Cheapest Variable Energy Tariffs in the UK (July 2026)
The cheapest variable deal this month costs £1,507 a year from Home Energy, with no exit fee to pay if you decide to switch.
Overview
Quick Summary
As we head into the height of summer, household energy use typically drops, making it an ideal time to review your bills. When comparing variable and tracker tariffs, the main consideration is balancing flexibility with how closely your rates track wholesale costs. Standard variable tariffs fluctuate based on the price cap or supplier decisions, whereas tracker tariffs usually change more frequently and more closely follow wholesale energy prices.
While tracker deals can deliver savings when wholesale prices fall, they carry greater risk if the market spikes. Always check for exit fees, as these can add unexpected costs if you decide to switch suppliers later.
Top tariffs this month
- #1 BEST VALUEHome EnergyFair Variable Dual£126/mo£1,507 / yearNo fixed term
- #2Utility WarehouseUW Tracker Saver 2£140/mo£1,683 / yearNo fixed term · exit fee £150
- #3Utility WarehouseUW Tracker Plus 2£145/mo£1,740 / yearNo fixed term · exit fee £150
The cheapest option in our comparison is Home Energy's Fair Variable Dual tariff, costing £1,507 a year. Because it is a variable tariff, it has no exit fees, giving you the freedom to switch at any time without penalty.
The next two cheapest deals are both tracker tariffs from Utility Warehouse. The UW Tracker Saver 2 is priced at £1,683 a year (£175 more than the cheapest deal), while the UW Tracker Plus 2 costs £1,740 a year. Keep in mind that both Utility Warehouse tariffs include a £150 exit fee if you decide to leave before your term ends.
Supplier highlights
Home Energy
TOP PICKWho they are: Established in 2016 as part of the Net Zero Planet Group, Home Energy is an independent UK energy supplier. Operating as a smaller challenger brand, it focuses on clear pricing and seamless online account management.
Why choose them: As the cheapest tariff in our comparison, this deal has no exit fees, making it an excellent choice if you want the flexibility to switch again without penalty.
Utility Warehouse
Who they are: Owned by Telecom Plus PLC, Utility Warehouse is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It operates a multiservice model, allowing customers to bundle gas and electricity with broadband, mobile, and home insurance, and uses independent partners to sign up new customers.
Why choose them: Costing £175 a year more than the cheapest option, this tariff carries a £150 exit fee. However, its multiservice model is highly convenient for households looking to manage all their utility bills in one place.
So Energy
Who they are: Founded in 2015 and now majority-owned by the Irish state energy company ESB, So Energy is a UK challenger supplier. Uniquely, it allows customers to vote on which UK renewable generators it sources power from.
Why choose them: This green tracker tariff costs £237 a year more than the cheapest deal and carries a £100 exit fee, but it holds a strong Trustpilot rating of 4.5.
E.ON Next
Who they are: Set up in 2020 after the global E.ON Group acquired npower's customer base, E.ON Next is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It focuses on smart energy and time-of-use tariffs, rewarding customers who shift their energy usage to off-peak times.
Why choose them: Priced £240 a year more than the cheapest option, this tracker tariff includes a £50 exit fee. However, a high Citizens Advice score of 3.71 indicates strong customer support.
EDF Energy
Who they are: As the UK branch of the French state-owned energy group, EDF Energy is one of the market's largest domestic suppliers. It operates the UK's fleet of nuclear power stations, making it a major generator of zero-carbon electricity.
Why choose them: Costing £248 a year more than the cheapest deal, this tariff carries a £50 exit fee. However, an excellent Trustpilot rating of 4.8 makes it worth considering if you value highly rated service from a major supplier.
Octopus Energy
Who they are: Backed by the Octopus Group and several global investors, Octopus Energy is the UK's largest energy supplier. It uses its proprietary technology platform, Kraken, to manage billing and customer service, while also installing smart meters, heat pumps, and solar panels.
Why choose them: This variable green tariff costs £285 a year more than the cheapest deal and has no exit fees, backed by a strong Trustpilot rating of 4.8.
Pricing data is from uSwitch.
Utilita Energy
Who they are: Based in Hampshire, Utilita Energy is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers, focusing heavily on Pay As You Go smart energy. Instead of a daily standing charge, it uses a two-tier pricing system.
Why choose them: Priced £297 a year more than the cheapest deal, this variable tariff has no exit fees. However, its lower Citizens Advice score of 2.35 is worth keeping in mind before switching.
Scottish Power
Who they are: A subsidiary of the Spanish utility group Iberdrola, Scottish Power is a Glasgow-based energy company and one of the UK's largest domestic suppliers. It also operates the local electricity network for parts of Scotland, Wales, and England.
Why choose them: Costing £297 a year more than the cheapest option, this tariff has no exit fees, giving you the freedom to leave without penalty if a better deal arises.
Outfox Energy
Who they are: Based in Leicester, Outfox Energy is an independent, family-owned British energy supplier. It focuses on simple pricing and maintains a dedicated customer support team in the East Midlands.
Why choose them: Costing £298 a year more than the cheapest deal, this tariff has no exit fees. Additionally, an impressive Citizens Advice score of 4.25 highlights its highly effective customer service.
British Gas
Who they are: Owned by Centrica, British Gas is one of the country's largest domestic suppliers. It provides a wide range of home services, such as boiler cover, and integrates with the Hive smart home brand to help customers easily control their heating.
Why choose them: Costing £298 a year more than the cheapest deal, this variable tariff has no exit fees, making it a flexible choice for those who prefer a well-known brand.
Sainsbury’s Energy
Who they are: Sainsbury's Energy is a trading name used under licence by E.ON Next Energy Limited. It also links to the Nectar rewards programme, allowing customers to earn points on their shopping.
Why choose them: Priced £298 a year more than the cheapest option, this tariff has no exit fees and is ideal for households looking to earn Nectar points on their energy account.
OVO Energy
Who they are: Having grown significantly after acquiring SSE Energy Services in 2020, OVO Energy is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It focuses on smart home technology and rewards customers who shift their energy usage to off-peak times.
Why choose them: This variable deal costs £298 a year more than the cheapest option and has no exit fees, while a solid Trustpilot rating of 4.7 indicates strong customer satisfaction.
Fuse Energy
Who they are: Founded in 2022 by former Revolut staff, Fuse Energy is a smaller domestic supplier that generates its own power through UK solar and wind farms. It manages customer accounts primarily through a smartphone app.
Why choose them: Priced £298 a year more than the cheapest deal, this tariff features no exit fees and an impressive 4.8 Trustpilot rating, making it a strong choice for those who prefer app-based account management.
Good Energy
Who they are: Recently acquired by smart grid company Esyasoft, Good Energy is one of the UK's oldest dedicated green energy suppliers. Rather than relying on cheap certificates, it buys electricity directly from a network of over 3,000 independent UK renewable generators.
Why choose them: Although it costs £404 a year more than the cheapest option, this dedicated green tariff has no exit fees and holds a high Trustpilot rating of 4.8.
100Green
Who they are: Based in Hertfordshire, 100Green is an independent energy supplier focused entirely on household renewable energy. Operating as a certified B Corp, it is the only UK supplier to offer domestic customers 100% green gas.
Why choose them: Although priced £469 a year more than the cheapest deal, this green tariff has no exit fees. It also boasts a highly impressive Citizens Advice score of 4.33, reflecting strong customer support.
Ecotricity
Who they are: Based in Gloucestershire, Ecotricity is an independent company and one of the UK's oldest green energy suppliers. It uses customer bill revenue to fund new renewable energy projects and uniquely holds vegan certification for its energy production.
Why choose them: At £525 a year more than the cheapest deal, this green tariff has no exit fees and may appeal to households willing to pay a premium for strict ethical standards.
Methodology
These rankings are based on a typical household energy usage profile in the East Midlands region, paying by Monthly Direct Debit. The comparison exclusively includes variable tariffs. Please note that exact prices will vary depending on your specific location and energy consumption.
All tariffs (25)
All 25 tariffs ranked by annual cost.
| # | Supplier | Tariff | Annual | Term | Exit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ 1 | Home Energy | Fair Variable Dual | £1,507 | None | None |
| 2 | Utility Warehouse | UW Tracker Saver 2 | £1,683 | None | £150 |
| 3 | Utility Warehouse | UW Tracker Plus 2 | £1,740 | None | £150 |
| 4 | So Energy | So Green Tracker | £1,744 | 12mo | £100 |
| 5 | E.ON Next | Next Pledge Tracker 12m v12 | £1,747 | 12mo | £50 |
| 6 | EDF Energy | Simply Tracker Sep27 | £1,755 | None | £50 |
| 7 | Utility Warehouse | Double Gold | £1,755 | None | None |
| 8 | Utility Warehouse | UW Tracker Start 2 | £1,783 | None | £150 |
| 9 | Utility Warehouse | Gold Variable | £1,785 | None | None |
| 10 | Octopus Energy | Flexible Octopus | £1,792 | None | None |
| 11 | So Energy | So Flex | £1,804 | None | None |
| 12 | Utility Warehouse | Value | £1,804 | None | None |
| 13 | Utilita Energy | Smart Energy | £1,805 | None | None |
| 14 | Scottish Power | Standard | £1,805 | None | None |
| 15 | Outfox Energy | Fox Standard Dual | £1,805 | None | None |
| 16 | British Gas | Standard Variable | £1,805 | None | None |
| 17 | E.ON Next | Next Flex | £1,805 | None | None |
| 18 | EDF Energy | Standard (Variable) | £1,805 | None | None |
| 19 | Sainsbury’s Energy | Sainsbury's Standard Variable | £1,805 | None | None |
| 20 | Sainsbury’s Energy | Sainsburys Track & Reward 12m v1 | £1,805 | 12mo | None |
| 21 | OVO Energy | Simpler Energy | £1,805 | None | None |
| 22 | Fuse Energy | Variable Import | £1,805 | None | None |
| 23 | Good Energy | Good Energy Standard | £1,911 | None | None |
| 24 | 100Green | Sparkling SVT | £1,976 | None | None |
| 25 | Ecotricity | Standard Variable Green Tariff | £2,032 | None | None |
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Our verdict
This month's cheapest option is Home Energy's Fair Variable Dual tariff, costing £1,507 a year with no exit fees.
The next two cheapest options are both tracker tariffs from Utility Warehouse. The UW Tracker Saver 2 costs £1,683 a year—£175 more than the cheapest deal—while the UW Tracker Plus 2 is priced at £1,740 a year. Both tariffs include a £150 exit fee, meaning you will incur a charge if you decide to leave before your term ends.
If you prefer the next cheapest option from a different supplier, So Energy's So Green Tracker costs £1,744 a year. While this is £237 a year more than the cheapest option and carries a £100 exit fee, it does provide a green tariff. Always review exit fees and consider whether a tracker tariff suits your household's needs before making a switch.
Frequently asked questions
What is a variable energy tariff?
A variable energy tariff has unit rates and standing charges that can go up or down. This means your monthly bills can change even if you use the exact same amount of energy.
How does a tracker tariff work?
Tracker tariffs link your unit rates to wholesale energy prices or an independent index. Your rates change regularly, often daily or monthly, meaning you can save money when wholesale costs fall, but you take on the risk of higher bills if they rise.
Do standard variable tariffs have exit fees?
Most standard variable tariffs do not charge an exit fee, giving you the freedom to switch suppliers at any time without a penalty. However, it is always best to check the specific terms of the deal before you switch.
What is the difference between a fixed and variable tariff?
A fixed tariff locks in your unit rates and standing charge for the length of the contract, though your total bill will still rise or fall depending on how much energy you use. A variable tariff means your unit rates can change at any time.
Should I switch energy suppliers now?
This depends on your current deal and whether you want flexibility or price certainty. If you are on a variable tariff, comparing the market can help you find out if a cheaper variable option or a fixed deal is available.
Written by
Rob Gibbs
Hi, I'm Rob, and I run Energy-Review.co.uk. I initially started this project in 2018 when I was looking to switch energy suppliers and found there wasn't a website that provided simple, data-backed reviews on all the suppliers available. Since then, I have spent a lot of time (too much, some may say!) looking at all publicly available data about each supplier and writing reviews using this information. These reviews are updated as regularly as possible, and any data is backed up by a source where necessary. I have also started writing guides on various energy-related topics, which hopefully you will find useful. If you find any issues, please use our contact form to let us know.
What changed this month
No significant changes this month.
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