Outfox Energy OVO Energy (July 2026)
Overview
Outfox Energy wins overall with a cheaper fixed tariff and stronger customer service scores, though OVO Energy offers better smartphone apps.
Outfox Energy leads this comparison due to its lower-priced fixed tariff and higher independent customer service scores. OVO Energy may suit households who prioritise managing their account via a smartphone app.
About Outfox Energy and OVO Energy
Who is Outfox Energy?
Outfox Energy is an independent British energy supplier based in Leicester. Set up in 2017 as a family-run business, it rebranded from Outfox the Market in 2025. It is a smaller challenger supplier that acts as a low-cost alternative to the UK's largest energy providers. The supplier focuses on simple tariffs and customer service, and encourages customers to manage their accounts online or through its app.
Who is OVO Energy?
OVO Energy is one of the UK's largest domestic energy suppliers. Set up in 2009, the Bristol-based company is privately backed. It grew when it bought the retail business of SSE in 2020. In 2026, OVO announced a planned agreement to become part of E.ON, which would increase its scale. The supplier offers a mix of standard and fixed tariffs, alongside smart EV add-ons and a scheme that rewards customers for shifting their energy use to off-peak times.
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Tariffs and pricing
Outfox Energy provides the lowest-priced overall deal in this comparison. Its Outfox the Price Cap - Fix'd DUAL July 2026 - 15M V8 fixed tariff costs £1,543 a year, locking in rates for 15 months with a £150 total exit fee.
OVO Energy’s lowest-priced option is the 1 Year Fixed + Boiler Cover 09 July 2026 tariff at £1,797 a year. This 12-month fixed contract includes a total exit fee of £100.
For households seeking flexibility without exit fees, both suppliers offer standard variable tariffs. The Outfox Energy Fox Standard Dual tariff and the OVO Energy Simpler Energy tariff both cost £1,805 a year, making their variable pricing effectively identical under our assumptions.
Tariff Options
Outfox Energy
Outfox Energy focuses on a straightforward range of standard variable and fixed-term tariffs. It also offers a tracker tariff and specialist smart options for electric vehicle owners and households that can shift their energy use to the weekend.
OVO Energy
OVO Energy provides a mix of standard variable and fixed-term tariffs. Customers can choose standard fixed deals or bundle them with extras such as boiler cover or a greener electricity upgrade. It also offers a specialist add-on for electric vehicle drivers.
Customer reviews
Both suppliers maintain high average ratings on Trustpilot across large volumes of feedback. Outfox Energy holds a 4.8 rating, with 76% of reviewers awarding five stars. Customer feedback frequently highlights polite staff and quick, efficient query resolution.
OVO Energy holds a 4.7 Trustpilot rating, with 77% of reviews awarding five stars. While many users note positive staff interactions, some report frustration regarding initial communication and unresolved issues with smart meters and billing.
In the annual Which? energy survey, Outfox Energy scores 71, placing it ahead of OVO Energy's score of 61. Outfox Energy receives 11 out of 15 for complaints and 8 out of 10 for smart meters. OVO Energy scores 6 out of 15 and 5 out of 10 in those respective categories, though it achieves a higher 9 out of 10 for helping those who need it.
Smartphone apps
OVO Energy provides a higher-rated smartphone app experience. Its iOS app holds a 4.6 rating from a large user base, following recent updates to address defects and performance. Recent Apple reviews indicate it is useful for checking historical energy use and managing payments, although some users note it restricts access to the main website.
Outfox Energy receives low app ratings across both platforms, scoring 2.0 on iOS and 2.3 on Android. Recent Apple reviewers describe the application as a basic web portal with limited functionality, which can make checking energy usage difficult.
Service and support
Outfox Energy ranks higher in independent customer service tests, placing 2nd in the latest Citizens Advice data with a score of 4.25 out of 5. OVO Energy ranks 8th, scoring 3.3 out of 5.
For contact times, Outfox Energy answers calls in an average of 1 minute 17 seconds, compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy. Outfox Energy also replies faster on social media, averaging 49 seconds against OVO Energy's 6 minutes 53 seconds. Both suppliers respond to nearly all emails within two days.
Both companies have registered formal vulnerability commitments with Citizens Advice. OVO Energy accepts Direct Debit, Cash/Cheque, and Prepayment, operating its phone lines on weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Outfox Energy accepts Direct Debit and operates on weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, as well as Saturdays from 9am to 2pm.
Complaints and performance
We do not have complaints data for Outfox Energy. The figures for OVO Energy cover the last three months of 2025.
Green Energy Comparison
Outfox Energy
Outfox Energy's electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels and renewables, with some nuclear power. The supplier does not currently offer a dedicated green tariff. It does support greener energy use through a specialist electric vehicle tariff, which offers discounted overnight rates to encourage customers to charge their cars during off-peak hours when grid demand is lower.[1]
OVO Energy
OVO Energy's electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable and nuclear power. The company stopped using REGO certificates as standard in 2023. Instead, customers can choose a greener electricity upgrade, which provides 100% renewable electricity backed by agreements with independent UK-based generators. OVO has a net zero target and states it has planted 5 million trees in the UK. It also offers a rewards programme that gives customers perks for making greener choices.[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 overall with a cheaper fixed tariff and stronger customer service scores, though OVO Energy offers better smartphone apps.
Outfox Energy leads on price and independent service metrics under this comparison’s assumptions. It offers a lower-priced fixed tariff and ranks higher in data from Citizens Advice and Which?, supported by fast call wait times and fewer customer complaints.
OVO Energy may suit households who prioritise managing their account through a smartphone app. Conversely, Outfox Energy is likely the better option for those focused on securing a lower-priced fixed tariff and faster customer support response times.
- Lower-priced fixed tariff available
- Higher overall Citizens Advice score
- Faster average response times on phone and social media
- Low ratings for its smartphone apps
- Lower Which? score for helping those who need it
- Higher-rated iOS smartphone app
- Higher Which? score for helping those who need it
- Higher-priced fixed tariff in this comparison
- Lower Citizens Advice score
- Higher rate of complaints per 10,000 customers
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall?
Outfox Energy wins this comparison based on the available data. It offers a cheaper fixed tariff and achieves better scores for customer service and complaint handling, though OVO Energy provides much better smartphone apps.
Are Outfox Energy tariffs cheaper than OVO Energy?
Outfox Energy currently offers a cheaper fixed deal than OVO Energy. If you prefer a standard variable tariff with no exit fees, both suppliers charge effectively identical rates.
What do customers say about OVO Energy on Trustpilot?
OVO Energy holds a high 4.7 rating on Trustpilot. Many customers praise the helpful staff and smooth service, but some reviewers report frustration with initial contact and unresolved billing issues.
Does Outfox Energy have a good smartphone app?
No, Outfox Energy struggles with its apps. Both its Apple and Android apps hold very low ratings, with reviewers noting they lack features and act more like a basic web portal.
How long does it take to contact Outfox Energy?
Outfox Energy answers phone calls in an average of 1 minute 17 seconds, and it replies to social media messages in under a minute. It also responds to 100% of emails within two days.
Should I switch to Outfox Energy or OVO Energy?
If you want the cheapest fixed prices and faster customer service, Outfox Energy is the better choice. If you prefer managing your bills on your phone, OVO Energy has a much stronger app.
Do these suppliers charge exit fees?
Yes, both suppliers charge exit fees on their fixed deals. The cheapest Outfox Energy fixed deal carries a £150 total exit fee, while OVO Energy charges a £100 total exit fee on its cheapest fixed option.
What are OVO Energy's opening hours?
OVO Energy's phone lines are open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, but closed on weekends. Outfox Energy is open slightly longer, taking calls from 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
How do they perform in Which? customer tests?
Outfox Energy scores 71 in the annual Which? survey, beating OVO Energy, which scores 61. Outfox Energy performs better on complaints and smart meters, while OVO Energy scores highly for helping those who need it.
Do both suppliers offer fixed tariffs?
Yes, both suppliers offer fixed deals. Outfox Energy currently lists a 15-month fixed deal as its cheapest option, while OVO Energy offers a 12-month fixed deal.
What changed this month
This month, OVO Energy's cheapest tariff term changed from a variable tariff to a 12-month fixed deal, OVO Energy's tariff count rose from 1 to 5, and OVO Energy's iOS app days since last update rose from 0 to 13. There were 38 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (53)
Outfox Energy
- Trustpilot reviews53,128 → 53,918
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %98 → 100
- iOS app days since last update192 → 137
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2 → 1.8
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 4
- Play Store rating2.31 → 2.3267326
- Play Store ratings count182 → 185
- Play Store days since last update125 → 140
- Play Store positive ratings %27.8 → 28.6
- Play Store negative ratings %63.3 → 62.6
- Play Store neutral ratings %8.9 → 8.8
- Play Store net-positive %-35.5 → -34
- Citizens Advice score3.9 → 4.25
- Complaints per 10,000 customers23.4 → 16.3
- Avg call centre wait time75 → 77
- Avg social media response timenow available (49)
- Emails responded within 2 days %99.5 → 100
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,584.24 → £1,804.79
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,522.84 → £1,542.79
- Cheapest tariff£1,443.03 → £1,542.79
- Cheapest tariff exit fee£100 → £150
- Cheapest tariff term12 months → 15 months
- Cheapest fixed tariff term12 months → 15 months
- Fixed tariffs available3 → 4
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.