British Gas Ecotricity (September 2026)
Overview
British Gas wins on price and digital experience, but Ecotricity is a strong choice for customer service and green energy.
British Gas has the lower-priced variable tariff and higher smartphone app ratings. Ecotricity may suit households prioritising green energy, a stronger Citizens Advice result and a higher overall Which? score.
About British Gas and Ecotricity
Who is British Gas?
British Gas is one of the UK’s oldest and most recognised energy suppliers. It is a subsidiary of Centrica and operates as Scottish Gas in Scotland. It is one of the biggest domestic suppliers in the UK. It offers a wide range of energy tariffs, as well as home services like boiler cover through its HomeCare products. It also integrates with Hive smart home devices. A key feature is its PeakSave scheme, which gives customers half-price electricity on Sundays to encourage energy use when demand is lower.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who is Ecotricity?
Founded in 1995, Ecotricity is an independent company based in Stroud and one of the UK’s oldest green energy suppliers. It operates a not-for-dividend model, meaning it reinvests its money into building new renewable energy generation rather than paying shareholders. It focuses entirely on green energy. It builds and runs its own wind and solar parks across Britain. It is also the only UK supplier to offer vegan-certified energy.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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Tariffs and pricing
The lowest-priced tariff in this comparison is offered by British Gas. The Cap Tracker Plus Sep27 v1 costs £1,551 a year. This is a variable deal with no fixed term, though it carries a £50 exit fee.
Ecotricity’s lowest-priced option is the EcoFixed - 2 Year August 26 v4, which costs £1,559 a year. This fixed tariff is £8 a year more than the British Gas tracker—a difference of less than £1 a month. It requires a 24-month contract and includes a £200 exit fee.
For households specifically seeking a fixed contract, Ecotricity provides the lower-priced option at £1,559 a year. The most affordable fixed deal from British Gas is the Fix and Boiler Bonus v14, priced at £1,649 a year. This 21-month fixed tariff also carries a £200 exit fee, making Ecotricity £90 a year cheaper for those fixing their rates.
When comparing standard variable rates, British Gas costs notably less. Its variable tariff is priced at £1,551 a year, whereas Ecotricity’s Standard Variable Green Tariff costs £1,813 a year. This creates a difference of £263 a year, equating to roughly £22 a month.
British Gas and Ecotricity: tariff options
British Gas
These are the household tariffs currently available in our comparison data. Prices and availability can vary by region, meter type and payment method.
Ecotricity
These are the household tariffs currently available in our comparison data. Prices and availability can vary by region, meter type and payment method.
Customer reviews
British Gas holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5, drawn from 353,681 reviews. Ecotricity scores 4.2 out of 5 based on 6,635 reviews. For both suppliers, 66% of reviewers award a five-star rating.
Regarding negative feedback, one-star ratings account for 20% of British Gas reviews and 22% of Ecotricity reviews. British Gas responds to 99% of its negative reviews within 24 hours, while Ecotricity replies to 94% within the same timeframe.
Reviewers frequently mention polite, punctual engineers when discussing British Gas, though some report long waiting times and repetitive communication loops with customer service. Ecotricity customers often note helpful staff and an easy switching process. Conversely, some Ecotricity reviews cite a lack of urgency regarding technical problems and express frustration over high prices.
In the annual Which? customer satisfaction survey, Ecotricity achieves an overall score of 66%, compared to 59% for British Gas. Both suppliers perform well in the 'helping those who need it' category, scoring 9 out of 10 and 8 out of 10 respectively. However, both receive low scores for their switching processes.
Smartphone apps
British Gas maintains high ratings across both major mobile platforms. It scores 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store based on 14,000 ratings, and 4.2 out of 5 on the Google Play Store from 13,701 ratings.
Ecotricity’s applications receive lower scores, achieving 1.8 on iOS and 2.8 on Android. These figures are drawn from smaller sample sizes of 111 and 182 ratings respectively, which may provide a less comprehensive view than the British Gas data.
Both suppliers actively update their software on iOS and Android. A recent British Gas update introduced a feature allowing prepayment users to check their emergency credit status directly within the app.
A recent sample of Ecotricity iOS reviews indicates user frustration following an app redesign. Several reviewers report that the update removed access to previous billing history and energy usage data.
Service and support
Average wait: 51 sec
Hours: Weekdays 8am–6pm, open Saturday 9am–2pm, closed Sunday
Average wait: 45 sec
Hours: Weekdays 9am–7pm, open Saturday and Sunday 9am–5pm
Replies: 98% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Replies: 95% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Average response: ~1 min
Hours: Business hrs
Ecotricity places higher than British Gas in the Citizens Advice ratings, ranking 7th overall with a score of 3.36 out of 5. British Gas ranks 13th, scoring 2.61.
Both suppliers report short average call centre wait times. Ecotricity connects callers in an average of 45 seconds, while British Gas takes 51 seconds. British Gas also responds to social media messages in an average of 55 seconds; Ecotricity does not publish equivalent social media data.
Both companies respond to over 95% of emails within two days. Additionally, both suppliers have formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice.
British Gas operates its phone lines on weekdays from 8am to 6pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Ecotricity is open on weekdays from 9am to 7pm, and on weekends from 9am to 5pm. Both suppliers accept payments via Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque, and Prepayment.
| Metric | British Gas | Ecotricity |
|---|---|---|
| Average social media response time | 55 seconds | N/A |
Complaints and performance
Complaint figures are shown with each supplier’s reporting period. No winner is declared when periods differ or one figure is missing.
Green Energy Comparison
British Gas
Based on Citizens Advice data, the British Gas electricity mix is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuel and renewables. The supplier does not currently offer a dedicated green tariff or carbon-offset gas for domestic customers. Its parent company Centrica has set net zero targets. British Gas also runs its PeakSave scheme to encourage customers to use electricity when there is more renewable energy on the grid.[1]
Ecotricity
Based on Citizens Advice data, Ecotricity’s electricity mix is 100% renewable. The company generates its own green electricity from its wind and solar parks, and buys from other renewable sources. It also offers carbon-neutral gas, which is a mix of green gas and offset fossil gas. Through its "Bills into Mills" model, it uses customer bills to fund new wind and solar projects. All of its tariffs are green tariffs.[2]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | British Gas |
| Overall customer service | Ecotricity |
| A well-rated mobile app | British Gas |
| A greener fuel mix | Ecotricity |
British Gas is better for lower variable rates and app ratings, while Ecotricity leads on customer service and green energy.
British Gas may suit households prioritising digital account management, higher-rated mobile apps and lower variable rates. Ecotricity remains the stronger fit for households prioritising customer service evidence, green energy or a lower-priced fixed tariff.
Ecotricity may suit households seeking a 100% renewable energy supplier with higher independent customer service scores, as it performs better with Citizens Advice and Which? while offering a lower-priced fixed tariff. Conversely, British Gas is likely the better option for those prioritising lower variable rates and higher-rated smartphone applications.
- Lower-priced overall and variable tariffs
- Higher mobile app ratings on iOS and Android
- Fast social media response times
- Lower Citizens Advice and Which? scores
- Higher-priced fixed-term tariff
- Higher Citizens Advice and Which? scores
- Lower-priced fixed-term tariff
- 100% renewable electricity
- Higher-priced variable tariff
- Lower mobile app ratings
- £200 exit fee on its lowest-priced deal
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall, British Gas or Ecotricity?
British Gas wins overall due to its cheaper variable rates and highly rated smartphone apps. However, Ecotricity is a strong alternative if you value its stronger Citizens Advice performance, higher overall Which? score, or a green energy supplier.
Who has the cheaper variable tariff?
British Gas has the cheaper variable tariff. Its Cap Tracker Plus Sep27 v1 costs £1,551 a year, while Ecotricity’s Standard Variable Green Tariff costs £1,813 a year.
Do customers rate Ecotricity or British Gas higher?
British Gas has a slightly higher Trustpilot rating at 4.5 compared to Ecotricity's 4.2. However, Ecotricity scores higher in the annual Which? customer satisfaction survey, achieving 66% compared to British Gas's 59%.
Which supplier has the better mobile app?
British Gas has much better app ratings. It scores 4.5 on the App Store and 4.2 on the Google Play Store from thousands of reviews. Ecotricity’s apps score 1.8 on iOS and 2.8 on Android, though this is based on a much smaller number of ratings.
How fast do they answer the phone?
Both suppliers pick up the phone quickly. Ecotricity has an average call centre wait time of 45 seconds, while British Gas takes 51 seconds on average.
Should I choose British Gas or Ecotricity?
Choose British Gas if you want a cheaper variable tariff and a highly rated app. Choose Ecotricity if you prefer a 100% renewable electricity supplier, stronger Citizens Advice performance and a cheaper fixed deal.
What are the exit fees for their cheapest tariffs?
The cheapest overall tariff from British Gas carries a £50 exit fee. Ecotricity’s cheapest deal is a fixed contract that comes with a £200 exit fee.
Do they offer support for vulnerable customers?
Yes, both British Gas and Ecotricity have formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice to help support customers who need extra assistance.
Do either of these suppliers offer green tariffs?
Yes, Ecotricity provides 100% renewable electricity and all of its tariffs are green. British Gas does not currently offer a dedicated green tariff in the priced data we compared.
Are the apps regularly updated?
Yes, both suppliers actively maintain their apps and have released updates recently. British Gas recently added emergency credit tracking for prepayment users, while Ecotricity made styling improvements.
What changed this month
This month, British Gas's fixed tariffs available rose from 1 to 3, Ecotricity's iOS sampled positive reviews fell from 1 to 0, and British Gas's iOS sampled negative reviews rose from 0 to 3. There were 31 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (43)
British Gas
- Trustpilot rating4.4 → 4.5
- Trustpilot reviews350,018 → 353,681
- Trustpilot 5-star %65 → 66
- Trustpilot 3-star %4 → 3
- Trustpilot positive reviews %73 → 74
- Trustpilot neutral reviews %4 → 3
- Trustpilot net-positive %50 → 51
- iOS app ratings count13,000 → 14,000
- iOS app days since last update9 → 15
- iOS sampled reviews avg starsnow available (1.67)
- iOS sampled negative reviews0 → 3
- Play Store rating4.0881915 → 4.1812863
- Play Store ratings count13,409 → 13,701
- Play Store days since last update10 → 18
- Play Store positive ratings %77.4 → 80.1
- Play Store negative ratings %19.1 → 16.4
- Play Store net-positive %58.3 → 63.7
- Avg social media response timenow available (55)
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,744.71 → £1,550.78
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,833.95 → £1,649.29
- Cheapest tariff£1,744.71 → £1,550.78
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£150 → £200
- Cheapest fixed tariff term24 months → 21 months
- Tariff count3 → 5
- Fixed tariffs available1 → 3
- Shortest fixed term24 months → 21 months
Ecotricity
- Trustpilot reviews6,590 → 6,635
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %100 → 94
- iOS app ratings count110 → 111
- iOS app days since last update47 → 77
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.33 → 1.67
- iOS sampled positive reviews1 → 0
- iOS sampled neutral reviews0 → 1
- Play Store rating2.75 → 2.82
- Play Store ratings count181 → 182
- Play Store days since last update47 → 76
- Play Store positive ratings %38 → 40
- Play Store negative ratings %52 → 50
- Play Store neutral ratings %10.1 → 10
- Play Store net-positive %-14 → -10
- Cheapest variable tariff£2,032.01 → £1,813.46
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,677.29 → £1,558.98
- Cheapest tariff£1,677.29 → £1,558.98
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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.