OVO Energy So Energy (August 2026)
OVO Energy vs So Energy
So Energy wins on price with cheaper tracker and fixed tariffs, while OVO Energy leads on customer service and has a more established app review base.
So Energy leads this comparison on price, providing lower-priced tracker and fixed tariffs. OVO Energy may suit households prioritising customer service and app maturity, given its higher Citizens Advice score and larger volume of app reviews.
About OVO Energy and So Energy
Who is OVO Energy?
OVO Energy was set up in 2009 and is one of the UK's largest domestic suppliers. In 2020, it bought the retail business of SSE. In 2026, it announced a planned sale of its retail business to E.ON, which would increase E.ON’s scale in the UK market once regulatory approval is granted. A key feature of the supplier is its focus on smart technology and energy-saving products, as well as its Beyond rewards programme which gives customers perks and savings.
Who are So Energy?
So Energy was set up in 2015 to offer simple tariffs and renewable electricity. It merged with ESB Energy in 2021, meaning it is now backed by the Irish state electricity board. What sets it apart is that it lets customers vote on which UK renewable energy generators it buys from. It also offers solar panel and battery installations to help households generate their own power.
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Tariffs and pricing
So Energy currently provides the lower prices in this comparison. Its cheapest overall option is the So Green Tracker 24m, a variable tracker tariff estimated at £1,687 a year. This requires a 24-month contract and carries a £190 exit fee. Conversely, OVO Energy's cheapest overall tariff is Simpler Energy, a standard variable option costing £1,805 a year. It has a 0-month term and zero exit fees. Consequently, So Energy is £118 a year cheaper overall, equating to roughly £10 a month.
For households looking to lock in their rates, So Energy again provides the lower-priced fixed deal. Its cheapest fixed tariff is estimated at £1,829 a year over an 18-month term, with a £190 exit fee. OVO Energy's most affordable fixed option costs £1,923 a year for a 12-month term, accompanied by a £100 exit fee.
OVO Energy and So Energy: Tariff Options
OVO Energy
OVO Energy offers a range of mainstream household energy plans, including standard variable and fixed-term options. It also provides specialist tariffs for electric vehicle owners and homes with solar panels.
So Energy
So Energy provides a simple selection of standard variable, tracker, and fixed-term tariffs. It also offers specialist options for electric vehicle charging and solar energy export.
Customer reviews
OVO Energy achieves a higher score in customer reviews, holding a 4.7 Trustpilot rating based on 293,863 reviews. Of these, 77% award five stars. So Energy follows closely with a 4.5 rating from 30,220 reviews, where 73% are five-star. Both suppliers typically reply to negative feedback within 24 hours.
Trustpilot feedback summaries indicate that OVO Energy customers frequently note polite staff, prompt responses, and clear explanations. Conversely, some users report long wait times and being transferred between departments. So Energy customers similarly highlight professional staff and competitive pricing, although a portion mention inconsistent communication and unexpected billing charges.
The latest Which? annual survey shows the two suppliers closely matched. OVO Energy received an overall score of 61, just ahead of So Energy's 60. However, So Energy performed slightly better in the customer service and value for money sub-categories, scoring 3 out of 5 for both, compared to OVO Energy's 2 out of 5. OVO Energy achieved a higher rating for smart meters, scoring 5 out of 10 against So Energy's 2 out of 10.
App quality and features
OVO Energy provides a more established app experience. Its iOS version holds a 4.6 rating from 18,000 reviews, whereas the Google Play app scores 3.0 from 10,621 ratings. Both applications have received recent updates.
So Energy's apps achieve 4.7 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play. However, these scores are drawn from very small samples of fewer than 200 ratings each, making direct comparisons with OVO Energy's larger user base difficult.
Recent iOS feedback for OVO Energy highlights detailed usage graphs and straightforward direct debit management, though some users report loading issues on iPads. Meanwhile, So Energy users note their app is simple to navigate for checking usage, but a few have experienced bugs when submitting meter readings.
Service and support
OVO Energy achieves a higher position in the independent Citizens Advice ratings, placing 8th with a score of 3.3 out of 5. So Energy sits in 12th place with a score of 2.86.
Regarding contact times, So Energy records faster phone responses. Its average call centre wait time is 1 minute 6 seconds, compared to 1 minute 33 seconds for OVO Energy. Conversely, OVO Energy is quicker at handling emails, replying to 98.5% within two days, whereas So Energy manages 91.3%.
Both suppliers maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice. At a brand level, OVO Energy accepts Direct Debit, cash, cheques, and prepayment, while So Energy only accepts Direct Debit.
Complaints and performance
In the first quarter of 2026, So Energy received fewer complaints than OVO Energy. So Energy had 1,573 complaints for every 100,000 customers, while OVO Energy had 1,725.
Green Energy Comparison
OVO Energy
Data from Citizens Advice shows that OVO Energy's electricity fuel mix is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable and nuclear power. The company runs a sustainability programme called Plan Zero. It stopped buying Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates for its standard tariffs, arguing that the system allows greenwashing. Instead, it focuses on power purchase agreements with UK generators and offers customers energy-saving products to help them cut their carbon footprint. It has also planted 5 million trees in schools and communities. Customers can choose greener electricity options on specific fixed tariffs.[1]
So Energy
Data from Citizens Advice shows that So Energy's electricity fuel mix is mostly renewable, with some fossil fuels. The supplier buys REGO certificates to match the electricity its customers use. All of its fixed-rate tariffs come with 100% renewable electricity guaranteed. It also helps customers generate their own power by offering solar panel, battery, and heat pump installations.[2]
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | So Energy |
| Overall customer service | OVO Energy |
| A well-rated mobile app | So Energy |
| A greener fuel mix | So Energy |
So Energy wins on price with cheaper tracker and fixed tariffs, while OVO Energy leads on customer service and app maturity.
So Energy provides the lower prices in this comparison, with cheaper options across its tracker and fixed tariffs. Alternatively, OVO Energy performs better on independent customer service metrics and offers a more established app experience.
Households prioritising price may find So Energy the more suitable option, given its lower costs on both variable and fixed deals. Conversely, those who prefer stronger independent service scores, a widely reviewed app, and a standard variable tariff with no exit fees might find OVO Energy a better fit.
- Higher Citizens Advice score and rank
- Strong 4.7 Trustpilot rating
- Established iOS app with 18,000 ratings
- No exit fees on its cheapest variable tariff
- Higher-priced fixed and variable tariffs
- Slower average call centre wait times
- Lower 3.0 rating on Google Play
- Lower-priced overall variable tracker tariff
- Lower-priced fixed tariff option
- Faster average call centre wait times
- High app ratings (albeit from a small sample)
- Lower Citizens Advice score
- £190 exit fee on its cheapest tariffs
- Apps have significantly fewer ratings than OVO Energy
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, OVO Energy or So Energy?
So Energy is currently the cheaper option, offering lower prices on both its tracker and fixed tariffs. However, OVO Energy scores higher with Citizens Advice and has a much more widely used app.
Which supplier has the cheapest tariff?
So Energy offers the cheapest overall tariff in this comparison. Its So Green Tracker 24m costs £1,687 a year, which is £118 cheaper than OVO Energy's Simpler Energy variable tariff at £1,805 a year.
Who has better customer reviews?
OVO Energy performs slightly better on Trustpilot, with a 4.7 rating compared to So Energy's 4.5. Both suppliers have a high percentage of five-star reviews.
Are the apps any good?
OVO Energy has a well-established iOS app with a 4.6 rating from 18,000 reviews, though its Google Play app scores lower at 3.0. So Energy's apps have high ratings on both platforms, but these are based on very small samples of fewer than 200 reviews.
Which supplier offers better customer service?
OVO Energy ranks higher in the Citizens Advice ratings with a score of 3.3 out of 5, placing it 8th. So Energy ranks 12th with a score of 2.86. However, So Energy answers calls more quickly.
Should I choose OVO Energy or So Energy?
If you want the cheapest possible prices, So Energy is the stronger choice. If you value a higher Citizens Advice score and a proven app, OVO Energy is the better option.
Do OVO Energy and So Energy charge exit fees?
OVO Energy's standard variable tariff has no exit fees, but its cheapest fixed deal carries a £100 exit fee. So Energy charges a £190 exit fee on both its cheapest tracker and fixed tariffs.
Do they offer green energy?
So Energy guarantees 100% renewable electricity on all its fixed tariffs by matching customer usage with renewable certificates. OVO Energy offers greener electricity options on specific fixed tariffs and focuses on energy-saving products.
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 So Energy's play store days since last update rose from 22 to 46. There were 29 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (40)
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
So Energy
- Trustpilot reviews29,771 → 30,220
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %99 → 100
- iOS app ratings count170 → 197
- iOS app days since last update22 → 45
- iOS app updates in last 90 days3 → 2
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars3.8 → 3.67
- iOS sampled positive reviews3 → 2
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 1
- Play Store rating4.6 → 4.62
- Play Store ratings count118 → 127
- Play Store days since last update22 → 46
- Play Store positive ratings %91.3 → 92
- Play Store negative ratings %4.3 → 3.2
- Play Store neutral ratings %4.3 → 4.8
- Play Store net-positive %87 → 88.8
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,744.17 → £1,687.08
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,637.61 → £1,828.88
- Cheapest tariff£1,637.61 → £1,687.08
- Cheapest fixed tariff term24 months → 18 months
- Tariff count5 → 6
- Variable tariffs available2 → 3
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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.