Octopus Energy vs Scottish Power is one of the most searched UK energy supplier comparisons for customers looking to find better prices, smarter tariffs, and reliable service.
Both suppliers offer gas and electricity tariffs, smart meters, renewable energy options, and solutions for homes and businesses. However, they have different strengths. Octopus Energy is known for flexible smart tariffs, innovative technology, and strong digital customer service, while Scottish Power brings decades of experience and a major renewable energy generation background.
In this comparison, we compare Octopus Energy vs Scottish Power across pricing, tariffs, customer service, and overall value to help you choose the best supplier.
Octopus Energy vs Scottish Power: At a Glance
Before the full breakdown, here’s how Octopus Energy and Scottish Power compare on the numbers that matter most.
| Feature | Octopus Energy | Scottish Power | Better |
| Trustpilot | 4.8/5 (837,814 reviews) | 4.4/5 (198,589 reviews) | Octopus |
| Citizens Advice rank | #4 | #10 | Octopus |
| Which? score | 74% | 56% | Octopus Energy |
| Cheapest variable tariff | £1,792/year | £1,805/year | Octopus Energy |
| Cheapest fixed tariff | £1,841/year | £1,990/year (no exit fee) | Octopus on price / Scottish Power on flexibility |
| App rating (iOS / Android) | 4.8 / 4.4 | 4.8 / 4.7 | Split — tied iOS, Scottish Power on Android |
| EV charging tariffs | Two dedicated options | One smart-charging add-on | Octopus |
| Renewable-sourced fuel mix | 86.4% | 7% | 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 its variable and fixed tariffs, though Scottish Power’s pricier fixed deal comes with no exit fee.
Octopus Energy
- Cheapest: Flexible Octopus — £1,792/year, no fixed term, no exit fee — best for flexibility
- Fixed: 12M Fixed July 2026 — £1,841/year, 12-month term, £100 exit fee — best for price certainty
Scottish Power
- Cheapest: Standard — £1,805/year, no fixed term, no exit fee — best for flexibility
- Fixed: Exclusive Help Beat Cancer Fixed — £1,990/year, 12-month term, no exit fee, includes a Cancer Research UK donation
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy is cheaper across the board — £13/year less on variable, £149/year less on fixed. Scottish Power’s fixed deal costs more but lets you leave penalty-free, and doubles as a charity contribution. Worth noting: Ofgem’s price cap rises 4% to £1,723/year from October 2026 (up from £1,663), 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, Scottish Power, pricing data from uSwitch. Checked 31 August 2026.
Tariff Options
Octopus Energy offers nine tariffs spanning smart, EV, and heat pump options, while Scottish Power offers six, built around charity-linked fixed deals.
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
Scottish Power
- Standard — variable, follows the price cap — best for flexibility
- Exclusive/Help Beat Cancer Fixed — 12-month fixed with a Cancer Research UK donation — best for price certainty plus charity support
- Cap Tracker — lower standing charge, £50 exit fee per fuel — best for lower daily charges
- Green Fixed — 100% green electricity plus 12 months boiler insurance — best for green energy and cover bundled together
- EV Optimise — smart EV charging add-on — best for automated off-peak charging
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy has the wider range — nine tariffs against Scottish Power’s six, with more smart and heat-pump options. Scottish Power’s edge is its charity tariffs: two of its six deals donate to Cancer Research UK, something Octopus doesn’t offer anywhere in its range.
View the latest Octopus Energy tariffs and smart tariff details on their official website. Customers comparing green suppliers can also read our Octopus Energy vs Good Energy comparison.
Customer Reviews
Octopus Energy leads decisively across every review metric — Trustpilot, Which?, and Citizens Advice.
Octopus Energy
- Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 837,814 reviews — 90% five-star, 3% one-star
- Which? score: 74% — 4/5 customer service, 10/10 help for those who need it
- Sub-scores: 8/15 on complaints handling (53%), 8/12 on contacting your supplier (67%)
- Common feedback: helpful staff, quick responses, smooth experience
Scottish Power
- Trustpilot: 4.4/5 from 198,589 reviews — 60% five-star, 19% one-star
- Which? score: 56% — 2/5 customer service, 7/10 help for those who need it
- Sub-scores: 4/15 on complaints handling (27%), 7/12 on contacting your supplier (58%)
- Common feedback: straightforward online tools, but concerns over pricing and long hold times
Feature verdict:
The gap here is wide, not marginal — Octopus Energy leads by 18 points on Which? and beats Scottish Power on every single sub-score, most sharply on complaints handling (53% vs 27%). Both suppliers reply to over 90% of negative Trustpilot reviews, so the difference isn’t engagement — it’s underlying satisfaction.
Source: Which? – Octopus Energy, Which? – Scottish Power, Trustpilot – Octopus Energy, Trustpilot – Scottish Power.
App Ratings & Features
Both apps tie on iOS, but Scottish Power pulls ahead on Android — and Octopus Energy’s Android net-positive rating has been sliding.
Octopus Energy
- App Store (iOS): 4.8/5 from 249,000 reviews
- Google Play (Android): 4.4/5 from 47,091 reviews — net-positive rating down to 74.5%, from 76.7% previously
- Recent updates focus on general performance fixes
Scottish Power
- App Store (iOS): 4.8/5 from 86,000 reviews
- Google Play (Android): 4.7/5 from 95,532 reviews — net-positive rating 89.7%, up slightly from 89.5%
- Recent updates improved loyalty features and its energy tracker
Feature verdict:
On iOS, it’s a genuine tie — same rating, though Octopus has nearly three times more reviews. On Android, Scottish Power is clearly ahead, and the gap is widening: its net-positive rating is rising while Octopus Energy’s is falling. For Android users, Scottish Power’s app currently offers the better experience.
Source: App Store – Octopus Energy, App Store – Scottish Power, Google Play – Octopus Energy, Google Play – Scottish Power.
Customer Service and Support
Octopus Energy scores higher overall, driven mainly by a far lower complaint rate — Scottish Power actually answers emails faster.
Octopus Energy (Citizens Advice, Jan–Mar 2026)
- Overall: 3.67/5, ranked 4th
- Fewer complaints: 3.5/5 (21.3 per 10,000 customers)
- Contact waiting: 3.6/5 — call wait 1 min 17 sec, 86.1% of emails answered within 2 days
- Billing and metering: 3.4/5 — 96.4% smart meter billing accuracy, 91.5% of smart meters working correctly
- Contact methods: SignVideo available; no webchat, ring-backs, or mobile hotline
Scottish Power (Citizens Advice, Jan–Mar 2026)
- Overall: 2.94/5, ranked 10th
- Fewer complaints: 1.5/5 (61.8 per 10,000 customers — nearly three times Octopus’s rate)
- Contact waiting: 4.0/5 — call wait 1 min 16 sec, 94.3% of emails answered within 2 days, webchat 2 min 25 sec
- Billing and metering: 2.8/5 — 97.6% smart meter billing accuracy, but only 88.4% of smart meters working correctly
- Contact methods: webchat, ring-backs, and mobile hotline available; no SignVideo
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy’s overall lead comes almost entirely from complaints — it receives less than a third of Scottish Power’s rate (21.3 vs 61.8 per 10,000). Scottish Power actually scores higher on contact waiting (4.0/5 vs 3.6/5), answering emails faster and offering more contact channels. If complaint volume matters most, Octopus wins clearly; if speed of contact matters more, Scottish Power has the edge.
Source: Citizens Advice – Octopus Energy, Citizens Advice – Scottish Power.
Complaints and Performance
Octopus Energy’s newest quarterly figures show a rising complaint rate, while Scottish Power’s latest published data still shows a much higher volume overall.
Octopus Energy (Q1 2026, latest published)
- Complaints: 538 per 100k customers — up from 495 in Q4 2025
- Resolved same/next day: 43% (down from 45%)
- Resolved within 8 weeks: 80% (up slightly from 79%)
- Top 5 complaint reasons: customer service, general billing/meter reading, smart billing, payment issues, meter installation
Scottish Power (Q4 2025, most recent figure available)
- Complaints: 1,458 per 100k customers
- Resolved same/next day: 60% | Within 8 weeks: 86%
- Top themes: billing (32%), payment issues (27%), metering (15%), customer service (11%), marketing (5%)
Feature verdict:
Octopus Energy still receives far fewer complaints overall, even with its Q1 2026 rate ticking up. Scottish Power resolves a higher share both same/next day and within 8 weeks — worth noting its complaint volume is over 2.5 times higher, so it’s resolving from a much larger base of issues.
Source: Octopus Energy performance page (Q1 2026), Scottish Power performance page (Q4 2025, latest confirmed).
Green Energy Comparison
Octopus Energy’s supplied electricity is genuinely mostly renewable — Scottish Power’s is not, despite generating 100% renewable power itself.
Octopus Energy (Jan–Mar 2026, Citizens Advice)
- Renewable: 85% | Nuclear: 15% | Fossil fuel: 0%
- Describes its supply as 100% zero-carbon, backed by its own wind and solar generation projects
- Smart tariffs encourage usage during greener periods of the day
Scottish Power (Jan–Mar 2026, Citizens Advice)
- Renewable: 7% | Nuclear: 4% | Fossil fuel: 84% | Other: 5%
- Generates 100% renewable electricity from its own UK wind farms, having sold its fossil fuel power stations
- Offers green tariffs with 100% green electricity, plus credits for customers buying solar and battery systems
Feature verdict:
There’s a real contradiction here: Scottish Power generates 100% renewable power from its wind farms, but the electricity it actually supplies to customers is 84% fossil fuel. This gap exists because generation and supply are separate — Scottish Power sells much of its clean power into the wholesale market and buys back a mixed grid supply for customers. Octopus Energy shows no such gap: its supplied mix (85% renewable, 0% fossil fuel) closely matches what it claims to offer.
Source: Octopus Energy, Scottish Power, Citizens Advice fuel mix data Jan–Mar 2026.
Best for EV Owners
Scottish Power actually has the edge here — its EV Saver tariff charges a flat 8.5p/kWh overnight, close to Octopus’s rates, while its EV Optimise add-on offers flexible smart charging at 8p/kWh any time of day.
Octopus Energy
- Intelligent Octopus Go — smart EV tariff, 6 hours of off-peak overnight charging, automated scheduling
- Octopus Go — 5 hours cheaper overnight electricity, works with any EV or charger
Scottish Power
- EV Saver — flat 8.5p/kWh, midnight–5am, 100% green electricity via REGO certificates
- EV Optimise — smart charging add-on, 8p/kWh any time, avoids peak hours (4pm–8pm); can’t be combined with EV Saver
Feature verdict:
Scottish Power’s EV Optimise is genuinely competitive — at 8p/kWh with all-day flexibility, it undercuts many fixed overnight rates while still avoiding peak pricing. Octopus offers more structured options (Intelligent Octopus Go automates scheduling for you), but Scottish Power’s rates are strong enough that EV owners shouldn’t assume Octopus automatically wins this category.
Source: Scottish Power – EV Optimise, Scottish Power – EV Saver, Octopus Energy.
Best for Solar Homes
Octopus Energy generally pays more for exported solar electricity, but Scottish Power’s entry-level rate is open to anyone — no need to switch your import supplier.
Octopus Energy
- Outgoing Octopus — flat export rate, among the highest in the market (rates have shifted during 2026, so check the current figure)
- Octopus Flux — combined import/export tariff designed for homes with solar and battery storage
- Outgoing Agile — half-hourly export pricing for households that can track peak periods
Scottish Power
- SmartGen — 6p/kWh, open to any household regardless of import supplier
- SmartGen Premium — 12p/kWh, for Scottish Power import customers
- SmartGen Premium Plus — 15p/kWh, requires Scottish Power to have installed your solar or battery
Feature verdict:
Scottish Power’s 6p open-access rate is genuinely useful if you don’t want to switch your electricity supplier just to get paid for solar export. But if you’re willing to switch, Octopus Energy’s rates are typically higher across the board, especially for battery owners on Flux. Worth checking both suppliers’ current published rates before deciding, as SEG pricing changes more often than standard tariffs.
Source: Scottish Power – SmartGen SEG, Octopus Energy – Outgoing.
Our Verdict
Which should you choose?
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| Lowest annual cost | Octopus Energy |
| Tariff variety | Octopus Energy |
| Customer reviews (Trustpilot, Which?) | Octopus Energy |
| Complaint volume | Octopus Energy |
| iOS app | Tied |
| Android app | Scottish Power |
| Greener actual fuel mix | Octopus Energy |
| EV charging (flexible smart rate) | Scottish Power |
| Solar export (no supplier switch needed) | Scottish Power |
| Charity-linked tariffs | Scottish Power |
| Overall | Octopus Energy |
★ Overall Winner: Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy wins on price, tariff choice, and nearly every independent service metric. Scottish Power is worth considering for its Android app, no-switch solar export rate, and genuinely competitive EV charging.
Octopus Energy
✓ Pros
- Cheaper on both variable and fixed tariffs, with the widest range including EV and heat pump options
- Leads decisively on Trustpilot, Which?, and complaint volume — less than a third of Scottish Power’s complaint rate
- Actual fuel mix is 85% renewable, with zero fossil fuel — no gap between marketing and supply
✗ Cons
- Android app rating trails Scottish Power’s, and the gap is widening
- Phone lines closed on weekends, unlike Scottish Power’s broader contact options
- No charity-linked tariff option
Scottish Power
✓ Pros
- Faster email response and more contact channels (webchat, ring-backs, mobile hotline)
- SmartGen’s 6p/kWh solar export rate is open to anyone — no need to switch import supplier
- EV Optimise offers flexible smart charging at a genuinely competitive 8p/kWh
✗ Cons
- More expensive on both variable and fixed tariffs
- Markets “100% renewable generation,” but its actual supplied electricity is 84% fossil fuel
- Complaint rate is over 2.5 times higher, and it ranks last in the Which? survey
For a detailed comparison, check this Octopus Energy vs OVO Energy comparison guide.
FAQs
Here are some common questions about Octopus Energy vs Scottish Power to help you make a more informed decision.
Q1. Which supplier is better overall?
Octopus Energy wins on price and nearly every independent service metric — Trustpilot, Citizens Advice, and Which?. Scottish Power is worth considering for its Android app, exit-fee-free fixed tariff, and competitive EV/solar export options.
Q2. Is Octopus Energy more expensive than Scottish Power?
No — Octopus Energy is cheaper on both tariffs. Its variable deal costs £1,792/year against Scottish Power’s £1,805, and its fixed deal costs £1,841 against £1,990.
Q3. Is Octopus Energy the biggest energy supplier in the UK?
Yes. Founded in 2015, Octopus Energy is now the UK’s largest domestic energy supplier, having grown rapidly through both organic growth and taking on customers from failed suppliers.
Q4. Is Scottish Power a good energy company?
It has strengths — faster email response, more contact channels, and a well-rated Android app — but it ranks last in the 2026 Which? survey (56%) and receives over 2.5 times more complaints than Octopus Energy per 100k customers.
Q5. Who has the better Trustpilot score?
Octopus Energy, with 4.8/5 from over 837,000 reviews, against Scottish Power’s 4.4/5 from around 198,000.
Q6. Which supplier has the better app?
It’s split — both score 4.8/5 on iOS, though Octopus has far more reviews. On Android, Scottish Power leads (4.7 vs 4.4), and its lead has been growing.
Q7. Which is better for EV owners?
Closer than you’d expect. Octopus offers structured tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go with automated scheduling, while Scottish Power’s EV Optimise charges a competitive 8p/kWh with all-day flexibility — genuinely worth comparing rather than assuming Octopus wins by default.
Q8. Which is better for solar panels?
Depends on whether you’ll switch import supplier. Scottish Power’s 6p/kWh SmartGen rate is open to anyone without switching; Octopus Energy’s export rates are typically higher but require becoming a customer.
Q9. Is Scottish Power’s “100% renewable” claim accurate?
Not for what it supplies to homes. Scottish Power generates 100% renewable electricity from its own wind farms, but Citizens Advice data shows its actual supplied mix is 84% fossil fuel — the clean power is largely sold elsewhere. Octopus Energy’s supplied mix (85% renewable, 0% fossil fuel) matches its claims much more closely.
Q10. Do these suppliers charge exit fees?
Octopus Energy’s fixed tariff carries a £100 exit fee; its variable tariff has none. Scottish Power’s fixed deal has no exit fee at all, though its price is higher to begin with.
Q11. What do Which? members think of these suppliers?
Octopus Energy scores 74% in the 2026 survey; Scottish Power scores 56% — the lowest of any UK supplier rated. Octopus leads on every sub-score, including complaints handling and overall customer service.