Which Energy comparison websites have OFGEM accreditation?

What is Ofgem accreditation?

Energy bills make up a large part of most household budgets. With the Ofgem price cap set at £1,663 a year for a typical dual-fuel home paying by Direct Debit between July and September 2026, many people use comparison websites to look for cheaper fixed deals. These websites offer a quick way to check prices across dozens of different suppliers at once.

Because these sites can influence which supplier you choose, it is important that you can trust the results they show. To help build this trust, the energy regulator, Ofgem, runs a voluntary scheme called the Confidence Code. Websites that sign up to this code must follow strict rules about how they display prices, how they rank tariffs, and how they explain their fees.

When you use a site that carries the Ofgem accreditation logo, the site has signed up to Ofgem’s voluntary Confidence Code. It must make clear what its results cover and list tariffs in price order, but the code does not guarantee that every market tariff is shown. This guide explains how the code works, which sites are currently on the list, and what you need to check before you start a switch.

How the Ofgem Confidence Code protects you

The Confidence Code is a set of rules designed to make sure independent energy price comparison websites are fair, transparent, and accurate. It is a voluntary scheme, which means a website does not have to join it to operate. But the biggest and most popular comparison sites choose to sign up because the Ofgem stamp of approval shows customers they are trustworthy.

Strict rules on price ordering

A common worry among consumers is that comparison sites might put certain suppliers at the top of the list just because those suppliers pay them a higher fee. Under the Confidence Code, this is strictly banned. Accredited websites must list energy tariffs in price order, starting with the cheapest. They cannot artificially bump a more expensive tariff to the top of your results to make more money.

Clear and accurate information

Websites on the scheme must give you detailed, accurate information about every tariff they show. This includes the exact unit rates for gas and electricity in pence per kilowatt-hour (kWh), the daily standing charges, and any early exit fees attached to the deal. They must also show any discounts that apply, such as savings for paying by Direct Debit or managing your account online.

The code also bans confusing language. The site must explain the details of the tariff in plain English, making it easy to understand what you are signing up for. If a tariff requires you to have a smart meter installed, or if it tracks wholesale energy prices rather than offering a fixed rate, the website must state this clearly before you click through to switch.

Which comparison websites are accredited?

As of 2026, Ofgem lists nine energy comparison websites that hold full accreditation under the Confidence Code. Any comparison site can apply to join the scheme, provided they prove they meet all the standards and pass regular audits. The list changes over time as new sites join or older ones leave the market.

The nine currently accredited websites are:

You will spot the Ofgem Confidence Code logo on the homepage or energy comparison pages of these websites. While you can use non-accredited sites to compare prices, they are not bound by the same strict rules on transparency and price ordering.

How comparison sites make their money

Using an Ofgem-accredited energy comparison website is completely free for you as a consumer. You will never be asked to pay a fee to see the results or to complete a switch. Instead, these businesses make their money by charging energy suppliers.

When you use a comparison site and decide to switch to a new supplier through their platform, the new supplier pays the website a referral fee or commission. This is a standard practice across the industry and is how these sites fund their operations, pay their staff, and run their TV adverts.

To keep things transparent, the Confidence Code requires accredited sites to be open about these commercial relationships. They must state clearly which suppliers they have commission agreements with. This way, you know exactly how the site is earning its money when you use their service.

The 'Whole of Market' rule explained

In the past, Ofgem required all accredited comparison sites to show every single energy tariff available on the market by default. This was known as the 'Whole of Market' view. While it meant consumers saw everything, it also caused frustration. People would see a great deal at the top of the list, only to find they could not actually switch to it through the website and had to go and sort it out themselves.

Following a review by the Competition and Markets Authority, Ofgem changed this rule in 2018. Today, accredited websites are allowed to show you a 'partial view' when you first load your results. This means they can default to showing only the tariffs that you can switch to directly through their website.

This makes the switching process faster and smoother, as you can complete the whole journey in a few clicks without leaving the comparison site. However, it also means you might not be seeing every single deal available to you straight away, as some suppliers choose not to pay commission to comparison sites and therefore will not appear in this partial view.

If you find a cheaper tariff directly from a supplier, note down the tariff name and check the supplier’s own website before signing up.

What to check before you compare deals

Before you enter your details into a comparison site, it helps to gather a few facts about your current energy setup. Having the right information to hand makes the quotes much more accurate and helps you avoid unexpected costs.

With competitive fixed tariffs returning to the market in 2026, taking five minutes to check these details ensures you lock in a genuine saving against the current price cap.

What happens during the switch?

Once you choose a new tariff on a comparison site and confirm your details, the website passes your information to your new supplier. From that point on, the new supplier handles everything. They will contact your old supplier to agree a switch date and let you know when it will happen.

The switching process is now much faster than it used to be. A typical switch takes up to five working days to complete, though you can ask for a later start date if you prefer. You also get a 14-day statutory cooling-off period. This starts the day you agree the contract. If you change your mind during this time, you can cancel the switch without paying any penalty.

Many people worry about their power being cut off during a switch, but this does not happen. Your new supplier uses the exact same pipes, wires, and meters as your old one. There is no physical change at your property, and nobody needs to visit your home to flip a switch. The only thing that changes is which company bills you for the energy you use.

If you receive a Warm Home Discount, check the rules before switching. Whether you receive a rebate can depend on the supplier you were with on the scheme’s qualifying date and whether that supplier participates in the scheme.

How to complain if things go wrong

Even with strict rules in place, things occasionally go wrong. A switch might be delayed, a comparison site might display incorrect information, or you might be billed the wrong amount by your new supplier.

There is a common misconception that because Ofgem runs the Confidence Code, they will step in and fix your problem. This is not true. Ofgem is the industry regulator; they set the rules and issue fines to companies that break them, but they do not handle individual consumer complaints. They will not contact a website or a supplier on your behalf to find a solution.

If you have a problem, you must follow the official complaints process. First, complain directly to the comparison website or the energy supplier involved. They have a legal duty to log your complaint and try to resolve it.

If eight weeks pass and the issue is still not sorted out, or if the company sends you a 'deadlock letter' saying they cannot do any more to help, you can take your case to the Energy Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is an independent, free service that investigates disputes. If they decide the company treated you unfairly, they can force the supplier or website to apologise, fix the problem, and sometimes pay you compensation.