EDF Energy Sainsbury’s Energy (August 2026)
Overview
EDF Energy wins this comparison based on the available evidence, offering cheaper tariffs and highly rated apps, though Sainsbury's Energy scores higher for customer service.
EDF Energy leads this comparison by offering lower prices across fixed and variable tariffs, supported by well-rated mobile apps. While Sainsbury's Energy achieves higher customer service scores in the annual Which? survey, it is currently the more expensive option and lacks available app data.
About EDF Energy and Sainsbury's Energy
Who is EDF Energy?
EDF Energy is the UK retail branch of the French state-owned energy company, Électricité de France. It was formed in 2002 when several regional electricity boards joined together, and today it is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. The supplier focuses on generating its own zero-carbon electricity, mainly through its UK nuclear power stations.
Who is Sainsbury's Energy?
Sainsbury’s Energy is a partnership between one of the UK's most recognised supermarket brands and E.ON Next. E.ON Next holds the licence and supplies the gas and electricity, meaning the brand is supported by one of the UK's largest energy suppliers. The key difference for customers is the link to the Nectar rewards scheme, letting them collect points on their energy bills and shopping.
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Tariffs and pricing
For households looking for the lowest price, EDF Energy’s Simply Tracker Sep27 costs £1,755 a year. This variable tracker deal is £50 a year (or £4 a month) cheaper than Sainsbury's Energy's most affordable option, the Sainsbury's Standard Variable, which is priced at £1,805 a year. Both are 0-month variable tariffs; however, EDF Energy applies a £50 exit fee to its tracker, whereas the Sainsbury's Energy standard variable option has no exit fees.
Households seeking price certainty will find EDF Energy to be the cheaper fixed option. Its lowest-priced fixed tariff costs £1,824 a year over a 24-month term, with a £150 exit fee. In comparison, Sainsbury's Energy offers a 24-month fix at £1,841 a year, which includes a higher exit fee of £200.
EDF Energy and Sainsbury's Energy: Tariff Options
EDF Energy
EDF Energy offers a range of standard variable and fixed tariffs, alongside specialist options for electric vehicle drivers.
Sainsbury's Energy
Sainsbury's Energy focuses on a mainstream range of standard, fixed, and tracker deals that link to the Nectar rewards scheme.
Customer reviews
On Trustpilot, EDF Energy holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 243,334 reviews, while Sainsbury's Energy scores 4.3 out of 5 from 3,127 reviews. The data shows EDF Energy responds to 99% of its negative feedback, compared to a 35% response rate from Sainsbury's Energy. Feedback for EDF Energy often mentions polite staff and efficient problem resolution. Sainsbury's Energy customers similarly note knowledgeable support agents, though some reviews report billing issues and unexpected charges.
Conversely, Sainsbury's Energy achieves stronger results in the annual Which? survey, securing an overall score of 71 out of 100 against EDF Energy's 58. It receives 4 out of 5 for overall customer service, whereas EDF Energy scores 2 out of 5. Sainsbury's Energy also leads in specific categories, scoring 4 out of 5 for both ease of contacting and clarity of statements, compared to EDF Energy's 2 out of 5 in those same areas.
App quality and features
EDF Energy provides dedicated mobile applications for Apple and Android devices. Sainsbury's Energy does not currently have app ratings available in our dataset. For EDF Energy, the iOS app holds a score of 4.6 out of 5 from 185,000 ratings, while the Android version on the Google Play Store scores 4.4 out of 5 across 50,315 ratings.
Recent updates to the EDF Energy apps include a redesigned interface. The release notes also mention improved access to the Priority Services Register for customers requiring additional support.
Customer service and support
In the latest Citizens Advice ratings, EDF Energy scores 2.9 out of 5, placing it 11th overall. Sainsbury's Energy is absent from the current Citizens Advice dataset. For EDF Energy, the average call centre wait time is 2 minutes 46 seconds, and the supplier replies to 85.6% of customer emails within two days.
Additionally, EDF Energy maintains formal vulnerability commitments with Citizens Advice. It accepts payments via Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque, and Prepayment. Telephone support is available Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm, and on Fridays from 8am to 4pm.
Complaints and performance
In the first quarter of 2025, EDF Energy received 1,528 complaints for every 100,000 customers. It solved 77% of these by the end of the next working day, and 94% within eight weeks. The most common reason for complaints was customer service, making up 36% of the total. This was followed by payment issues at 15%, and billing and meter reading issues at 15%.
Green Energy Comparison
EDF Energy
EDF Energy focuses heavily on nuclear power rather than standard renewables. According to Citizens Advice data from early 2026, the electricity it supplies has a mix that is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuel and renewables. It is leading large-scale projects like the building of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. The supplier does not offer a dedicated green tariff, but its specialist EV tariffs are backed by 100% zero-carbon electricity.[1]
Sainsbury's Energy
Because E.ON Next supplies the electricity, Sainsbury’s Energy customers get 100% renewable electricity backed by Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates. The supplier also offers discounts on home energy upgrades, such as solar panels and EV chargers, through its partnership with E.ON.[2][3]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | EDF Energy |
| Overall customer service | Sainsbury’s Energy |
EDF Energy wins this comparison based on the available evidence, offering cheaper tariffs and highly rated apps, though Sainsbury's Energy scores higher for customer service.
Based on the available data, EDF Energy is the stronger option overall. It provides lower prices across its fixed and variable tariffs, supported by high Trustpilot scores and functional mobile apps. Sainsbury's Energy may appeal to those focused on the independent Which? survey, where it achieves higher marks for customer service and contact ease.
It is worth noting that Sainsbury's Energy currently lacks Citizens Advice scores and mobile app ratings in our dataset, which limits a direct side-by-side assessment in those specific categories.
Households prioritising Which? customer service scores may find Sainsbury's Energy to be a suitable fit. However, for those seeking lower annual energy costs and established digital account management tools, EDF Energy presents a stronger case based on current data.
- Lower annual costs for comparable fixed and variable tariffs
- 4.8 out of 5 Trustpilot score based on over 243,000 reviews
- Well-reviewed mobile apps available for iOS and Android
- Lower overall and customer service scores in the Which? survey compared to Sainsbury's Energy
- Applies a £150 exit fee to its cheapest 24-month fixed tariff
- Achieves a higher overall Which? score of 71 out of 100
- Scores 4 out of 5 for customer service and ease of contacting in Which? data
- Does not charge exit fees on its standard variable tariff
- Higher annual costs across all comparable tariff types
- Lacks Citizens Advice scores and mobile app data in the current dataset
- Responds to only 35% of negative reviews on Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall, EDF Energy or Sainsbury's Energy?
EDF Energy is the better option based on the available evidence. It offers cheaper fixed and variable tariffs, highly rated mobile apps, and a very strong Trustpilot rating. Sainsbury's Energy scores higher in the Which? survey, but it costs more and is missing data for apps and Citizens Advice.
Does EDF Energy or Sainsbury's Energy offer cheaper tariffs?
EDF Energy currently offers cheaper tariffs. Its cheapest variable tracker deal is £50 a year cheaper than Sainsbury's Energy's standard variable tariff, and its cheapest 24-month fixed deal is £16 a year cheaper.
Which supplier has better customer reviews?
It depends on the source. EDF Energy has a higher Trustpilot rating of 4.8 out of 5 from a much larger number of reviews. However, Sainsbury's Energy scores higher in the independent Which? survey, achieving 71 out of 100 compared to EDF Energy's 58.
Does Sainsbury's Energy have a mobile app?
Sainsbury's Energy does not currently have mobile app ratings available in the data we reviewed. In contrast, EDF Energy offers highly rated apps for both Apple and Android devices.
How long does it take to get through to EDF Energy on the phone?
According to Citizens Advice data, EDF Energy customers wait an average of 2 minutes 46 seconds to speak to a call centre agent. Sainsbury's Energy does not currently have call wait time data available.
Should I switch to EDF Energy or Sainsbury's Energy?
If price and digital tools are your main priorities, EDF Energy is the stronger choice. It offers cheaper tariffs and well-rated apps. However, if you place more value on Which? customer service scores, Sainsbury's Energy performs better in that specific area.
Do EDF Energy and Sainsbury's Energy charge exit fees?
Yes, depending on the tariff. EDF Energy charges a £50 exit fee on its cheapest variable tracker deal and £150 on its cheapest 24-month fixed tariff. Sainsbury's Energy does not charge an exit fee on its standard variable deal, but its cheapest 24-month fixed tariff carries a £200 exit fee.
How do EDF Energy and Sainsbury's Energy perform in Which? ratings?
Sainsbury's Energy achieves a Which? score of 71 out of 100, scoring 4 out of 5 for overall customer service. EDF Energy scores 58 out of 100, with a customer service score of 2 out of 5.
What changed this month
This month, Sainsbury’s Energy's Trustpilot 2-star % rose from 1 to 2, EDF Energy's iOS app updates in last 90 days rose from 0 to 3, and Sainsbury’s Energy's cheapest tariff exit fee fell from £200 to £0. There were 25 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (29)
EDF Energy
- Trustpilot reviews234,962 → 243,334
- iOS app ratings count182,000 → 185,000
- iOS app days since last update754 → 6
- iOS app updates in last 90 days0 → 3
- Play Store rating4.4540496 → 4.4256063
- Play Store ratings count49,305 → 50,315
- Play Store days since last update20 → 7
- Play Store positive ratings %87.2 → 86.3
- Play Store negative ratings %9.1 → 9.8
- Play Store neutral ratings %3.7 → 3.9
- Play Store net-positive %78.1 → 76.5
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,692.77 → £1,824.37
- Cheapest tariff£1,692.77 → £1,754.76
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£150 → £50
- Cheapest tariff term24 months → 0 months
Sainsbury’s Energy
- Trustpilot rating4.5 → 4.3
- Trustpilot reviews3,115 → 3,127
- Trustpilot 4-star %8 → 7
- Trustpilot 2-star %1 → 2
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %36 → 35
- Trustpilot positive reviews %88 → 87
- Trustpilot negative reviews %11 → 12
- Trustpilot net-positive %77 → 75
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,743.58 → £1,840.79
- Cheapest tariff£1,743.58 → £1,804.81
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£200 → £0
- Cheapest tariff term24 months → 0 months
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£100 → £200
- Cheapest fixed tariff term12 months → 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.