E.ON Next OVO Energy (July 2026)
Overview
E.ON Next wins with cheaper tariffs and a better Citizens Advice score, though OVO Energy is faster to answer the phone.
E.ON Next leads this comparison due to its lower fixed and variable tariff pricing. It also achieves a higher Citizens Advice score than OVO Energy and maintains stronger Android app ratings, although OVO holds a slight advantage in Trustpilot reviews.
About E.ON Next and OVO Energy
Who is E.ON Next?
E.ON Next is the UK retail brand of the German energy group E.ON. It was set up in 2020 to replace the E.ON and npower brands and is now one of the UK's largest suppliers. In May 2026, E.ON announced a planned deal to buy OVO Energy, which would increase its scale in the UK market once approved. The supplier offers standard and fixed deals, alongside specialist options for electric vehicle owners and homes with heat pumps. What sets it apart is its Next Pledge tariff, which tracks just below the price cap, and its use of dedicated staff to handle customer support.
Who are OVO Energy?
Founded in 2009, OVO Energy grew in 2020 when it bought the retail business of SSE, making it one of the UK's largest suppliers. E.ON announced a planned deal to buy OVO Energy in May 2026, though the brands continue to run independently while waiting for approval. OVO offers standard and fixed-term tariffs, with options to add boiler cover or a greener electricity upgrade. A key feature is its Charge Anytime add-on for electric vehicle owners, as well as its Beyond rewards programme which gives customers perks and discounts.
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Tariffs and pricing
E.ON Next provides the lower-priced options in this comparison. Its most affordable tariff is the Next Fixed 24m v51, a 24-month fixed plan estimated at £1,733 a year with a £200 total exit fee. The supplier also lists a 12-month fixed contract at the same £1,733 annual cost, which carries a reduced £100 exit fee. For those seeking a variable rate, the Next Pledge Tracker 12m v12 is priced at £1,747 a year.
OVO Energy’s lowest-priced plan is the 1 Year Fixed + Boiler Cover 09 July 2026. This 12-month fixed tariff costs £1,797 a year and includes a £100 total exit fee. Households looking for a contract without a fixed term may consider the Simpler Energy variable tariff, which is estimated at £1,805 a year.
E.ON Next and OVO Energy: Tariff Options
E.ON Next
E.ON Next offers a range of energy plans for different households. These include standard variable and fixed-term options, as well as specialist tariffs for electric vehicle owners, heat pump users, and homes with solar panels.
OVO Energy
OVO Energy provides standard variable and fixed-term tariffs, along with specialist add-ons for electric vehicle charging. Customers can also choose tariffs that bundle energy with boiler cover or a green energy upgrade.
Customer reviews
OVO Energy maintains a slight advantage on Trustpilot with a score of 4.7 from a high volume of reviews, while E.ON Next scores 4.5. Both suppliers receive largely positive feedback on the platform: 77% of OVO reviews and 74% of E.ON Next reviews award five stars. Reviewers for both firms frequently highlight helpful staff and effective customer service.
Conversely, a portion of E.ON Next customers note slow response times and unfulfilled callbacks. Meanwhile, some OVO reviewers cite communication difficulties and smart meter issues.
In the annual Which? survey, E.ON Next achieves a higher overall score of 66, compared to OVO Energy’s 61. Both suppliers receive 2 out of 5 for customer service and value for money. E.ON Next performs better in the smart meters category, scoring 8 out of 10 versus OVO's 5 out of 10. It also records a slightly better complaints rating, with 8 out of 15 compared to OVO's 6 out of 15.
App quality and features
Both suppliers provide apps with over 100,000 installs on Google Play. E.ON Next holds higher ratings across both major platforms, scoring 4.8 on the App Store compared to OVO Energy's 4.6. The difference is more pronounced on Google Play, where E.ON Next achieves a 4.3 rating against OVO's 3.3.
A sample of recent iOS reviews indicates that E.ON Next users find the application useful for account management, though some report unexpected logouts. OVO users frequently mention the app's utility for tracking historical energy use, but a few note difficulties accessing the website after installation. Both applications have received very recent updates aimed at bug fixes and performance improvements.
Service and support
E.ON Next places higher in the Citizens Advice rankings, sitting 3rd with a score of 3.71 out of 5. OVO Energy ranks 8th with a score of 3.3. Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with the organisation.
OVO Energy records faster phone support, showing an average call centre wait time of 1 minute 33 seconds, compared to 2 minutes 3 seconds for E.ON Next. OVO also responds to 98.5% of emails within two days, which is higher than E.ON Next's 90.7%. Additionally, OVO publishes an average social media response time of approximately 7 minutes, whereas E.ON Next does not share this metric.
E.ON Next operates its phone lines from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, with an earlier closure at 4pm on Fridays. OVO Energy maintains lines until 5pm throughout the standard working week.
Complaints and performance
In the last three months of 2025, E.ON Next received 795 complaints for every 100,000 customers. OVO Energy received more than double this amount, with 1,651 complaints per 100,000 customers.
Green Energy Comparison
E.ON Next
E.ON Next supplies a mostly renewable mix, with some fossil fuels and nuclear energy. For customers wanting a dedicated green option, the supplier offers the Next Gust tariff, which is backed by 100% UK wind energy. It also offers the Next Pumped tariff, which comes with 100% renewable electricity. On top of this, E.ON Next makes a donation to the Woodland Trust for every customer who signs up to one of its fixed tariffs or the Next Drive Smart tariff, helping to restore ancient woodland in the UK.[1][2]
OVO Energy
OVO Energy supplies a mix that is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable and nuclear energy. The supplier runs a sustainability strategy called Plan Zero, which set a goal of net-zero carbon operations by 2030. As part of its environmental work, OVO has planted five million trees in schools and communities across the UK. Customers can also choose to add a greener electricity upgrade to their fixed tariff. It also encourages greener habits through its Power Move scheme, which rewards customers for shifting their electricity use to off-peak times.[3]
Our 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 | E.ON Next |
E.ON Next wins with cheaper tariffs and a better Citizens Advice score, though OVO Energy is faster to answer the phone.
Based on the available data, E.ON Next leads this comparison. It provides lower pricing across both fixed and variable tariffs, alongside a higher Citizens Advice score and stronger ratings for its Android application.
Households prioritising rapid customer service responses may find OVO Energy suitable. It answers calls more quickly and replies to a higher percentage of emails within two days, which aligns with its slightly higher Trustpilot score. However, its lower tariff pricing and stronger Android app rating may make E.ON Next the better fit for households prioritising those factors.
- Lower fixed and variable tariffs
- Higher Citizens Advice score
- Stronger Google Play app rating
- Longer average call wait times
- Phone lines close earlier on Fridays
- Slightly higher Trustpilot rating
- Shorter call centre wait times
- Higher percentage of emails answered within two days
- Higher fixed and variable tariff pricing
- Lower Google Play app rating
- Lower Which? score for smart meters
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, E.ON Next or OVO Energy?
E.ON Next wins overall due to its cheaper tariffs, higher Citizens Advice score, and better Android app ratings. However, OVO Energy is faster to answer the phone and replies to emails more quickly.
Does E.ON Next or OVO Energy have cheaper tariffs?
E.ON Next offers the cheaper tariffs in our comparison. Its cheapest fixed deal costs £1,733 a year, while OVO Energy's cheapest fixed option is £1,797 a year. E.ON Next also has the cheaper variable tariff.
Do customers prefer E.ON Next or OVO Energy?
OVO Energy has a slightly higher Trustpilot rating at 4.7 compared to E.ON Next's 4.5. However, E.ON Next scores higher in the annual Which? survey, earning 66 against OVO's 61.
Which supplier has the better app?
E.ON Next has higher ratings on both the App Store and Google Play. The gap is especially large on Android, where E.ON Next scores 4.3 out of 5 compared to OVO Energy's 3.3.
Which supplier is faster to answer the phone?
OVO Energy is faster, with an average call wait time of 1 minute 33 seconds. E.ON Next takes slightly longer, answering calls in 2 minutes 3 seconds on average.
Should I switch to E.ON Next or OVO Energy?
E.ON Next is the stronger choice if you want cheaper prices and a highly rated app. OVO Energy is worth considering if fast phone and email support are your top priorities.
Do E.ON Next and OVO Energy charge exit fees?
Yes, the cheapest fixed tariffs from both suppliers come with exit fees. E.ON Next charges up to £200 for its 24-month deal, while OVO Energy charges £100 for its 12-month deal.
What are the opening hours for E.ON Next and OVO Energy?
OVO Energy is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. E.ON Next is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, but closes earlier at 4pm on Fridays.
What changed this month
This month, E.ON Next's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 24-month fixed deal, OVO Energy's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 12-month fixed deal, and OVO Energy's tariff count rose from 1 to 5. There were 38 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (54)
E.ON Next
- Trustpilot reviews205,883 → 211,533
- iOS app days since last update8 → 9
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.33 → 3
- iOS sampled positive reviews0 → 1
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 1
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating4.369063 → 4.3445005
- Play Store ratings count15,579 → 15,798
- Play Store days since last update24 → 9
- Play Store positive ratings %84.2 → 83.5
- Play Store negative ratings %13.2 → 13.7
- Play Store neutral ratings %2.6 → 2.8
- Play Store net-positive %71 → 69.8
- Citizens Advice rank5 → 3
- Complaints per 10,000 customers29.4 → 29.8
- Avg call centre wait time116 → 123
- Emails responded within 2 days %90.6 → 90.7
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,584.14 → £1,747
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,645.75 → £1,733
- Cheapest tariff£1,584.14 → £1,733
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£0 → £200
- Cheapest tariff termvariable → 24 months
- Tariff count7 → 5
- Fixed tariffs available6 → 3
- Variable tariffs available1 → 2
OVO Energy
- Trustpilot reviews282,070 → 287,327
- iOS app days since last update0 → 13
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars4 → 4.2
- iOS sampled positive reviews2 → 4
- iOS sampled negative reviews0 → 1
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating3.4702382 → 3.2850413
- Play Store ratings count10,218 → 10,351
- Play Store days since last update29 → 14
- Play Store positive ratings %60.4 → 55.4
- Play Store negative ratings %35.3 → 40.2
- Play Store neutral ratings %4.3 → 4.5
- Play Store net-positive %25.1 → 15.2
- Citizens Advice rank10 → 8
- Citizens Advice score2.76 → 3.3
- Complaints per 10,000 customers42.6 → 39.5
- Avg call centre wait time254 → 93
- Avg social media response time1267 → 413
- Emails responded within 2 days %83.6 → 98.5
- Cheapest fixed tariffnow available (£1,797.13)
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.82 → £1,797.13
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£0 → £100
- Cheapest tariff termvariable → 12 months
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit feenow available (£100)
- Cheapest fixed tariff termnow available (12 months)
- Tariff count1 → 5
- Fixed tariffs available0 → 4
- Shortest fixed termnow available (12 months)
- Longest fixed termnow available (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.