Octopus Energy EDF Energy (July 2026)
Overview
Octopus Energy is the better choice for most households, offering stronger customer service and apps, though EDF Energy has a slightly cheaper variable tariff.
Octopus Energy leads this comparison based on higher independent customer service scores and stronger app metrics. Fixed-tariff costs are effectively identical between the two suppliers.
About Octopus Energy and EDF Energy
Who are Octopus Energy?
Octopus Energy started in 2015 and launched to the public in 2016. It is owned by the private Octopus Energy Group, with investment from companies such as Origin Energy and Tokyo Gas. The company has grown quickly through its own growth and by buying other suppliers, including Bulb and Shell Energy. Today, it is the UK's largest domestic energy supplier. Its key difference is its own technology platform, Kraken, which runs its billing and customer service. The supplier offers a wide range of smart tariffs designed for electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar panels.
Who are EDF Energy?
EDF Energy was formed in 2002 and is wholly owned by the French state-owned energy company Électricité de France (EDF). It is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers and a major generator of zero-carbon electricity in the UK. Its key difference is its strong focus on nuclear power alongside renewable energy. The supplier offers mainstream energy tariffs as well as specialist options for electric vehicles and solar panels.
- [1] Businessmodelcanvastemplate.com: started in 2015 and launched to the public in 2016
- [2] Ionanalytics.com: owned by the private Octopus Energy Group
- [3] Davidturver.substack.com: buying other suppliers, including Bulb and Shell Energy
- [4] Octopus Energy: the UK's largest domestic energy supplier
- [5] Energymadeeasy.co.uk
- [6] En.wikipedia.org: formed in 2002
- [7] EDF Energy: major generator of zero-carbon electricity in the UK
- [8] EDF Energy: strong focus on nuclear power alongside renewable energy
- [9] EDF Energy: specialist options for electric vehicles and solar panels
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
The cheapest overall tariff for Octopus Energy is a 12-month fixed deal, Octopus 12M Fixed July 2026 v2, costing £1,697 a year. EDF Energy's cheapest option is the Simply Fixed 2Yr Jul28v3 tariff, which costs £1,693 a year and lasts for 24 months. With a difference of just £5, these fixed tariffs are effectively identical in price under our assumptions.
For households seeking a variable tariff without a fixed term, EDF Energy provides the cheaper option. Its Simply Tracker Sep27 tariff is priced at £1,755 a year, compared to £1,792 a year for the Flexible Octopus tariff, but it has a £50 exit fee.
Leaving these fixed deals early incurs exit fees from both suppliers. Octopus Energy applies a £100 fee on its 12-month tariff, while EDF Energy charges £150 to exit its 24-month contract.
Octopus Energy and EDF Energy: Tariff Options
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy offers standard variable and fixed-term tariffs for everyday household use. It also has a wide selection of smart and specialist tariffs for homes with electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar panels, and battery storage.
EDF Energy
EDF Energy provides standard variable and fixed-term tariffs for everyday energy use. It also offers specialist tariffs for electric vehicle owners and homes that generate their own electricity with solar panels.
Customer reviews
Both suppliers hold a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot across a high volume of reviews. Octopus Energy receives a higher proportion of five-star ratings (90%) than EDF Energy (83%). Additionally, Octopus Energy sees a smaller share of negative reviews, with 4% of users rating the company poorly compared to 8% for EDF Energy.
Octopus Energy reviewers frequently highlight efficient staff, quick issue resolution, and clear communication. While response times are generally praised, a minority of users note difficulties with phone lines or inexperienced agents. EDF Energy customers similarly report productive interactions, often citing helpful staff and a personalised approach.
The latest Which? survey awards Octopus Energy 74 out of 100, ahead of EDF Energy's 58 out of 100. Octopus Energy leads in most sub-categories, achieving 4 out of 5 for overall customer service and 10 out of 10 for helping those who need it. EDF Energy scores 2 out of 5 and 9 out of 10 in those respective areas. For ease of contacting, Octopus Energy again scores higher, with 4 out of 5 versus EDF Energy's 2 out of 5.
App quality and features
Both suppliers provide apps with over a million downloads on Google Play. On the App Store, Octopus Energy holds a slightly higher rating of 4.8 out of 5, compared to 4.6 for EDF Energy. Google Play ratings are closer, with EDF Energy scoring 4.45 and Octopus Energy scoring 4.43.
Octopus Energy actively maintains its app, releasing three iOS updates in the last 90 days. Conversely, EDF Energy's iOS app has not received an update in over two years. A recent sample of iOS reviews for EDF Energy indicates an average rating of 2 stars, with users noting missing features and clunky performance.
Customer service and support
In the Citizens Advice ratings, Octopus Energy ranks 4th with a score of 3.67 out of 5, while EDF Energy ranks 11th with 2.9 out of 5. Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice to support their customers.
Call centre wait times are shorter with Octopus Energy, averaging 1 minute 17 seconds compared to 2 minutes 46 seconds for EDF Energy. Email response rates are similar, with both suppliers replying to approximately 86% of customer emails within two days.
Octopus Energy operates its phone lines from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4pm on Fridays. EDF Energy offers slightly longer hours, opening from 8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 4pm on Fridays. Neither supplier opens its phone lines on weekends.
Complaints and performance
The published complaints figures cover different quarters: Octopus recorded 495 complaints per 100,000 customers in Q4 2025, while EDF recorded 1,528 in Q1 2025. EDF also resolved 77% of complaints by the end of the next working day, compared with 45% for Octopus.
Green Energy Comparison
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy's electricity mix is a mostly renewable mix, with some nuclear. On its website, the supplier states its electricity is 100% zero-carbon. The company invests in renewable energy generation through its Octopus Energy Generation arm. It also builds and installs its own heat pumps, solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicle chargers to help customers lower their carbon footprint.[1]
EDF Energy
EDF Energy's electricity mix is largely nuclear, with some fossil fuels and renewables. The supplier states it is Britain's biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity. It supports the UK's net zero targets by investing in new nuclear projects, such as Hinkley Point C, and renewable energy generation. It also offers zero-carbon tariffs backed by nuclear and renewable sources.
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | Either |
| Overall customer service | Octopus Energy |
| A well-rated mobile app | Octopus Energy |
| A greener fuel mix | Octopus Energy |
Octopus Energy is the better choice for most households, offering stronger customer service and apps, though EDF Energy has a slightly cheaper variable tariff.
Based on the data reviewed, Octopus Energy leads across most metrics. It achieves higher rankings in independent surveys and provides more actively maintained apps, which may suit households prioritising customer service.
EDF Energy may suit households looking for the cheapest variable tariff. However, households prioritising independent service scores and app maintenance may prefer Octopus Energy.
- Variable tariff costs £1,792 / year
- 4.8 Trustpilot from 821,111+ reviews
- Top-4 Citizens Advice ranking
- iOS app rated 4.8 out of 5
- 86% of emails answered within 2 days
- Cheapest overall tariff carries a £100 exit fee
- 10% of Google Play ratings are negative
- Cheapest variable tariff at £1,755 / year
- 4.8 Trustpilot from 234,962+ reviews
- iOS app rated 4.6 out of 5
- 86% of emails answered within 2 days
- Cheapest overall tariff carries a £150 exit fee
Frequently asked questions
Is Octopus Energy or EDF Energy bigger?
Octopus Energy is currently the UK's largest domestic energy supplier. EDF Energy is also one of the biggest domestic suppliers in the UK.
Which supplier has the cheaper fixed tariff?
The cheapest fixed tariffs from both suppliers are effectively identical in price. Octopus Energy's cheapest fixed deal costs £1,697 a year, while EDF Energy's costs £1,693 a year.
Who has better customer reviews?
Both suppliers score 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot, but Octopus Energy achieves a higher share of five-star reviews. Octopus Energy also scores much higher in the independent Which? customer satisfaction survey.
Which supplier has the better app?
Octopus Energy has a slightly higher rating on the App Store, while EDF Energy is slightly ahead on Google Play. However, Octopus Energy updates its iOS app much more frequently.
Who answers the phone faster?
Octopus Energy has shorter average call centre wait times. Customers wait around 1 minute 17 seconds with Octopus Energy, compared to 2 minutes 46 seconds with EDF Energy.
Should I choose Octopus Energy or EDF Energy?
Octopus Energy is the stronger choice for most households due to its better customer service scores and higher-rated iOS app. However, EDF Energy may suit you if you want a slightly cheaper variable tariff.
Do Octopus Energy and EDF Energy charge exit fees?
Yes, both suppliers charge exit fees on their cheapest fixed tariffs. Octopus Energy charges a £100 exit fee on its 12-month deal, while EDF Energy charges £150 on its 24-month deal.
Which supplier has the cheaper variable tariff?
EDF Energy offers the cheaper variable tariff in this comparison, costing £1,755 a year compared to £1,792 a year for Octopus Energy.
Are both suppliers open on weekends?
No, neither supplier operates their main phone lines on weekends. Octopus Energy is open Monday to Friday, and EDF Energy follows a similar Monday to Friday schedule.
How do they score with Citizens Advice?
Octopus Energy scores 3.67 out of 5 and ranks 4th in the Citizens Advice table. EDF Energy ranks 11th with a score of 2.9 out of 5.
What changed this month
This month, EDF Energy's iOS app days since last update rose from 3 to 754, EDF Energy's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 24-month fixed deal, and Octopus Energy's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 12-month fixed deal. There were 41 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (47)
Octopus Energy
- Trustpilot reviews807,247 → 821,111
- iOS app ratings count244,000 → 245,000
- iOS app days since last update25 → 9
- Play Store rating4.4444447 → 4.4341745
- Play Store ratings count46,777 → 46,873
- Play Store days since last update25 → 11
- Play Store positive ratings %87 → 86.7
- Play Store negative ratings %9.8 → 10
- Play Store neutral ratings %3.2 → 3.3
- Play Store net-positive %77.2 → 76.7
- Citizens Advice rank3 → 4
- Citizens Advice score3.78 → 3.67
- Complaints per 10,000 customers21.8 → 21.3
- Avg call centre wait time72 → 77
- Emails responded within 2 days %90.4 → 86.1
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,566.25 → £1,792.32
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,691.36 → £1,697.05
- Cheapest tariff£1,566.25 → £1,697.05
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£0 → £100
- Cheapest tariff termvariable → 12 months
EDF Energy
- Trustpilot reviews228,447 → 234,962
- iOS app ratings count181,000 → 182,000
- iOS app days since last update3 → 754
- iOS app updates in last 90 days3 → 0
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.5 → 2
- iOS sampled negative reviews1 → 2
- Play Store rating4.449787 → 4.4540496
- Play Store ratings count48,436 → 49,305
- Play Store days since last update34 → 20
- Play Store positive ratings %86.9 → 87.2
- Play Store negative ratings %9.4 → 9.1
- Play Store net-positive %77.5 → 78.1
- Citizens Advice rank13 → 11
- Citizens Advice score2.6 → 2.9
- Complaints per 10,000 customers44.6 → 47.6
- Avg call centre wait time257 → 166
- Emails responded within 2 days %77.9 → 85.6
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,584.14 → £1,754.76
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,671.75 → £1,692.77
- Cheapest tariff£1,584.14 → £1,692.77
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£0 → £150
- Cheapest tariff termvariable → 24 months
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£100 → £150
- Cheapest fixed tariff term12 months → 24 months
- Tariff count6 → 4
- Fixed tariffs available4 → 2
- Variable tariffs available1 → 2
Related comparisons
Related reviews
Octopus Energy Review
Octopus Energy was set up in 2015 and is backed by the Octopus Group, as well as investors such as Generation Investment Management, Origin Energy, Tokyo Gas, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Through its own growth and by buying other suppliers like Bulb Energy and Shell Energy Retail,
Read review→
Sainsbury’s Energy Review
Headline figures: 4.5★ trustpilot · £1,805 cheapest variable per year.
Read review→49 Day Rule Calculator
49 Day Rule Calculator. Find out when you can leave your fixed rate energy tariff for free. Enter your tariff end date to see the earliest switch date. If you are on a fixed rate energy tariff with exit fees, you can switch supplier for free if your tariff ends within 49 days. Use our calculator to
Try calculator→Related guides
Who are the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers?
For years, the term 'Big Six' was used to describe a specific group of energy companies that dominated the UK market. These companies emerged after the energy sector was privatised in the 1990s. Today, the phrase is mostly an outdated industry label. The original line-up no longer exists, as several
Read guide→
Which energy suppliers are going bust?
The UK energy market has seen massive upheaval over the past few years. During the peak of the energy crisis in 2021 and 2022, wholesale costs soared and caused dozens of suppliers to collapse. By July 2026, the market has largely stabilised. However, smaller companies still occasionally fail, and t
Read guide→
Who is cheaper than British Gas? (2026)
British Gas is one of the UK's largest energy suppliers, but staying on its default standard variable tariff is currently one of the most expensive ways to pay for your gas and electricity. Following a 13% rise in the Ofgem price cap on 1 July 2026, household energy bills have jumped again, driven b
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.