Is Octopus Energy Worth It? Honest Customer Review 2025

I switched to Octopus Energy and have been a customer for several months. This is my honest review based on real experience - covering pricing, customer service, the app, smart meters, and whether Octopus lives up to its reputation as the UK's best energy supplier.

Quick Summary: Should You Switch to Octopus?

Yes, if you want: Excellent customer service, transparent pricing, innovative tariffs, 100% renewable electricity, and genuinely useful tech (great app, smart meter support). Octopus consistently outperforms traditional suppliers.

Maybe not if: You want the absolute cheapest rates at all costs (though Octopus Energy is competitive), prefer traditional energy companies, or need features not yet offered by Octopus Energy.

My Background & Why I Switched

I was with a Big Six supplier paying about £450/month for a 4-bedroom house with high usage. I'd heard great things about Octopus Energy from friends and decided to switch, mainly attracted by:

• Consistently top ratings for customer service
• 100% renewable electricity
• No exit fees (I could leave anytime)
• The £50 referral bonus for switching

The Pros: What Octopus Gets Right

Customer Service: The Real Test

This is where Octopus genuinely excels. I've contacted them three times for various queries:

My Experience:

• Response time: Live chat replies within 2-3 minutes. Email responses within a few hours.
• Quality: Knowledgeable, friendly staff who actually solve problems rather than reading scripts.
• Channels: Live chat, email, social media - all responsive and helpful.
• Tone: Genuinely friendly, often with a sense of humour. Feels like talking to a person, not a corporation.

Awards & Recognition:

Octopus consistently wins Which? Recommended Provider awards and maintains one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the energy industry. This isn't marketing fluff - the service genuinely is that good.

Pricing: Is Octopus Competitive?

Octopus isn't always the absolute cheapest, but their pricing is transparent and competitive. Here's what I found:

My Bills:

• Previous supplier: £450/month average
• Octopus Energy (Flexible tariff): £327/month average
• Savings: Around £1,476/year, plus the £50 referral credit

Price Transparency:

Unlike some suppliers, Octopus is upfront about:

• Unit rates and standing charges clearly shown
• No hidden fees or surprising charges
• Regular updates if rates change
• Easy-to-understand bills

Tariff Options:

Octopus offers multiple tariff types depending on your needs:

• Flexible Octopus: Standard variable tariff, no exit fees
• Octopus Tracker: Rates change daily based on wholesale prices
• Agile Octopus: Half-hourly pricing, great if you can shift usage to cheap periods
• Intelligent Octopus Go: Super cheap overnight rates for EV owners
• Fixed tariffs: Lock in rates for 12 months

The Octopus App: Surprisingly Useful

Most energy company apps are terrible. Octopus's is genuinely good:

Features I Actually Use:

• Live balance: See exactly what I owe or have in credit
• Usage tracking: Daily/weekly/monthly breakdowns with comparisons
• Easy meter readings: Submit readings with your phone camera
• Billing history: All past bills accessible instantly
• Quick contact: Live chat built into the app
• Payment management: Change Direct Debit amounts easily

The app actually makes managing energy less annoying, which is rare.

Smart Meters: Actually Work Properly

I had an older SMETS1 smart meter before switching to Octopus Energy. As expected with these older meters:

• The meter went "dumb" when I switched suppliers
• Lost smart functionality during the switch
• Had to submit manual meter readings temporarily

Note: If you have an older SMETS1 meter, it will likely operate in "dumb" mode after switching. However, Octopus Energy can arrange a free upgrade to SMETS2, which works seamlessly across all suppliers.

100% Renewable Electricity: Does It Matter?

All of Octopus's electricity is matched by renewable sources (wind, solar, hydro). Technically, electrons are electrons on the grid, but Octopus ensures that for every unit you use, they source an equivalent amount from renewable generation.

If environmental impact matters to you, this is a genuine benefit. If it doesn't, Octopus is still worth considering for service quality and pricing.

The Switching Process: How Smooth Was It?

My experience switching to Octopus:

• Application: 5 minutes online, very straightforward
• Communication: Regular email updates on progress
• Timeline: Switch completed in exactly 21 days as promised
• Meter readings: Octopus requested final readings from my old supplier automatically
• First bill: Accurate and on time, with clear breakdown
• Referral credit: £50 appeared in my account 5 weeks after switch

Zero hassle. Octopus managed everything, and my energy supply never faltered.

What Could Be Better?

Whilst Octopus Energy is excellent, there are minor downsides:

1. Limited Telephone Support Hours

Octopus Energy provides support via email, live chat, telephone, and social media. However, telephone support for non-emergencies is only available 9am-5pm. For most people this isn't an issue as the digital support channels (email and live chat) are excellent and often faster. Email responses are clear and well-organised with "FYI" or "Action Required" subject lines, making it easy to prioritise urgent matters.

2. Not Always the Absolute Cheapest

Occasionally, smaller suppliers or promotional deals from other companies might undercut Octopus Energy by £20-50/year. However, those savings often come with poor service, exit fees, or companies that might not survive market volatility. For me, the small premium for Octopus Energy's service is worth it.

3. Some Advanced Tariffs Require Specific Setup

Tariffs like Agile Octopus or Intelligent Octopus Go require smart meters and sometimes specific equipment (like compatible EV chargers). If you want the innovative tariffs, you need the right hardware.

Who Should Switch to Octopus?

Octopus is Perfect For:

• Anyone who values excellent customer service
• People comfortable with app/online account management
• Environmentally conscious consumers
• Smart meter owners wanting real-time data
• EV owners (Intelligent Octopus Go is fantastic)
• People who want transparent, fair pricing

Consider Alternatives If:

• You're uncomfortable with digital-only support channels
• You've found a significantly cheaper option with good reviews (always check Trustpilot first!)
• You need very specific features not currently offered by Octopus Energy

The Bottom Line: Is Octopus Energy Worth It?

Absolutely yes. After months as an Octopus customer, I genuinely recommend them. The customer service alone justifies the switch - it's refreshing to deal with an energy company that actually cares.

For most people, Octopus offers the best overall package: competitive pricing, outstanding service, ethical energy sourcing, and no-hassle flexibility. The fact that you can also get £50 credit through a referral makes the decision even easier.

Final Thoughts

Energy suppliers aren't usually exciting, but Octopus has genuinely impressed me. They've taken a boring, often frustrating industry and made it... pleasant? The bar was admittedly low, but Octopus clears it by a mile.

If you're with a traditional Big Six supplier and haven't switched in a while, you're probably overpaying and dealing with worse service. Octopus offers better pricing, better service, and renewable electricity - plus £50 off if you use a referral link.

After my experience, I'd recommend Octopus to anyone looking to switch energy suppliers. They're not perfect, but they're as close as you'll get in the UK energy market.