Octopus Energy vs Good Energy (2026)
Good Energy is one of the most genuinely green suppliers in the UK and a great fit if certified renewable sourcing is your top priority. But Octopus matches it on 100% renewable electricity while pulling well ahead on smart tariff choice, app technology, independent satisfaction scores and sheer scale, and it usually works out cheaper for everyday households. For most people weighing the two, Octopus is the stronger all-round pick, and switching to it lands you £50 of welcome credit.
Switching from Good Energy takes ~5 working days with no break in supply — and my link gets you £50.
Get my £50The verdict
Good Energy is one of the most genuinely green suppliers in the UK and a great fit if certified renewable sourcing is your top priority. But Octopus matches it on 100% renewable electricity while pulling well ahead on smart tariff choice, app technology, independent satisfaction scores and sheer scale, and it usually works out cheaper for everyday households. For most people weighing the two, Octopus is the stronger all-round pick, and switching to it lands you £50 of welcome credit.
Good Energy was founded in 1999 in Chippenham, Wiltshire by Juliet Davenport and was an early mover in British renewables, even acquiring the Delabole Wind Farm in Cornwall, the UK's first commercial wind farm. It remains a comparatively small, sustainability-led supplier of around a quarter of a million customers.
Where Octopus tends to win
- Far wider range of smart and time-of-use tariffs, including Agile half-hourly pricing, Tracker's daily wholesale rate, Intelligent Octopus Go for EV charging and Cosy Octopus for heat pumps, versus Good Energy's simpler fixed and variable line-up.
- As the UK's largest electricity supplier, used by roughly one in four households, Octopus has the scale and investment behind its award-winning app and Kraken billing platform, where smaller Good Energy can't match the pace of feature development.
- Octopus is a Which? Recommended Provider many years running with an Excellent Trustpilot rating around 4.8/5, an independent service record that consistently sits at the top of the market.
- Octoplus rewards add genuine extra value: free monthly Wheel of Fortune spins plus paid Saving Sessions, which Good Energy has no direct equivalent to.
- A £50 welcome credit lands automatically when you join through a referral link, and Octopus generally prices keener for the typical home than Good Energy's premium-green tariffs.
Where Good Energy still has a case
- Good Energy is a pioneer of certified 100% renewable electricity and is recognised on the Which? Eco Provider list, with deep, long-standing green credentials that predate most rivals.
- Unusually, Good Energy owns and operates some of its own generation and buys directly from more than 1,600 independent UK renewable generators, so its money visibly supports small British clean-energy producers.
- It has expanded into whole-home decarbonisation with its own heat pump installs and EV and solar services, which appeals to households wanting one provider for the full green-home journey.
At a glance
| Feature | Octopus Energy | Good Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.8/5 “Excellent” | Lower |
| Which? Recommended | 9 yrs running | No |
| Smart / EV tariffs | Agile, Tracker, Intelligent Go, Cosy | Limited |
| 100% renewable electricity | Yes | Varies |
| £50 welcome credit | Yes — via referral link | No equivalent |
Tariff prices change with the Ofgem price cap and your region, so always confirm live rates on Octopus’s own website before switching.
How to switch from Good Energy to Octopus
Switching from Good Energy to Octopus is quick and completely safe. Open my referral link, enter your address and a recent meter reading, and Octopus arranges the whole handover with Good Energy for you, so there's nothing to cancel yourself. Because the gas, wires and meter never change, there is no break in supply at any point, and the switch is protected by Ofgem and the Energy Switch Guarantee. Most switches complete in about 5 working days. The key thing is to start from the referral link itself, not a price-comparison site or the Octopus homepage, so the £50 code applies automatically; the credit then arrives roughly 2 to 4 weeks after your first monthly Direct Debit is taken, with no form to fill in.
FAQs
How much is the Octopus Energy referral bonus?+
£50 for you and £50 for the referrer — £50 each. Business and charity referrals are £75 each. Octopus sometimes frames it as “splitting £100 with a mate”, which is the same thing: £50 into each account.
Is the Octopus referral code still working in 2026?+
Yes. The scheme is active and we re-verify our code on the 1st of every month. We last confirmed it works on 1 June 2026.
How long does it take to get the £50 credit?+
It’s paid automatically once your switch completes and your first monthly Direct Debit has been taken — usually around 4 weeks after you join. No claim needed.
Is this an official Octopus Energy offer?+
Yes — refer-a-friend is Octopus’s own scheme. Energy Referral is an independent guide, not affiliated with Octopus, but the link takes you straight to Octopus’s website where you sign up directly with them.
Ready to switch? Use my link and we both get £50 — it costs you nothing.
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