Octopus Energy vs So Energy — Which Is Better?

So Energy built its early reputation on friendly, straightforward service, and for years it scored well in independent surveys. More recently the picture is mixed: its Trustpilot rating sits at around 4.2–4.4/5, with a noticeable uptick in complaints about billing accuracy and contact times in the period following its merger with ESB Energy. That's still better than most legacy suppliers — but no longer class-leading.

Octopus holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from over 779,000 reviews — one of the highest of any major UK company in any industry — and has been a Which? Recommended Provider for 9 consecutive years. Refunds typically land in 1–2 days, and support comes from named humans rather than ticket queues. At this scale gap (779,000+ reviews vs tens of thousands), the consistency of Octopus's score is the standout. Our full Octopus Energy review covers service in depth.

So Energy keeps things deliberately simple: a small menu of fixed-rate tariffs, typically 12 months, with renewable electricity included. There's genuine appeal in that simplicity — one price, no surprises. But simplicity cuts both ways: there's no time-of-use tariff for EV owners, no wholesale tracker, and no heat pump or solar-optimised option.

Octopus covers both ends. You can take a simple fixed or flexible tariff — or unlock the smart range: Agile, Tracker, Intelligent Go, Cosy, and Flux. Intelligent Go charges EVs overnight at around 7–8p/kWh, Tracker follows daily wholesale prices, and Agile's half-hourly pricing can occasionally go negative. So Energy has nothing in this category.

Exit fees are the other gap. So Energy's fixed deals carry exit fees if you leave early, while Octopus charges no exit fees on any tariff — including its fixed deals. Octopus customers also get Octoplus, the free rewards programme with bill-credit points and monthly prize draws; So Energy has no equivalent.

This is the fairest fight in the comparison — both suppliers offer 100% renewable electricity as standard. So Energy has done so since its founding, and its claims are backed by REGO (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) certificates, the standard mechanism used across the industry — including by Octopus.

The difference is depth. Beyond certificates, Octopus generates and manages approximately 4GW of renewable capacity through Octopus Energy Generation, with around £6 billion in assets across 240+ wind and solar projects and major commitments to offshore wind. So Energy is a genuine green supplier, but it doesn't build or operate generation at anything like that scale. If you want your bill to fund new renewable capacity rather than just match existing output, Octopus has the stronger claim.

So Energy's fixed deals are sometimes competitively priced against the Ofgem cap — but fixed pricing fluctuates with the wholesale market, so a deal that looks sharp one month can be mid-table the next. Always compare the current fix against the cap and against Octopus's equivalent fixed deal before committing, and remember the exit fees if prices fall after you lock in.

Octopus offers more ways to pay less. Its flexible tariff tracks the price cap with no lock-in, its fixed deals carry no exit fees, and its smart tariffs — particularly Tracker and Agile — have frequently run below the cap for typical households. Add the £50 referral credit and free Octoplus rewards, and the overall value package is hard for a fixed-only supplier to match.

Switching from So Energy to Octopus takes about 5 minutes:

1. Check your fix. If you're mid-contract, confirm whether exit fees apply — or wait for the no-penalty window near your contract end date.
2. Sign up with Octopus using a referral link to claim your £50 free credit.
3. Octopus handles everything — it contacts So Energy and manages the transfer; you don't need to cancel anything.
4. The switch completes in around 2–3 working days with no interruption to your supply — just submit an opening meter reading.

See our step-by-step switching guide for the full process.