Octopus Energy vs British Gas vs E.ON vs EDF: Who Is Cheaper and Better in 2026?

Octopus Energy is the UK’s largest domestic energy supplier as of 2026, serving approximately 7.5 million accounts after absorbing Shell Energy and Bulb. It consistently tops the Citizens Advice supplier league table for customer service, holds a 4.7-star Trustpilot rating, and offers more tariff innovation than any competitor.

But is it actually cheaper than British Gas, E.ON, or EDF? The answer depends on which tariff you choose and how you use energy. Here is the straightforward comparison.

Octopus Energy vs British Gas vs E.ON vs EDF: Quick Comparison

	Octopus Energy	British Gas	E.ON Next	EDF Energy
Typical fixed tariff (2026)	~£1,632/yr	~£1,700-1,800/yr	~£1,700-1,800/yr	~£1,700-1,800/yr
Standard variable	Below Ofgem cap	At Ofgem cap	At Ofgem cap	At Ofgem cap
Smart tariffs	Tracker, Agile, Intelligent Go, Cosy	Limited smart tariffs	E.ON Drive (EV)	EDF Go Electric (EV)
Citizens Advice rating	Consistently top-rated	Mid-range	Mid-range	Mid-range
Trustpilot (June 2026)	~4.7 (Excellent)	~3.5-4.0	~3.5-4.0	~3.5-4.0
Renewable electricity	100% standard	100% (matched)	100% (matched)	100% (matched)
UK customer service	UK-based (Brighton, London, Manchester, Warwick)	Mix of UK and offshore	UK-based	UK-based

Note: Annual cost estimates are illustrative for a typical dual-fuel household on monthly direct debit. Actual costs vary significantly by region, meter type, and usage. Always get a personalised quote.

Is Octopus Energy Cheaper Than British Gas?

In most scenarios, yes — Octopus Energy’s fixed tariffs tend to undercut British Gas’s equivalent fixed tariffs by £100-200 per year for a typical household. Octopus’s smart tariffs (Tracker, Agile) can deliver even greater savings for households that can use them effectively.

British Gas has advantages in other areas: it offers a broader range of home services including boiler cover, insurance, and home care products that Octopus does not. For a household that wants a single provider for energy and home services, British Gas may offer better overall value despite the higher unit rate.

Is Octopus Energy Cheaper Than E.ON?

Octopus Energy is generally cheaper than E.ON Next on fixed tariffs. E.ON Next’s standard variable tariff tracks the Ofgem price cap, the same as Flexible Octopus. E.ON offers E.ON Drive for EV charging with off-peak rates, but Octopus’s Intelligent Go tariff is more sophisticated and typically offers a lower off-peak unit rate.

E.ON Next’s customer service ratings have improved in recent years but remain below Octopus Energy on Citizens Advice and Trustpilot. E.ON’s main advantage is its long-established network of physical offices and engineers for boiler and home care services.

Is Octopus Energy Cheaper Than Scottish Power?

Scottish Power’s fixed tariffs are generally comparable to or slightly more expensive than Octopus Energy fixed tariffs. Scottish Power does not offer the breadth of smart tariff innovation that Octopus provides. Its customer service ratings have been mixed — it was among the lower-rated large suppliers on Citizens Advice in 2024-2025, though ratings have improved.

Octopus Energy Customer Service

Octopus Energy has been the top-rated large UK energy supplier on Citizens Advice’s quarterly star rating for the past six years. It has received a 4.7-star Trustpilot rating (Excellent) from over 250,000 reviews as of June 2026 — the highest of any large UK energy supplier.

The customer service team is UK-based across Brighton, London, Manchester, and Warwick. Response times on queries are typically within 24 hours. The Octopus app is well-regarded for account management, smart tariff scheduling, and energy usage tracking.

One notable friction point in 2025: the migration of Shell Energy customers onto the Octopus billing platform caused some billing delays and reconciliation issues. By mid-2026, Octopus reports these issues have largely been resolved.

Octopus Energy Solar Panels

Octopus Energy entered the solar panel installation market through its acquisition of various solar installation businesses. It offers solar panel installation, home battery systems, and the Outgoing Octopus export tariff (which pays you for excess solar electricity exported to the grid).

Outgoing Octopus pays 12p/kWh for exported solar electricity on the fixed export tariff, or tracks wholesale prices on the Outgoing Agile export tariff. Solar households can combine Outgoing Octopus with Intelligent Octopus Go for both cheap overnight import and paid solar export — one of the most financially attractive combinations available to UK homeowners with solar panels.

Octopus Energy Insurance

Octopus Energy offers home insurance products through its Octopus Insurance brand, separate from its energy supply business. Products include home and contents insurance. This is a distinct offering from British Gas HomeCare or E.ON’s home services — worth comparing separately if you are looking for energy and home insurance from the same provider.

Does Octopus Energy Do Gas?

Yes — Octopus Energy supplies both gas and electricity. Most of its tariffs (Flexible, Fixed, Tracker) are available as dual-fuel packages covering both fuels. Note that Agile Octopus is electricity only — if you sign up for Agile, you need a separate gas tariff (typically Flexible Octopus gas or Tracker gas).

Already with Octopus? See our guide to Octopus Tracker vs Agile vs Flexible vs Fixed to make sure you are on the right tariff for your household.

Compare all UK energy suppliers and get personalised quotes at usave.co.uk — the comparison tool uses your postcode and usage to find the cheapest option across the whole market, not just Octopus.

Bottom Line

Is Octopus cheaper than British Gas?	Usually yes — by £100-200/yr on fixed tariffs
Is Octopus cheaper than E.ON?	Usually yes — and smarter EV tariffs available
Is Octopus cheaper than Scottish Power?	Generally yes
Customer service	Octopus is top-rated by Citizens Advice and Trustpilot (4.7 stars)
Does Octopus do gas?	Yes — dual-fuel available; Agile is electricity only
Does Octopus do solar?	Yes — installation and Outgoing Octopus export tariff
When Octopus might not be best	If you need home care services (boiler cover, insurance bundles) — British Gas has more

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Octopus Energy cheaper than British Gas?

In most cases, yes. Octopus Energy’s fixed tariffs typically undercut British Gas’s equivalent tariffs by £100-200 per year for a typical household. Octopus’s smart tariffs — Tracker and Agile — can deliver additional savings for eligible households. British Gas has advantages in home services (boiler cover, appliance insurance) which Octopus does not offer.

Is Octopus Energy reliable?

Octopus Energy has been consistently rated the top large UK energy supplier for customer service by Citizens Advice for six years running. It holds a 4.7-star Trustpilot rating from over 250,000 reviews. It supplies 100% renewable electricity as standard and has remained financially stable while several competitors collapsed during the 2021-2022 energy crisis.

Does Octopus Energy do solar panels?

Yes — Octopus Energy offers solar panel installation through its home energy services arm, and pays for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid through its Outgoing Octopus tariffs (Outgoing Fixed pays 12p/kWh; Outgoing Agile tracks wholesale prices). Solar customers can also pair Outgoing with Intelligent Octopus Go for cheap overnight import rates.

What is Octopus Energy insurance?

Octopus Energy offers home and contents insurance through its Octopus Insurance brand, separate from its energy supply products. This is a distinct offering from energy supply — you do not need to be an Octopus Energy customer to use Octopus Insurance. Compare it alongside other home insurance providers for the best deal.