Comparing Octopus Energy vs British Gas isn’t as straightforward as simply looking at one headline energy price. Both are major UK energy suppliers, but they have quite different approaches to tariffs, technology, customer service and rewards.

I’ve been an Octopus Energy customer since 2019, so in this comparison I’ll combine my own experience of using Octopus with current information about both suppliers to look at where each one stands in 2026.

The short version: I personally prefer Octopus Energy, particularly for its online account, customer service and range of smart tariffs. British Gas, however, has also expanded its smart-energy options considerably and may suit customers who prefer one of the UK’s longest-established energy brands.

The best choice for you will ultimately depend on the tariffs available at your address and how you use energy, so it’s worth comparing current rates before switching.

Octopus Energy vs British Gas: At a Glance

Both Octopus Energy and British Gas are major UK energy suppliers, but they have developed quite different identities. British Gas is the more established name, with a history stretching back generations, while Octopus Energy entered the UK market much more recently and has grown rapidly.

For me, the biggest difference is the overall approach. Octopus feels more technology-focused, with a strong emphasis on its online account, smart tariffs and products designed around electric vehicles, solar panels, batteries and heat pumps. British Gas also offers smart-energy products, but combines these with a much broader range of home services.

If your priority is simply finding the cheapest option, however, I wouldn’t choose either supplier based on reputation alone. Energy tariffs change, and the best deal can depend on your postcode, meter type and energy usage.

	Octopus Energy	British Gas
Best for	Smart tariffs, technology & flexibility	Traditional supplier & wider home services
Tariff choice	Flexible, fixed & extensive smart tariffs	Flexible, fixed & smart tariffs
EV tariffs	Yes	Yes
Solar / export options	Yes	Yes
Online account & app	A strong point in my experience	Yes
My preference	Octopus Energy	—

Octopus Energy vs British Gas: Prices and Tariffs

Price is likely to be one of the biggest factors when choosing between Octopus Energy and British Gas, but there isn’t a single supplier that’s always cheaper for everyone.

Both companies offer different tariffs, and the amount you actually pay depends on factors including where you live, how much energy you use, your payment method and the tariff you choose.

Octopus offers standard variable and fixed tariffs alongside a particularly wide range of smart tariffs. These can be especially interesting if you have an electric vehicle, solar panels, battery storage or can shift some of your electricity use to cheaper times of the day.

British Gas also offers fixed and variable options as well as smart tariffs for customers with technologies such as EVs, heat pumps, solar panels and batteries.

Which is cheaper? I wouldn’t automatically assume Octopus or British Gas will be cheaper. The sensible approach is to check the current tariffs available for your home when you’re ready to switch, as offers and rates can change.

I’ve also written a separate guide to Octopus Energy tariffs if you want a more detailed look at the different Octopus options.

Octopus Energy vs British Gas: Customer Service

Customer service is one of the areas where my own experience with Octopus Energy has generally been positive. Since joining in 2019, I’ve contacted Octopus on a number of occasions and have usually found communication straightforward and helpful.

I also like being able to manage most things through the online account without needing to contact customer service. Meter readings, bills, payments, energy usage and account information are all relatively easy to find.

British Gas also provides online account management and app-based support, alongside more traditional customer-service channels. However, I haven’t personally been a British Gas customer during the period covered by this comparison, so I don’t think it would be fair to present a personal comparison of the two companies’ customer service.

My view: based purely on my experience as an Octopus customer, customer service is one of the reasons I’ve stayed with the company. If customer service is particularly important to you, it’s also worth checking recent independent customer satisfaction data because service levels can change over time.

Octopus Energy vs British Gas: Smart Tariffs and Technology

Smart tariffs are one of the areas where Octopus Energy stands out most to me. Rather than offering only conventional fixed and variable tariffs, Octopus has developed different options around how and when customers use electricity.

For example, Intelligent Octopus Go is designed for EV charging, while Agile Octopus uses electricity prices that change every half hour. There are also specialist options for homes with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, including Octopus Flux, Outgoing Octopus and Cosy Octopus. Octopus says more than one million customers have now tried one of its smart tariffs or services.

British Gas isn’t simply a traditional-tariff supplier anymore either. It has developed smart options aimed at EV owners, heat-pump users, solar and battery customers, as well as schemes designed to reward customers for shifting electricity consumption away from busy periods.

Where I think Octopus has the advantage is choice and technology. Its range of specialist tariffs is unusually broad, particularly for households willing to change when they use electricity. That doesn’t mean a smart tariff will automatically save everyone money, though. Some require compatible equipment and a working smart meter, and tariffs such as Agile can expose you to considerably more variable electricity prices.

If you mainly want a straightforward fixed or variable tariff and don’t intend to adjust when you use electricity, this difference may be much less important

Octopus Energy vs British Gas: Renewable Energy

Sustainability is another area worth considering, although comparing energy suppliers on their environmental credentials isn’t always as simple as looking at a single percentage or marketing claim.

Octopus Energy has built much of its brand around renewable energy and the transition to low-carbon technologies. Alongside supplying electricity, the company has invested heavily in renewable generation and promotes technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar panels and home batteries.

British Gas also offers renewable and low-carbon products, including solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and EV charging solutions. So choosing between the two on environmental grounds isn’t simply a case of one supplier supporting green technology and the other not.

My view: Octopus has a stronger renewable-energy identity and its tariffs and technology are particularly closely integrated with low-carbon products. However, I’d choose your actual tariff based on its current terms rather than assuming that a tariff is better simply because it’s marketed as “green”.

Octopus Energy vs British Gas: Pros and Cons

Octopus Energy

Pros

• Wide range of smart and specialist tariffs
• Strong options for EVs, solar, batteries and heat pumps
• Online account has been straightforward to use in my experience
• Strong focus on renewable energy and technology
• Customer service has generally been positive in my experience

Cons

• Some smart tariffs can be complicated if you just want a simple energy deal
• The cheapest option depends on your usage and circumstances
• Dynamic tariffs such as Agile can involve significant price variation

British Gas

Pros

• Long-established and widely recognised UK supplier
• Fixed, variable and smart tariff options
• EV, solar, battery and heat-pump products
• Wider range of home services beyond energy supply

Cons

• I can’t personally compare its customer service with Octopus because this article isn’t based on my experience as a British Gas customer
• Its traditional brand and broader home-services model may be less appealing if your priority is innovative energy tariffs
• As with Octopus, you still need to compare the actual tariff available to you rather than choosing based on the brand alone

Octopus Energy or British Gas: Which Would I Choose?

If I were choosing between Octopus Energy and British Gas today, I would choose Octopus Energy.

Part of that comes from my own experience. I’ve been an Octopus customer since 2019 and, overall, I’ve been happy enough with the service that I’ve never felt a strong reason to switch away. I’ve found the online account straightforward, communication has generally been good, and I like the range of tariffs and technology Octopus has developed.

That doesn’t mean Octopus will automatically be the best or cheapest supplier for everyone. British Gas may make more sense if you prefer its wider range of home services or if it happens to offer you a more attractive tariff.

For me, though, Octopus offers the better overall package, particularly if you’re interested in smart tariffs, EV charging, solar, batteries or simply want an energy supplier with a strong technology focus.

If you’re considering Octopus, you can also read my Octopus Energy review, which goes into more detail about my experience as a customer since 2019.

Switching to Octopus Energy: Get £50 Credit

If you’ve compared the two suppliers and decide that Octopus Energy is right for you, new customers can currently receive £50 energy credit by signing up through an Octopus Energy referral link.

You can use my Octopus Energy referral link to start the switch. If you sign up through it and meet the terms of the referral offer, you’ll receive £50 credit and I’ll also receive referral credit from Octopus.

The referral doesn’t change my opinion in this comparison: I’ve been an Octopus customer since 2019, and the views above are based on my own experience alongside the current information I’ve researched about both suppliers.

Before switching, check the tariff and rates offered for your address so you can decide whether Octopus is actually the right option for you.