UPDATED: 27 MAY 2026
Thinking about switching from British Gas to Octopus Energy? Here’s an honest comparison — covering pricing, customer service, smart tariffs, Trustpilot scores, and the £50 referral credit you get when you switch via a referral link.
Switch from British Gas – Get £50 Free →For most UK households in 2026, Octopus Energy is the better choice. It outperforms British Gas on every major customer satisfaction metric, consistently prices at or below the Ofgem cap, and offers a range of smart tariffs — particularly for EV owners and heat pump homes — that British Gas simply cannot match.
British Gas has the advantage of heritage and scale: it’s been around for decades and has the UK’s largest customer base. If you value a big-brand name and already have an existing relationship, there’s nothing catastrophically wrong with staying. But the data consistently shows Octopus is better on the things most people care about: price, service, and smart options.
I’ve been an Octopus customer since 2018 and haven’t had a reason to switch away. Here’s the full breakdown.
| Factor | Octopus Energy | British Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8★ Excellent (500,000+ reviews) | Much lower (varies — typically 1.5–2★) |
| Which? Best Buy | 7 times (2018–2025) | Not awarded in recent years |
| Pricing vs Ofgem cap | Always at or below cap since launch | Typically at or near cap |
| Renewable electricity | 100% as standard, all tariffs | Optional — not standard |
| EV tariff | Intelligent Octopus Go: 8p/kWh overnight | No equivalent EV smart tariff |
| Heat pump tariff | Cosy Octopus — save up to £389/yr | No equivalent |
| Solar + battery tariff | Agile Octopus (Flux paused) | Limited smart tariff options |
| Referral scheme | £50 each (£100 split) | No referral scheme |
| Exit fees (variable tariff) | No exit fees | No exit fees on variable tariffs |
| UK customers | 7.7 million+ | ~7.5 million |
| App & online account | Well-reviewed app and web portal | Available but mixed reviews |
This is the starkest difference between the two suppliers. Octopus Energy’s Trustpilot Excellent 4.8★ from over 500,000 reviews is exceptional for any business — let alone an energy company, which is a sector typically characterised by poor customer satisfaction.
British Gas scores significantly lower on Trustpilot. Its rating has historically sat in the 1.5–2★ range — reflecting a common pattern with traditional big-six suppliers where billing issues, long hold times, and poor complaint resolution generate significant negative feedback.
Octopus uses a “team” customer service model where you deal with a small group of agents who know your account rather than a large anonymous call centre. This is reflected in both its Trustpilot scores and its consecutive Which? Best Buy wins.
On standard variable tariffs, both suppliers are bound by the Ofgem price cap — so the difference on headline unit rates and standing charges is modest. Both price at or near the cap for most customers.
The significant pricing difference comes from smart tariffs. Octopus offers rates that British Gas cannot currently match:
Additionally, with the July 2026 price cap rising to £1,850/yr, the value of locking into a smart tariff below the standard rate becomes even greater. Octopus customers on Intelligent Octopus Go at 8p/kWh overnight are well insulated from the cap rise for their overnight usage.
You must click the link — not type the URL directly — for the £50 credit to register. The referral is tracked automatically via the link.
Enter your address, current energy usage, and set up a Direct Debit. Octopus will contact British Gas on your behalf — you do not need to cancel your British Gas account yourself.
No interruption to your electricity or gas. The same pipes and wires supply your home — only the billing company changes.
Around two to four weeks after your first payment, £50 credit is automatically added to your Octopus account. The referrer gets £50 at the same time. No code to enter.
Unless you’re locked into a British Gas fixed-rate deal with significant exit fees that outweigh the £50 referral credit, switching to Octopus is almost certainly the right move. Here’s a simple checklist:
With the July 2026 price cap rising to £1,850/yr, getting the £50 referral credit now — before the increase hits — means you have an immediate buffer against higher bills. And getting onto a smart tariff like Intelligent Octopus Go means you’re protected against further cap rises on your overnight usage.
For most customers in 2026, yes. Octopus holds a Trustpilot Excellent 4.8★ rating (vs British Gas’s much lower score), has won Which? Best Buy seven times, prices at or below the Ofgem cap, offers 100% renewable electricity as standard, and has smart tariffs (Intelligent Octopus Go, Cosy Octopus) that British Gas cannot match.
Click the referral link share.octopus.energy/brave-kiwi-22 and complete the switch online in around five minutes. Octopus contacts British Gas on your behalf. No interruption to supply. Check for British Gas exit fees first if you’re on a fixed-rate tariff.
No. British Gas does not offer a refer-a-friend scheme. Switching to Octopus via a referral link earns both you and the referrer £50 credit each — £100 total. British Gas has no comparable offer.
On standard variable tariffs, both are priced around the Ofgem cap so the difference on like-for-like standard rates is small. The significant savings come from Octopus’s smart tariffs: Intelligent Octopus Go (8p/kWh overnight for EV owners) and Cosy Octopus (save £389/yr for heat pump homes). British Gas has no equivalent smart tariff offerings.
Yes — customers on Flexible Octopus (standard variable) will see rates rise in line with the Ofgem cap from 1 July 2026 (cap rising to £1,850/yr). This is the same situation for British Gas and all standard variable tariff customers. Smart tariff customers (Intelligent Octopus Go, Cosy Octopus) are on separately priced tariffs not directly linked to the quarterly cap change.