Octopus Tracker vs Agile vs Flexible vs Fixed: Which Tariff Should You Choose in 2026?
Octopus Energy offers more tariff options than almost any other UK supplier — which is both a strength and a source of confusion. Tracker, Agile, Flexible, Fixed, Intelligent Go, Cosy: each suits a different type of household.
As of June 2026, Octopus Tracker is averaging approximately £1,488 per year for a typical household — around £144 cheaper than the 12-month Fixed tariff at £1,632 per year. Agile is averaging £1,520 per year for households that can avoid the 4pm-7pm evening peak. Flexible Octopus tracks the Ofgem price cap with no exit fees.
Here is the plain-English breakdown of every major Octopus tariff, who each one suits, and which one to choose based on your situation.
Octopus Tariffs at a Glance (June 2026)
| Tariff | Typical annual cost | Price changes | Smart meter needed | Best for |
| Flexible Octopus | ~£1,862/yr (Ofgem cap) | Quarterly | No | Simplicity, no commitment |
| Fixed (12M) | ~£1,632/yr | Locked 12 months | No | Price certainty, budget planning |
| Tracker | ~£1,488/yr avg | Daily | Yes (SMETS2) | Wholesale savings, no habit change needed |
| Agile | ~£1,520/yr avg | Every 30 min | Yes (SMETS2) | Flexible households, battery/solar owners |
| Intelligent Go | EV-specific — 8p/kWh off-peak | Off-peak fixed | Yes (SMETS2) | EV owners with compatible car/charger |
| Cosy | Heat pump specific | 3 off-peak windows/day | Yes (SMETS2) | Heat pump households |
Note: Typical annual costs are illustrative based on June 2026 averages for a typical dual-fuel household at TDCV (Typical Domestic Consumption Values). Your actual cost depends on usage, region, and payment method. Always get a personalised quote from Octopus using your postcode.
Flexible Octopus: The Default Tariff
Flexible Octopus is Octopus Energy’s standard variable tariff — the one most customers start on. It tracks the Ofgem energy price cap, which updates quarterly. No smart meter is required, there are no exit fees, and you can switch away at any time.
As of April 2026, the Ofgem price cap is set at the equivalent of approximately £1,862 per year for a typical dual-fuel household on direct debit. Flexible Octopus stays at or below this level.
Flexible Octopus is the right choice if you do not want to think about your energy tariff, have an older meter, or are not ready to commit to a fixed term. It is not the cheapest option but it provides simplicity and flexibility.
Octopus Fixed Tariff: Price Certainty
The 12-month Fixed tariff (also called 12M Fixed or Octopus Fixed) locks in your unit rate for 12 months. In June 2026, the Octopus 12M Fixed v18 tariff is priced at approximately £1,632 per year — around £230 below the July 2026 Ofgem price cap. There are no exit fees.
A separate Loyal Octopus Fixed tariff is available to existing customers renewing their contract and is priced lower than the open-market fixed tariff.
Fixed is the right choice if you want to know exactly what you will pay each month regardless of what happens to wholesale energy prices. If gas prices fall significantly during your fixed term, you may end up paying more than those on variable tariffs — but you are protected if prices rise.
Octopus Tracker: Follow the Wholesale Market Daily
Octopus Tracker is a variable tariff where your unit rate changes every day, set by the previous day’s wholesale electricity and gas prices. It does not require you to shift your energy usage — you pay the daily rate for all electricity and gas consumed, whenever you use it.
In June 2026, Tracker is averaging approximately £1,488 per year — around £144 cheaper than Fixed v18 and £374 cheaper than the Ofgem price cap equivalent. The Flexible Octopus electricity rate is currently 24.7p/kWh; the Tracker electricity rate varies daily based on wholesale markets.
Key details about Octopus Tracker:
- Price updates daily — you can check tomorrow’s rate from the previous evening
- Covers both gas and electricity (unlike Agile, which is electricity only)
- Has a daily price ceiling of approximately 100p/kWh as a safety net
- Requires a SMETS2 smart meter
- 9-month rejoin restriction if you leave before a 12-month term ends
- No exit fees
Tracker tends to be cheaper than Fixed in stable or falling wholesale markets. In volatile markets — such as February 2025 or September 2024 when wholesale gas spiked — the daily rate can temporarily exceed the price cap equivalent. It is a better fit for households comfortable monitoring prices and willing to accept some volatility in exchange for lower average bills.
Agile Octopus: Half-Hourly Prices and Negative Pricing
Agile Octopus is Octopus’s most advanced variable tariff. Prices change every 30 minutes based on the day-ahead wholesale electricity market. Rates are published each afternoon for the following day, allowing households with smart devices to schedule usage automatically.
Key features of Agile Octopus:
- Prices update every 30 minutes — can be very cheap overnight and on windy afternoons
- Electricity only — you still need a separate gas tariff (typically Flexible Octopus or Tracker gas)
- Peak pricing: typically 50p-80p/kWh between 4pm and 7pm — significantly more expensive than standard rates
- Negative pricing (Plunge Pricing): when renewable generation exceeds demand, prices can go negative — Octopus pays you to use electricity. In April 2025 to April 2026, there were 370 negative-price half-hour periods in the East Midlands alone
- Price Cap Protect: a 100p/kWh ceiling prevents extreme peaks
- No exit fees
Agile averaged approximately £1,520 per year in June 2026 for households that can avoid the 4pm-7pm evening peak. For households with solar panels, home batteries, or EV chargers that can automatically shift usage to cheapest periods, Agile can deliver significantly greater savings. For households with high evening energy use (cooking, dishwashers, tumble dryers in the 4pm-7pm window), Agile can cost more than a Fixed tariff.
Octopus Tracker vs Agile: Key Differences
| Feature | Octopus Tracker | Agile Octopus |
| Price changes | Once daily | Every 30 minutes |
| Covers gas? | Yes | No — electricity only |
| Evening peak risk | Low — same rate all day | High — 4pm-7pm can hit 50-80p/kWh |
| Negative pricing? | No | Yes — Octopus pays you |
| Best for | Stable savings without habit change | Smart device users, solar/battery owners |
| June 2026 avg cost | ~£1,488/yr | ~£1,520/yr |
OctoPoints and the Octopus Fan Club
OctoPoints are Octopus Energy’s loyalty reward currency. Customers earn OctoPoints through referrals, Saving Sessions (demand-reduction events), and promotions. Points can be redeemed as credit on your energy bill, for retail vouchers, or for experiences. 800 OctoPoints are worth £8 in credit.
The Octopus Fan Club is Octopus Energy’s programme for customers who earn OctoPoints rewards. It includes access to exclusive offers, early tariff access, and priority customer service. Saving Sessions — short demand-reduction events typically lasting one to two hours in winter — allow customers to earn OctoPoints by reducing their energy usage during peak grid stress periods.
Octopus Broadband
Octopus Energy launched Octopus Broadband as an add-on service for existing energy customers. It offers full-fibre broadband packages alongside your energy tariff, with billing combined into a single monthly payment. Availability depends on your address and local network infrastructure. Octopus Broadband is not available in all areas as of June 2026.
Which Octopus Tariff Should You Choose?
| Your situation | Recommended tariff |
| You want simplicity, no smart meter needed | Flexible Octopus |
| You want to know exactly what you will pay | Fixed (12M) |
| You want to follow wholesale prices without changing habits | Octopus Tracker |
| You have a home battery or solar and can shift usage | Agile Octopus |
| You have an EV with a compatible car or smart charger | Intelligent Octopus Go |
| You have a heat pump | Cosy Octopus |
Have an electric vehicle? See our detailed guide to Intelligent Octopus Go: how it works, compatible cars, and off-peak times to find out if it is the right tariff for your EV.
Compare all current Octopus Energy tariffs with personalised rates for your postcode at octopus.energy — rates vary significantly by region and the best tariff for your home depends on your usage pattern and meter type.
Bottom Line
| Tracker | ~£1,488/yr avg (June 2026) — cheapest for most households comfortable with daily price changes |
| Fixed | ~£1,632/yr — price certainty for 12 months; no exit fees |
| Agile | ~£1,520/yr avg — best for smart device/solar/battery homes; risky for high evening users |
| Flexible | ~Ofgem cap (£1,862/yr) — simplest option; no commitment |
| OctoPoints | 800 points = £8 credit; earned via Saving Sessions and referrals |
| Smart meter required | Tracker, Agile, Intelligent Go, Cosy all need SMETS2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Octopus Tracker?
Octopus Tracker is a variable tariff where your electricity and gas unit rates change every day, set by the previous day’s wholesale market prices. It covers both gas and electricity and requires a SMETS2 smart meter. In June 2026, it is averaging approximately £1,488 per year for a typical household — around £144 less than the Octopus 12-month Fixed tariff and significantly below the Ofgem price cap equivalent.
What is the difference between Octopus Tracker and Agile?
Octopus Tracker changes your unit rate once per day and covers both gas and electricity. Agile changes every 30 minutes and is electricity only — you need a separate gas tariff. Tracker is simpler and avoids evening peak exposure. Agile offers the possibility of negative pricing (being paid to use electricity) but requires the ability to shift usage away from the 4pm-7pm peak window to avoid high costs.
What is Flexible Octopus?
Flexible Octopus is Octopus Energy’s standard variable tariff. It tracks the Ofgem energy price cap, which updates quarterly, and requires no smart meter or fixed commitment. There are no exit fees and you can switch away at any time. It is the simplest Octopus tariff but typically not the cheapest.
What are OctoPoints worth?
800 OctoPoints are worth £8 in credit on your Octopus Energy bill. Points can also be redeemed for retail vouchers and experiences. OctoPoints are earned through Saving Sessions (demand-reduction events where Octopus pays you to reduce usage during peak grid stress), referrals, and promotional offers.
Does Octopus Energy do broadband?
Yes — Octopus Energy offers Octopus Broadband as an add-on for existing energy customers, combining broadband and energy billing into one monthly payment. It offers full-fibre packages where available. Coverage depends on your address and local network infrastructure. Not all areas are served as of June 2026 — check availability at octopus.energy.