Octopus Energy Home Energy (August 2026)
Overview
Octopus Energy wins overall for its excellent customer service and app quality, though Home Energy currently offers a cheaper standard variable tariff.
Octopus Energy scores higher across customer service metrics and app ratings, although Home Energy currently provides a cheaper variable tariff. Home Energy may suit households prioritising upfront unit costs, whereas Octopus Energy offers a broader selection of tariffs alongside established service records.
About Octopus Energy and Home Energy
Who are Octopus Energy?
Set up in 2015, Octopus Energy is the UK's largest domestic energy supplier. It is backed by the Octopus Group and global investors. The company runs its billing and customer service on its own software platform called Kraken. It has grown by taking on customers from failed suppliers and through its own growth. It offers a £50 account credit for customers who sign up through a referral link.
Who are Home Energy?
Home Energy is an independent UK energy supplier incorporated in 2016. Based in London and part of the Net Zero Planet Group, it is one of the smaller domestic suppliers in the market. It focuses on offering simple, low-cost energy and aims to answer customer queries quickly using a UK-based support team. Customers can manage their accounts through a basic online portal or a mobile app.
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Tariffs and pricing
The lowest-priced tariff in this comparison is Home Energy's Fair Variable Dual at £1,625 a year. This variable deal has no fixed term and charges no exit fees. Octopus Energy's cheapest equivalent is the Flexible Octopus variable tariff at £1,792 a year. This makes Home Energy £167 a year (around £14 a month) cheaper. Neither tariff carries exit fees.
For households seeking price certainty, Octopus Energy provides fixed options. Its lowest-priced fixed deal is the Octopus 12M Fixed July 2026 v5, costing £1,841 a year for a 12-month term, with a £100 exit fee. Our current data shows no fixed-tariff pricing for Home Energy, meaning Octopus Energy is the only option here for locking in rates.
Tariff options
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy offers standard variable and fixed tariffs alongside specialist options for homes with electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar panels, and battery storage. It also offers smart tariffs with prices that change based on wholesale energy costs.
Home Energy
Home Energy keeps its product range very simple. It focuses on offering a standard variable tariff. We did not identify equivalent fixed-term, tracker or specialist electric-vehicle tariffs in Home Energy's current published domestic range when checked.
Customer reviews
On Trustpilot, Octopus Energy holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 837,814 reviews, while Home Energy scores 4.0 out of 5 from 827 reviews. Five-star ratings make up 90% of Octopus Energy's total, compared to 71% for Home Energy. Conversely, Home Energy sees a higher proportion of one-star reviews at 20%.
Feedback for Octopus Energy frequently highlights helpful staff and prompt responses, though a portion of users note delays in email replies. Home Energy customers often point to competitive pricing and friendly interactions, but some report extended waits for statements or complications during the switching process.
In the annual Which? customer satisfaction survey, Octopus Energy scores 74 overall. This includes 4 out of 5 for customer service, 10 out of 10 for helping those who need it, 8 out of 15 for complaints, and 8 out of 12 for contacting the supplier. Home Energy does not currently have Which? survey data available.
App quality and features
Octopus Energy's mobile app scores 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store (249,000 ratings) and 4.4 out of 5 on Google Play (47,091 ratings). The software receives frequent updates, and the Android edition records over 1,000,000 installs. While a sample of recent iOS reviews shows mixed feedback, the aggregate scores remain high.
Home Energy's app holds 2.3 out of 5 from 7 iOS ratings and 2.4 out of 5 from 15 Google Play ratings. This sample size is very small, making direct comparisons with larger suppliers difficult. Recent iOS feedback for Home Energy points to difficulties with billing and amending direct debits.
Service and support
Citizens Advice ranks Octopus Energy 4th, awarding an overall score of 3.67 out of 5. The supplier averages a call centre wait time of 1 minute 17 seconds and answers 86.1% of emails within two days. It maintains registered vulnerability commitments and operates phone lines from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4pm on Fridays (closed weekends).
Home Energy currently lacks Citizens Advice data. As a result, direct comparisons regarding call wait times, email response rates, or overall service scores against Octopus Energy are not possible.
Complaints and performance
In Q1 2026, Octopus Energy received 538 complaints for every 100,000 customers. It solved 43% of these by the end of the next working day, and 80% within eight weeks. Home Energy has no complaints data available, so we cannot compare the two suppliers.
Why do customers complain to Octopus Energy?
The main reason customers complained to Octopus Energy was about customer service. To fix this, the supplier set up a training academy and grew its teams so more staff can answer questions.
The second and third most common complaints were about billing and meter readings, covering both standard and smart meters. Octopus Energy says it is making its bills clearer and improving its computer systems to send bills on time without staff needing to step in.
Payment issues were the fourth main reason for complaints. To help, Octopus Energy added £40 million to its support fund for customers struggling to pay. It also gives out free electric blankets and offers payment holidays to those who need extra help.
Finally, customers complained about smart meter installations and broken meters. The supplier is replacing broken smart meters and upgrading software to make them work better.
Why do customers complain to Home Energy?
There is no complaints data available for Home Energy, so we do not know the main reasons its customers complain.
Green energy comparison
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy supplies 100% zero-carbon electricity. It matches the electricity its customers use with Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates. Based on Citizens Advice data from early 2026, its overall fuel mix is a mostly renewable mix, with some nuclear. The company also invests in its own renewable generation projects, such as wind and solar farms. It installs solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicle chargers, and heat pumps.[1]
Home Energy
Home Energy uses a mixed fuel source for its electricity. Its electricity mix is largely split between renewable energy and natural gas, with some nuclear and a small amount of coal. The supplier states it is working to reduce its reliance on coal and shift towards more sustainable energy. As part of the Net Zero Planet Group, it supports the UK's goal to reach net zero by 2050. We did not identify a specific green tariff or carbon-offsetting information in Home Energy's current published domestic materials when checked.[2]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | Home Energy |
| A well-rated mobile app | Octopus Energy |
Octopus Energy wins overall for its excellent customer service and app quality, though Home Energy currently offers a cheaper standard variable tariff.
Based on the independent metrics reviewed, Octopus Energy scores higher, supported by established app ratings and strong Citizens Advice and Trustpilot data. Conversely, Home Energy supplies a notably cheaper standard variable tariff among the deals priced in this comparison, coming in at £167 a year less under our assumptions.
Home Energy may suit households focused primarily on the upfront price of a variable tariff. However, Octopus Energy ranks higher in our data for those prioritising customer service metrics, app functionality, or access to fixed and specialist tariffs. This verdict carries a medium confidence rating because Home Energy is missing several key independent data points.
- High Trustpilot score from a large volume of reviews
- Strongly rated mobile apps across iOS and Android
- Broad selection of fixed, variable, and specialist tariffs
- 100% zero-carbon electricity
- Standard variable tariff costs more than Home Energy's equivalent
- Cheapest fixed tariff includes a £100 exit fee
- Standard variable tariff is £167 a year cheaper than Octopus Energy's equivalent
- Trustpilot reviewers frequently note helpful staff
- Lacks independent service data from Citizens Advice and Which?
- No fixed-term tariffs currently available in our pricing data
- App rating sample sizes are too small to reliably assess performance
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall?
Octopus Energy performs better across most independent metrics, offering highly rated customer service and a wider range of tariffs. However, Home Energy currently offers a cheaper standard variable tariff.
Does Home Energy offer any fixed tariffs?
There are currently no fixed tariffs available for Home Energy among the deals we have prices for. It focuses on offering a standard variable tariff.
How do customers rate Octopus Energy's service?
Customers rate Octopus Energy very highly. It holds a 4.8 out of 5 score on Trustpilot, with many reviewers praising the helpful staff and quick response times.
Is the Home Energy app any good?
The Home Energy app scores 2.3 out of 5 on the App Store and 2.4 out of 5 on Google Play. However, these scores are based on a very small number of ratings, making it difficult to judge its overall reliability.
How long does it take for Octopus Energy to answer the phone?
According to Citizens Advice data, Octopus Energy has an average call centre wait time of 1 minute 17 seconds.
Should I switch to Home Energy for the cheaper price?
If finding the cheapest standard variable tariff is your main priority, Home Energy is the cheaper option. However, it lacks the proven customer service record and app quality that Octopus Energy provides.
Are there any exit fees with the cheapest tariffs?
Both Octopus Energy and Home Energy offer variable tariffs with no exit fees. However, Octopus Energy's cheapest fixed deal carries a £100 exit fee.
Does Home Energy respond to negative reviews?
Yes, Home Energy replies to 95% of its negative reviews on Trustpilot, which shows it actively engages with customer feedback.
How often do these suppliers update their apps?
Octopus Energy updates its apps very frequently, often weekly, to fix bugs and add features. Home Energy has not recorded an app update in the past 90 days in our data.
What payment methods does Octopus Energy accept?
Octopus Energy accepts Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque, and Prepayment. Its customer support lines are open Monday to Friday and closed on weekends.
What changed this month
This month, Octopus Energy's iOS sampled positive reviews rose from 0 to 1, Octopus Energy's iOS sampled negative reviews rose from 0 to 2, and Octopus Energy's cheapest tariff exit fee fell from £100 to £0. There were 28 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (38)
Octopus Energy
- Trustpilot reviews821,111 → 837,814
- iOS app ratings count245,000 → 249,000
- iOS app days since last update9 → 6
- iOS sampled reviews avg starsnow available (2)
- iOS sampled positive reviews0 → 1
- iOS sampled negative reviews0 → 2
- Play Store rating4.4341745 → 4.3956046
- Play Store ratings count46,873 → 47,091
- Play Store days since last update11 → 2
- Play Store positive ratings %86.7 → 85.5
- Play Store negative ratings %10 → 11
- Play Store neutral ratings %3.3 → 3.5
- Play Store net-positive %76.7 → 74.5
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,697.05 → £1,841.19
- Cheapest tariff£1,697.05 → £1,792.32
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£100 → £0
- Cheapest tariff term12 months → 0 months
- Tariff count2 → 3
- Fixed tariffs available1 → 2
Home Energy
- Trustpilot reviews811 → 827
- Trustpilot 4-star %5 → 4
- Trustpilot 1-star %19 → 20
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %92 → 95
- Trustpilot positive reviews %76 → 75
- Trustpilot negative reviews %22 → 23
- Trustpilot net-positive %54 → 52
- iOS app days since last update500 → 158
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2 → 1
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 3
- Play Store rating2.357143 → 2.4
- Play Store ratings count14 → 15
- Play Store days since last update136 → 159
- Play Store positive ratings %28.6 → 26.7
- Play Store negative ratings %57.1 → 53.3
- Play Store neutral ratings %14.3 → 20
- Play Store net-positive %-28.5 → -26.6
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,507.25 → £1,625.43
- Cheapest tariff£1,507.25 → £1,625.43
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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.