UPDATED: 9 OCTOBER 2026
Comparing Octopus Energy and OVO Energy? Here’s an honest breakdown — including OVO Drive vs Intelligent Octopus Go for EV owners, pricing, customer service scores, and the £50 referral credit you get when you switch to Octopus.
Switch from OVO – Get £50 Free →OVO Energy is a credible alternative to the old big-six. It was founded in 2009, acquired SSE’s retail customer base in 2020, and has positioned itself as a tech-forward, greener supplier. Its Trustpilot score of around ~4.0★ is better than most traditional suppliers.
That said, Octopus Energy is still the better choice for most households. Octopus’s Trustpilot 4.8★ significantly outpaces OVO, its smart tariffs — especially Intelligent Octopus Go — are more competitive on overnight EV charging rates, and its permanent £50 referral scheme is more generous than OVO’s occasional promotions.
If you’re currently on OVO or SSE (which OVO acquired), this comparison will help you decide whether switching makes sense.
| Factor | Octopus Energy | OVO Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8★ Excellent (800,000+ reviews) | ~4.0★ (Good) |
| Which? Best Buy | 7 times (2018–2025) | Occasional recommendation, not consistent |
| Pricing vs Ofgem cap | Always at or below cap since launch | Typically at or near cap |
| Renewable electricity | 100% as standard, all tariffs | Greener energy options available |
| EV tariff | Intelligent Octopus Go: 8p/kWh overnight | OVO Drive: higher overnight rate (varies) |
| Heat pump tariff | Cosy Octopus — save up to £389/yr | No dedicated heat pump tariff |
| Solar + battery tariff | Octopus Flux / Agile Octopus | Export tariffs available; limited smart options |
| Referral scheme | £50 each (£100 split) — permanent | Occasional promotions only |
| Exit fees (variable tariff) | No exit fees | No exit fees on variable tariffs |
| Customer base | 7.7 million+ | ~5 million+ (inc. SSE customers) |
Both OVO Drive and Intelligent Octopus Go offer a cheaper overnight electricity rate for EV owners. Both require a compatible smart charger. Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | Intelligent Octopus Go | OVO Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight cheap rate | 8p/kWh (Oct 2026) | Higher — varies by region |
| Cheap hours | 11:30pm–5:30am — whole home | Varies by plan and region |
| Smart scheduling | Octopus app optimises automatically | OVO app with charger control |
| Whole-home benefit? | Yes — 8p/kWh for all usage overnight | Depends on tariff structure |
| Public charging | 8% off via Octopus Electroverse | Via OVO-partnered networks |
The core advantage of Intelligent Octopus Go is the 8p/kWh whole-home overnight rate — not just EV charging, but any appliance running between 11:30pm and 5:30am. Running your dishwasher, washing machine, or immersion heater overnight at 8p/kWh adds up to meaningful additional savings beyond just EV charging. OVO Drive’s overnight rate is typically higher.
For a typical EV driver doing 7,000 miles per year (~2,100 kWh home charging), even a 2p/kWh difference in overnight rate is worth around £42/yr — plus the £50 referral credit on switching. Over two years, that’s up to £134 ahead with Octopus.
If you were originally an SSE customer that was moved to OVO following the 2020 acquisition, the switching process is exactly the same — Octopus handles both OVO and SSE switches identically.
Click — don’t type — the link for the £50 credit to register.
Enter your address, meter readings, and Direct Debit details. Octopus contacts OVO/SSE on your behalf.
No interruption to supply. The same wires and pipes serve your home.
Automatic. Credit appears around two to four weeks from joining.
For most customers in 2026, yes. Octopus holds Trustpilot 4.8★ vs OVO’s ~4.0★, has won Which? Best Buy seven times, and offers smarter EV tariff rates (IOG at 8p/kWh overnight). OVO is a decent supplier — better than the old big-six — but Octopus edges it on customer service and smart tariff value.
Click share.octopus.energy/brave-kiwi-22 and complete the switch in around five minutes. Octopus contacts OVO on your behalf. No supply interruption. Check for exit fees on fixed-rate tariffs.
Intelligent Octopus Go is generally better — its 8p/kWh overnight rate for the whole home (11:30pm–5:30am) is lower than OVO Drive’s typical overnight rate. The whole-home cheap window also means non-EV appliances benefit from the rate, adding to total savings. For most EV owners, IOG works out cheaper.
Yes — the switch process is identical. You are now an OVO Energy customer, and Octopus handles switching from OVO (including former SSE accounts) in exactly the same way as any other supplier switch. Click the referral link and follow the standard process.
OVO has run occasional refer-a-friend promotions but has no permanent scheme equivalent to Octopus’s £50 each offer. Switching to Octopus via a referral link earns both you and the referrer £50 credit each — consistently, year-round.