What does Martin Lewis say about Octopus Energy?
Martin Lewis and MoneySavingExpert do not give Octopus Energy a blanket recommendation. Their usual advice is to compare the available tariffs, rates and conditions against your own energy use before switching.
MoneySavingExpert regularly includes Octopus tariffs in its energy coverage, particularly when discussing smart tariffs such as Agile Octopus and Octopus Tracker.
However, the message is not that Octopus will automatically be cheaper for everyone.
The right choice depends on:
- The tariff you select
- How much energy you use
- When you use electricity
- Whether you can move demand away from expensive periods
- Whether you have an EV, solar panels, a battery or a heat pump
- How Octopus compares with deals from other suppliers
If you have decided that Octopus is suitable for you, you can use my referral link below.
Join Octopus and receive £50 account credit
I also receive £50 credit if your switch qualifies.
What does Martin Lewis say about Octopus Energy tariffs?
Martin Lewis’s wider message is that you should choose a tariff rather than simply choosing a supplier.
Octopus offers a standard variable tariff, fixed deals and several smart tariffs. These can behave very differently.
A standard or fixed tariff may suit someone who wants predictable pricing and does not want to plan electricity use around different times of day.
A smart tariff may suit someone who can actively move electricity use into cheaper periods.
MoneySavingExpert has covered Octopus tariffs such as:
- Agile Octopus
- Octopus Tracker
- Intelligent Octopus Go
- Other time-of-use tariffs aimed at EV owners
These tariffs can offer lower prices at particular times, but they can also expose customers to higher rates or more variable pricing.
The Octopus name alone does not tell you whether a tariff is good value.
Does Martin Lewis recommend Octopus Energy?
It would be misleading to say that Martin Lewis simply recommends Octopus Energy to everyone.
MoneySavingExpert compares energy deals and explains how different tariffs work. Its position can change as prices, tariff terms and the Energy Price Cap change.
A tariff that looks attractive today may become less competitive later.
Martin Lewis regularly advises households to:
- Compare the whole market
- Check the unit rates and standing charges
- Look at exit fees
- Consider future Price Cap changes
- Avoid assuming that the largest monthly saving shown is guaranteed
- Check whether the tariff fits their actual energy use
Octopus may appear in that comparison, but it should still be judged against the available alternatives.
What does Martin Lewis say about Agile Octopus?
MoneySavingExpert describes Agile Octopus as a tariff where electricity prices change every half hour.
Prices tend to be cheaper when national demand is lower. They can sometimes fall very low or become negative when there is excess electricity on the grid.
However, Agile can be expensive during high-demand periods, particularly in the early evening.
It is more likely to suit households that can move a large amount of electricity use away from expensive periods.
That could include homes with:
- An electric vehicle
- Home battery storage
- Solar panels
- Storage heaters
- Appliances that can be scheduled
- Flexible heating or hot-water demand
Agile may be less suitable if most of your electricity use happens during the evening peak and cannot be moved.
You can see the current and historical prices here:
Octopus Agile prices and tariff guide
What does Martin Lewis say about Octopus Tracker?
Octopus Tracker follows wholesale energy prices more closely than a normal standard variable tariff.
The rates can change frequently rather than remaining fixed for several months.
When wholesale prices fall, Tracker customers may see cheaper rates sooner than customers on tariffs linked to the Energy Price Cap.
The opposite is also true.
If wholesale prices rise, Tracker rates can increase quickly. This means customers need to accept more pricing risk and should continue checking whether the tariff remains competitive.
Tracker is not automatically the cheapest Octopus tariff, and past savings do not guarantee future savings.
You can view my Tracker information and regional pricing here:
Are Octopus smart tariffs worth considering?
Octopus smart tariffs can be worth considering where the household has the right equipment and usage pattern.
For example:
- EV owners may benefit from cheap overnight charging.
- Battery owners may charge when electricity is cheap and use the stored energy later.
- Solar households may combine import and export tariffs.
- Heat-pump owners may use tariffs with several cheaper periods.
- Flexible households may move appliances away from expensive times.
But a cheap off-peak rate does not tell the whole story.
You also need to check:
- The peak electricity rate
- The standing charge
- The number of cheap hours
- Any daily charging limits
- Device compatibility
- Export tariff restrictions
- Whether Octopus needs to control your car, charger or battery
- What happens if your smart meter stops communicating
My Octopus tariff pages show the actual regional rates and how the tariffs work in practice.
Compare Octopus Energy smart tariffs
Is Octopus Energy the cheapest supplier?
Not necessarily.
The cheapest supplier depends on the deals available at the time, your region and how much energy you use.
A household with an EV and a high level of overnight electricity use may get a different result from a household using most of its electricity between 4pm and 7pm.
You should compare:
- Electricity and gas unit rates
- Standing charges
- Fixed and variable options
- Exit fees
- Smart tariff requirements
- Referral credit
- Customer service
- Billing and meter support
A £50 referral reward is useful, but it should not be the main reason for choosing a tariff that costs more over the year.
My experience with Octopus Energy
I have used several Octopus tariffs alongside solar panels, home battery storage, two electric cars and a heat pump.
The tariffs have worked well for me because I can move a large proportion of my electricity use into cheaper periods.
That does not mean the same tariff will be best for every home.
My own results depend on:
- Charging batteries when electricity is cheap
- Charging EVs overnight
- Avoiding expensive peak periods
- Monitoring tariff prices
- Changing tariff when the economics change
- Using smart controls and scheduled appliances
The main benefit of Octopus for my household has been the range of tariffs available for flexible electricity use.
For someone who does not want to monitor prices or change when they use electricity, a simpler fixed or standard tariff may be a better fit.
What should you check before switching to Octopus?
Before switching, check the exact tariff that you will join rather than relying on the supplier name.
Look at:
- The electricity and gas unit rates
- The daily standing charges
- Whether the tariff is fixed or variable
- Any exit fees
- Smart-meter requirements
- Cheap and expensive time periods
- EV, charger or battery compatibility
- The current referral terms
- How the tariff compares with other suppliers
Also remember that some Octopus smart tariffs are only available after you have joined Octopus on another tariff.
Join Octopus Energy with £50 credit
If you have compared the options and decided that Octopus Energy suits your household, you can use my referral link:
Join Octopus and receive £50 account credit
The referral currently gives the new customer £50 account credit after a qualifying switch.
I also receive £50 credit.
Check that the referral offer is displayed when you begin the application.
Referral disclosure
If you join Octopus Energy through my referral link, you receive the advertised account credit and I receive a referral reward.
You will not pay more for using the link.
The referral income helps cover the cost of running Energy Stats UK and producing my independent tariff data, articles and videos.
Referral rewards and eligibility rules can change. Check the current offer and tariff details before completing your switch.
