An alternative gravity theory that has attracted considerable attention recently is the novel four-dimensional Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet (4EGB) gravity. This idea was proposed to bypass the Lovelock’s theorem and to permit nontrivial higher curvature effects on the four-dimensional local gravity. In this approach, the Gauss–Bonnet (GB) coupling constant $$\alpha $$
α
is rescaled by a factor of $$\alpha /(D -4)$$
α
/
(
D
-
4
)
in D dimensions and taking the limit $$D \rightarrow 4$$
D
→
4
. In this article, we analyze the effects of charge on static compact stars in the regularized 4D EGB gravity theory. Two classes of new exact solutions are found for a particular choice of the gravitational potential and assuming a relationship between the electric field intensity and the spatial potential. A graphical analysis indicates that the matter and electromagnetic variables are well behaved for specific values of the parameter space. Finally, based on physical grounds appropriate bounds on the model parameters we show that compact objects with the value of adiabatic index $$\gamma $$
γ
is consistent with expectations.