British Gas Scottish Power (July 2026)
British Gas vs Scottish Power
British Gas wins with a cheaper fixed tariff and faster support, though Scottish Power leads on mobile app ratings.
British Gas leads this comparison due to its lower-priced fixed tariff and faster response times across phone, email, and social media channels. Scottish Power may suit households that prioritise mobile app functionality and a higher overall Citizens Advice score.
About British Gas and Scottish Power
Who is British Gas?
British Gas is one of the UK's oldest and most recognised energy brands, with roots going back to 1815. Owned by Centrica, it is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. British Gas won the Best Overall Improvement award at the Uswitch Energy Awards in 2025.
Who is Scottish Power?
Scottish Power was formed in 1990 when the Scottish electricity industry was sold to private investors. In 2006, Iberdrola announced its acquisition of Scottish Power, which completed in 2007. Today, it is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It supplies gas and electricity to homes across the UK and manages the electricity network in central and southern Scotland, as well as parts of northern England and Wales.
Use our referral link, and we'll both get £50 credit once your switch is complete.
Existing customer? Find out how you can benefit too. T&Cs apply (only one switching offer per household)
Tariffs and pricing
British Gas provides the lowest-priced deal in this comparison with its Fix and Fall Jul28 v3 fixed tariff, estimated at £1,703 a year. This comes in £73 cheaper than Scottish Power's most affordable option, the Exclusive Help Beat Cancer Fixed Jul 2027 SM4, which is priced at £1,776 annually.
For households preferring flexibility, both suppliers offer standard variable tariffs that cost an estimated £1,805 a year. These variable options operate without a fixed term and do not carry exit fees.
Securing the lowest rate from British Gas requires committing to a 24-month term, which includes a £150 total exit fee if you leave early. Conversely, Scottish Power's cheapest fixed option runs for a shorter 12-month period and does not apply an exit fee.
British Gas and Scottish Power: Tariff Options
British Gas tariffs
British Gas offers a range of energy plans, including standard variable and fixed-rate options. It also provides specialist tariffs for electric vehicle owners, homes with heat pumps, and customers with battery storage or solar panels.
Scottish Power tariffs
Scottish Power provides standard variable and fixed energy plans, alongside options that support charity donations. It also has specialist tariffs and add-ons for electric vehicle drivers and homes with heat pumps.
Customer reviews
Both suppliers hold a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot, although British Gas has accumulated a significantly larger volume of reviews. While 65% of British Gas reviewers award five stars, 20% of customers for both companies leave a one-star rating, indicating consistent areas of friction.
Positive feedback for British Gas often highlights professional engineers and helpful staff, whereas negative reviews point to dropped calls and difficulty navigating departments. Scottish Power customers frequently mention patient representatives and straightforward switching, though complaints tend to centre on missed appointments and pricing disputes.
In the annual Which? energy survey, British Gas achieves a score of 59 out of 100, placing it marginally ahead of Scottish Power at 56 out of 100. When evaluated on how easy it is to contact the supplier, British Gas scores 9 out of 12, compared to Scottish Power's 7 out of 12.
App quality and ratings
Scottish Power leads across mobile app metrics on both major platforms. Its iOS version scores 4.8 from 85,000 ratings, and its Google Play equivalent holds a 4.7 rating. Both providers maintain large digital user bases, recording over a million Android installs each.
British Gas receives lower feedback scores, averaging 4.5 on iOS and 4.0 on Google Play. Recent sample reviews for its iOS app highlight user frustration with navigation and difficulties tracking energy usage following smart meter installations.
Both companies maintain regular software updates. The British Gas iOS app has received three updates in the last 90 days to assist new users with feature navigation, while Scottish Power has rolled out one recent update aimed at resolving bugs.
Service and support
Scottish Power achieves a higher overall Citizens Advice score of 2.94 out of 5, placing 10th in the market rankings. British Gas follows in 13th place with a score of 2.61 out of 5. Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with the charity.
When it comes to response times, British Gas is faster across key channels. Its average call centre wait time sits at 51 seconds, compared to 1 minute 16 seconds for Scottish Power. Furthermore, British Gas replies to social media messages in an average of 55 seconds, whereas Scottish Power takes 2 minutes 25 seconds.
Payment options for both suppliers include Direct Debit, cash, cheques, and prepayment. However, British Gas provides broader support hours, operating from 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays. Scottish Power's phone lines are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and remain closed on weekends.
Complaints and performance
In the last three months of 2025, British Gas received 1,158 complaints for every 100,000 customers. Scottish Power received more, with 1,458 complaints for every 100,000 customers.
Green Energy Comparison
British Gas green energy
The British Gas electricity fuel mix is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuels and renewables. The company runs the PeakSave scheme to help balance the energy grid by encouraging people to use electricity when more renewable power is available. It also offers specific tariffs for electric vehicles and heat pumps to support homes moving to greener technology. Customers who generate their own renewable energy, such as through solar panels, can get paid for the excess power they send back to the grid. The supplier aims to help the UK reach net zero emissions by 2050.[1]
Scottish Power green energy
The Scottish Power electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels, with some renewables and nuclear. Despite this, the supplier offers specific fixed tariffs that provide 100% green electricity. Its parent company, Iberdrola, is a major developer of onshore and offshore wind farms in the UK. Scottish Power also supports greener homes by selling solar panels and electric vehicle chargers to help customers generate and use their own renewable energy.
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | British Gas |
| A higher overall Citizens Advice score | Scottish Power |
| A well-rated mobile app | Scottish Power |
| A greener fuel mix | British Gas |
British Gas wins with a cheaper fixed tariff and faster support, though Scottish Power leads on mobile app ratings.
British Gas edges ahead in this comparison due to its lower-priced fixed tariff and faster customer support response times. While both suppliers charge effectively the same for their standard variable options, the £73 annual saving on the British Gas fixed deal makes it the more cost-effective choice.
Scottish Power may be a suitable alternative for households that prioritise digital account management and independent service metrics. It secures a higher overall rating from Citizens Advice and achieves noticeably stronger feedback on both the App Store and Google Play.
- Lower-priced fixed tariff available
- Faster average call centre wait times
- Customer support open on Saturdays
- Lower mobile app ratings
- £150 exit fee applies to its cheapest fixed deal
- Higher mobile app ratings
- Higher overall Citizens Advice score
- No exit fee on its cheapest fixed tariff
- Higher-priced fixed tariff
- Slower phone and social media response times
- Customer support closed on weekends
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, British Gas or Scottish Power?
British Gas wins overall due to a cheaper fixed tariff and faster customer service response times, though Scottish Power leads on mobile app quality.
Who has the cheaper fixed tariff?
British Gas currently offers the cheaper fixed deal at £1,703 a year, compared to £1,776 a year from Scottish Power.
How do their Trustpilot scores compare?
Both suppliers hold a Trustpilot rating of 4.4, though British Gas has a much larger volume of reviews. Both also see 20% of their reviewers leaving a one-star rating.
Which supplier has the better mobile app?
Scottish Power scores higher on both major platforms, with a 4.8 rating on iOS and 4.7 on Google Play. British Gas holds scores of 4.5 and 4.0, respectively.
Who answers the phone faster?
British Gas is faster, with an average call centre wait time of 51 seconds. Scottish Power takes an average of 1 minute 16 seconds.
Should I choose British Gas or Scottish Power?
If you want the cheapest fixed tariff and faster support, choose British Gas. If you prefer a better mobile app experience and a higher Citizens Advice score, Scottish Power is a strong alternative.
Do either of these suppliers offer weekend support?
Yes, British Gas is open on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Scottish Power's phone lines are closed on weekends.
Are there exit fees on their cheapest tariffs?
British Gas charges a £150 total exit fee on its cheapest fixed tariff. Scottish Power's cheapest fixed tariff does not currently charge an exit fee.
How do they perform in Which? surveys?
British Gas scores 59 out of 100 in the Which? survey, placing it slightly ahead of Scottish Power, which scores 56 out of 100.
Which supplier responds to emails faster?
British Gas responds to 97.9% of emails within two days, while Scottish Power responds to 94.3% in the same timeframe.
What changed this month
This month, British Gas's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 24-month fixed deal, Scottish Power's iOS app days since last update rose from 0 to 34, and British Gas's iOS app updates in last 90 days rose from 0 to 3. There were 39 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (52)
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
Scottish Power
- Trustpilot rating4.3 → 4.4
- Trustpilot reviews186,114 → 192,283
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %89 → 90
- iOS app days since last update0 → 34
- iOS app updates in last 90 days3 → 1
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars3.33 → 6
- iOS sampled negative reviews1 → 0
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating4.715794 → 4.7245803
- Play Store ratings count93,031 → 94,149
- Play Store days since last update45 → 30
- Play Store positive ratings %93.9 → 94.1
- Play Store negative ratings %4.8 → 4.6
- Play Store net-positive %89.1 → 89.5
- Citizens Advice rank9 → 10
- Citizens Advice score3.11 → 2.94
- Complaints per 10,000 customers52.4 → 61.8
- Avg call centre wait time80 → 76
- Avg social media response time210 → 145
- Emails responded within 2 days %98.7 → 94.3
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,584.11 → £1,804.74
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,727.8 → £1,775.84
- Cheapest tariff£1,569.09 → £1,775.84
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£100 → £0
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£100 → £0
- Cheapest fixed tariff term13 months → 12 months
- Tariff count4 → 3
- Longest fixed term13 months → 12 months
Related comparisons
Related reviews
Scottish Power Review
Scottish Power is an energy company based in Glasgow that makes and supplies energy. It is a subsidiary of the Spanish utility group Iberdrola. It is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers, supplying gas and electricity to millions of households. The company also runs the local electricit
Read review→
Utility Warehouse Review
Utility Warehouse is one of the UK's biggest domestic energy suppliers. The brand is owned by Telecom Plus PLC, a company set up in 1996 that originally ran from a pub in Henley-on-Thames before growing into a business listed on the London Stock Exchange. Utility Warehouse itself was started in Nort
Read review→
Cheapest Variable Energy Tariffs in the UK
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 fluctuat
Read article→Related guides
Who is cheaper than British Gas? (2026)
British Gas is one of the UK's largest energy suppliers, but staying on its default standard variable tariff is currently one of the most expensive ways to pay for your gas and electricity. Following a 13% rise in the Ofgem price cap on 1 July 2026, household energy bills have jumped again, driven b
Read guide→
The Trouble with Energy Company Reviews on Trustpilot (and other sites)
When you are looking to change your energy supplier, reading customer reviews is usually the first step. With the Ofgem price cap set at £1,663 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit as of July 2026, moving to a cheaper fixed tariff can save you real money. But before you ha
Read guide→
How to avoid exit fees when you switch energy suppliers
Energy bills make up a large part of household spending. Following the July 2026 price cap increase of around 13%, Ofgem gives a typical annual Direct Debit bill of £1,862 using its existing typical-consumption values; its updated values give £1,663. Because of this rise, many people are looking to
Read guide→
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.