Outfox Energy OVO Energy (August 2026)
Overview
Outfox Energy wins with a cheaper fixed tariff and a higher Citizens Advice score, though OVO Energy is the better choice for managing your account through a smartphone app.
Outfox Energy leads this comparison by offering a lower-priced fixed tariff and securing higher customer service scores from Citizens Advice. OVO Energy may suit households prioritising a highly rated smartphone app, though its fixed-price options cost more.
About Outfox Energy and OVO Energy
Who are Outfox Energy?
Founded in 2017 as Outfox the Market, the supplier rebranded to Outfox Energy in June 2025. It is an independent energy supplier based in Leicester, owned by Foxglove Energy Supply Limited, and operates as one of the UK's smaller domestic suppliers. It focuses on simple, low-cost energy plans and gives customers a mobile app to manage their accounts.
Who are OVO Energy?
Founded in 2009, OVO Energy is based in Bristol and is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. It grew in 2020 when it bought the retail business of SSE. In May 2026, E.ON announced a planned agreement to buy OVO Energy, a deal that would increase its scale once regulatory approval is complete. It runs a rewards programme called Beyond and an energy-shifting scheme called Power Move.
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Tariffs and pricing
The lowest-priced tariff identified across both suppliers is Outfox Energy's Fix'd Dual Jul26 24M v10. This fixed deal costs £1,700 a year, requires a 24-month commitment, and includes a £200 exit fee. In contrast, OVO Energy's most affordable overall option is its Simpler Energy variable tariff, priced at £1,805 a year with no fixed term or exit fees.
For households looking to lock in their rates, Outfox Energy provides the lower-priced fixed option at £1,700 a year. OVO Energy's lowest fixed alternative is a 12-month contract costing £1,923 a year, which carries a £100 exit fee.
Those seeking a standard variable tariff will find the two suppliers effectively identical under our usage assumptions. Both Outfox Energy and OVO Energy supply variable options estimated at £1,805 a year.
Outfox Energy and OVO Energy: Tariff Options
Outfox Energy
Outfox Energy offers a range of domestic energy plans, including standard variable and fixed-term options. It also has specialist tariffs for electric vehicle drivers and homes with solar panels.
OVO Energy
OVO Energy offers a selection of household energy plans, covering standard variable and fixed-term tariffs. It also has bundled options with extra services and a specialist add-on for electric vehicle charging.
Customer reviews
Both suppliers maintain strong Trustpilot profiles based on large review volumes. Outfox Energy holds a 4.8 out of 5 score across 54,758 reviews, while OVO Energy records a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 293,863 reviews. The two companies share similar feedback distributions: Outfox Energy receives 76% five-star ratings, OVO Energy receives 77%, and both register a 9% share of one-star reviews.
In the annual Which? survey, Outfox Energy achieves a higher overall score of 71, compared to OVO Energy's 61. Outfox Energy leads in the smart meters category with 8 out of 10, whereas OVO Energy scores 5 out of 10. Conversely, OVO Energy performs better for helping those who need it, scoring 9 out of 10 against Outfox Energy's 7 out of 10. Both suppliers receive 2 out of 5 for overall customer service.
Trustpilot reviewers frequently note helpful staff and prompt responses for both companies. Outfox Energy customers often highlight efficient problem resolution, although a portion report long telephone wait times. OVO Energy feedback similarly points to polite representatives and clear communication, but some users mention being transferred multiple times or experiencing delays when contacting customer support.
Smartphone apps
OVO Energy records higher ratings across both major app stores. Its iOS application scores 4.6 out of 5 from 18,000 ratings, and its Android version holds a 3.0 out of 5 score across 10,621 ratings. Furthermore, the OVO Energy Android app registers over a million installs and a net-positive rating share of 1.3%.
Outfox Energy operates with much smaller rating samples, making direct comparisons difficult. Its iOS app currently scores 2.0 out of 5 from 102 ratings, while the Android equivalent scores 2.3 out of 5 across 189 ratings.
Update frequency differs between the two, with OVO Energy releasing a version 37 days ago to address bugs and performance. Outfox Energy last updated its iOS app 160 days ago, adding Priority Services Register features. Recent iOS feedback for OVO Energy indicates general satisfaction with its features, though one user noted frustration regarding website login restrictions. Meanwhile, the limited recent reviews for Outfox Energy centre on functionality issues and descriptions of the app feeling like a basic website wrapper.
Customer service and support
Outfox Energy places higher in the Citizens Advice ratings, ranking 2nd overall with a score of 4.25 out of 5. OVO Energy sits in 8th position with a score of 3.3 out of 5. Additionally, Outfox Energy records a lower complaints rate, registering 16.3 complaints per 10,000 customers compared to OVO Energy's 39.5.
Telephone response times are relatively short for both providers. Outfox Energy reports an average call centre wait time of 1 minute 17 seconds, while OVO Energy averages 1 minute 33 seconds. On social media, Outfox Energy replies in an average of 49 seconds, whereas OVO Energy takes 6 minutes 53 seconds. Both suppliers respond to nearly all emails within a two-day window.
Each supplier maintains formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice. Outfox Energy operates its phone lines on weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. OVO Energy is available on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, but remains closed throughout the weekend.
Complaints and Performance
We only have Q4 2025 complaints-performance data for OVO Energy. Citizens Advice publishes separate complaints-rate figures for both suppliers, but the available Q4 data does not support a like-for-like comparison here.
Green Energy Comparison
Outfox Energy
Based on Citizens Advice data from early 2026, Outfox Energy's electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels and renewables, with some nuclear. The supplier offers an electric vehicle tariff that helps support greener grids by encouraging off-peak charging, and an export tariff for customers who generate their own renewable electricity. It does not currently promote a 100% renewable standard tariff.[1]
OVO Energy
According to Citizens Advice data from early 2026, OVO Energy's electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable and nuclear energy. Customers can choose to add a Greener Electricity upgrade to their fixed tariff. The supplier also runs the OVO Foundation, which funds nature projects and tree planting, and promotes a Path to Zero strategy.[2]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | Outfox Energy |
| Overall customer service | Outfox Energy |
| A well-rated mobile app | OVO Energy |
| A greener fuel mix | Outfox Energy |
Outfox Energy wins with a cheaper fixed tariff and a higher Citizens Advice score, though OVO Energy is the better choice for managing your account through a smartphone app.
Outfox Energy leads this comparison by offering a lower-priced fixed tariff and achieving higher scores in independent service metrics. Its 24-month fixed deal costs less than OVO Energy's 12-month fixed option, and the supplier ranks 2nd overall with Citizens Advice.
OVO Energy may suit households prioritising digital account management. It holds higher ratings for its smartphone apps across tens of thousands of reviews, whereas Outfox Energy's app feedback is limited and scores lower. However, OVO Energy's fixed tariffs are priced higher based on the quotes analysed.
- Lower-priced fixed tariff
- Ranks 2nd in Citizens Advice ratings
- Faster average social media response times
- Low user ratings for its smartphone apps
- Requires a 24-month commitment on its lowest-priced fixed deal
- Higher user ratings for its iOS app
- Shorter 12-month term on its lowest-priced fixed deal
- Scores 9 out of 10 for helping vulnerable customers in the Which? survey
- Higher-priced fixed tariff
- Higher complaints rate recorded by Citizens Advice
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall?
Outfox Energy performs better overall due to its cheaper fixed tariff and stronger Citizens Advice score, though OVO Energy is the better choice if you want to manage your account through a smartphone app.
Who has the cheaper fixed tariff?
Outfox Energy offers the cheaper fixed deal. Its 24-month fixed tariff costs £1,700 a year, while OVO Energy's cheapest 12-month fix is £1,923 a year.
Do customers rate Outfox Energy or OVO Energy higher?
Both suppliers have very similar Trustpilot scores, with Outfox Energy at 4.8 and OVO Energy at 4.7. However, Outfox Energy scores higher in the annual Which? survey, achieving 71 compared to OVO Energy's 61.
Which supplier has the better app?
OVO Energy has much higher app ratings on both the App Store and Google Play, supported by tens of thousands of reviews. Outfox Energy's apps have very few ratings and score poorly.
Who answers the phone faster?
Outfox Energy answers slightly faster, with an average wait time of 1 minute 17 seconds compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy.
Should I choose Outfox Energy or OVO Energy?
If you want the cheapest fixed price and strong customer service, Outfox Energy is the better choice. If you prefer managing your energy through a highly rated app, OVO Energy may suit you better.
Do either of these suppliers charge exit fees?
Yes, Outfox Energy charges a £200 exit fee on its cheapest 24-month fixed tariff. OVO Energy charges a £100 exit fee on its cheapest 12-month fixed deal, but its variable tariff has no exit fee.
Are both suppliers open on weekends?
Outfox Energy opens its phone lines on Saturday mornings from 9am to 2pm. OVO Energy is closed on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Are their standard variable tariffs the same price?
Yes, the standard variable tariffs for both Outfox Energy and OVO Energy are effectively identical under our assumptions, costing about £1,805 a year.
What changed this month
This month, OVO Energy's iOS app days since last update rose from 13 to 37, OVO Energy's play store days since last update rose from 14 to 37, and OVO Energy's cheapest tariff exit fee fell from £100 to £0. There were 26 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (36)
Outfox Energy
- Trustpilot reviews53,918 → 54,758
- iOS app days since last update137 → 160
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars1.8 → 2.33
- iOS sampled negative reviews4 → 2
- Play Store rating2.3267326 → 2.31
- Play Store ratings count185 → 189
- Play Store days since last update140 → 163
- Play Store positive ratings %28.6 → 28.8
- Play Store negative ratings %62.6 → 63.6
- Play Store neutral ratings %8.8 → 7.6
- Play Store net-positive %-34 → -34.8
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,542.79 → £1,699.69
- Cheapest tariff£1,542.79 → £1,699.69
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£150 → £200
- Cheapest tariff term15 months → 24 months
- Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee£150 → £200
- Cheapest fixed tariff term15 months → 24 months
OVO Energy
- Trustpilot reviews287,327 → 293,863
- iOS app days since last update13 → 37
- iOS app updates in last 90 days3 → 2
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars4.2 → 3.67
- iOS sampled positive reviews4 → 2
- Play Store rating3.2850413 → 3.0206423
- Play Store ratings count10,351 → 10,621
- Play Store days since last update14 → 37
- Play Store positive ratings %55.4 → 48.2
- Play Store negative ratings %40.2 → 46.9
- Play Store neutral ratings %4.5 → 4.9
- Play Store net-positive %15.2 → 1.3
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,797.13 → £1,923.42
- Cheapest tariff£1,797.13 → £1,804.82
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£100 → £0
- Cheapest tariff term12 months → 0 months
- Tariff count5 → 4
- Fixed tariffs available4 → 3
- Longest fixed term24 months → 12 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.