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Customer review

My honest Octopus Energy review

By Matt

4.5 / 5

Last reviewed 5 June 2026.

Quick answers before you decide

Is Octopus worth comparing?

Yes, especially if an EV, heat pump, solar, battery or shiftable routine makes a smart tariff realistic. Start with live local rates rather than a generic review score.

What should you check first?

Confirm your meter, tariff eligibility, exit fees and current usage pattern. Citizens Advice also says to compare tariffs and check whether your meter will work before switching.

When should you use the referral?

Use the referral page after the tariff check. Octopus says the £50 credit is paid once your switch is complete and the qualifying conditions have been met.

I came across Octopus Energy when I was researching my first EV. Nearly every review and guide about electric cars mentioned Octopus and their cheap overnight charging rates. That sent me down a rabbit hole looking into their tariffs, and I ended up switching. I've not looked back.

Pricing

The standard Flexible tariff is still usually priced around the Ofgem price cap rather than miles below it, so I would not switch purely on that one headline. The exact unit rates and standing charges vary by region and change when tariffs are updated, so use the live tariff comparison tool for today's local figures before deciding.

Where Octopus really stands out is the smart tariffs. When I first moved some of my heavy usage overnight, things like the dishwasher and washing machine, the difference on my bill was noticeable straight away. The actual pence-per-kWh gap changes over time, but the principle is the same: if your home can shift real usage into a cheaper window, the savings can add up quickly.

If you've got an EV, Go and Intelligent Go can be brilliant when the rest of the tariff works for your home. I do not want this review to quote overnight unit rates that quickly go stale: the exact price changes over time, varies by region and depends on eligibility. Use the live tariff checker on this site, then confirm the final figures with Octopus before switching.

Customer service

When I've needed to get in touch, I've had proper responses from actual people. The online chat works well too. They've been quick to sort things out whenever I've had a question, which is all you really want from your energy supplier.

Octopus's homepage showed a 4.8 star Trustpilot customer-service score from more than 806,000 reviews when I checked on 5 June 2026. That is not a guarantee that every case is smooth, but it is a useful signal to weigh alongside tariff fit, smart-meter setup and the support routes you prefer.

Octopus also said in April 2026 that it had passed 8 million UK home energy customers, with support programmes including Octo Assist, You Pay We Pay and its electric blanket scheme continuing into Winter 2026. I would treat that as scale and support context, not a reason to skip the tariff checks: a large supplier can still be the wrong fit if your meter, EV, solar setup or payment preference does not match the tariff you want.

The app and smart meter

If you do not have a working smart meter, check the current installation route before you plan around a smart tariff. Once smart readings are flowing, the app can help you see usage and track what you are spending day by day. It is handy for keeping an eye on things, and half-hourly smart readings are required for tariffs such as Agile, Tracker, Cosy, Go and Intelligent Go.

Zero-carbon energy

Octopus's public fuel-mix information says its electricity was 100% zero carbon for April 2024 to March 2025, made up mostly of renewables with some nuclear. It also buys from hundreds of UK renewable generators and runs Octopus Energy Generation. I would still treat that as a supplier-wide zero-carbon positioning point rather than proof that the exact electrons in your home are different from the rest of the grid.

Who gets the most out of it

  • EV owners should compare Go and Intelligent Go using today's local prices, because the overnight rate, smart-charging rate and eligibility rules can change.
  • Solar and battery owners should compare import and export together. Outgoing, Agile Outgoing, standard Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux can all matter, but they solve different problems. Check the live import and export pairing before you assume one tariff fits the whole setup.
  • People who can shift usage to off-peak hours may get more value from tariffs like Agile, where rates follow the wholesale market.
  • Everyone else still gets competitive standard pricing and decent customer service. Flexible, Agile and Tracker have no exit fees, so it is easy to move again if a tariff stops making sense.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, with the usual caveat that the tariff has to fit your home. If you are with a large supplier and have not compared anything beyond the default or renewal offer, Octopus is well worth checking. The service has been better for me, and if you have a smart meter, an EV, solar or flexible usage, the specialist tariffs can be genuinely useful. I have been happy with them and I do not see myself switching away while that still fits my own usage.

If Octopus still looks right

Use the review, then move with a clear head

The referral page keeps the practical bits in one place, including how the £50 credit works and the next guide worth reading before you commit.

If Octopus fits your home, our referral link can get you £50 credit once your switch is complete. Existing customer? Find out how you can benefit too. T&Cs apply (only one switching offer per household).

Get £50 credit with Octopus
Get £50 credit with Octopus