Tethered vs untethered: which is right?
A cable attached vs a socket you plug into. Both are 7kW — the choice is about convenience and flexibility.
Prices updated Jun 2026
Tethered vs untethered: what’s the difference?
The only real difference between a tethered and an untethered home charger is the cable. A tethered charger has the charging cable permanently attached to the unit, with the connector ready to plug straight into your car. An untethered (sometimes called “socketed”) charger has just a socket on the wall — you bring your own cable, plug one end into the charger and the other into the car, then unplug and store it after each session.
Crucially, both are usually 7kW units, so they charge your EV at exactly the same speed. The choice is about convenience, flexibility and tidiness — not performance — which is why it comes down to how you actually use your driveway.
The case for untethered
Untethered is the more futureproof option. Because the cable isn’t fixed to the wall, the charger works with any car and any connector type — handy if you change EVs, run two cars with different cables, or have visitors who need to charge. Most modern EVs use the Type 2 connector, but keeping the cable separate means you’re never locked to one.
It’s also tidier. With nothing permanently hanging off the wall, the unit stays compact and clean, and you can lock the cable away when it’s not in use, which some owners prefer for security and weather protection. The trade-off is the small ritual of fetching and connecting the cable for every charge.
The case for tethered
Tethered chargers are about grab-and-go convenience. The cable is always there, attached and ready, so charging is a single motion: pull the connector off the holster and plug in. No fetching a cable from the boot, no coupling two ends, no storing it afterwards — especially welcome in the rain or the dark.
The trade-offs are flexibility and tidiness. You’re committed to whatever connector and cable length the unit ships with, so a future car with a different connector could mean replacing hardware, and the cable lives on the wall permanently. For a household that keeps the same car and wants the least friction, that’s a fair deal.
Which should you choose?
If you value flexibility and want a charger that adapts to whatever you drive next, go untethered. If you want the absolute simplest plug-in and expect to keep the same car for years, tethered is fine. Either way the install is the same single-phase 7kW job, fitted by an accredited installer.
Both variants are common across the popular home chargers in our guide, and several brands offer the same model in both forms. To see what fitting either costs, check our breakdown of what an EV charger installation costs before you decide.
Related reading: 7kW EV chargers explained, the best home EV chargers, and EV charger installation cost.
Untethered is the more futureproof pick — it works with any car and connector, and keeps the wall clean. Choose tethered only if you value grab-and-go convenience and plan to keep the same car.
Frequently asked questions
Is tethered or untethered better?
Neither is universally better — both are usually 7kW and charge at the same speed. Untethered is more futureproof and tidier because it works with any car and connector and leaves nothing hanging on the wall. Tethered is more convenient day to day because the cable is always attached and ready. Choose untethered for flexibility, tethered for grab-and-go simplicity.
Do tethered and untethered chargers charge at the same speed?
Yes. Charge speed is set by the charger’s power rating and your car, not by whether the cable is attached. A 7kW tethered and a 7kW untethered charger deliver the same roughly 30 miles of range per hour, so the decision is about convenience and flexibility, not speed.
Can I use any cable with an untethered charger?
You use a charging cable that matches your car’s connector — almost always a Type 2 cable for modern EVs in the UK. The advantage of untethered is that you’re not tied to one fixed connector, so if you change to a car with a different connector you simply use the matching cable rather than replacing the whole unit.
Should I choose tethered if I keep the same car?
Tethered makes most sense when you expect to keep the same car for years and want the simplest possible plug-in. Because the cable and connector are fixed to the unit, you lose flexibility for a future EV with a different connector — but if that’s unlikely, the everyday convenience of an always-ready cable is a reasonable trade.