British Gas OVO Energy (July 2026)
Overview
OVO Energy leads on customer service and reviews, but British Gas currently offers a cheaper fixed tariff.
OVO Energy scores higher across customer review and service metrics, making it our overall pick. However, British Gas currently lists a cheaper fixed tariff, which may suit households prioritising upfront price.
About British Gas and OVO Energy
Who is British Gas?
Owned by Centrica, British Gas is one of the UK's oldest and largest domestic energy suppliers. It offers a range of standard and fixed tariffs, alongside specialist options for electric car drivers and smart home users. A key feature is its PeakSave scheme, which gives customers half-price electricity on Sundays and bill credits for using less energy during busy times.
Who are OVO Energy?
Started in 2009, OVO Energy is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It grew by buying SSE's home energy business and has announced a planned deal to become part of E.ON, which would increase its scale. It focuses on smart technology and online account management, offering rewards through its Beyond programme and Power Move scheme, which gives perks for shifting energy use away from busy times.
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Tariffs and pricing
In this comparison, the lowest-priced option from British Gas is the Fix and Fall Jul28 v3 fixed deal at £1,703 a year. This requires a 24-month commitment and carries a £150 exit fee. Conversely, OVO Energy's most affordable fixed tariff is the 1 Year Fixed + Boiler Cover 09 July 2026, which costs £1,797 annually, lasts for a 12-month term, and includes a £100 exit fee.
Alongside their fixed deals, both suppliers provide standard variable tariffs. These are priced identically under our usage assumptions at approximately £1,805 a year. Because they do not tie customers into a fixed term, neither supplier charges exit fees on these variable options if you decide to switch.
Tariff Options
British Gas
British Gas offers a range of mainstream household tariffs, including standard variable and fixed-term options. It also provides several specialist and smart tariffs for electric vehicle drivers, heat pump users, and homes with solar panels or battery storage.
OVO Energy
OVO Energy provides mainstream standard variable and fixed-term tariffs for households. It also offers specialist options, including smart charging add-ons for electric vehicle owners and export tariffs for homes that generate their own renewable energy.
Customer reviews
Looking at Trustpilot data, OVO Energy holds a 4.7 rating from a large volume of reviews, ahead of British Gas at 4.4. A significant 77% of OVO Energy's reviewers award it five stars, compared to 65% for British Gas. Furthermore, 20% of British Gas reviews fall into the one-star category, whereas only 9% of OVO Energy's ratings sit at the lowest tier.
Reviewers discussing OVO Energy frequently mention helpful staff and fast response times, noting clear communication when resolving problems. On the downside, a subset of users report difficulties during initial contact and ongoing issues with smart meters. For British Gas, positive feedback often centres on prompt engineer visits and effective on-site service, though recurring complaints highlight dropped calls and trouble navigating to the correct department.
The most recent Which? customer survey places OVO Energy slightly ahead with an overall score of 61, compared to 59 for British Gas. Both firms receive 2 out of 5 for overall customer service and value for money, indicating that neither currently excels in these specific survey categories.
App quality and ratings
Each supplier provides a mobile app with over a million downloads on Google Play. On the iOS App Store, OVO Energy holds a slight edge with a 4.6 rating against British Gas's 4.5. The situation reverses on Google Play, where British Gas achieves a 4.05 rating, notably higher than OVO Energy's 3.29.
Both applications receive frequent updates. In a recent sample of iOS feedback, OVO Energy averaged 4.2 stars; users highlighted the clear interface and the ability to track historical energy consumption. Conversely, a small sample of recent British Gas reviews averaged 2 stars, driven by user frustration over login screen changes and missing usage data.
Service and support
According to the latest Citizens Advice data, OVO Energy ranks 8th with a score of 3.3 out of 5, while British Gas sits in 13th place with 2.61. Complaint volumes follow a similar trend: OVO Energy records 39.5 complaints per 10,000 customers, which is lower than the 68.7 logged by British Gas.
When it comes to contact speeds, British Gas answers calls faster, averaging a 51-second wait time compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy. British Gas is also quicker on social media, replying in an average of 55 seconds, whereas OVO Energy takes 6 minutes 53 seconds. Both companies successfully respond to almost all emails within a two-day window.
Telephone support hours differ between the two. British Gas operates its phone lines from 8am to 6pm on weekdays and offers Saturday support from 9am to 2pm. OVO Energy is available from 9am to 5pm on weekdays but remains closed over the weekend. Finally, both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice.
Complaints and performance
On the Q4 2025 complaints measure shown here, British Gas recorded fewer complaints than OVO Energy: 1,158 complaints for every 100,000 customers, compared with 1,651.
Green Energy Comparison
British Gas
Based on Citizens Advice data from January to March 2026, the electricity British Gas supplies is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuel and renewables. It does not currently offer a dedicated green tariff in its mainstream range, but customers can join schemes that help balance the electricity grid. The supplier supports customers in lowering their carbon footprint by installing solar panels, home batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. It also states on its website that it aims to help the UK reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
OVO Energy
Based on Citizens Advice data from January to March 2026, the electricity OVO Energy supplies is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable and nuclear energy. The supplier offers a specific green tariff option in its mainstream range, which includes greener electricity. It also runs a tree-planting programme for schools and communities. According to its website, the company has a Plan Zero target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035.
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | British Gas |
| Overall customer service | OVO Energy |
| A well-rated mobile app | OVO Energy |
| A greener fuel mix | British Gas |
OVO Energy leads on customer service and reviews, but British Gas currently offers a cheaper fixed tariff.
Based on the service metrics reviewed, OVO Energy achieves stronger results, including a higher Trustpilot rating, a better Citizens Advice score, and a lower complaint rate. That said, British Gas provides faster average call answering times and Saturday support, which may appeal to households needing weekend contact options.
Households primarily focused on securing the lowest fixed price may find British Gas more suitable, given its cheaper fixed tariff in this comparison. Conversely, for those who prioritise customer service metrics and review scores, OVO Energy presents the stronger profile based on current data.
- Cheaper fixed tariff in this comparison
- Higher rating on Google Play
- Faster average call centre wait time
- Customer support open on Saturdays
- Lower Trustpilot rating
- Lower Citizens Advice score
- Higher share of one-star reviews
- Higher Trustpilot rating
- Higher Citizens Advice score
- Fewer complaints per 10,000 customers
- More expensive fixed tariff in this comparison
- Lower rating on Google Play
- Customer support closed at weekends
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall?
OVO Energy performs better on customer reviews and Citizens Advice metrics, making it our current pick for service. However, British Gas currently offers a cheaper fixed tariff, so it may be the better choice if price is your main concern.
Who has the cheaper energy tariff?
British Gas currently offers the cheaper fixed tariff in our comparison, priced at £1,703 a year compared to OVO Energy's £1,797. Their standard variable tariffs are effectively identical, both costing about £1,805 a year.
What do customers say about British Gas and OVO Energy?
OVO Energy has a higher Trustpilot rating of 4.7, with many customers praising its polite staff and quick responses. British Gas has a rating of 4.4, with reviewers often highlighting prompt engineers, though a fifth of its reviews are one-star due to issues reaching the right department.
Which supplier has the better mobile app?
OVO Energy has a slightly higher rating on the App Store (4.6 vs 4.5), but British Gas performs notably better on Google Play with a 4.05 rating compared to OVO Energy's 3.29.
Who is easier to contact in an emergency?
For routine phone support, British Gas is faster to answer the phone, with an average wait time of 51 seconds compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy. British Gas also offers Saturday support, while OVO Energy is closed at weekends.
Should I switch to British Gas or OVO Energy?
If you want a cheaper fixed deal right now, British Gas is the better option. If you prefer a supplier with stronger customer reviews and a higher Citizens Advice score, OVO Energy is the stronger choice.
Do these suppliers offer fixed-term deals?
Yes, both suppliers offer fixed tariffs. The cheapest fixed deal from British Gas has a 24-month term, while the cheapest fixed option from OVO Energy has a 12-month term.
What are the opening hours for both suppliers?
British Gas phone lines are open on weekdays from 8am to 6pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. OVO Energy is open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm and is closed at weekends.
How do they perform in Which? customer surveys?
In the latest Which? survey, OVO Energy scores 61 overall, while British Gas scores 59. Both suppliers score just 2 out of 5 for overall customer service and value for money.
Are their mobile apps updated regularly?
Yes, both suppliers maintain their apps well. The British Gas and OVO Energy apps have both been updated very recently across iOS and Android platforms.
What changed this month
This month, British Gas's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 24-month fixed deal, OVO Energy's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 12-month fixed deal, and OVO Energy's tariff count rose from 1 to 5. There were 37 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (53)
British Gas
- Trustpilot reviews342,242 → 345,969
- iOS app days since last update1,096 → 9
- iOS app updates in last 90 days0 → 3
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars1.67 → 2
- iOS sampled negative reviews3 → 2
- Play Store rating3.99223 → 4.0481653
- Play Store ratings count12,839 → 13,077
- Play Store days since last update23 → 14
- Play Store positive ratings %74.5 → 76.2
- Play Store negative ratings %21.3 → 20
- Play Store neutral ratings %4.2 → 3.7
- Play Store net-positive %53.2 → 56.2
- Citizens Advice rank14 → 13
- Citizens Advice score2.28 → 2.61
- Complaints per 10,000 customers73.5 → 68.7
- Avg call centre wait time91 → 51
- Avg social media response timenow available (55)
- Emails responded within 2 days %97.1 → 97.9
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,584.14 → £1,804.81
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,675.23 → £1,702.64
- Cheapest tariff£1,584.14 → £1,702.64
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£0 → £150
- Cheapest tariff termvariable → 24 months
- Shortest fixed term15 months → 14 months
OVO Energy
- Trustpilot reviews282,070 → 287,327
- iOS app days since last update0 → 13
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars4 → 4.2
- iOS sampled positive reviews2 → 4
- iOS sampled negative reviews0 → 1
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating3.4702382 → 3.2850413
- Play Store ratings count10,218 → 10,351
- Play Store days since last update29 → 14
- Play Store positive ratings %60.4 → 55.4
- Play Store negative ratings %35.3 → 40.2
- Play Store neutral ratings %4.3 → 4.5
- Play Store net-positive %25.1 → 15.2
- Citizens Advice rank10 → 8
- Citizens Advice score2.76 → 3.3
- Complaints per 10,000 customers42.6 → 39.5
- Avg call centre wait time254 → 93
- Avg social media response time1267 → 413
- Emails responded within 2 days %83.6 → 98.5
- Cheapest fixed tariffnow available (£1,797.13)
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.82 → £1,797.13
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£0 → £100
- Cheapest tariff termvariable → 12 months
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit feenow available (£100)
- Cheapest fixed tariff termnow available (12 months)
- Tariff count1 → 5
- Fixed tariffs available0 → 4
- Shortest fixed termnow available (12 months)
- Longest fixed termnow available (24 months)
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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.