Quick Winner: Octopus Energy — it’s cheaper, ranks higher with Citizens Advice, and has a better-rated iOS app, while Trustpilot scores are tied.
Octopus Energy is the stronger overall choice on the numbers so far, though EDF Energy remains competitive on price and customer sentiment.
Who is Octopus Energy
Founded in 2015, Octopus Energy is now the UK’s largest domestic supplier, running its own Kraken technology platform. It’s known for its wide range of smart, time-of-use tariffs.
Who is EDF Energy
The UK retail arm of France’s state-owned Électricité de France, EDF Energy was formed in 2002 and generates its own zero-carbon electricity through UK nuclear power stations.
Table of Contents
Octopus Energy vs EDF Energy: At a Glance
| Feature | Octopus Energy | EDF Energy | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.8/5 (857,633 reviews) | 4.8/5 (251,360 reviews) | Tied — Octopus has 3x more reviews |
| Citizens Advice rank | #4 | #11 | Octopus |
| Which? score | 74% | 58% | Octopus |
| Cheapest variable tariff | £1,598/year | £1,611/year | Octopus |
| Cheapest fixed tariff | £1,642/year (12M) | £1,691/year (24M) | Octopus |
| App rating (iOS / Android) | 4.8 / 4.37 | 4.6 / 4.38 | Octopus on iOS, near-tied on Android |
| Complaint rate (per 100k) | 538 (Q1 2026) | 965 (Q2 2026) | Octopus |
| Renewable fuel mix | 85% | 20% | Octopus |
If you only wanted to know which supplier is better, you already have the answer above. But if you want to understand why one is better and whether that applies to you, the comparison below breaks down the important differences in simple terms.
Tariffs and Pricing
Octopus Energy is cheaper on both variable and fixed tariffs — though the two fixed deals aren’t quite comparable, since EDF’s runs twice as long.
Octopus Energy
- Cheapest: Flexible Octopus — £1,598/year, no fixed term, no exit fee — best for flexibility
- Fixed: 12M Fixed August 2026 — £1,642/year, 12-month term, £100 exit fee — best for price certainty
EDF Energy
- Cheapest: Standard (Variable) — £1,611/year, no fixed term, no exit fee — best for flexibility
- Fixed: Simply Fixed 2Yr Sep28 — £1,691/year, 24-month term, £200 exit fee — best for price certainty
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy is cheaper across the board — £13/year less on variable, £49/year less on fixed. But EDF’s fixed deal locks you in for 24 months against Octopus’s 12, at double the exit fee — so the price gap understates the real difference in commitment. Worth noting: Ofgem’s price cap rises 4% to £1,723/year from October 2026, so variable rates on both suppliers are likely to increase this autumn.
Pricing based on East Midlands, average 3-bed detached home, monthly direct debit, dual fuel. Source: Octopus Energy, EDF Energy, pricing data from uSwitch.
Tariff Options
Octopus Energy offers a much wider range — nine tariffs spanning smart, EV, and heat pump options — while EDF Energy offers six, including two dedicated EV tariffs.
Octopus Energy
- Flexible Octopus — standard variable — best for a standard setup
- 12M Fixed / 12M Fixed Low Standing Charge — 12-month fixed options — best for price certainty or low energy users
- Agile Octopus — half-hourly wholesale pricing — best for shifting usage off-peak
- Octopus Tracker — daily wholesale pricing — best for following market changes
- Intelligent Octopus Go / Octopus Go — EV tariffs — best for EV drivers, smart or standard charging
- Cosy Octopus — heat pump tariff — best for heat pump homes
- Snug Octopus — storage heater tariff — best for electric storage heating
EDF Energy
- Standard (Variable) — follows the price cap — best for flexibility
- Simply Tracker — tracks wholesale energy prices — best for accepting price changes
- Simply Fixed 12M / Simply Fixed 2Yr — fixed terms — best for price certainty, short or long
- GoElectric — cheaper overnight EV charging — best for EV owners charging at night
- Pod Power — specialist tariff for Pod Point charger owners — best for existing Pod Point users
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy has the wider range overall, especially for smart and heat-pump households. But EDF Energy isn’t far behind on EV support — GoElectric and Pod Power give EV owners two tailored options, close to Octopus’s own Intelligent Octopus Go and Octopus Go.
Customer Reviews
Octopus Energy and EDF Energy tie on Trustpilot, but Octopus leads clearly on Which? and Citizens Advice.
Octopus Energy
- Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 857,633 reviews
- Which? score: 74%
- Citizens Advice: ranked #4
EDF Energy
- Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 251,360 reviews
- Which? score: 58% — scores 2/5 on customer service, ease of contact, and clarity of statements
- Citizens Advice: ranked #11
Feature verdict:
Trustpilot is a genuine tie, though Octopus’s rating comes from over three times more reviews. Beyond that, Octopus pulls well ahead — a 16-point lead on Which?, and 7 places higher with Citizens Advice.
Source: Trustpilot – Octopus Energy, Trustpilot – EDF Energy, Which? – Octopus Energy, Which? – EDF Energy.
App Ratings & Features
Octopus Energy leads on iOS, while Google Play is a virtual tie between the two.
Octopus Energy
- App Store (iOS): 4.8/5 from 254,000 reviews
- Google Play (Android): 4.37/5 from 47,238 reviews
EDF Energy
- App Store (iOS): 4.6/5 from 187,000 reviews
- Google Play (Android): 4.38/5 from 51,073 reviews
Feature verdict:
On iOS, Octopus Energy has both the higher rating and more reviews — a clear win. On Android, the two are essentially tied (4.37 vs 4.38), with EDF actually holding slightly more reviews. Overall, Octopus Energy’s app has the edge, driven entirely by its iOS performance.
Source: App Store – Octopus Energy, App Store – EDF Energy, Google Play – Octopus Energy, Google Play – EDF Energy.
Customer Service and Support
Octopus Energy scores higher overall, and it answers calls more than twice as fast as EDF Energy.
Octopus Energy (Citizens Advice, Jan–Mar 2026)
- Overall: 3.67/5, ranked 4th
- Email response: 86% within 2 days
- Average call wait: 1.3 min
- Phone hours: Mon–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri 9am–4pm, closed weekends
EDF Energy (Citizens Advice, Jan–Mar 2026)
- Overall: 2.9/5, ranked 11th
- Email response: 86% within 2 days — matches Octopus exactly
- Average call wait: 2.8 min — more than double Octopus’s
- Phone hours: Mon–Thu 8am–6pm, Fri 8am–4pm, closed weekends — slightly longer daily hours
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy leads clearly on the headline score and call wait times, answering the phone over twice as fast as EDF Energy. Email response rates are identical at 86% for both, so the gap here isn’t about responsiveness everywhere — it’s specifically about phone support and overall service consistency.
Source: Citizens Advice – Octopus Energy, Citizens Advice – EDF Energy.
Complaints and Performance
Octopus Energy receives far fewer complaints than EDF Energy, even though the figures come from different quarters.
Octopus Energy (Q1 2026)
- Complaints: 538 per 100k customers
- Citizens Advice: 21.3 per 10,000
- Resolved same/next day: 43% | Within 8 weeks: 80%
- Top themes: customer service, billing/meter reading (general and smart), payment issues, meter installation
EDF Energy (Q2 2026)
- Complaints: 965 per 100k customers
- Citizens Advice: 47.6 per 10,000
- Resolved same/next day: 62% | Within 8 weeks: 86%
- Top themes: customer service (33%), billing/meter reading (17%), payment issues (12%), debt-related (9%), meter installation (7%)
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy receives less than half the complaints EDF Energy does per 100k customers. EDF actually resolves a higher share both same/next day and within 8 weeks — worth noting it’s resolving from a complaint base that’s over 1.8 times larger, and its figures are a quarter newer than Octopus’s.
Source: Octopus Energy performance page, EDF Energy performance page.
Green Energy Comparison
Octopus Energy’s supplied electricity is genuinely zero-fossil-fuel, while EDF Energy leans heavily on nuclear rather than renewables.
Octopus Energy (Jan–Mar 2026, Citizens Advice)
- Renewable: 85% | Nuclear: 15% | Fossil fuel: 0%
EDF Energy (Jan–Mar 2026, Citizens Advice)
- Renewable: 20% | Nuclear: 54% | Fossil fuel: 24% | Other: 2%
- Combined zero-carbon (renewable + nuclear): 74%
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy is the clearer choice for renewable electricity specifically — 85% against EDF’s 20%. But EDF isn’t far behind on zero-carbon overall once nuclear is counted: 74% combined, thanks to its heavy reliance on UK nuclear generation. If renewables specifically matter to you, Octopus wins outright; if you’re comfortable counting nuclear as zero-carbon, the gap narrows considerably.
Source: Octopus Energy, EDF Energy, Citizens Advice fuel mix data Jan–Mar 2026.
Best for EV Owners
Both suppliers offer dedicated EV tariffs, but EDF Energy has the longer off-peak window.
Octopus Energy
- Intelligent Octopus Go — 6 hours of off-peak overnight charging, with automated smart scheduling
- Octopus Go — 5 hours of cheaper overnight electricity, works with any EV or charger
EDF Energy
- GoElectric — 6.99p/kWh, 7 hours off-peak (11pm–6am), backed by zero-carbon nuclear electricity
- Pod Power — 6.49p/kWh, same 7-hour window, exclusive to Pod Point home charger owners
Feature verdict:
EDF Energy edges ahead on charging window length — 7 hours against Octopus’s 5–6 — and its Pod Power rate is competitively priced for existing Pod Point users. Octopus Energy’s advantage is automation: Intelligent Octopus Go schedules charging for you, which EDF’s tariffs don’t offer.
Source: EDF Energy – GoElectric, Octopus Energy.
Best for Solar Homes
EDF Energy publishes a clearer tiered structure for solar export, while Octopus Energy’s rate has shifted more than once during 2026 — worth checking the current figure before deciding.
EDF Energy
- Four SEG tiers, from 3p/kWh (open to anyone, no switching needed) up to 18p/kWh for customers who bought solar panels or a battery through EDF
- A middle tier pays 13–15p/kWh for existing EDF import customers
Octopus Energy
- Outgoing Octopus — flat export rate, historically among the highest in the market, though it has been cut at least once in 2026 (reports put it around 12–15p/kWh depending on when checked)
- Octopus Flux — combined import/export tariff for homes with solar and battery storage
Feature verdict:
EDF Energy’s top tier (18p/kWh) is strong if you’re willing to buy your solar setup through them, and its 3p open-access tier means anyone can get paid without switching. Octopus Energy’s rates are competitive too, but they’ve moved during the year, so check both suppliers’ current published figures rather than relying on a fixed comparison.
Source: EDF Energy – SEG, Octopus Energy.
Our Verdict
Which should you choose?
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| Lowest annual cost | Octopus Energy |
| Tariff variety | Octopus Energy |
| Trustpilot / Which? | Tied on Trustpilot; Octopus on Which? |
| Citizens Advice score | Octopus Energy |
| Mobile app | Octopus Energy (iOS); tied on Android |
| Complaint volume | Octopus Energy |
| Renewable electricity | Octopus Energy |
| EV charging window | EDF Energy |
| Solar export (no switch needed) | EDF Energy |
| Overall | Octopus Energy |
Overall Winner: Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy wins on price, tariff range, and nearly every independent service metric. EDF Energy stays competitive on Trustpilot and pulls ahead specifically for EV charging hours and no-switch solar export.
Octopus Energy
✓ Pros
- Cheaper on both variable and fixed tariffs, with the widest tariff range of the two, including heat pump and storage-heater options
- 74% Which? score against EDF’s 58%, and a top-4 Citizens Advice ranking
- Under half EDF’s complaint rate, and a genuinely renewable-heavy fuel mix (85%, zero fossil fuel)
✗ Cons
- Its fixed tariff still carries a £100 exit fee, so it isn’t fully commitment-free
- Solar export rate has shifted more than once in 2026, making it harder to pin down than EDF’s published tiers
EDF Energy
✓ Pros
- GoElectric and Pod Power offer a longer 7-hour EV off-peak window than Octopus’s tariffs
- SEG export is open to anyone at 3p/kWh with no need to switch — Octopus has no equivalent no-switch option
- Fixed tariff runs 24 months, useful if you want price certainty for longer than a year
✗ Cons
- Nearly double the exit fee on its fixed deal (£200 vs Octopus’s £100), for a tariff that also costs more upfront
- Trails badly on Which? (58% vs 74%) and Citizens Advice (ranked 11th vs 4th)
- Complaint rate is roughly double Octopus’s, even measured a quarter later
Which is cheaper, Octopus Energy or EDF Energy?
Octopus Energy, by around £13 a year on the cheapest variable tariff — £1,598 against EDF’s £1,611. On fixed deals the gap is wider: Octopus costs £1,642 for 12 months, while EDF’s cheapest fixed runs 24 months at £1,691.
Are EDF and Octopus the same company?
No, they’re completely separate suppliers. EDF Energy is the UK retail arm of France’s state-owned Électricité de France, while Octopus Energy is an independent British company founded in 2015 and now the UK’s largest domestic supplier.
Is it worth switching from EDF to Octopus?
If price, app quality, and independent service scores matter most to you, Octopus Energy is the stronger option — it’s cheaper, ranks higher with Citizens Advice and Which?, and has a better-rated iOS app. EDF remains competitive on Trustpilot and offers a longer EV off-peak charging window, so it’s still worth considering if those specifically matter to you.
Can Octopus Energy and EDF Energy’s complaint rates be compared directly?
Not perfectly — the latest published figures cover different quarters (Octopus Q1 2026, EDF Q2 2026). Even accounting for that gap, Octopus’s rate (538 per 100k) is well under half EDF’s (965 per 100k).
Which supplier leads on customer service?
Octopus Energy, on every measure that’s directly comparable — a higher Citizens Advice score (3.67 vs 2.9), faster call answer times, and a higher Which? score (74% vs 58%). Email response rates are identical at 86% for both.
Which supplier has the better app?
Octopus Energy leads on iOS (4.8 vs 4.6, with more reviews too). On Android, the two are essentially tied.
Which supplier has the greener electricity?
Octopus Energy supplies far more renewable electricity — 85% against EDF’s 20%, with zero fossil fuel in its mix. EDF relies more heavily on nuclear generation instead.
Which is better for EV owners?
EDF Energy has a slight edge on charging window — 7 hours off-peak on GoElectric and Pod Power, against Octopus’s 5–6 hours. Octopus’s Intelligent Octopus Go automates the scheduling for you, though, which EDF’s tariffs don’t offer.
Who are the top energy suppliers in the UK?
Octopus Energy is currently the UK’s largest domestic supplier, followed by British Gas, E.ON Next, EDF Energy, and Scottish Power among the major providers.
Do tariff eligibility rules matter?
Yes. Specialist tariffs — EV, heat pump, time-of-use, and solar export deals — often require a smart meter, compatible equipment, or an existing account with that supplier. Always check current eligibility before applying.
Which is better overall, Octopus Energy or EDF Energy?
Octopus Energy, based on the evidence across pricing, customer service, complaints, and green energy. EDF Energy remains a reasonable choice specifically for EV charging hours and no-switch solar export.
For a detailed comparison, check this Octopus Energy vs E.ON Next comparison guide.