third-party app manages. From granular statistics on efficiency, range, and components to CAN bus logs, it collects everything an inquisitive enthusiast needs.
Without digging through menus, the dashboard gives me an instant snapshot of the current vehicle status, including battery stats, tire pressures, temperatures, and the last park location. Customizable widgets let me tailor the view to my preference, too.
My favorite bit is the firmware tracker, which monitors my car’s software version and new features. I enjoy discussing the latest upgrades with friends and staying updated on what’s coming next.
Pricing
For $30 a year, I gained a deeper understanding of my vehicle through TeslaScope. While the extensive datasets appeal more to tech-savvy owners, they’re invaluable for those who want to unlock greater transparency.
7. Teslamate – Best Open-Source Platform
As a programmer and data science hobbyist, I was intrigued to analyze my driving patterns beyond what most best Tesla apps offer. And that’s how I found TeslaMate.
Unlike other solutions locked within proprietary platforms, Teslamate offers an open-source self-hosted option. After spinning up the Docker containers with Grafana and InfluxDB, customizations were just a matter of tweaking the Python scripts.
Now, I have complete control over analytics, from usage metrics to efficiency visualizations tailored to my liking, with no strings attached. The ability to leverage complex data science models for predictions using Tesla’s telemetry data is any enthusiast’s dream.
Admittedly, the setup requires some technical skills. However, the transparency and customizability gains make TeslaMate a solid choice for enterprising owners.
Did I mention the mobile app lets me access all those nifty dashboards on the go after it’s set up?
It is best paired with TeslaScope for expanded datasets.
Pricing
TeslaMate opens up exciting possibilities at zero cost. It’s a tool for all, but it remains a special exclusive for those not afraid to get their hands dirty!
8. Model 3/Y Performance Monitor – Best for Performance Metrics
Unleashing the full performance potential of Tesla’s vehicle lineup is exhilarating. For those who enjoy more aggressive driving, this aptly named app reveals extended metrics to fine-tune my acceleration runs.
With real-time statistics on power output, torque, motor RPMs, temperatures, and more, I have granular insights to tweak my launch techniques. The app lets me accurately test 0-60 mph and quarter-mile times and analyze performance between runs.
But my favorite bit is the G-force visualizer, which tracks lateral and longitudinal forces through turns. I can now measure cornering and braking performance to improve lap times at my local raceway.
If you own a Model 3 Performance or Model Y Performance, this app is a must for analyzing your driving style and finding opportunities to save seconds.
The Most Useful Tesla App
If I had to choose just one of the best Tesla apps I find most indispensable as a Tesla owner, it would be Remote for Tesla. More than any other app, it has made my life more accessible through the convenience of remote access and control.
I travel frequently for work and often have to leave my car unattended at airports for days. The ability to check on charging status, sentry mode triggers, interior cabin temperatures, and even locate my vehicle through the parking lot cameras provides immense peace of mind when I’m far away.