Ecotricity OVO Energy (September 2026)
Overview
Ecotricity offers a notably cheaper fixed tariff and faster phone support, though OVO Energy is much stronger for customer reviews and app quality.
Ecotricity leads this comparison due to its lower-priced fixed tariff and shorter call wait times. Conversely, OVO Energy may suit households that prioritise digital account management, given its higher customer review scores and higher-rated iOS app.
About Ecotricity and OVO Energy
Who are Ecotricity?
Ecotricity was founded in 1995 by Dale Vince and is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire. It is privately owned by the Green Britain Group, which Vince controls. Ecotricity is a smaller, specialist domestic supplier. It operates on a not-for-dividend model, meaning it uses the money from customer bills to build new renewable energy generation rather than paying out.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who are OVO Energy?
OVO Energy was founded in 2009 by Stephen Fitzpatrick and is based in Bristol. It grew significantly after buying SSE's retail business in 2020, making it one of the UK's largest domestic suppliers. In May 2026, E.ON announced a planned deal to buy OVO Energy's retail business. This takeover is subject to regulatory approval, and the two companies will operate separately until the deal is complete.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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Tariffs and pricing
Ecotricity provides the lowest-priced overall deal in this comparison. Its EcoFixed - 2 Year August 26 v4 tariff is priced at £1,559 a year, fixing unit rates for 24 months. Leaving this contract before the term ends incurs a total exit fee of £200. Alternatively, OVO Energy's lowest-priced option is the Simpler Energy standard variable tariff at £1,611 a year. As a variable tariff, it has no fixed term and does not charge an exit fee.
For households looking to lock in their rates, Ecotricity offers a lower price point. At £1,559 a year, its fixed deal is £183 cheaper than OVO Energy's lowest-priced fixed alternative, the 1 Year Fixed + Boiler Cover 27 August 2026. The OVO Energy tariff costs £1,742 a year over a 12-month term and includes a £100 total exit fee.
Those who prefer the flexibility of a variable tariff without a fixed term will find OVO Energy to be the cheaper option. The Simpler Energy variable tariff costs £1,611 a year, which is £203 less than Ecotricity's Standard Variable Green Tariff at £1,813 a year.
| Metric | Ecotricity | OVO Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest tariff | £1,558 / year | £1,611 / year |
| Cheapest fixed tariff | £1,558 / year | £1,742 / year |
Ecotricity and OVO Energy: Tariff Options
Ecotricity tariffs
Ecotricity offers a range of energy plans for households. These include standard variable and fixed-rate options, as well as specialist tariffs for electric vehicle drivers, prepayment customers, and homes that generate their own power.
OVO Energy tariffs
OVO Energy provides a variety of mainstream energy plans. The range covers standard variable and fixed tariffs, alongside options bundled with boiler cover or greener electricity, plus add-ons for electric vehicle charging and solar export.
Customer reviews
OVO Energy achieves a higher score on Trustpilot, holding a 4.7 out of 5 rating from nearly 300,000 reviews. Ecotricity receives a 4.2 out of 5 score, based on 6,635 reviews. Looking at the rating distribution, 78% of OVO Energy reviewers award five stars, compared to 66% for Ecotricity. Additionally, Ecotricity sees a higher proportion of one-star reviews at 22%, while 9% of OVO Energy customers leave the lowest possible rating.
Positive feedback for Ecotricity frequently highlights polite staff and a straightforward onboarding process. Reviewers note the benefit of speaking directly to knowledgeable agents regarding billing and switching. Conversely, critical reviews cite instances of poor communication, slow responses to technical problems, and unexpectedly high direct debit charges.
OVO Energy customers often mention the patience and helpfulness of advisors handling complex account issues, alongside prompt arrivals from home visit engineers. On the other hand, negative reviews point to long wait times, communication delays, and difficulties in reaching responsive support staff.
In the annual Which? energy survey, Ecotricity achieves a slightly higher overall score of 66, compared to OVO Energy's 61. Ecotricity receives a higher complaints handling sub-score of 9 out of 15, whereas OVO Energy scores 6. For value for money, Ecotricity scores 3 out of 5, ahead of OVO Energy's 2 out of 5. Both suppliers receive 2 out of 5 for overall customer service.
App quality and features
OVO Energy records higher ratings for its mobile app, particularly on Apple devices. The OVO Energy iOS app scores 4.6 out of 5 across 18,000 ratings. Ecotricity's iOS app holds a lower score of 1.8 out of 5 from 111 ratings. While both applications have received recent updates, Ecotricity's smaller sample size means its rating may be less indicative of long-term performance.
On Android devices, both suppliers receive identical scores. OVO Energy scores 2.8 out of 5 on the Google Play Store from over 10,000 ratings, while Ecotricity also scores 2.8 out of 5, based on 182 ratings. OVO Energy's application shows a larger user base, recording over 1,000,000 installs compared to Ecotricity's 1,000+ installs.
A recent sample of iOS reviews for Ecotricity shows an average of 1.67 stars. Users report that a recent update converted the app into a website wrapper, which removed access to older bills and historical energy usage data. Meanwhile, OVO Energy's recent iOS sample averages 3.67 stars; reviewers note the detailed consumption graphs and plan information, although some report loading issues on iPads.
Service and support
Average wait: 45 sec
Hours: Weekdays 9am–7pm, open Saturday and Sunday 9am–5pm
Average wait: 1.6 min
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm, closed Saturday, closed Sunday
Replies: 95% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Replies: 99% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Average response: ~7 min
Hours: Business hrs
In the latest Citizens Advice rankings, Ecotricity achieves a slightly higher score of 3.36 out of 5, placing 7th. OVO Energy follows closely with a score of 3.3 out of 5, placing 8th. Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice to assist customers requiring additional support.
Ecotricity records shorter wait times for customer service calls. Its average call centre wait time is 45 seconds, compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy. Ecotricity also registers fewer complaints, at 21.5 per 10,000 customers versus OVO Energy's 39.5. Both suppliers show high responsiveness via email; OVO Energy replies to 98.5% of emails within two days, while Ecotricity replies to 95.2%.
Ecotricity provides weekend availability for phone support. Its lines operate from 9am to 7pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. OVO Energy's phone lines are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, but remain closed on Saturday and Sunday.
| Metric | Ecotricity | OVO Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Average social media response time | N/A | 6 minutes 53 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
Ecotricity's green energy
Ecotricity focuses entirely on green energy. Its electricity supply is 100% renewable. It generates a significant portion of this electricity from its own wind and solar sites. Its main difference from other suppliers is its commitment to building its own wind and solar parks across the UK. For gas, it supplies a mix of sustainable green and fossil gas, while investing in direct carbon-removal projects in Britain. It also offers a vegan energy promise, meaning no animal by-products are used in its energy supply chain. The company actively campaigns against fossil fuels and invests its revenue into expanding the UK's renewable energy capacity.[1][2][3][4]
OVO Energy's green energy
OVO Energy supplies an electricity mix that is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable, nuclear, and other sources. In 2023, the company stopped using REGO certificates as standard. Instead, it now buys electricity directly from renewable generators for customers who choose its "Greener Electricity" upgrade. A key feature is its focus on smart technology and rewarding customers for using energy at greener times. It runs a tree-planting programme and helps customers lower their carbon footprint through off-peak energy use.[5]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | Ecotricity |
| Overall customer service | Ecotricity |
| A well-rated mobile app | OVO Energy |
| A greener fuel mix | Ecotricity |
Ecotricity offers a notably cheaper fixed tariff and faster phone support, though OVO Energy is much stronger for customer reviews and app quality.
Ecotricity leads this comparison overall, though the most suitable choice depends on household priorities. For those looking to lock in their rates, Ecotricity offers a fixed deal priced £183 a year lower than OVO Energy's cheapest fixed option. Ecotricity also records shorter call wait times and operates phone lines at the weekend, contributing to a slightly higher score in the Citizens Advice rankings.
Alternatively, OVO Energy may suit households that prefer managing their account via a smartphone. Its iOS app receives higher ratings than Ecotricity's, and the supplier maintains a notable lead in customer sentiment with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot score. OVO Energy also provides a lower-priced standard variable tariff for customers who prefer to avoid fixed contracts and exit fees.
- Lower-priced fixed tariff
- Shorter call answer times
- Weekend customer service availability
- Slightly higher Citizens Advice and Which? scores
- Lower iOS app rating
- Higher proportion of 1-star Trustpilot reviews
- Higher-priced standard variable tariff
- High 4.7 Trustpilot rating
- Higher-rated iOS app
- Lower-priced standard variable tariff
- Longer average call wait times
- No weekend customer service
- Higher-priced fixed tariff
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall, Ecotricity or OVO Energy?
Ecotricity wins narrowly by offering a much cheaper fixed tariff and faster phone support. However, OVO Energy performs far better in customer reviews and offers a superior mobile app experience.
Does Ecotricity or OVO Energy offer a cheaper fixed tariff?
Ecotricity currently offers the cheaper fixed tariff. Its 24-month fixed deal costs £183 a year less than OVO Energy's cheapest 12-month fixed option.
Do customers prefer Ecotricity or OVO Energy?
Customers strongly favour OVO Energy on review platforms. OVO Energy holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from nearly 300,000 reviews, while Ecotricity sits at 4.2 from a much smaller number of reviews and has a higher share of one-star ratings.
Which supplier has the better mobile app?
OVO Energy has a much better mobile app, particularly on Apple devices where it scores 4.6 out of 5. Ecotricity's iOS app scores just 1.8 out of 5, with users complaining about a recent update that removed useful features.
Which supplier answers the phone faster?
Ecotricity is faster at answering customer calls. Its average call centre wait time is 45 seconds, compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy.
Should I switch to Ecotricity or OVO Energy?
If you want a cheap fixed deal and quick phone support, Ecotricity is the better choice. If you prefer a highly rated app, excellent online reviews, and a cheaper variable tariff, OVO Energy is the stronger option.
Are there exit fees if I leave my fixed tariff?
Yes, both suppliers charge exit fees on their cheapest fixed tariffs. Ecotricity charges a £200 total exit fee on its 24-month deal, while OVO Energy charges a £100 total exit fee on its 12-month fixed deal.
Do Ecotricity and OVO Energy open on weekends?
Ecotricity is open on weekends, with phone lines available on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. OVO Energy is closed on weekends.
How do the two suppliers perform in Which? testing?
Ecotricity scores 66 in the Which? energy survey, beating OVO Energy's score of 61. Ecotricity performs better on complaints handling and value for money, though both score poorly for overall customer service.
Is a standard variable tariff cheaper than a fixed deal?
In this comparison, Ecotricity's fixed deal is cheaper than its variable option. For OVO Energy, its standard variable tariff is currently cheaper than its fixed deal.
What changed this month
This month, OVO Energy's play store net-positive % fell from 1.3 to -9.2, Ecotricity's iOS sampled positive reviews fell from 1 to 0, and Ecotricity's iOS sampled neutral reviews rose from 0 to 1. There were 23 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (31)
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
OVO Energy
- Trustpilot reviews293,863 → 299,269
- Trustpilot 5-star %77 → 78
- Trustpilot 4-star %10 → 9
- iOS app days since last update37 → 25
- Play Store rating3.0206423 → 2.8167422
- Play Store ratings count10,621 → 10,825
- Play Store days since last update37 → 26
- Play Store positive ratings %48.2 → 43.2
- Play Store negative ratings %46.9 → 52.4
- Play Store neutral ratings %4.9 → 4.4
- Play Store net-positive %1.3 → -9.2
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,804.82 → £1,610.88
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,923.42 → £1,742.03
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.82 → £1,610.88
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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.