Octopus vs OVO (2026 Comparison)

Last Updated: 9th January 2026

Octopus Energy and OVO are the two fastest-growing energy suppliers in the UK. If you are looking to switch suppliers, you will likely come across both companies as reasonable choices to move to. Octopus vs OVO, which supplier is the better option for you?

In this guide, we’ll compare the two across a range of categories, such as tariff options, monthly prices, electric vehicle (EV) tariffs, customer reviews and customer service.

Hopefully, by the end of this, you will have a better idea of which supplier is the best one for you.

Who are OVO Energy?

OVO has been trading since 2009 and has over four million domestic customers across the UK. They focus on providing greener energy to customers. They also take part in other green initiatives, like planting over 1 million trees per year.

They are proud to be the first energy supplier in the UK to remove coal and nuclear from their fuel mix.

Over the last five years, they have won several awards, including the uSwitch Supplier of the Year award in 2017 and 2019.

Who are Octopus Energy?

Octopus has been supplying energy since 2015 and, in that short time, has built up a massive customer base of over seven million households in the UK (managing around 13 million meters).

Similar to OVO, Octopus have put their focus on providing greener energy. 100% of their electricity supply comes from renewable sources such as the sun, sea and air. They also have a strong focus on technology and innovation, with a range of different smart tariffs.

Octopus has won numerous awards since starting out, including being named a Which? Recommended Provider for 2025 (for the 8th year in a row) and the recent uSwitch Supplier of the Year award.

OVO vs Octopus: What’s the difference in tariff options?

First, we’ll compare each supplier’s tariff options. Both Octopus and OVO offer similar tariff options, but there are quite a few differences between them, as you can see below.

OVO

OVO offers a wider variety of fixed terms than most suppliers, including bundled options with boiler cover. The different tariffs on offer are as follows:

OVO Beyond: An upgrade add-on that unlocks greener energy perks and rewards.

• 1 Year Fixed + Boiler Cover: A discounted fixed rate bundled with heating cover.
• 1 Year Fixed: Standard fixed unit rate plan for 12 months.
• 2 Year Fixed: A longer-term fix (24 months) to lock in rates for two winters.
• Simpler Energy: Standard variable tariff. Flexible plan where prices can go up and down over time.

Octopus

Octopus has one less tariff available for the majority of customers. They do have a range of smart tariffs, which we have not included here, as their suitability depends on your situation.

You can see more details on Octopus’ tariffs below:

• Flexible Octopus: This is a variable rate tariff. Offers 100% renewable electricity.
• Octopus 12M Fixed: This is a 12-month contract with prices fixed for that time. Offers 100% renewable electricity.
• Tracker Tariff: Unit rates change on a daily basis based on wholesale costs.

OVO Energy vs Octopus: What’s the difference in price?

The most important factor for many people when choosing any energy supplier is price. For this section, we requested a quote from each supplier using the exact same details to see how they compare.

These are the details we used:

• Dual fuel supply
• Standard Meter
• Payment by Direct Debit
• 2,900 kWh of electricity and 12,000 kWh of gas (Medium usage – 3-bedroom house occupied by a family of 4)
• Postcode in the East Midlands

Let’s see if Octopus Energy is cheaper than OVO or vice versa.

Source: Market data 9th January 2026.

OVO currently has an aggressive offer where their 1 Year Fixed + Boiler Cover is significantly cheaper (£144) than their standard fixed rate (£158). However, note the high exit fees (£100-£190) if you want to leave early.

These were the prices we got from Octopus:

Octopus’ fixed rate is £150 per month, which sits between OVO’s two fixed options. Crucially, Octopus charges £0 exit fees on their fixed tariff, giving you the freedom to switch if prices drop.

The prices for both their fixed and variable tariffs are very similar. If you have a smart meter, their Tracker Tariff could work out to be significantly cheaper than the other options, however.

Octopus Energy vs OVO: Who offers the greenest energy?

An important factor for many people is how green the energy they are supplied is and the impact their supplier is having on the planet. Here we look at the two suppliers’ green credentials:

Octopus does a lot when it comes to green energy. From the supply side, they operate £3.4 billion worth of renewable generation (enough to power 2 million homes). They have also committed millions to open a research lab for researching a low-carbon energy system. For customers, they offer 100% renewable electricity across all their tariffs as standard.

OVO also has a big focus on green initiatives. They aim to be a zero-carbon company by 2035 and have a sustainability plan to reach this goal called Plan Zero. They also plant 1 million trees a year in the UK through schools and communities.

For customers, they don’t offer renewable electricity as standard, but they do offer a ‘Greener’ upgrade to some of their tariffs for an additional cost, as noted above. This means you receive 100% renewable electricity and 10% green gas with the remaining 90% carbon offset, and OVO makes a £20 contribution to support new UK generators.

Octopus vs OVO: EV Tariffs (Electric Vehicles)

If you own an Electric Vehicle, the standard price comparison above might not apply to you. Both suppliers offer “Smart” EV tariffs that are significantly cheaper than the price cap, but they work in very different ways.

Octopus Energy (Intelligent Octopus Go) Octopus offers a tariff called Intelligent Octopus Go. It links to your car or charger and automatically charges your car when electricity is cheapest (usually overnight).

• The Benefit: You get a super-cheap rate (approx 7p/kWh) for 6 hours every night (11:30 pm – 05:30 am).
• The “Whole House” Bonus: Crucially, this cheap rate applies to your whole house during those hours. So, if you run your washing machine or dishwasher at 2 am, you pay the cheap EV rate for that, too.

OVO Energy (Charge Anytime) OVO offers an add-on called Charge Anytime. You can attach this to your standard tariff.

• The Benefit: It gives you a cheap rate (approx 7p/kWh) for your EV charging at any time of the day, provided you let OVO’s smart technology manage the charge.
• The Difference: This cheap rate applies only to the energy used by your car. Your house usage continues to be charged at the standard rate.

Reward Schemes: Octoplus vs OVO Beyond

Both suppliers have launched loyalty schemes to reward customers, but they offer very different perks.

Octoplus (Octopus Energy)

• Who is it for? Customers with a smart meter.
• The Perks: Octopus focuses on “lifestyle” rewards. You can get free hot drinks (e.g. from Greggs or Caffe Nero), discounted cinema tickets, and discounts on restaurant meals.
• Points: You earn “Octopoints” for keeping your account in good standing or participating in saving sessions, which can be turned into credit on your bill.

OVO Beyond

• Who is it for? Customers with a smart meter and Direct Debit.
• The Perks: OVO focuses on “Green” upgrades. They offer discounts on boiler services, free breakdown cover for heating, and savings on smart technology like Tado thermostats.
• Banking: You can “bank” rewards to get future discounts on big purchases like solar panels or EV chargers.

Octopus vs OVO: Who has better customer reviews?

Customer reviews are a great way of seeing how an energy supplier is treating its existing customers from their own perspective. Here we have compared OVO and Octopus to see which company performs better on Trustpilot.

Here are their scores as of January 2026:

• OVO scores 4.6 out of 5 based on over 250,000 reviews
• Octopus scored 4.8 out of 5 based on over 729,000 reviews

Octopus scores more favourably than OVO when it comes to the overall rating from customer reviews, although OVO has seen improvements this year.

89% of those customers who left a review for Octopus rated them “5-star” compared to 74% for OVO.

Both companies actively ask their customers to leave reviews to capture both the positive and negative. Octopus has replied to 91% of their negative reviews, whereas OVO have responded to 98%.

Who has the better website and app?

Both suppliers have an app for their customers to manage their accounts from their mobile devices. This is a great way for customers to access their accounts at the touch of a button, and it is now likely to be used more than suppliers’ websites.

But how do the two suppliers’ apps compare?

• OVO’s app is rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from over 90,000 reviews. They have created a functional, easy-to-use app for their customers that improves the customer experience.
• Octopus’ app also does very well at 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 230,000 reviews. Lots of positives for this app, too, making it easy to add meter readings and see energy usage.

Who has the better customer service?

For accurate and unbiased customer service data, we look at the Citizens Advice website, as it offers the best independent customer service comparison for all suppliers.

Here, you can see how each supplier compares on key metrics (Data from the latest 2026 report):

Who has fewer complaints?

The number of complaints a supplier receives is a good indication of how often things go wrong. When things do go wrong, it is also important to know how quickly these things are resolved.

Luckily, energy suppliers have to publish this every quarter, so we have included the data for each below:

Octopus vs OVO: What are the main differences between the two?

Below, we have quickly summarised everything we have covered in the sections above:

Who is the best?

Read our Octopus Energy review and our OVO Energy review for a detailed analysis of each supplier.

Switch from OVO to Octopus

If, after comparing OVO and Octopus, you have decided Octopus Energy are the better energy supplier for you, then switching is very easy.

All you need to do is visit the Octopus website here and get a quote (you will also get £50 for using our link). If you are happy with the price, Octopus will complete the whole process for you, usually within 15 days.

You can read our article here to find out more about the Octopus refer a friend code scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to switch from OVO to Octopus (or vice versa)?

Both suppliers are part of the Energy Switch Guarantee, which means switching is fast and reliable. In 2025, switching typically takes just 5 working days (though it can sometimes take up to 15 days). You don’t need to tell your old supplier you are leaving; the new supplier will handle everything for you.

Do I need a smart meter to switch?

No, you do not need a smart meter to switch to standard fixed or variable tariffs with either supplier. However, if you want to access the innovative “Smart” tariffs mentioned above—such as Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Tracker, or OVO’s Charge Anytime—you will need a working smart meter that sends half-hourly readings.

Do Octopus and OVO offer the Warm Home Discount?

Yes. As they are both large suppliers with over 250,000 customers, they are both obligated to offer the £150 Warm Home Discount to eligible customers. If you are eligible, the money is usually applied automatically as a credit to your electricity account between October and March.

Can I leave my fixed contract early?

This is a major difference between the two.

Octopus Energy: Generally charges £0 exit fees on its fixed tariffs, allowing you to switch away or change tariffs freely if prices drop.

OVO Energy: Usually charges exit fees on fixed deals, ranging from £100 to £190 depending on the length of your contract. You must pay this if you leave more than 49 days before your contract ends.

Which supplier is better for solar panels?

Both suppliers offer export tariffs that pay you for the excess electricity you generate. Octopus is generally considered the market leader here with their “Outgoing Octopus” tariffs, which often pay higher rates per kWh than standard SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) tariffs. However, OVO also offers competitive export rates for their solar customers.

What happens to my credit balance if I switch?

If you are in credit when you switch, your old supplier must refund you the money. They will usually conduct a final bill within 6 weeks of your switch date and refund the remaining balance to your bank account shortly after.