⚖️Side-by-Side Comparison
E.ON Next is a growing competitor — it has absorbed npower's customer base and is now the UK's third-largest supplier. In May 2026, E.ON announced the acquisition of OVO Energy, which would make the combined entity the largest in Britain. Here's how it stacks up against Octopus today.
| Category | Octopus Energy | E.ON Next |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8/5 (779K+ reviews) | 4.5/5 (201K reviews) |
| Which? Recommended | 9 consecutive years | Not recommended |
| Green Electricity | 100% renewable (wind, solar, hydro) | 100% renewable-backed (REGO certificates) |
| Smart Tariffs | Agile, Tracker, Intelligent Go, Cosy, Flux | Next Drive Smart (EV), Next Pumped (heat pump) |
| EV Off-Peak Rate | ~7–8p/kWh (Intelligent Go) | 8p/kWh (Next Drive Smart) |
| Exit Fees (variable) | None | None on Next Flex variable |
| Exit Fees (fixed) | None on any tariff | £25–£50 per fuel (up to £100 dual-fuel) |
| Market Position | 2nd largest — 7.3M customers | 3rd largest — ~15.7% electricity market share |
| Customer Service (Which?) | Recommended Provider | 2/5 stars for value & contact quality |
| App Rating | 4.8/5 (750K+ ratings) | 4.8/5 (fewer ratings) |
| Referral Reward | £50 credit | £50 credit |
| npower Migration | N/A | Completed — all npower accounts now E.ON Next |
⭐Customer Service
E.ON Next holds a solid 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from over 200,000 reviews, placing it well above the industry average. Its app is rated 4.8/5 on the App Store — on par with Octopus. However, Which?'s 2026 survey paints a more nuanced picture: E.ON Next received 2/5 stars for value for money and is not a Which? Recommended Provider, whereas Octopus has held that status for nine consecutive years.
Common E.ON Next complaints focus on issues inherited from the npower migration — incorrect estimated billing, unresolved legacy account problems — and slower resolution of complex queries. Octopus's refund turnaround of 1–2 days also significantly beats E.ON Next's standard processing times.
⚡Tariff Innovation
E.ON Next has expanded its smart tariff range meaningfully. The Next Drive Smart EV tariff offers 8p/kWh overnight (midnight–6am) — competitive with Octopus Intelligent Go's ~7–8p/kWh. Next Pumped provides cheaper electricity during midday hours for heat pump customers. And Next Export Premium uses AI to optimise battery charge/discharge cycles for solar owners.
That said, E.ON Next does not offer anything comparable to Agile Octopus (half-hourly pricing that can go negative) or Octopus Tracker (daily wholesale pricing). There is also no exit-fee-free commitment on fixed deals — E.ON Next charges up to £100 in exit fees (dual-fuel), while Octopus charges nothing on any tariff.
🌱Green Energy
E.ON Next was the first of the original Big Six to move all residential customers to 100% renewable-backed electricity — achieving this in 2019. Like Octopus, it uses REGO (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) certificates to match every kWh supplied with renewable generation. Both suppliers make the same claim on standard tariffs.
The difference is in generation investment. Octopus Energy backs its supply with £6 billion in renewable generation assets across 240+ projects and has committed £15 billion to offshore wind. E.ON Group has targets to cut Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 50% by 2030, and has fitted solar panels on over 16,000 UK homes — but its UK retail supply credentials are broadly equivalent to Octopus at the standard tariff level.
💷Pricing
Both suppliers track the Ofgem price cap on standard variable tariffs — ~24.67p/kWh electricity and 57p/day standing charge in Q2 2026. E.ON Next's fixed deals (Next Pledge, Next Steady) are broadly competitive with market rates.
The key pricing differentiator is Octopus's smart tariffs. The Octopus Tracker was running at approximately £126/month in May 2026 — well below the cap — and passes wholesale savings directly to customers daily. E.ON Next's Next Plus loyalty programme offers product discounts (£500 off solar, £150 off panels) and a £50 referral reward that matches Octopus's own referral credit.
🏆Our Verdict
E.ON Next is one of the stronger legacy competitors to Octopus — its renewable credentials are genuine, its EV tariff is competitive, and its app experience is solid. For customers currently on a fixed E.ON Next deal with exit fees, it may not make sense to switch until the deal ends.
But across the metrics that matter most — customer satisfaction ratings, tariff breadth, Agile's half-hourly pricing, exit fee policy, and Which? recommendation — Octopus Energy holds a clear lead. The no-exit-fees-on-any-tariff policy alone is a meaningful advantage for customers who want flexibility. Switching from E.ON Next to Octopus takes about 5 minutes and earns you £50 free credit.