E.ON Next Ecotricity (September 2026)
Our verdict
E.ON Next is our clear winner, offering considerably cheaper tariffs and stronger customer reviews, though Ecotricity is faster to answer calls.
E.ON Next is the overall winner in this comparison, providing noticeably cheaper tariffs and higher customer review scores. Although Ecotricity offers faster call response times and 100% renewable electricity, E.ON Next's price advantage and higher Trustpilot ratings make it a stronger option for most households.
About E.ON Next and Ecotricity
Who is E.ON Next?
E.ON Next is the retail brand of E.ON UK, part of the wider E.ON Group. It is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It was set up to replace the standard E.ON brand for household customers, taking on accounts when E.ON bought those businesses from Npower and Powershop. In May 2026, E.ON announced plans to buy OVO Energy, which is expected to finish later in the year. A key feature of its service is its focus on smart energy technology and time-of-use tariffs that reward customers for shifting their energy use to off-peak times.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who are Ecotricity?
Ecotricity was founded in 1995 by Dale Vince, who remains the owner through the Green Britain Group. Based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, it is a smaller, specialist energy supplier and one of the UK's oldest green energy companies. What sets it apart is its "bills into mills" model, where it reinvests its profits into building its own wind and solar parks across Britain.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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
E.ON Next provides the cheaper overall deal. Its lowest-priced option, the Next Fixed 24m Exclusive v11, costs £1,510 a year—£49 less than Ecotricity's cheapest equivalent, the EcoFixed - 2 Year August 26 v4 at £1,559 a year. Both are 24-month fixed tariffs carrying a £200 exit fee.
For variable tariffs, E.ON Next is again the cheaper option. The Next Pledge Tracker 12m v12 is priced at £1,560 a year, coming in £253 below Ecotricity's Standard Variable Green Tariff at £1,813 a year. However, E.ON Next's variable plan includes a 12-month term and a £50 exit fee, whereas Ecotricity's equivalent has no fixed term or exit penalties. Neither supplier is currently registered with the Energy Switch Guarantee.
E.ON Next and Ecotricity: Tariff Options
E.ON Next
E.ON Next offers standard variable and fixed-term contracts, along with specialist options for electric vehicle owners, heat pump users, and Ecotricity customers with eligible solar or wind generation and a working smart meter.
Ecotricity
Ecotricity keeps its product range simple, offering standard variable and fixed-term contracts, as well as specialist options for EV drivers, solar panel owners, and prepayment customers.
Customer reviews
E.ON Next holds a higher Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 from a substantial 225,716 reviews, compared to Ecotricity's 4.2 out of 5 across 6,635 reviews. E.ON Next also maintains a stronger net-positive sentiment, with 75% of its feedback rated at five stars. In contrast, Ecotricity sees 66% five-star reviews alongside a 22% one-star share. Both suppliers typically reply to negative feedback within 24 hours.
Within these reviews, E.ON Next customers frequently highlight helpful staff and professional engineers, often describing the switching process as smooth. Conversely, some users report concerns over rising costs and occasional communication gaps when contacting support.
Ecotricity's feedback similarly points to polite staff and straightforward onboarding, with users appreciating the ability to reach human agents easily. On the downside, critical reviews mention unhelpful support interactions, poor communication, and high prices across both fixed and variable tariffs.
In the annual Which? survey, both suppliers achieved an overall score of 66 out of 100. E.ON Next performed better in the smart meters category (8 out of 10 versus 4 out of 10), while Ecotricity scored slightly higher for contacting your supplier (9 out of 12 versus 7 out of 12).
App quality
E.ON Next performs better on Android devices, holding a Google Play Store rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 16,278 ratings and over 1,000,000 installs. By contrast, Ecotricity's Android app scores 2.8 out of 5 from a smaller sample of 182 ratings.
Data for E.ON Next's iOS app is not currently available. Ecotricity's iOS app holds a rating of 1.8 out of 5, based on 111 ratings. Recent feedback for Ecotricity's Apple application indicates dissatisfaction with an update, which users describe as removing access to previous bills and energy usage history. Both suppliers have recently updated their Android apps.
Service and support
Average wait: 2.1 min
Hours: Mon–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri 9am–4pm, closed Saturday, closed Sunday
Average wait: 45 sec
Hours: Weekdays 9am–7pm, open Saturday and Sunday 9am–5pm
Replies: 91% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Replies: 95% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
E.ON Next ranks higher in the Citizens Advice ratings, placing 3rd overall with a score of 3.71 out of 5. Ecotricity ranks 7th with a score of 3.36 out of 5. Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice.
Despite this, Ecotricity is faster to reach by phone. Its average call centre wait time is 45 seconds, compared to 2 minutes 3 seconds for E.ON Next. Ecotricity also responds to 95.2% of emails within two days, slightly ahead of E.ON Next's 90.7%.
E.ON Next operates its support lines Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, and Friday from 9am to 4pm. Ecotricity offers longer hours, opening weekdays from 9am to 7pm, and weekends from 9am to 5pm.
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
E.ON Next
E.ON Next supplies a mostly renewable electricity mix, with some fossil fuels and a small amount of nuclear power. Customers who want a fully renewable option can choose specific green tariffs, such as Next Gust, which is backed by 100% renewable electricity from UK wind generation. The supplier also offers smart energy products like solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps to help households lower their carbon footprint. It partners with the Woodland Trust, pledging to donate money to help restore ancient woodlands.[1]
Ecotricity
Ecotricity supplies 100% renewable electricity. Rather than just buying certificates to match its supply, the company generates a large amount of its own power through its network of wind and solar parks. Its gas supply is a mix of green gas and fossil gas, and the company invests in direct carbon removal projects in Britain through its Carbon Bank. It is also the only energy supplier to offer vegan-certified energy, approved by The Vegan Society and Viva!.
Our overall verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | E.ON Next |
| Overall customer service | E.ON Next |
| A well-rated mobile app | E.ON Next |
| A greener fuel mix | Ecotricity |
E.ON Next is our clear winner, offering considerably cheaper tariffs and stronger customer reviews, though Ecotricity is faster to answer calls.
E.ON Next emerges as the stronger option in this comparison, largely due to its lower prices across fixed and variable tariffs. It also records higher customer satisfaction metrics, including a better Trustpilot score, stronger Android app ratings, and a higher overall Citizens Advice score.
Ecotricity may suit households prioritising faster call answering times, weekend support hours, and 100% renewable electricity. However, its tariffs cost noticeably more, and its app ratings are lower. E.ON Next is likely the better fit for those focused on price and overall customer satisfaction, while Ecotricity remains an alternative for customers who prefer a specialist green energy supplier and quicker phone support.
- Considerably cheaper fixed and variable tariffs
- Higher overall Citizens Advice score
- High Trustpilot rating from a large number of reviews
- Stronger Android app rating
- Slower average call centre wait time
- No weekend customer support
- iOS app data is currently unavailable
- Faster average call centre wait time
- Customer support is open on weekends
- Supplies 100% renewable electricity
- Considerably more expensive fixed and variable tariffs
- Lower overall Citizens Advice and Trustpilot scores
- Low app ratings on both platforms
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall, E.ON Next or Ecotricity?
E.ON Next is the better choice for most households. It offers considerably cheaper fixed and variable tariffs, alongside higher customer review scores on Trustpilot and Citizens Advice. Ecotricity is a good option if you want 100% renewable electricity or faster phone support, but its prices are noticeably higher.
Which is cheaper, E.ON Next or Ecotricity?
E.ON Next is cheaper across the board. Its cheapest fixed tariff is £49 a year less than Ecotricity's, and its cheapest variable option is £253 a year less. Both suppliers charge a £200 exit fee on their cheapest overall fixed deals.
Who has better customer reviews, E.ON Next or Ecotricity?
E.ON Next has stronger customer reviews. It holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 from a very high volume of reviews, with 75% of them being five-star. Ecotricity has a lower score of 4.2 out of 5, with a larger share of one-star reviews.
Does E.ON Next or Ecotricity have a better app?
E.ON Next performs much better on Android, with a Google Play rating of 4.3 out of 5 compared to Ecotricity's 2.8. Data for E.ON Next's iOS app is currently unavailable, while Ecotricity's iOS app has a poor rating of 1.8 out of 5.
Which supplier is faster to answer the phone?
Ecotricity is much faster to reach by phone. Its average call centre wait time is just 45 seconds, whereas E.ON Next customers wait an average of 2 minutes and 3 seconds.
Should I switch to E.ON Next or Ecotricity?
If price and overall customer satisfaction are your main priorities, E.ON Next is the stronger option. However, if you care most about supporting a specialist green energy supplier and want faster call answering times, Ecotricity is worth considering despite its higher prices.
Do E.ON Next and Ecotricity charge exit fees?
Yes, both suppliers charge a £200 exit fee on their cheapest 24-month fixed tariffs. E.ON Next also charges a £50 exit fee on its variable tracker tariff, while Ecotricity's standard variable tariff has no exit fees.
What are the opening hours for E.ON Next and Ecotricity?
Ecotricity offers longer support hours, open on weekdays from 9am to 7pm and on weekends from 9am to 5pm. E.ON Next is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, and Friday from 9am to 4pm, but is closed on weekends.
Do E.ON Next and Ecotricity offer green tariffs?
Yes. Ecotricity supplies 100% renewable electricity as standard across all its tariffs. E.ON Next also offers specific green options, such as its Next Gust tariff, which is backed by UK wind generation.
What changed this month
This month, E.ON Next's iOS app updates in last 90 days fell from 3 to 0, Ecotricity's iOS sampled positive reviews fell from 1 to 0, and E.ON Next's iOS sampled neutral reviews fell from 1 to 0. There were 28 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (37)
E.ON Next
- Trustpilot reviews219,212 → 225,716
- Trustpilot 5-star %74 → 75
- Trustpilot 4-star %12 → 11
- iOS app rating4.8 → no longer available
- iOS app ratings count49,000 → no longer available
- iOS app days since last update4 → no longer available
- iOS app updates in last 90 days3 → 0
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars3 → no longer available
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating4.324643 → 4.340909
- Play Store ratings count16,070 → 16,278
- Play Store days since last update5 → 4
- Play Store positive ratings %82.6 → 83.1
- Play Store negative ratings %14.2 → 13.8
- Play Store net-positive %68.4 → 69.3
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,747 → £1,560.38
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,745.58 → £1,509.55
- Cheapest tariff£1,745.58 → £1,509.55
- Tariff count5 → 6
- Fixed tariffs available3 → 4
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
Related comparisons
Related reviews
Ecotricity Review
Started in 1995 by Dale Vince, Ecotricity is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire. It is one of the UK's oldest green energy suppliers and has grown to become one of the UK's most recognised ethical energy brands.
Read review →
Good Energy Review
Founded in 1999, Good Energy is one of the UK's oldest green energy suppliers. It is an established domestic supplier that focuses on renewable electricity and carbon-neutral gas. In April 2025, Good Energy was bought by Esyasoft, a Dubai-based energy software company. This deal meant Good Energy mo
Read review →EDF FreePhase Static prices
Fixed day, night and peak bands for twelve months, with free electricity at set times and no exit fees.
Read more →Related guides
How to get a free Octopus Energy cuddly toy?
If you are an Octopus Energy customer, you might recognise their pink, eight-legged mascot, Constantine. Fluffy plush versions of the mascot have become highly popular, often appearing across social media and in homes around the UK.
Read guide →
How to Choose a Green Energy Supplier in the UK
Before comparing suppliers, it helps to know how they back up their green claims. When you sign up for a green tariff, the electricity flowing into your home is exactly the same as your neighbour's. All power mixes together in the National Grid. A green tariff simply means your supplier promises to
Read guide →
What is the average gas and electricity bill in the UK?
Energy bills remain a major part of household spending. Over the last few years, the cost of gas and electricity has seen massive changes, driven heavily by global events that affect the price suppliers pay for wholesale energy. For example, the Ofgem price cap rose by roughly 13% in July 2026, larg
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.