Unleash the Beast: 5 Insane Apps Every Tesla Owner Absolutely Needs Now!
Welcome, fellow Tesla enthusiasts!
If you're reading this, you've probably already experienced the sheer joy and a little bit of the head-scratching that comes with owning a Tesla.
It's not just a car; it's a mobile computer on wheels, a technological marvel that's constantly evolving.
But let's be real—the standard features, as incredible as they are, are just the beginning.
To truly unlock the full potential of your electric chariot, you need to dive into the amazing world of third-party apps.
Trust me, these aren't just minor add-ons.
They are game-changers, designed by fellow owners and brilliant developers who saw a need and filled it beautifully.
I'm talking about apps that turn range anxiety into a distant memory, give you a deep, almost psychic connection to your vehicle's data, and make your daily drives feel more seamless and personalized.
So, forget what you think you know.
We're about to explore the essential apps that will revolutionize your **Tesla** ownership experience.
Are you ready?
Table of Contents: The Road to App Nirvana
Before we hit the digital road, let’s get our bearings.
Click on any of the links below to jump straight to the app that piques your interest the most.
- 1. The Ultimate Co-Pilot: A Better Routeplanner (ABRP)
- 2. The Car Whisperer: Tessie
- 3. The Community Hub: PlugShare
- 4. The Efficiency Guru: Tezlab
- 5. The Smart Home Integrator: Remote S
1. The Ultimate Co-Pilot: A Better Routeplanner (ABRP)
Let's start with what is arguably the most crucial app for any **Tesla** driver: **A Better Routeplanner**, or **ABRP** for short.
I'm not going to lie, when I first got my Model 3, a tiny part of my brain was still stuck on the old "gas station" mindset.
I’d worry about where the next Supercharger was, how long I’d have to wait, and whether I’d have enough juice to get there and back.
That's what they call "range anxiety," and it's a real thing, even if it's mostly in your head.
ABRP completely annihilates that anxiety.
Think of it as Waze and a supercomputer having a baby, specifically for electric vehicles.
The in-car navigation is good, don't get me wrong.
But ABRP takes it to a whole new level by considering a dizzying array of factors that the native system often overlooks.
It’s not just about finding a charging station; it's about finding the *best* one for your specific trip.
The app takes into account your car's model, your current battery percentage, the weather, elevation changes on your route, and even your personal driving style.
Are you a lead-foot like me, or do you drive like there’s a priceless porcelain vase on the dashboard?
ABRP adjusts its calculations accordingly.
It's like having a personal co-pilot who is a certified EV genius.
It will meticulously plan your entire road trip, telling you exactly where to stop, for how long, and what your battery percentage will be when you arrive at each destination.
It even suggests alternative routes and charging stops if things change mid-trip.
Imagine this scenario:
You’re on a long road trip, and you hit some unexpected headwinds.
Your battery drain is a little faster than you planned.
Your in-car nav might just tell you to keep going, hoping for the best.
But ABRP? It will instantly recalculate and suggest a new, safe charging stop just a few miles away, saving you from a potential towing nightmare.
It's a lifesaver, pure and simple.
It integrates with your **Tesla** to get real-time data, so the predictions are scarily accurate.
For me, this app is the reason I feel confident taking my **Tesla** on long cross-country drives.
It's peace of mind in the palm of your hand.
Don't just take my word for it.
Give it a try and see for yourself how it transforms your road trip planning.
It's an essential tool for any serious **Tesla** owner.
2. The Car Whisperer: Tessie
Next up, we have **Tessie**.
Now, if you're the kind of person who likes to know *everything* about your car, and I mean everything, then Tessie is your new best friend.
Think of it as a Fitbit for your **Tesla**.
It tracks everything from your driving efficiency and vampire drain to your charging history and battery health.
The native **Tesla** app is great for the basics—checking your charge, preconditioning the cabin, and locking the doors—but Tessie dives deep into the data, giving you insights you never knew you needed.
For example, have you ever wondered how much it's *really* costing you to charge your car at home?
Tessie can tell you, down to the cent, based on your local electricity rates.
This is invaluable for understanding your total cost of ownership and making smarter decisions about when and where to charge.
One of my favorite features is the "vampire drain" tracker.
This is the battery power your car consumes while it's just sitting idle, a little technological vampire sucking away your range.
Tessie gives you a detailed breakdown of what might be causing it, whether it's Sentry Mode, cabin overheat protection, or something else.
It’s an empowering piece of information because it allows you to optimize your car’s settings and conserve every last watt.
The analytics are presented in beautiful, easy-to-understand charts and graphs, so you don't need to be a data scientist to make sense of it all.
It even gives you a "driving score" based on your acceleration and braking habits, which can be a fun way to challenge yourself to be a more efficient driver.
It also provides custom alerts and notifications.
Imagine getting a text message that says, "Your car is charging too slowly," or "You left a window open."
Tessie keeps you in the loop, acting as a watchful guardian over your car.
And for those of you who love to automate things, Tessie has some incredible features.
You can create custom automations like "if the car is parked at home, and the battery is below 20%, start charging at 11 PM."
This kind of personalization turns your **Tesla** from a great car into a truly smart car that works for you, not the other way around.
If you're looking to understand your car better and squeeze every last drop of efficiency out of it, Tessie is an absolute must-have.
3. The Community Hub: PlugShare
Okay, we've talked about route planning and data, but what about the charging infrastructure itself?
This is where **PlugShare** shines as an invaluable tool for every EV owner, not just those with a **Tesla**.
I know what you're thinking: "But I have Superchargers everywhere, why do I need another app?"
That's a fair point, and it's one of the perks of being a **Tesla** owner.
However, the Supercharger network, as robust as it is, doesn't cover every single corner of the world.
There will be times when you're in a pinch, in a remote town, or just need a quick top-up somewhere that isn't a Supercharger station.
This is where PlugShare comes in.
It's the Wikipedia of EV charging stations.
It's a crowdsourced platform where EV owners share information about charging locations, including public chargers, private ones, and even residential outlets that people are willing to share.
The sheer amount of information on this app is staggering.
You can see photos of the charging stations, read reviews from other drivers, and even check-in to let others know if a charger is in use.
It's this community aspect that makes PlugShare so powerful.
Think about a time you needed to charge but weren't sure if a station was working, or if the parking spot was being ICEd (a term for when a gas-powered car parks in an EV charging spot).
PlugShare's community feedback will tell you everything you need to know before you even get there.
I've used this app countless times to find a Level 2 charger at a hotel I was staying at, or to locate a free J-1772 charger at a shopping center while I was running errands.
It's a fantastic backup and a great way to discover new charging options you never knew existed.
It's a great example of a community coming together to solve a shared problem.
The map interface is clean and easy to use, and you can filter by connector type, charging speed, and network.
So while the **Tesla** ecosystem is fantastic, having PlugShare in your digital toolkit is like having a spare tire—you hope you don’t need it, but you're incredibly glad it's there when you do.
4. The Efficiency Guru: Tezlab
If Tessie is a detailed fitness tracker, then **Tezlab** is your personalized coach for your **Tesla**.
While there's some overlap with other apps, Tezlab carves out its own niche with its focus on gamification and social features.
It turns every drive into a little game, and who doesn't love a bit of healthy competition?
Tezlab tracks your driving efficiency, but it also gives you a "score" and allows you to compare your stats with other **Tezlab** users.
You can see how you rank globally, or just among your friends.
This might sound a little silly, but it's a brilliant motivator.
I found myself trying to get a higher "efficiency score" by braking more gently and accelerating less aggressively.
It genuinely made me a better, more efficient driver, which translates directly to more range and less wear and tear on the car.
Beyond the friendly competition, Tezlab provides beautiful, digestible data on your car's performance.
It gives you insights into how much money you've saved by driving an EV, your carbon footprint reduction, and a history of all your drives.
It’s the kind of information that makes you feel good about your choice to go electric.
It's a great way to track your environmental impact and see the tangible benefits of owning a **Tesla**.
The app also has a really clean and intuitive interface.
I’ve used it to quickly check my charge level and locate my car in a crowded parking lot, all with a simple, elegant design.
It has a widget that you can add to your home screen, giving you instant access to key stats without even opening the app.
For those who love data and a bit of fun, Tezlab is a fantastic addition to your app collection.
It's proof that being eco-friendly and smart with your driving can also be a blast.
You’ll be surprised at how much you start to care about your "drive score."
It’s a simple pleasure, but it’s a real one.
5. The Smart Home Integrator: Remote S
Let's talk about the final frontier of **Tesla** ownership: integration with your wider digital life.
The official **Tesla** app is good, but it's a closed ecosystem.
What if you want to tie your car into your smart home, or create custom shortcuts that go beyond the basics?
Enter **Remote S**.
This is for the power users, the automators, the people who want their car to be a seamless part of their connected life.
Remote S is a third-party app that offers an incredible amount of control and customization.
The most popular use case, and one I absolutely love, is the ability to create Apple Watch complications and Siri Shortcuts.
Imagine this: you're walking out of the grocery store with a bunch of bags.
Instead of fumbling for your phone to open the trunk, you just lift your wrist and say, "Hey Siri, open my trunk."
The trunk magically pops open, and you look like a tech wizard.
This is the kind of magic that Remote S brings to the table.
It can also integrate with home automation systems, so you can set up a routine that opens your garage door and turns on the lights when your **Tesla** pulls into the driveway.
The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination.
For me, the ability to control my car from my Apple Watch is a game-changer.
I can check my charge, unlock the doors, and even honk the horn (which is surprisingly useful in a crowded parking lot) without ever taking my phone out of my pocket.
It's all about convenience and making your life easier.
Remote S is a premium app, and it’s worth every penny for the sheer level of control and personalization it offers.
It’s the app that truly turns your car into an extension of yourself and your digital world.
If you're a tech-savvy owner who wants to push the boundaries of what your car can do, Remote S is the perfect tool for you.
It bridges the gap between the car and your other devices in a way that feels natural and intuitive.
It's the app that makes your **Tesla** feel more like the future than it already does.
Final Thoughts on Your App Ecosystem
So there you have it, folks.
Five incredible apps that will absolutely change the way you interact with your **Tesla**.
Owning a **Tesla** is an experience unlike any other, and these apps are the key to unlocking its full potential.
They are born from the passion of the **Tesla** community, a testament to the fact that innovation doesn't stop with the car itself.
Whether you're a data geek, a road warrior, a smart-home enthusiast, or just someone looking to make your life a little easier, there's an app out there for you.
Don't be afraid to experiment and find the ones that fit your lifestyle best.
Your **Tesla** is more than just a mode of transportation; it's a platform, and these apps are the software that makes it sing.
Happy driving!
Keywords: Tesla, apps, owner, EV, driving
