Searching for Martin Lewis best energy supplier?
Martin Lewis and MoneySavingExpert do not name one energy company as the best supplier for every household.
Their advice is to compare the tariffs available for your postcode, energy use and payment method. The cheapest option can differ between households, and the best deal can change as suppliers launch or withdraw tariffs.
MoneySavingExpert recommends comparing the whole market rather than choosing a supplier based only on its name, reputation or referral reward.
Octopus Energy is one option worth considering, particularly for homes with an electric vehicle, solar panels, a battery or a heat pump. But it is not automatically the cheapest supplier for everyone.
If you have compared the options and decided Octopus suits your household, you can use my referral link below:
Join Octopus and receive £50 account credit
I also receive £50 account credit if your switch qualifies.
Who is Martin Lewis’s best energy supplier?
Martin Lewis does not publish a permanent list naming one company as the best energy supplier.
The answer depends on what you mean by “best”.
You may be looking for:
- The lowest annual cost
- The best customer service
- A fixed tariff
- A low standing charge
- An electric vehicle tariff
- A tariff for solar panels or batteries
- A supplier offering good smart-meter support
- A company with no exit fees
- A tariff that protects against future price rises
One supplier may be strong in one area but weaker in another.
For example, the cheapest fixed tariff may not offer the best EV charging rates. A supplier with good customer service may not have the lowest unit prices. A low-standing-charge tariff may have more expensive unit rates.
MoneySavingExpert’s position is that households should compare the full tariff rather than relying on the supplier name.
Does Martin Lewis recommend one energy supplier?
No. Martin Lewis does not give one energy supplier a blanket recommendation for every household.
MoneySavingExpert compares tariffs, explains the Energy Price Cap and helps people assess whether fixing or switching is worthwhile.
Its advice changes as:
- Wholesale prices move
- The Energy Price Cap changes
- Suppliers introduce new fixed deals
- Standing charges change
- Exit fees change
- New smart tariffs appear
- Existing tariffs are withdrawn
A supplier that looks competitive today may not remain competitive for the full year.
The sensible approach is to compare again whenever:
- Your fixed tariff is ending
- The Price Cap is changing
- A supplier launches a new deal
- Your energy use changes
- You buy an EV
- You install solar panels, a battery or a heat pump
- You move home
How does Martin Lewis compare energy suppliers?
Martin Lewis and MoneySavingExpert focus mainly on the total cost of the tariff.
That includes:
- Electricity unit rate
- Gas unit rate
- Daily standing charges
- Estimated annual cost
- Fixed or variable pricing
- Contract length
- Exit fees
- Payment method
- Any joining credit
- Whether the tariff is available in your region
Your cheapest deal depends on your postcode and actual consumption.
A household using very little energy may care more about standing charges. A high-use household may benefit more from lower unit rates.
This is why a tariff described as having a low standing charge is not automatically cheaper. Some low-standing-charge tariffs recover the difference through higher unit prices. MoneySavingExpert warns that these can work for very low users but cost more for average or high-use households.
Is the cheapest supplier always the best?
Not necessarily.
Price matters, but you may also want to consider:
- Billing accuracy
- Customer service
- Smart-meter support
- Ease of contacting the supplier
- How quickly problems are resolved
- Quality of the app or online account
- Availability of specialist tariffs
- Support for solar export
- EV and charger compatibility
- Heat-pump or battery tariffs
A saving of a few pounds may not be worthwhile if you regularly face billing problems or cannot access the tariff features you need.
However, customer service should not be used to justify paying far more than necessary without checking the numbers.
The strongest choice is usually a supplier offering a competitive tariff that also meets your practical needs.
Which energy supplier is cheapest in 2026?
There is no single cheapest supplier across the whole country.
Tariff prices vary by:
- Region
- Electricity use
- Gas use
- Payment method
- Meter type
- Whether you want a fixed or variable tariff
- Whether you qualify for a specialist tariff
- The time of day you use electricity
MoneySavingExpert advises using a whole-market comparison based on your own details.
The Energy Price Cap is not a cap on your total bill. It limits the unit rates and standing charges on standard and default tariffs. The more energy you use, the more you still pay.
You should compare any fixed or specialist tariff against what you would otherwise pay under the current and expected future Price Cap.
Should I choose a fixed or variable energy tariff?
A fixed tariff gives you agreed unit rates and standing charges for a set period.
This can protect you if energy prices rise, but it may leave you paying more if prices fall.
A variable tariff can change, often in line with the Energy Price Cap or wholesale market conditions.
When comparing a fixed tariff, check:
- How its annual cost compares with the current Price Cap
- Predictions for future Price Cap periods
- The length of the fix
- Exit fees
- Whether the tariff can be moved to a new home
- Whether cheaper deals are likely to appear
MoneySavingExpert’s current advice is to compare available fixes against predicted Price Cap costs rather than assuming that either fixing or staying variable is always right.
Is Octopus Energy the best supplier?
Octopus Energy can be a strong option, but it is not automatically the best supplier for every household.
Its main advantage is the range of specialist tariffs available.
These include tariffs aimed at:
- Electric vehicle owners
- Solar households
- Battery owners
- Heat-pump users
- People able to move electricity use by time of day
- Customers willing to follow wholesale price changes
Octopus may suit households that want to manage their energy actively.
A simple fixed tariff from another supplier may be better for someone who wants predictable prices and does not need smart tariff features.
The correct comparison is between the exact Octopus tariff and the best alternatives available to you.
Why do people choose Octopus Energy?
Common reasons include:
- A broad range of smart tariffs
- Strong support for EV charging
- Solar export tariffs
- Battery and flexibility options
- Half-hourly electricity pricing
- A well-developed app and online account
- Referral credit for new customers
- The ability to move between several tariff types
Octopus also receives a great deal of attention because tariffs such as Agile, Tracker and Intelligent Octopus Go work differently from conventional energy deals.
That does not mean every Octopus tariff is cheap.
Some tariffs have higher peak rates, device requirements or pricing risks that do not suit every household.
Which Octopus tariff is best?
There is no single best Octopus tariff.
The right tariff depends on your equipment and when you use electricity.
Standard or fixed Octopus tariff
This may suit someone who wants straightforward pricing without scheduling electricity use.
Intelligent Octopus Go
This is mainly designed for compatible electric vehicles and chargers. It offers cheaper charging periods but has eligibility and charging rules.
Octopus Agile
Agile prices change every half hour.
It can work well for households that avoid expensive evening periods and move consumption into cheaper slots. Prices can rise when wholesale costs or national demand are high.
Octopus Tracker
Tracker follows wholesale prices more closely than a normal standard variable tariff.
Customers can benefit when wholesale prices fall, but rates can also rise quickly.
Octopus Cosy
Cosy is aimed primarily at heat-pump households and provides several cheaper periods during the day.
The best tariff cannot be identified from the cheap rate alone. You need to include the peak rate, standing charge and the amount of use you can realistically move.
You can compare the main options here:
Compare Octopus Energy tariffs
Is Octopus best for electric vehicle owners?
Octopus is often worth considering for EV owners because it offers tariffs designed around smart charging.
However, you should compare:
- Off-peak rate
- Peak rate
- Number of cheap hours
- Charging limits
- Compatible vehicles
- Compatible chargers
- Whether Octopus controls the vehicle or charger
- What happens when smart charging fails
- The rest of the household’s electricity cost
MoneySavingExpert notes that specialist EV tariffs often require you to join the supplier directly and may only be available after becoming a customer.
A very low overnight rate can still be poor value if the household uses large amounts at an expensive daytime rate.
Is Octopus best for solar and battery owners?
Octopus offers several import and export tariffs for households with solar panels and batteries.
The best combination depends on:
- Solar generation
- Household consumption
- Battery size
- Export volume
- Import tariff
- Export tariff
- Battery efficiency
- Whether the battery is controlled by Octopus
- Whether you use another flexibility provider
A high export rate can look attractive, but the overall result depends on what you pay to import electricity and how much solar you use directly.
The future value of solar is likely to rely increasingly on self-consumption rather than assuming permanently high export payments.
Is Octopus best for heat-pump owners?
Octopus can be worth considering for a heat-pump home, but the tariff must match how the heating system runs.
Heat pumps often operate for many hours rather than only overnight.
You should compare:
- Cheap periods
- Daytime rate
- Peak rate
- Standing charge
- Battery availability
- Hot-water timing
- Space-heating flexibility
- Comfort during expensive periods
A tariff designed mainly for overnight EV charging may not be the best choice for a heat pump running throughout the day.
You can compare current options here:
Best electricity tariffs for heat pumps
My experience choosing an energy supplier
I use Octopus Energy because its smart tariffs suit my household.
We have:
- Solar panels
- Home battery storage
- Two electric vehicles
- A heat pump
- Flexible electricity use
- Detailed energy monitoring
This lets me move a high proportion of consumption into cheaper periods.
That is not typical of every household.
My results depend on monitoring prices, scheduling equipment and changing tariff when the economics change.
Someone without flexible electricity use may get a better result from a simpler fixed tariff, whether from Octopus or another supplier.
My judgment is that Octopus is strongest for households that can use its specialist tariffs properly. That is different from saying it is the best supplier for everyone.
What should I check before choosing an energy supplier?
Before switching, compare:
- Your estimated annual cost
- Electricity and gas unit rates
- Standing charges
- Fixed or variable pricing
- Contract length
- Exit fees
- Payment method
- Smart-meter requirements
- Specialist tariff eligibility
- Customer service record
- Referral or joining credit
- What happens when the deal ends
Do not judge the deal from one headline figure.
A tariff may advertise:
- A low overnight rate but a high daytime rate
- A low standing charge but higher unit prices
- A joining reward but a more expensive annual cost
- A fixed saving based on assumed usage that does not match your home
Use your own annual consumption whenever possible.
Does a referral reward make a supplier the best?
No.
A referral reward is a useful one-off benefit, but it should not outweigh the annual tariff cost.
For example, a £50 joining credit does not help if the tariff costs £150 more over the year.
Compare the supplier and tariff first. Treat the referral reward as an extra benefit after deciding that the deal is suitable.
Join Octopus Energy with £50 credit
There is no universal Martin Lewis best energy supplier.
But if you have compared the available deals and decided that Octopus Energy suits your household, you can use my referral link:
Join Octopus and receive £50 account credit
The new customer currently receives £50 account credit after a qualifying switch.
I also receive £50 credit.
Check that the referral offer is shown 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, tariff prices and eligibility rules can change. Compare the current tariff against other available deals before completing your switch.
