Flexible Octopus review (August 2026)
The standard variable tariff, tracking the Ofgem price cap. Available on a single rate or Economy 7.
Updated for August 2026
Tariff snapshot
The important details in one place
- Current tariff issue
- Flexible Octopus
- VAR-22-11-01
- Price changes
- One unit rate
- The price does not change during the day
- Against the price cap
- Choose a location
- Compares today’s regional average unit rate with the applicable cap rate
- Estimated annual cost
- Choose a location
- Shown after an electricity region is selected
Key tariff facts
- The price does not change during the day
- Variable-rate tariff
- No specialist smart tariff meter requirement stated
- Electricity and gas are covered on this page
- Regional unit rates and standing charges
The short answer
Who Flexible Octopus is most likely to work for
Flexible is the standard variable tariff, currently priced below the Ofgem cap and changing on the cap timetable. It asks nothing of you: no smart meter, no shifting, no hardware, no commitment.
That simplicity can cost more than a specialist tariff for a household that fits it. Flexible remains a useful benchmark for judging whether the extra requirements and changing rates of another product are worthwhile.
Flexible Octopus is the standard variable tariff and the benchmark for almost every comparison on this site. Octopus currently prices it below the Ofgem cap; it changes on the cap timetable rather than daily or half-hourly.
It is also available on Economy 7, with a cheaper night rate and a dearer day rate, if your meter is set up for it. Both arrangements are shown below.
In its favour
- Protected by the Ofgem cap and currently priced below it
- No smart meter needed
- No exit fees on the current product
- Prices follow a conventional variable-tariff timetable rather than changing daily
Against it
- A well-matched specialist tariff may work out cheaper
- The cap is a ceiling, not a good price
- No reward for shifting usage
- Changes with the cap, so it is not fixed either
How it works
How Flexible Octopus sets its prices
One unit rate and one standing charge, protected by the cap and currently set below it. Ofgem updates the cap quarterly, so the tariff follows that timetable rather than changing continuously.
The cap limits the rate per unit, not your bill. Using more still costs more, and the widely quoted annual figure is an illustration for typical consumption rather than a maximum.
On an Economy 7 meter the day and night rates are billed against separate registers, so the saving depends on genuinely using more electricity at night.
Things to watch
The main trade-offs
Being the default is not the same as being the cheapest. It is the baseline, not the recommendation.
Economy 7 only pays off if a real share of your usage is at night. Otherwise the higher day rate costs you more than the cheap nights save.
The cap changes quarterly, so a rate that looks good today can move in three months.
Live tariff data
Flexible Octopus prices for your area
Electricity rates and standing charges differ by distribution region. Enter your postcode or choose your electricity region before local figures are shown.
Household fit
Who Flexible Octopus might be good for
The right answer depends on your equipment, routine and tolerance for changing prices—not just how much electricity you use.
Likely to suit
- Households without a smart meter, who cannot use the smart tariffs
- Anyone who wants a rate that changes quarterly rather than daily
- Homes with storage heating or night usage, on the Economy 7 arrangement
Less likely to suit
- Households that could shift usage and would do better on a time-of-use tariff
- Anyone wanting a rate fixed for longer than the next cap change
- Homes with an electric vehicle that can make better use of a dedicated off-peak or managed-charging tariff
Before switching
Check the requirements and what will affect the result
What you need
- No smart meter needed, unlike every smart tariff on this site
- Economy 7 needs a meter with two registers, which not every home has
- Available across Great Britain, priced by distribution region
What drives what you pay
- The Ofgem cap, which moves quarterly and applies to everyone on a variable tariff
- How much you use, since there is no timing advantage to capture
- Your region, and whether you pay by direct debit
- On Economy 7, the share of your usage that falls in the night window
Match the tariff to your home
Your largest electrical loads can change the answer
A specialist tariff can be better aligned with one large device, but its eligibility and expensive periods still matter. These are comparisons to make, not automatic recommendations.
If you have an EV
An EV tariff may be simpler if most of your flexible electricity is car charging. Intelligent Octopus Go schedules compatible cars or chargers; Octopus Go and EDF Go Electric use fixed overnight windows.
If you have solar without a battery
The import tariff and the rate paid for exported electricity are separate decisions. A straightforward export tariff can be more useful than a peak-weighted battery tariff when generation is exported as it happens.
If you have solar and a home battery
A paired import/export tariff may fit better because a battery can charge in a cheap period and discharge or export in a more valuable one. The gross rate spread is not the same as profit after losses and degradation.
If you have a heat pump
A heat-pump tariff may align its cheaper periods with space and hot-water heating. Whether it wins depends on insulation, controls and how much heat can move away from expensive periods.
Alternatives
Other smart tariffs from Octopus and EDF to compare
These are other smart-tariff comparisons from the two suppliers, not a claim that every option suits the same household.
Agile Octopus
Agile can beat Flexible substantially if you shift usage, and lose to it if you cannot. Flexible is the safe option; Agile is the one with both upside and downside. The cap comparison on the Agile page shows where it currently sits.
Review Agile OctopusOctopus Tracker
Tracker follows wholesale costs rather than the cap, so it can sit below Flexible for long stretches and above it during a spike. Flexible is steadier; Tracker is usually cheaper on average and occasionally worse.
Review Octopus TrackerOctopus 12M Fixed
A fix locks the rate for a year, which protects against a rising cap and costs you if the cap falls. Flexible does the opposite. Choose on whether you value certainty over the average outcome.
Review Octopus 12M FixedOther Octopus Energy tariff reviews
Browse every other Octopus Energy tariff covered on Energy Review. Availability, eligibility and price structure are explained on each review.
Regional comparison
How prices differ across Great Britain
Flexible Octopus unit rate and standing charge by region
The current unit rate and daily standing charge in each distribution region, including VAT.
Hover a region for its figure, or select one to load its prices.
Tap a region to load its prices.
| Region | Per kWh | Standing charge per day |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 25.10p | 50.3p |
| North East England | 25.22p | 61.0p |
| Yorkshire | 25.30p | 61.1p |
| West Midlands | 25.33p | 56.4p |
| Southern Scotland | 25.85p | 60.9p |
| North West England | 26.13p | 44.3p |
| South Wales | 26.33p | 54.6p |
| London | 26.35p | 41.5p |
| Eastern England | 26.38p | 50.7p |
| South West England | 26.39p | 54.6p |
| Southern England | 26.42p | 46.4p |
| Northern Scotland | 26.42p | 54.3p |
| South East England | 26.67p | 51.2p |
| Merseyside and North Wales | 27.66p | 67.5p |
Northern Ireland has a separate electricity market and is not covered by these regions.
How to switch
Moving to Flexible Octopus
- 1
This is the tariff you land on by default when you join Octopus, when a fixed deal ends, or when a supplier of last resort moves you across. Most people do not choose it so much as arrive on it.
- 2
No smart meter is required, which sets it apart from every smart tariff here. Economy 7 needs a two-register meter, which not every home has.
- 3
No exit fees at any point, so it is also the tariff to sit on while you decide what to move to.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flexible Octopus the same as the price cap?
It follows the cap timetable rather than being the cap itself. The cap limits what a supplier may charge per unit and per day; Octopus currently prices Flexible below it.
Do I need a smart meter for Flexible Octopus?
No. It is the one tariff here that does not require one, which is why it remains the default for homes without a working smart meter.
Is Economy 7 worth it?
Only if a real share of your electricity is used at night — storage heating, an immersion heater, or overnight car charging. The day rate is higher than a single rate, so without night usage it costs more.
How often does the price change?
When the Ofgem cap changes, which is quarterly. That is far less often than Tracker, which moves daily, or Agile, which moves every half hour.