British Gas Scottish Power (September 2026)
Overview
British Gas may be the better fit for households prioritising lower tariffs and quicker direct contact, while Scottish Power leads on overall service and app ratings.
British Gas leads this comparison primarily due to its lower fixed and variable tariff prices. Although Scottish Power provides higher-rated smartphone apps and achieves a slightly better Citizens Advice score, British Gas combines cheaper energy rates with faster customer service response times.
About British Gas and Scottish Power
Who is British Gas?
British Gas is one of the UK's oldest and largest domestic energy suppliers. Owned by Centrica Group, it supplies gas and electricity to millions of homes and operates as Scottish Gas in Scotland. It pairs its energy tariffs with smart home technology from its Hive brand to offer cheaper rates to users. The supplier also runs the British Gas Energy Trust to help people struggling with bills.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who are Scottish Power?
Formed in 1990, Scottish Power is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It is owned by the Spanish energy group Iberdrola and supplies homes across the country, as well as running the local electricity network in parts of Britain. A key feature is its long-running partnership with Cancer Research UK, which it supports through specific charity tariffs. It also runs a rewards club where customers can earn points to save on bills.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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Tariffs and pricing
In our comparison, British Gas provides the lowest overall price through its Cap Tracker Plus Sep27 v1 variable tariff, estimated at £1,551 a year. This comes in £60 a year cheaper than Scottish Power's most affordable alternative, the Standard variable tariff, which costs £1,611 a year. However, the British Gas option includes a £50 exit fee, while the Scottish Power equivalent does not charge for leaving early.
British Gas also costs less for households seeking to lock in their rates. Its Fix and Boiler Bonus v14 tariff is priced at £1,649 a year over a 21-month term, though it carries a £200 exit fee. In contrast, Scottish Power's lowest fixed deal, the Exclusive Help Beat Cancer Fixed Sep 2027 SM2 tariff, costs £1,830 a year for 12 months but features no exit fees. Consequently, the British Gas fixed option is £181 a year cheaper, provided customers remain for the full contract.
| Metric | British Gas | Scottish Power |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest tariff exit fee | £50 | £0 |
| Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee | £200 | £0 |
British Gas and Scottish Power: Tariff Options
British Gas tariffs
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 owners, homes with heat pumps, and customers with solar panels or home batteries.
Scottish Power tariffs
Scottish Power offers standard variable and fixed-term energy deals for households. It also provides specialist options for electric vehicle drivers, homes with solar panels, and customers with smart meters who want to shift their energy use.
Customer reviews
Both suppliers maintain strong Trustpilot scores drawn from a very high volume of feedback. British Gas holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating across 353,681 reviews, while Scottish Power sits closely behind with 4.4 out of 5 from 203,838 reviews. Data indicates that both companies typically reply to negative comments within 24 hours.
Feedback for British Gas frequently highlights professional engineers who arrive on time, work efficiently, and remain polite. Conversely, some users report customer service issues, citing long wait times and difficulty reaching capable staff. Scottish Power reviews often mention helpful representatives, polite engineers, and a straightforward online experience. On the downside, some Scottish Power customers note unexpected costs, confusing billing details, and slow responses.
It is worth noting that 20% of British Gas reviews and 19% of Scottish Power reviews sit at one star, indicating that a notable portion of households have encountered poor experiences with either provider.
The annual Which? customer satisfaction survey awards British Gas 59 out of 100, placing it slightly ahead of Scottish Power's 56 out of 100. Despite this slight difference in overall score, both suppliers received 2 out of 5 for overall customer service and 2 out of 5 for value for money.
App quality and features
Scottish Power achieves higher smartphone app ratings across both major platforms. On the iOS App Store, it holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 87,000 ratings, whereas British Gas scores 4.5 out of 5 from 14,000 ratings. A recent sample of iOS feedback for British Gas indicated occasional frustration regarding smart meter compatibility and software updates.
This trend continues on Google Play, where Scottish Power scores 4.7 out of 5 across 96,905 ratings, compared to 4.2 out of 5 from 13,701 ratings for British Gas. Both applications exceed 1,000,000 installs and have received recent updates. Specifically, Scottish Power recently enabled Direct Debit customers to view detailed monthly breakdowns of their energy use, while British Gas introduced a feature allowing pre-payment users to check the status of their emergency credit.
Customer service and support
Average wait: 51 sec
Hours: Weekdays 8am–6pm, open Saturday 9am–2pm, closed Sunday
Average wait: 1.3 min
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm, closed Saturday, closed Sunday
Replies: 98% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Replies: 94% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Average response: ~1 min
Hours: Business hrs
Average response: ~2 min
Hours: Business hrs
Scottish Power secures a slightly higher Citizens Advice score of 2.94 out of 5, which places it 10th in the 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 organisation.
Despite the lower overall score, British Gas performs better regarding response times. Its average call centre wait is 51 seconds, compared to 1 minute 16 seconds for Scottish Power. Furthermore, British Gas replies to 97.9% of emails within two days, slightly ahead of Scottish Power's 94.3%. On social media, British Gas averages a 55-second response time, whereas Scottish Power takes 2 minutes 25 seconds.
For weekend support, British Gas operates phone lines on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm, alongside weekday hours of 8am to 6pm. Scottish Power is available on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, but its contact centres remain closed on both Saturdays and Sundays.
| Metric | British Gas | Scottish Power |
|---|---|---|
| Average social media response time | 55 seconds | 2 minutes 25 seconds |
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 green energy
The British Gas electricity fuel mix is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuel and renewables. The supplier sells heat pumps, solar panels, and home insulation to help customers lower their carbon footprint. It also states it is helping the UK reach zero carbon emissions by 2050. To encourage greener habits, its PeakSave scheme helps balance the grid by shifting demand away from peak times.[1]
Scottish Power green energy
The Scottish Power electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels, with some renewables and nuclear. Despite this overall mix, the supplier offers specific tariffs backed by 100% green electricity. It helps customers generate their own renewable energy by selling solar panels and home batteries, and supports electric vehicle drivers with home chargers and specialist tariffs. Its parent company, Iberdrola, invests heavily in wind energy, and ScottishPower Renewables runs many wind farms across the UK.
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | British Gas |
| Overall customer service | Scottish Power |
| A well-rated mobile app | Scottish Power |
| A greener fuel mix | British Gas |
British Gas may be the better fit for households prioritising lower tariffs and quicker direct contact, while Scottish Power leads on overall service and app ratings.
British Gas leads this comparison primarily due to its lower tariff pricing. Based on the rates checked, it costs less than Scottish Power for both variable and fixed contracts. It also provides faster call centre response times and Saturday opening hours, which may suit households that require more accessible customer support.
Scottish Power may suit households that prioritise digital account management, given its higher smartphone app ratings and lack of exit fees on its cheapest fixed deal. However, for those focused primarily on lower energy prices and faster direct contact times, British Gas presents the stronger option based on the data in this comparison.
- Lower variable and fixed tariff prices
- Shorter call centre and social media response times
- Saturday morning opening hours for customer support
- Lower overall Citizens Advice score
- £200 exit fee applies to its cheapest fixed deal
- Higher app ratings across iOS and Android
- Higher overall Citizens Advice score
- No exit fees on its cheapest fixed and variable tariffs
- Higher prices for fixed and variable tariffs
- Customer support closed at weekends
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, British Gas or Scottish Power?
British Gas is the overall winner in our comparison because it offers cheaper variable and fixed tariffs, as well as faster call centre response times. However, Scottish Power is a strong alternative if you prioritise smartphone app quality or want to avoid exit fees on your fixed deal.
Does British Gas or Scottish Power offer cheaper fixed tariffs?
British Gas currently offers a noticeably cheaper fixed tariff. Its cheapest fixed deal costs £1,649 a year, which is £181 cheaper than Scottish Power's lowest fixed option at £1,830 a year. However, the British Gas tariff comes with a £200 exit fee, while the Scottish Power tariff has no exit fees.
What do customers say about British Gas and Scottish Power on Trustpilot?
Both suppliers have strong Trustpilot scores based on a very high volume of reviews. British Gas holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating, with customers praising its professional engineers. Scottish Power holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating, with users highlighting its straightforward online experience. However, about a fifth of reviews for both suppliers are one-star, with common complaints focusing on customer service and billing issues.
Are the British Gas and Scottish Power apps easy to use?
Scottish Power offers the higher-rated apps on both Apple and Android devices. Its iOS app scores 4.8 out of 5 from a large number of users, while British Gas scores 4.5 out of 5. Both apps have been updated recently to add new features, such as detailed monthly breakdowns for Scottish Power customers and emergency credit tracking for British Gas users.
Which supplier is faster to answer the phone?
British Gas is faster to answer customer calls. Its average call centre wait time is 51 seconds, compared to 1 minute 16 seconds for Scottish Power. British Gas also responds more quickly on social media.
Should I switch to British Gas or Scottish Power?
If price is your main concern, British Gas is the better choice, as it offers cheaper fixed and variable tariffs in our comparison. It also answers the phone more quickly. However, if you care most about app quality or want a fixed tariff with no exit fees, Scottish Power may be the better option.
Do these suppliers charge exit fees?
It depends on the tariff you choose. The cheapest variable tariff from British Gas carries a £50 exit fee, and its cheapest fixed deal has a £200 exit fee. In contrast, Scottish Power's cheapest variable and fixed options both come with no exit fees.
Are British Gas or Scottish Power open at the weekend?
British Gas is open on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm, making it easier to get in touch if you work during the week. Scottish Power's customer service team is closed on both Saturdays and Sundays.
What changed this month
This month, Scottish Power's iOS sampled positive reviews rose from 1 to 3, British Gas's fixed tariffs available rose from 1 to 3, and Scottish Power's iOS sampled reviews avg stars rose from 2.33 to 6. There were 30 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (42)
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
Scottish Power
- Trustpilot reviews198,589 → 203,838
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %91 → 92
- iOS app ratings count86,000 → 87,000
- iOS app days since last update26 → 28
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.33 → 6
- iOS sampled positive reviews1 → 3
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 0
- Play Store rating4.7281113 → 4.731496
- Play Store ratings count95,532 → 96,905
- Play Store days since last update27 → 28
- Play Store positive ratings %94.2 → 94.3
- Play Store neutral ratings %1.3 → 1.2
- Play Store net-positive %89.7 → 89.8
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,804.74 → £1,610.81
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,990.1 → £1,829.85
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.74 → £1,610.81
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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.