Octopus Energy So Energy (October 2026)
Contents
The main differences
Octopus has stronger customer and service scores, while So Energy’s lower-priced tracker comes with a contract and exit fee.
The choice depends on whether you place more weight on service or the lowest annual estimate shown. Octopus Energy has stronger customer feedback, with 4.8/5 on Trustpilot against So Energy’s 4.5/5, alongside higher Which? and Citizens Advice scores. So Energy’s lowest annual estimate shown is £94 less, but So Green Tracker 24m combines changing rates with a 24-month agreement and a £185 total exit fee. Flexible Octopus costs more in this comparison but has no exit fee. Neither supplier therefore leads on every household priority: Octopus has stronger overall service evidence, while So Energy offers a lower-priced tracker with a contract commitment.
About Octopus Energy and So Energy
Who are Octopus Energy?
Octopus Energy centres its approach on technology and customer service. The company describes building its own technology to make energy simpler to manage. Its household business combines standard energy plans with choices that help customers change when they use electricity.
That approach links household energy use with changes in the wider electricity system. Its smart energy plans support heating, home charging and battery storage, while its generation and purchasing work connects the business with renewable electricity producers.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who are So Energy?
So Energy presents its approach as making sustainable energy simple. It combines household energy plans with services for homes moving towards electric heating, home charging or their own solar generation.
Customer choice also forms part of its renewable approach: the company lets customers vote for the type of energy they want it to invest in from UK-based generators. This gives its household offer a practical focus on both energy supply and changes people can make at home.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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Tariffs and pricing
Eligibility
Requires a smart meter
Octopus Energy: Flexible Octopus has the lowest annual estimate shown for Octopus at £1,664, with a £0 exit fee, although its variable rates can change. Octopus 18M Fixed October 2026 v5 costs £1,831 a year, fixes rates for 18 months and has a £150 total exit fee. For a shorter commitment and lower fee, the 12-month alternative, Octopus 12M Fixed October 2026 v6, costs £1,886 a year with a £100 total exit fee—£55 more annually.
So Energy: So Green Tracker 24m has the lowest annual estimate shown at £1,571—£94 a year, or about £8 a month, less than Flexible Octopus. It needs a smart meter and is a tracker, rather than a fixed or standard variable tariff, so rates can change during its 24-month agreement despite the £185 total exit fee. For a shorter commitment and lower fee, So Green Tracker 12m costs £1,619 a year, with a 12-month agreement and £98 total exit fee. So Flex costs £1,672 a year with no exit fee.
So Narwhal 24m is So Energy’s lowest-priced fixed deal shown at £1,944 a year, with a 24-month term and £185 total exit fee. That is £113 a year, or about £9 a month, more than Octopus’s lead fix. So Narwhal 12m offers a shorter 12-month term and lower £146 total exit fee, but costs £1,999 a year. Fixed rates give more price certainty than variable and tracker rates, which can change. All these estimates are for monthly Direct Debit.
Octopus Energy and So Energy tariff options
Octopus Energy tariffs
Flexible Octopus has variable rates and no fixed contract term. The priced fixed editions are Octopus 12M Fixed October 2026 v6, with a 12-month term, and Octopus 18M Fixed October 2026 v5, with an 18-month term. Both carry an early exit fee, so the shorter agreement gives an earlier chance to reconsider without ending the contract early.
The specialist choices work differently. Agile Octopus rewards shifting use between half-hourly prices, while Octopus Go gives EV drivers a set overnight window without needing a dedicated home charger. Cosy Octopus suits supported electric heating, and Octopus Flux combines buying and exporting electricity for solar-and-battery homes. Smart plans need connected meters and half-hourly readings; their equipment rules differ.[1][2]
Eligibility
Octopus must supply the home. You must own or long-term lease a battery electric car or plug-in hybrid and charge it at home; a dedicated home charger is not required. A connected SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 meter must send half-hourly readings. If exporting, pairing is limited to Octopus Outgoing Smart Export Guarantee, Outgoing Octopus or Agile Outgoing Octopus.
Eligibility
Octopus must supply the home; A connected SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 smart meter must send half-hourly readings.
Eligibility
Octopus must supply a home with a working air-source or ground-source heat pump, electric boiler or electric radiators. Other heating systems need approval; A connected SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 smart meter must send half-hourly readings.
Eligibility
You need existing Octopus import and export accounts, plus working solar panels and a home battery. The panels need not have been installed by Octopus; A connected SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 meter must measure import and export and send half-hourly readings. An export MPAN is needed; Octopus can apply for one; Give Octopus your distributor's G98/G99 certification and the MCS certificate for the solar installation; Permanently stop existing FiT export payments and tell any other FiT supplier. Flux pays for measured exports instead; FiT generation payments can continue; You must set the battery's charging and discharging schedule yourself.
So Energy tariffs
So Energy's household choices include fixed, flexible, tracker and EV plans. In the priced range, So Narwhal 12m has a 12-month term, So Narwhal 18m an 18-month term and So Narwhal 24m a 24-month term. These fixed agreements carry early exit fees. A longer fix keeps agreed rates for longer, while the shorter agreement ends sooner.
So Green Tracker 12m and So Green Tracker 24m have variable prices despite their 12-month and 24-month agreements. Both carry an early exit fee: a changing price does not mean there is no contract commitment. So Flex has variable rates, no fixed term and no exit fee. So Energy describes its tracker approach as offering savings against the price cap, rather than locking the household's rates as a fixed plan does.
Eligibility
Requires a smart meter
Eligibility
Requires a smart meter
Customer reviews
Octopus scores 4.8/5 from 880,701 Trustpilot reviews, compared with So Energy’s 4.5/5 from 31,359 reviews. Both have substantial review volumes, with a more positive balance of feedback for Octopus: five-star reviews make up 90% of its total against 73% for So Energy, while one-star reviews account for 3% and 12% respectively.
Octopus customers often praise polite, helpful staff who explain bills clearly and sort out tariff or account questions promptly. Less positive experiences involve slow replies to complex requests, installation delays and account changes left unresolved. So Energy reviewers also value knowledgeable staff, help with billing and straightforward online account management. Criticism includes difficulty comparing plans, feeling rushed into renewal decisions, trouble reaching support and concerns about standing charges.
Both reply to most negative Trustpilot reviews: 97% for Octopus and 99% for So Energy. Typical reply times are one week and 24 hours respectively; a reply does not necessarily settle the issue.
The Which? total scores are 74% for Octopus and 60% for So Energy. Customers rate overall service at 4/5 for Octopus and 3/5 for So Energy, while giving both 4/5 for ease of contact and statement clarity. In the separate Which? supplier assessment, Octopus scores 10/10 for help for those who need it, against 7/10 for So Energy; the smart-meter scores are 5/10 and 2/10 respectively.
Apps and user feedback
The ratings split by phone platform. Octopus is slightly higher on iOS at 4.8/5 from 263,000 ratings, against So Energy’s 4.7/5 from 247 ratings. On Android, So Energy is better rated at 4.7/5 from 148 ratings, compared with Octopus’s 4.3/5 from 47,449 ratings. Octopus also has more than one million Android installs, although installs are separate from ratings.
So Energy’s iPhone users praise clear information and easy navigation, with one user liking the option to check usage in the app rather than visit the website. Another reported that the app rejected a meter reading that was accepted online, alongside difficulty entering a payment amount.
So Energy’s latest release notes describe clearer renewal information and exit-fee details, along with VAT-inclusive prices. Both suppliers have recently updated their apps; Octopus has issued three iOS updates in the past 90 days.
Service and getting help
Average response: 1.2 min (April to June 2026)
Hours: Monday 9am-5pm, Tuesday 9am-5pm, Wednesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4pm
Average response: 2 min (April to June 2026)
Replies: 86.4% within 2 days (April to June 2026)
Hours: 7 days/week
Replies: 91.9% within 2 days (April to June 2026)
Average response: 5.1 min (April to June 2026)
Hours: Available
For April to June 2026, Citizens Advice gives Octopus 3.67/5, ranked 5th, and So Energy 2.85/5, ranked 11th. Octopus also had the shorter average call centre wait time at 1 minute 9 seconds, compared with 2 minutes for So Energy. That means less time waiting to get through by phone, rather than a measure of how well the question was resolved.
So Energy answered 91.9% of emails within two days, compared with Octopus’s 86.4%; So Energy’s average webchat response time was 5 minutes 8 seconds. For routine phone enquiries, Octopus’s hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am–5pm, and Friday, 9am–4pm. Its email team is available seven days a week, offering a way to contact the supplier beyond the routine weekday phone schedule.
The billing and meter measures are close. In April to June 2026, 96.33% of Octopus’s smart-meter bills used actual readings, against 97.08% for So Energy. For traditional-meter bills, the shares were 93.99% and 93.76% respectively. These measures are useful if you want to avoid estimated readings, while the share of working smart meters was 91% at Octopus and 90.08% at So Energy.
| Billing and metering | Octopus Energy — April to June 2026 | So Energy — April to June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Smart meters working correctly | 91% | 90.08% |
| Bills based on readings — smart meters | 96.33% | 97.08% |
| Bills based on readings — traditional meters | 93.99% | 93.76% |
Complaints and how quickly they are resolved
In Q2 2026, Octopus Energy reported 476 complaints per 100,000 customer accounts, compared with 1,474 for So Energy. Octopus had the lower complaint rate for this matching quarter. These figures count complaint events, not the number or percentage of individual customers affected.
So Energy resolved a higher share of complaints within both reported timescales in Q2 2026: 49% by the same or next working day and 93% within eight weeks. Octopus Energy resolved 43% and 80% within those timescales. This gives a mixed picture: Octopus received fewer complaints per 100,000 customer accounts, while So Energy resolved a larger share within these time limits. Resolution figures show how quickly cases were closed, not whether customers were happy with the outcome.
For April to June 2026, Citizens Advice recorded 21.4 complaints to advice bodies and the Energy Ombudsman per 10,000 Octopus Energy customers, compared with 43.7 for So Energy. Octopus had the lower rate on this separate measure too. These are not complaints received directly by either supplier, and the rates should not be directly equated with the supplier-reported figures per 100,000 customer accounts.
The complaint themes below are undated, so they are not a matching-period comparison with Q2 2026. Octopus describes actions taken or under way without giving percentages, while So Energy gives percentages without explaining the problems or its responses.
What their green energy claims mean
Octopus Energy: renewable buying and generation
Octopus buys renewable electricity from more than 700 UK generators through Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs. These are contracts to buy a generator's electricity. It names wind, solar and hydro among the renewable sources it buys, so its approach includes buying power as well as making tariff-specific renewable promises.[1]
There is a community element to that buying. Octopus describes more than 250 community energy purchase agreements, covering projects where local people own and run generation and profits go back into local charitable or environmental work. It also says it owns wind turbines in Yorkshire and South Wales and has adopted further turbines in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Its Fan Club links discounts for nearby communities with turbine output.
The wider group's generation work is separate from a household tariff's backing. Octopus Energy Generation backs, builds and manages renewable projects. In May 2026 it reported £8.5 billion of assets under management and 5.7 GW of capacity across its portfolio. These are figures for the generation business's managed portfolio, rather than assets all owned by the household supplier.[2]
The annual mix of electricity Octopus supplied from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 included renewables and nuclear power. That supplier-wide mix differs from the promise on named plans: Agile Octopus and Octopus Flux say electricity use is matched with British renewable generation certificates. These Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin, or REGOs, record renewable generation; they do not mean a home receives renewable electricity at every moment through the shared grid.
So Energy: tariff-specific renewable backing
So Energy's renewable promise depends on the plan. Its fixed-rate tariffs, dedicated EV tariffs and So Green Tracker are backed by renewable generation certificates. This matches electricity use with renewable generation, rather than setting aside a separate physical supply for each home. Its So Flex standard variable plan is not fully REGO-backed, so the fixed-plan promise does not cover every customer.[3]
Its supplier-wide disclosure for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 includes renewable, fossil-fuel and nuclear electricity. This wider mix covers the supplier's electricity supply, while the certificate promise applies to the qualifying plans. The distinction matters when choosing between So Flex and a plan carrying renewable backing.
So Energy also lets customers vote for renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydro and biomass. This gives customers a say in the sources the company supports, rather than choosing which electricity reaches their sockets. Its solar and battery services offer a separate route for households that want to generate and store electricity at home.
The disclosures below cover different years: Octopus Energy's runs to March 2025, while So Energy's runs to March 2026. They describe annual electricity supply, not a live grid mix or a same-period ranking.
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost shown | So Energy |
| A green tariff option | Either |
Octopus has stronger customer and service scores, while So Energy’s lower-priced tracker comes with a contract and exit fee.
Octopus may suit households that prioritise customer feedback and phone contact. Reviewers often value its helpful staff and clear explanations, and it has higher Trustpilot, Which? and Citizens Advice scores. So Energy’s staff also receive praise, although it has a larger share of negative Trustpilot feedback. The choice is less clear-cut across contact channels and apps, where neither supplier leads on every channel or both phone platforms.
Octopus may suit you if its stronger service evidence matters most, with Flexible Octopus also offering a deal without an exit fee. So Energy’s email response record may appeal if you prefer writing to calling. Its lower tracker estimate is another reason to consider it, provided you have the needed smart meter and accept changing rates alongside the contract and exit fee. These different strengths mean there is no single overall winner.
- Higher Trustpilot, Which? total and Citizens Advice scores.
- Shorter average call centre wait time.
- Flexible Octopus has no exit fee; its lead fixed deal is £113 a year less than So Energy’s.
- Flexible Octopus’s annual estimate is £94 above So Green Tracker 24m.
- A smaller share of emails answered within two days.
- Some reviewers report delays with complex account or installation issues.
- So Green Tracker 24m has the lower annual estimate shown.
- A higher share of emails answered within two days.
- Better rated on Android, though from far fewer ratings.
- So Green Tracker 24m needs a smart meter and carries a 24-month agreement and £185 total exit fee.
- Lower overall customer and independent scores.
- Some reviewers report difficulty reaching support or comparing renewal plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does So Green Tracker lock my energy rates?
No. So Green Tracker 24m is a tracker whose rates can change during its 24-month agreement. Its annual estimate is £1,571, and it carries a £185 total exit fee. A contract term does not mean the rates are fixed.
Which priced tariffs let me avoid exit fees?
Flexible Octopus has a £0 exit fee and an annual estimate of £1,664. So Flex also has a £0 exit fee and an annual estimate of £1,672. Both have variable rates.
Are there shorter fixed deals with lower exit fees?
Yes. Octopus 12M Fixed October 2026 v6 costs £1,886 a year with a 12-month term and £100 total exit fee, compared with £1,831, 18 months and £150 for its lead fix. So Narwhal 12m costs £1,999 a year with a 12-month term and £146 total exit fee, compared with £1,944, 24 months and £185 for So Narwhal 24m.
Do I need a smart meter for So Green Tracker?
Yes. The priced So Green Tracker 12m and 24m deals need a smart meter. Their annual estimates also use monthly Direct Debit.
Which supplier gets through phone and email enquiries faster?
In April to June 2026, Octopus had the shorter average call centre wait time: 1 minute 9 seconds against So Energy’s 2 minutes. So Energy answered a higher share of emails within two days: 91.9% against 86.4%. These measure waiting and response, not whether the issue was settled.
When can I phone Octopus about a routine enquiry?
Octopus’s routine phone hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am–5pm, and Friday, 9am–4pm. Its email team is available seven days a week.
Which app is better rated for my phone?
Octopus is slightly higher on iOS at 4.8/5 from 263,000 ratings, against So Energy’s 4.7/5 from 247 ratings. So Energy is higher on Android at 4.7/5 from 148 ratings, against Octopus’s 4.3/5 from 47,449 ratings.
How often are bills based on actual meter readings?
For April to June 2026, 96.33% of Octopus’s smart-meter bills and 97.08% of So Energy’s used actual readings. For traditional-meter bills, the shares were 93.99% and 93.76% respectively.
What changed this month
This month, Octopus Energy's iOS app days since last update rose from 1 to 25, Octopus Energy's play store days since last update rose from 1 to 17, and Octopus Energy's iOS sampled positive reviews fell from 1 to 0. There were 39 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (51)
Octopus Energy
- Trustpilot reviews857,633 → 880,701
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %96 → 97
- iOS app ratings count254,000 → 263,000
- iOS app days since last update1 → 25
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.5 → no longer available
- iOS sampled positive reviews1 → 0
- iOS sampled negative reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating4.3669577 → 4.328419
- Play Store ratings count47,238 → 47,449
- Play Store days since last update1 → 17
- Play Store positive ratings %84.5 → 83.2
- Play Store negative ratings %11.7 → 12.6
- Play Store neutral ratings %3.7 → 4.2
- Play Store net-positive %72.8 → 70.6
- Citizens Advice rank4 → 5
- Complaints per 10,000 customers21.3 → 21.4
- Avg call centre wait time77 → 69
- Emails responded within 2 days %86.1 → 86.4
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,598.38 → £1,664.22
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,641.76 → £1,831.1
- Cheapest tariff£1,598.38 → £1,664.22
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£100 → £150
- Cheapest fixed tariff term12 months → 18 months
- Tariffs with comparison prices2 → 3
- Fixed tariffs with comparison prices1 → 2
- Longest fixed term12 months → 18 months
So Energy
- Trustpilot reviews30,767 → 31,359
- iOS app ratings count225 → 247
- iOS app days since last update75 → 24
- iOS app updates in last 90 days2 → 1
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars4.33 → 4
- iOS sampled negative reviews0 → 1
- iOS sampled neutral reviews1 → 0
- Play Store rating4.64 → 4.69
- Play Store ratings count138 → 148
- Play Store days since last update76 → 24
- Play Store positive ratings %91.9 → 93.1
- Play Store negative ratings %2.2 → 1.4
- Play Store neutral ratings %5.9 → 5.5
- Play Store net-positive %89.7 → 91.7
- Citizens Advice rank12 → 11
- Citizens Advice score2.86 → 2.85
- Complaints per 10,000 customers57.1 → 43.7
- Avg call centre wait time66 → 120
- Emails responded within 2 days %91.3 → 91.9
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,508.13 → £1,570.59
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,734.74 → £1,944.26
- Cheapest tariff£1,508.13 → £1,570.59
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£190 → £185.48
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£190 → £185.48
- Cheapest fixed tariff term18 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.