Tesla vehicles are renowned for their cutting-edge technology, seamlessly blending transportation with advanced features. This emphasis on tech has fostered a vibrant ecosystem of third-party applications designed to enhance the Tesla ownership experience. These apps go far beyond simple remote start functions, offering comprehensive diagnostic tools, sophisticated trip planning, and monitoring capabilities. The Tesla community’s embrace of app development has resulted in innovative solutions for everything from managing dashcam footage to integrating with smart home devices. Here are some of the most useful apps that Tesla owners should consider.
You might also like: World's Largest Beauty Store Opens in Australia – Pure Chaos, Perfectly Good
Diagnostic and Monitoring Apps
-
Scan My Tesla: This free app, available for both iOS and Android, taps into the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) port to provide a wealth of data. While Tesla uses a proprietary connector in later models, requiring a separate OBD2 cable and adapter (around $50), the effort is worthwhile. Users gain access to real-time battery voltage, current flow, temperatures, kilowatt-hour capacity, deterioration metrics, horsepower, torque, HVAC readings, and even detailed CANBUS packet information on Model S and Model X vehicles. A list of compatible adapters is available for specific models.
-
TezLab: For a less granular but still powerful overview of your Tesla, TezLab is an excellent choice. Compatible with the latest Rivian EVs as well, this app uses the Tesla API to wirelessly access data, eliminating the need for wires or adapters. TezLab provides battery usage reports, idle battery drain analysis, trip summaries, live range data, and allows users to set up automations like climate control activation and plug-in reminders. It also features “zaps,” short video reviews uploaded by users and tagged on the in-app supercharger map, offering valuable feedback on charging locations.
-
TeslaFi: This cloud-based service is compatible with any Tesla model, regardless of generation or country of origin. Accessible via any mobile browser, TeslaFi offers detailed reports on charging performance by location, battery usage, and drain. Users can tag their drives for easy sorting and generate monthly overviews. A unique feature is its integration with Amazon Alexa, enabling voice control of various Tesla functions. The web app also allows users to filter data by temperature ranges to analyze vehicle performance under different conditions. Pricing starts at $7.99 per month after a seven-day free trial.
Official and Essential Apps
- Official Tesla App: This app is the cornerstone of Tesla ownership, providing essential functions such as remote locking/unlocking, HVAC control, service scheduling, preconditioning, and basic vehicle information (range, battery condition). It also allows users to manage payment methods, locate the vehicle, access support resources, and enable valet mode. Some users may even be able to summon their Model S using the app. Available on iOS and Android, with a dedicated version for Apple Watch, it’s a must-have for any Tesla owner.
Navigation and Route Planning Apps
-
Waze: Widely considered the best navigation app, Waze provides real-time accident reporting, police vehicle locations, and speed camera alerts. Many users report that Waze suggests faster routes than competing apps. It also offers customizable avatars and voice narrators. Waze is also rolling out features to help EV owners find charging stations more easily, with live updates. Available on both Apple and Android devices, Waze requires an active internet connection.
-
A Better Routeplanner (ABRP): This app is a game-changer for EV owners, particularly those concerned about charger compatibility. Simply select your vehicle and grant location access, and ABRP will monitor battery level and locate nearby chargers when needed. It uses algorithms to rank chargers based on suitability and displays the number of available stalls, along with photos and reviews. Live battery data requires an over-the-air connection. ABRP is available on Android, iOS, and web browsers.
-
PlugShare: PlugShare bills itself as the world’s largest EV community. Known for its user-friendly interface, PlugShare provides real-time updates on charger usage, service intervals, and community reviews. Its charger database is extensive, with hundreds of thousands of units monitored. While it lacks the live battery status feature of ABRP, PlugShare offers superior offline map support. The app is available for Android and iOS.
-
Superchargers For Tesla: This app is dedicated to tracking Tesla-owned and operated superchargers. It provides photos, reviews, ratings, real-time status and activity, and nearby points of interest. A notable feature is “variable range circles,” which display chargers within the vehicle’s current range. Real-time alerts notify users of status updates for chargers of interest. Available on both iOS and Android.
Smartwatch Apps
-
Watchla: For Apple Watch users, Watchla adds functionality beyond the official Tesla app. It displays charge rate, remaining range, defroster status, current gear, and vehicle mode (dog mode, sentry mode). Users can open the frunk and trunk, control the charging port cover, lock/unlock the car, use the horn, flash the lights, control windows and the sunroof, activate/deactivate sentry mode, start/stop charging, and set a charge limit. Because Watchla uses Bluetooth, many features are available without a phone or internet connection. Watchla is an iOS-only application.
-
DRIVE Electric For Tesla: This app caters to Android smartwatch users. It allows users to operate the trunk and frunk, use the horn and lights, control the fan, locate the vehicle, and lock/unlock the car. It also displays charging and temperature statuses, as well as mode information. Smartwatches can act as a key for your Tesla, even without a phone. DRIVE Electric for Tesla is an Android-only application, and a free version with most of the functionality is available.
Dashcam and Security Apps
-
TeslaCam / Sentry Reviewer: While Tesla offers basic video playback on the infotainment display, this app provides more granular control. It allows users to slow down or speed up video playback, export in different formats, zoom in, and save screenshots. A USB adapter is required. Sentry Reviewer allows users to scrub through all four camera feeds simultaneously and view both sentry mode (parked) and trip (driving) footage. This app is currently only available for Android devices.
-
Perception: Perception is another Tesla dashcam reviewing software, offering the ability to source, view, export, share, and trim video. It also allows users to import calendar events, view TeslaCam events on a map, and store footage in a dedicated folder. Perception supports external USB drives and network-attached storage (NAS) devices. While it only supports video scrubbing speeds from 0.5x to 5x (compared to Sentry Reviewer’s 0.25x to 16x), Perception is available on both Android and iOS.
Remote Control Apps
- Remote For Tesla: This iOS-only app allows users to control various aspects of their Tesla from a single interface, including multi-vehicle support. It is also available as an Apple Watch app. It complements the official Tesla app with convenience features such as using an Apple Watch as a key fob, accessing at-a-glance overviews, and retaining functionality without the main phone. Remote for Tesla allows users to set up location-specific commands and integrates with iOS Shortcuts.
