Octopus Energy vs E.ON Next

E.ON Next is the rebranded version of the old E.ON UK. The rebrand launched in 2020 and, to be fair, it wasn't just a name change. They've genuinely invested in their technology, their app and their customer experience. Five years on, E.ON Next is a noticeably better proposition than the old E.ON ever was. The question is how it stacks up against a supplier that was built from scratch to do things differently.

Pricing

E.ON Next's standard variable tariff (Next Flex) typically sits at or near the Ofgem price cap. That's the same position as most large suppliers. Where E.ON Next has been competitive recently is on fixed tariffs: their Next Fixed deals have at times been among the cheapest on the market. Their Next Pledge tariff also guarantees prices stay below the cap.

Octopus's Flexible tariff generally comes in a few percent below the cap. That translates to maybe £50-100 in annual savings on a standard tariff alone. The real gap, though, is in smart tariffs. If you're able to shift some energy usage off-peak, Octopus's Agile, Go (8.5p/kWh overnight) or Tracker tariffs can shave hundreds off your yearly bills. E.ON Next now has several smart tariffs of its own, but Octopus still offers more variety.

Smart tariffs

E.ON Next has expanded its smart tariff range considerably. Next Drive gives EV owners overnight electricity at 7.5p/kWh, and Next Drive Smart brings that down to 6.5p/kWh with a smart meter. Next Pumped is designed for heat pump households with cheaper off-peak windows. Next Smart Saver rewards anyone who can shift usage away from the 4-7pm peak. This is a genuine range, and credit to E.ON Next for building it out.

Octopus still offers more variety. Agile gives you half-hourly wholesale pricing, Go offers 8.5p/kWh overnight, Intelligent Go drops to 7p/kWh with smart EV scheduling, Tracker follows daily wholesale rates, Cosy is tailored for heat pumps and Flux is designed around solar and battery setups. Whatever energy technology you've got at home, Octopus almost certainly has a tariff designed around it.

If you're on a standard flat-rate tariff and have no plans to change that, this difference matters less. If you've got an EV, solar panels, a battery or a heat pump, both suppliers now have options for you, though Octopus offers more depth across the board.

Customer service

Octopus has a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 757,000+ reviews. E.ON Next sits at 4.5 out of 5 from over 189,000 reviews. By energy supplier standards, both are strong scores. E.ON Next's rating has improved dramatically since the rebrand, and they clearly deserve credit for that turnaround.

Where Octopus tends to edge ahead is in the feel of interactions. Their support team consistently gets praised for reading your actual question and giving a real answer, rather than sending a template response. E.ON Next reviews are more polarised: many customers report smooth, efficient service, while others describe frustrating experiences with more complex queries. That said, a 4.5 Trustpilot score across nearly 190,000 reviews is not a fluke. E.ON Next is doing plenty right here.

Where E.ON Next has strengths

The app is genuinely decent. E.ON Next's app has come a long way. It's clean, fairly intuitive and gives you a good overview of your usage and account. Smart meter data is presented clearly, and basic tasks like submitting a reading or adjusting your Direct Debit are straightforward. It's not as feature-rich as the Octopus app when it comes to smart tariff data, but for everyday account management, it does the job well.

Next Drive is competitive. Next Drive's standard overnight rate of 7.5p/kWh is a solid EV charging deal, and Next Drive Smart drops that to 6.5p/kWh. For comparison, Octopus Go sits at 8.5p/kWh and Intelligent Go at 7p/kWh. The gap between the two suppliers' EV tariffs has narrowed significantly. If you're already with E.ON Next and want an EV tariff without switching supplier, Next Drive Smart is worth a serious look.

Renewable electricity. E.ON Next now offers 100% renewable electricity, backed by REGO certificates. Their parent company, E.ON SE, is one of Europe's largest renewable energy operators, and they also generate their own renewable power from biomass and wind in the UK. The approach is similar to Octopus's REGO-backed model, though Octopus also invests directly in its own generation through Octopus Energy Generation.

Genuine improvement over time. E.ON Next has not stood still. From the expanded smart tariff range to the 4.5 Trustpilot score, this is a company that has invested heavily since the 2020 rebrand. The trajectory matters, and E.ON Next's is clearly upward.

The verdict

E.ON Next is a good energy supplier. Their Trustpilot score is strong, their smart tariff range has expanded, their app works well and their fixed deals are often competitive. If you're with them and happy, there's no pressing reason to leave.

Where Octopus still leads is in the breadth of smart tariffs, the absence of exit fees on any tariff, and a slightly more personal approach to customer service. Octopus also tends to price its standard variable rate a touch below the cap, while E.ON Next's typically sits at it. If you have an EV, solar panels, a battery or a heat pump, Octopus's wider tariff menu gives you more options to cut costs. If you're on a straightforward flat-rate deal, the gap between the two is smaller than it used to be.

Want to see real numbers? The tariff comparison tool will show you live Octopus rates for your postcode.