British Gas Outfox Energy (September 2026)
Overview
Outfox Energy is the better choice for most households due to its cheaper fixed and variable tariffs and higher customer service scores, though British Gas has much stronger mobile apps.
Outfox Energy leads this comparison based on lower tariff pricing and higher customer service scores across Trustpilot and Citizens Advice. British Gas may suit households who prefer managing their account via a mobile app, as its applications achieve higher user ratings.
About British Gas and Outfox Energy
Who is British Gas?
British Gas is owned by Centrica and is one of the UK's oldest and largest domestic energy suppliers. It offers a wide range of energy tariffs alongside home services like boiler cover, heating repairs, and Hive smart home devices. A key feature is its PeakSave scheme, which gives customers with smart meters half-price electricity on Sundays.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who are Outfox Energy?
Outfox Energy is an independent supplier based in Leicester, owned by Foxglove Energy Supply Limited. Founded in 2017 as Outfox the Market, it changed its name in 2025. It is one of the smaller domestic suppliers in the UK and focuses on keeping running costs low to offer cheaper prices. It encourages customers to manage their accounts online or through its mobile app.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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Tariffs and pricing
Outfox Energy currently provides the cheaper overall deal. Its lowest-priced option is the Outfox the Price Cap Tracker 12M Dual - V3 variable tariff, estimated at £1,481 a year. This includes a 12-month term and a £150 exit fee. In comparison, the cheapest overall tariff from British Gas is the Cap Tracker Plus Sep27 v1 variable tariff, priced at £1,551 a year—making it £69 a year more expensive. The British Gas deal has no fixed term and carries a lower £50 exit fee.
For households seeking price certainty, Outfox Energy also supplies the cheaper fixed deal. Its lowest-priced fixed tariff costs £1,516 a year, which is £134 a year less than the cheapest fixed option from British Gas at £1,649 a year. Both suppliers apply a £200 exit fee to their cheapest fixed contracts, with Outfox Energy requiring a 24-month term and British Gas setting a 21-month term.
Tariff Options
British Gas
British Gas offers standard variable and fixed-term tariffs, with fixed contract lengths of 21 and 24 months. It also offers a range of specialist smart tariffs for electric vehicle owners, homes with heat pumps, and customers with solar panels or battery storage.
Outfox Energy
Outfox Energy offers standard variable, tracker, and fixed-term tariffs, with fixed contract lengths of 12, 18, and 24 months. It also offers a specialist smart tariff for electric vehicle owners.
Customer reviews
Outfox Energy scores higher across the customer review platforms analysed in this comparison. It holds a 4.8 out of 5 Trustpilot rating based on 55,424 reviews, with 76% of customers awarding five stars and 9% leaving a one-star rating. British Gas maintains a 4.5 out of 5 rating from a larger volume of 353,681 reviews. Within this sample, 66% are five-star and 20% are one-star. Both suppliers reply to 99% of their negative reviews.
Trustpilot feedback for Outfox Energy frequently notes polite support staff, fast response times, and the efficient handling of refunds. Conversely, some customers report long phone queues and difficulties resolving complex issues. British Gas reviewers often highlight professional engineers who arrive on time and communicate clearly. Negative comments for British Gas tend to focus on long waiting times, unhelpful communication, and missed appointments.
Outfox Energy also leads in the annual Which? survey, achieving an overall score of 71 compared to 59 for British Gas. For value for money, Outfox Energy scores 3 out of 5, whereas British Gas scores 2 out of 5. Both suppliers receive 2 out of 5 for overall customer service. Outfox Energy records a higher score for smart meter installation, reaching 8 out of 10 against 3 out of 10 for British Gas. Finally, British Gas receives 0 out of 5 for its switching process, while Outfox Energy scores 2 out of 5.
Apps and account management
British Gas records stronger metrics for its mobile applications. Its iOS app scores 4.5 out of 5 from 14,000 ratings, and its Android equivalent holds a 4.2 out of 5 rating from 13,701 users on the Google Play Store, alongside over one million installs. These apps have been updated recently, with the latest iOS release introducing a feature for prepayment users to check emergency credit status.
It is worth noting that a small sample of recent iOS reviews for British Gas is entirely negative, with users reporting that the app fails to function properly following smart meter changes and recent software updates.
Outfox Energy's applications show lower scores, though these are based on smaller sample sizes. Its iOS app scores 2.1 out of 5 from 106 ratings, and the Android version scores 2.0 out of 5 from 231 ratings. The Outfox Energy iOS app has also received recent updates, which added a new tariff renewal journey.
Service and support
Average wait: 51 sec
Hours: Weekdays 8am–6pm, open Saturday 9am–2pm, closed Sunday
Average wait: 1.3 min
Hours: Weekdays 8:30am–5pm, open Saturday 9am–2pm, closed Sunday
Replies: 98% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Replies: 100% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Average response: ~1 min
Hours: Business hrs
Outfox Energy ranks higher across independent Citizens Advice service metrics. It places 2nd overall with a score of 4.25 out of 5, while British Gas ranks 13th with a score of 2.61 out of 5. Outfox Energy receives 16.3 complaints per 10,000 customers, which is notably lower than the 68.7 complaints per 10,000 customers recorded for British Gas.
When contacting customer support, British Gas answers phone calls slightly faster, averaging a call centre wait time of 51 seconds compared to 1 minute 17 seconds for Outfox Energy. Both suppliers respond to almost all emails within two days. British Gas also reports an average social media response time of 55 seconds, whereas Outfox Energy does not publish this metric. Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice.
British Gas accepts Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque, and Prepayment, operating its phone lines from 8am to 6pm on weekdays. Outfox Energy accepts Direct Debit and operates from 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays. Both suppliers open their lines on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm and remain closed on Sundays.
| Metric | British Gas | Outfox Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Avg 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
British Gas
Based on Citizens Advice data from January to March 2026, the British Gas electricity fuel mix is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuel and renewables. Its parent company, Centrica, has a target to reach net zero by 2050. The supplier also runs the Energy for Tomorrow scheme, which gives grants to community projects to help them install solar panels and reduce carbon emissions. It sells green technology such as heat pumps and solar panels to help customers lower their carbon footprint.
Outfox Energy
According to Citizens Advice data from January to March 2026, the Outfox Energy electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels and renewables, with some nuclear. The supplier buys Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates to match the renewable electricity it supplies. It also encourages customers to use energy during off-peak hours to support greener grids through its electric vehicle tariff.[1]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | Outfox Energy |
| Overall customer service | Outfox Energy |
| A well-rated mobile app | British Gas |
| A greener fuel mix | Outfox Energy |
Outfox Energy is the better choice for most households due to its cheaper fixed and variable tariffs and higher customer service scores, though British Gas has much stronger mobile apps.
Outfox Energy leads this comparison based on its lower tariff pricing and higher customer service scores. It currently provides a cheaper variable option and a cheaper fixed deal than British Gas, alongside higher rankings on both Trustpilot and Citizens Advice.
However, British Gas may suit households who prefer managing their energy account through a smartphone. Its applications hold higher ratings from thousands of users, whereas Outfox Energy's apps receive lower scores from a smaller review sample. British Gas also answers phone calls slightly faster on average.
- Highly rated mobile applications on iOS and Android
- Slightly faster average call centre wait times
- Accepts a wider range of payment methods
- More expensive fixed and variable tariffs
- Lower scores on Trustpilot and Citizens Advice
- Higher rate of customer complaints
- Cheaper fixed and variable tariffs
- 4.8 out of 5 Trustpilot rating
- Ranks 2nd overall with Citizens Advice
- Very low app ratings from small user samples
- Only accepts Direct Debit payments
- Slightly longer average call centre wait times
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall, British Gas or Outfox Energy?
Outfox Energy leads this comparison due to its cheaper tariffs and stronger customer service scores. However, British Gas is the better choice if you prefer managing your account using a mobile app.
Does British Gas or Outfox Energy offer cheaper tariffs?
Outfox Energy currently offers the cheaper overall deal, with a variable tariff priced at £1,481 a year. It also offers a cheaper fixed deal than British Gas, saving households around £134 a year based on our comparison.
Which supplier has better customer reviews?
Outfox Energy performs better in customer reviews, holding a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot compared to 4.5 out of 5 for British Gas. Outfox Energy also scores higher in the annual Which? energy survey.
Are the British Gas mobile apps better than Outfox Energy's?
Yes, British Gas has much stronger app ratings. Its iOS and Android apps both score above 4 out of 5 from thousands of users, whereas Outfox Energy's apps have scores of around 2 out of 5 from very small samples.
Which supplier has better customer service?
Outfox Energy ranks 2nd overall in the Citizens Advice ratings with a score of 4.25 out of 5, making it the stronger performer. British Gas ranks 13th with a score of 2.61 out of 5, though it does answer phone calls slightly faster.
Should I switch to British Gas or Outfox Energy?
If you want the cheapest available tariffs and highly rated customer service, Outfox Energy is the stronger option. If app quality is your main priority, British Gas is the better choice.
Do British Gas and Outfox Energy charge exit fees?
Yes, both suppliers charge exit fees on their cheapest fixed tariffs. Both British Gas and Outfox Energy include a £200 exit fee on their cheapest fixed deals. Outfox Energy also charges a £150 exit fee on its cheapest variable option, while British Gas charges a £50 exit fee on its cheapest variable deal.
How long does it take British Gas and Outfox Energy to answer the phone?
Both suppliers answer calls relatively quickly. British Gas has an average call centre wait time of 51 seconds, while Outfox Energy takes an average of 1 minute and 17 seconds to answer.
What changed this month
This month, British Gas's fixed tariffs available rose from 1 to 3, Outfox Energy's iOS app updates in last 90 days rose from 0 to 2, and British Gas's iOS sampled negative reviews rose from 0 to 3. There were 38 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (51)
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
Outfox Energy
- Trustpilot reviews54,758 → 55,424
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %100 → 99
- iOS app rating2 → 2.1
- iOS app ratings count102 → 106
- iOS app days since last update160 → 8
- iOS app updates in last 90 days0 → 2
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.33 → no longer available
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 0
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating2.31 → 2.04999995231628
- Play Store ratings count189 → 231
- Play Store days since last update163 → no longer available
- Play Store positive ratings %28.8 → 0
- Play Store negative ratings %63.6 → 0
- Play Store neutral ratings %7.6 → 0
- Play Store net-positive %-34.8 → 0
- Avg social media response time49 → no longer available
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,804.79 → £1,481.49
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,699.69 → £1,515.57
- Cheapest tariff£1,699.69 → £1,481.49
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£200 → £150
- Cheapest tariff term24 months → 12 months
- Tariff count5 → 8
- Fixed tariffs available4 → 6
- Variable tariffs available1 → 2
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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.