March 18, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Octopus Agile vs Tracker: Which Smart Tariff Saves More? (2026)

Last updated: 27 August 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Choosing between Octopus Agile vs Tracker comes down to how much pricing volatility you're willing to accept and how actively you want to manage your energy usage. Both tariffs follow wholesale markets, but they work very differently. Tracker changes your unit rate once per day. Agile changes it every 30 minutes. And while Tracker covers both gas and electricity, Agile is electricity-only.

Quick comparison

  • Tracker: daily rate, covers gas and electricity, moderate volatility.
  • Agile: half-hourly rate, electricity only, high volatility but negative pricing possible.
  • Both require a SMETS2 smart meter (or certain SMETS1 models).
  • Both have no exit fees.
  • Both include Price Cap Protect at 100p/kWh for electricity.

If you're exploring Octopus more broadly, keep switching and referral details centralised here: Octopus Energy referral guide.

Decided on a smart tariff?

Whichever you pick, the current Octopus sign-up credit and steps are on my referral page.

Claim the Octopus sign-up credit

Still deciding whether Octopus is right for you? Switching, leaving and the referral credit are all covered in my Octopus Energy guides hub.

Read more

March 16, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Investment ISA 2026 – Top Picks Before the Deadline

Last updated: 6 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Best investment ISA2026 Edit
The best investment ISA for every kind of UK investor

Finding the best investment ISA in 2026 really comes down to one question: what kind of investor are you? So instead of crowning a single winner, this guide matches the main UK stocks and shares ISA platforms to the people they actually suit, then compares them on the things that move the needle: fees, FX costs, choice of investments and how easy each one is to use.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Not financial advice. This article is for information only and reflects personal experience, not a recommendation. Because investing carries risk, always do your own research or speak to a qualified financial adviser before you act.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

The low-cost ISA we track most

For transparency, Lightyear is the low-cost Stocks and Shares ISA we use and follow most closely, so you will see it referenced throughout. It is also the account behind our living can AI turn £1,000 into £10,000 experiment. You can check its current ISA details and any live offer on our referral page before you decide anything.

See Lightyear ISA details

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March 12, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive Cashback Explained: Gift Cards, Rates and Real-World Tips (2026)

Last updated: 13 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have used Shop with Sprive for my weekly shops since October 2021, alongside monthly auto-save overpayments on my mortgage, so everything below comes from buying gift cards at real checkouts.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this is not financial advice.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Get the Sprive bonus first

Before we get into the mechanics, the current welcome offer and how to claim it are detailed on our referral page.

Claim the Sprive bonus

"Cashback towards your mortgage" sounds brilliant, until you hit the fine print: gift cards, checkout friction, and that one purchase that never tracked. This Sprive cashback explained guide covers how Shop with Sprive actually works in practice, which retailers are worth the effort, and a simple test for whether it's a genuine time-saver or just another app you'll forget about.

Getting more from Sprive cashback? The mechanics are below. For every other Sprive guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, updated as the app changes.

Read more

March 9, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Is Octopus Energy Regulated by Ofgem? UK Licensing and Consumer Protection (2026)

Last updated: 27 August 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Yes. Octopus Energy is regulated by Ofgem, the UK's independent energy regulator. That means Octopus must follow the same consumer protection rules, pricing regulations and licensing requirements as every other domestic energy supplier in Great Britain. In practical terms, this covers everything from how you're billed to how quickly you can switch and what happens if things go wrong.

Quick answer

  • Octopus Energy holds both gas and electricity supply licences from Ofgem.
  • Default tariffs are subject to the Ofgem price cap.
  • Switching, billing and complaint handling rules all apply.
  • Customers can escalate unresolved complaints to the Energy Ombudsman.
  • If Octopus ever failed, the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process would protect your supply and credit balance.

If you're reviewing suppliers and want to see how switching works in practice, start here: Octopus Energy switch process.

Reassured and ready to switch?

The current Octopus new-customer credit is listed on my referral page, kept up to date.

See the live Octopus credit

Checking Octopus out before you switch? My Octopus Energy guides hub collects the safety, tariff and referral guides in one place.

Read more

March 7, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Freetrade Review UK: Honest Pros, Cons and Verdict (2026)

Last updated: 7 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute financial advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5

This Freetrade review UK covers everything you need to know before opening an account: plans, fees, what you can invest in, what real users say on Trustpilot, and where the app falls short. Freetrade has grown into one of the UK's most popular investing apps since the company was founded in 2016. However, popularity and quality are not always the same thing. This review is based on my own experience using the app, and I have dug into the plans, fees and real user feedback so you don't have to.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Want a free share with Freetrade?

Freetrade's refer-a-friend deal gives a free share when you join, subject to qualifying conditions. The current offer and full terms are kept up to date on our referral page.

Get a free share with Freetrade

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March 6, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best AI Assistant UK 2026: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Perplexity

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Choosing the best AI assistant UK users can trust in 2026 isn't as simple as picking the one with the catchiest name. Between Anthropic walking away from a $200 million Pentagon contract, a growing "Quit ChatGPT" movement, and genuine questions about where your data ends up, this is a decision that actually matters now. We've dug into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and others to compare everything from pricing and privacy to military contracts and water consumption — all with a UK lens.

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March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive vs Manual Overpaying: Which Method Pays Your Mortgage Off Faster?

Last updated: 13 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have been overpaying my mortgage since October 2021, with Nationwide and now Halifax, using Sprive's auto-save alongside manual payments, so this comparison is based on living with both approaches.

If you are trying to pay your mortgage off faster, you have got two realistic routes: use an app like Sprive to automate overpayments, or just do it yourself with a standing order. This guide compares Sprive vs manual overpaying honestly. It is not here to sell you on either option. It is here to help you pick the approach you will actually stick with, because consistency is what moves the numbers.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them. This is information, not financial advice, and CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Trying Sprive anyway?

If the app route wins you over, the live sign-up offer and the claim steps are listed on our referral page.

See the Sprive sign-up offer

App or standing order? The comparison is below. For every Sprive guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, kept current as the app changes.

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March 2, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Octopus Tracker Tariff Explained: Daily Pricing, Risks and Savings (2026)

Last updated: 27 August 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

The Octopus Tracker tariff explained: it's a smart energy deal where your unit rate changes daily based on wholesale market prices. Unlike standard variable tariffs capped by Ofgem, Tracker follows the market more closely. As a result, it can dip below the price cap when wholesale costs are low, but it can also climb higher during volatile periods.

Quick summary

  • Unit rates change daily based on wholesale costs.
  • Standing charges stay fixed (reviewed every three months).
  • Price Cap Protect limits: 100p/kWh electricity, 30p/kWh gas.
  • No exit fees, but you can't rejoin for 9 months if you leave early.
  • Requires a SMETS2 smart meter (or certain SMETS1 models).

If you're comparing Octopus switching routes and want the current sign-up credit, keep referral details centralised here: Octopus Energy referral guide.

Tempted by Tracker?

My Octopus referral page keeps the current new-customer credit and joining steps in one place.

Get the Octopus credit

Comparing Tracker with the rest of the Octopus range? Agile, fixed deals, exit fees and the referral credit are all collected in my Octopus Energy guides hub.

Read more

March 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Can You Leave Octopus Energy Anytime? Exit Fees, Switching Rules, and What Happens Next

Last updated: 27 August 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Yes, in most cases you can leave Octopus anytime. However, the answer depends on which tariff you're on. If you're on a flexible (variable) tariff, there are typically no exit fees. If you're on a fixed tariff, things have changed recently. Since early March 2026, Octopus has reintroduced exit fees of up to £75 per fuel on new fixed deals. So the short answer is still yes, but the cost of leaving depends on your contract.

Quick summary

  • Flexible Octopus (variable): no lock-in, no exit fees.
  • Fixed tariffs (signed before March 2026): usually no exit fees, unless your specific deal included them.
  • Fixed tariffs (signed from March 2026): exit fees of up to £75 per fuel now apply on new contracts.
  • Cooling-off period: you get 14 days to cancel a new energy contract.
  • Switching speed: around 5 working days once confirmed.

If you're switching to Octopus rather than away, you can check the current sign-up credit here: Octopus Energy referral guide.

Switching to Octopus instead?

The live sign-up credit and how to claim it are tracked on my Octopus referral page.

View the Octopus sign-up credit

Weighing up Octopus as a whole? Every article I have written on switching to it, its tariffs and the referral credit sits in my Octopus Energy guides hub.

Read more

March 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

New on Mobbin March 2026: Tesla Robotaxi, Viator and More

Last updated: 01 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Tracking Mobbin new apps each month is one of the fastest ways to spot where real product UX is heading without scrolling app stores for sport. March's batch is a proper mix: mobility, travel, kids UX, investing and ecommerce. Below, we break down which flows are worth studying and which patterns you can borrow for your own work.

What was new on Mobbin March 2026? The picks are below. For every edition of the series in one place, see our Mobbin new apps hub, updated each month.


If you are new to Mobbin, start here first: Mobbin review: is it worth it? If you already know you want it and just want the cheaper route: Mobbin promo code.

What changed this month

More consumer-facing flows with real-world constraints: age-gated experiences, regulated money journeys and high-trust booking funnels. In other words, less "pretty UI" and more "this has to work". That shift matters because it is where most real design challenges live.

New apps added (March)

The Mobbin new apps for March include Tesla Robotaxi, Alias (sneakers and apparel), Viator (tours and attractions), Zesty, Stake (stocks) and Spotify Kids. Each one brings flows worth studying, whether you are designing consumer products, fintech or family-friendly experiences.

Three standout flows

1. Booking and confidence-building (Viator)

What to copy: Clear "what happens next" steps before payment. Travel bookings are anxiety machines, so reassurance reduces drop-off. Transparent inclusions and exclusions also help users commit.

What to avoid: Overloading users with options too early (dates, group size, add-ons) before they have committed emotionally.

When it works: Travel, events, services, appointments. Anything time-based where the user needs confidence, not just a price.

2. Kid-safe UX without being annoying (Spotify Kids)

What to copy: Simple navigation that still feels like choice. Clear parental control boundaries that do not require a PhD to set up.

What to avoid: Tiny tap targets and dense text. If your UI assumes adult dexterity, you will get rage taps and "it's broken".

When it works: Any dual-audience product where two user types share one interface. Think kids and parents, users and admins, or juniors and managers. It is permissions UX in a nicer outfit.

3. Regulated onboarding (Stake stocks)

What to copy: Step-by-step identity and eligibility prompts that feel like progress, not punishment. Microcopy that explains why information is required builds trust.

What to avoid: Dumping all compliance questions in one slab. People abandon out of spite, even when they intended to finish.

When it works: Fintech, investing, crypto, credit. If KYC is unavoidable, pacing is the whole game. The FCA's Consumer Duty guidance reinforces this: regulated journeys should be designed so customers can make informed decisions without friction that harms understanding.

Pattern of the month: trust scaffolding

The repeated pattern across these apps is trust scaffolding. Small, frequent signals that tell the user: you are safe, this is normal, you are not about to mess up. Examples include "You can edit this later" around personal details, "This is required by regulation" around identity checks, "Free cancellation / what's included" around bookings, and clear boundaries and guardrails in kids modes.

If you want to see how other apps handle trust scaffolding across onboarding, checkout and subscription flows, Mobbin's flow browser is exactly where to start. For the full breakdown on plans and pricing: Mobbin pricing UK.

Quick swipe file: five UI micro-patterns to borrow

CTA labelling that reduces fear: swap "Continue" for "Review booking" or "Confirm details".

Progress that feels honest: steps should reflect real tasks, not fake "Step 2 of 3" nonsense.

Error copy that explains the fix: "Your postcode needs a space" beats "Something went wrong".

Soft guardrails for upgrades: show what changes and what stays the same when a user moves between tiers.

Review screens that catch real mistakes: a final review should prevent errors, not just repeat inputs the user already entered.

Next month watchlist

Keep an eye on more "real-world products" where UI has to handle logistics, rules and safety. Also worth watching: better patterns for choosing between similar options (bookings, variants, bundles), how brands ship AI features without turning the product into a tool demo, subscription journeys that do not feel like a trap, and parent-admin experiences like family accounts and team permission models.

If you want to follow along with access to the full library, our referral link typically saves 10-20% on Pro or Team:

Get the Mobbin promo code

Mobbin new apps FAQs

What are "Mobbin new apps"?

It is the list of newly added apps and fresh screen libraries inside Mobbin. Tracking them monthly is a quick way to spot emerging UX patterns in real products before they become common.

Is this page a Mobbin discount code page?

No. This is a monthly "what's new" post. If you want the discount route, use our Mobbin promo code page instead.

Where should I start if I am new to Mobbin?

Read the full verdict here: Mobbin review: is it worth it? For a factual overview of the tool, try our Mobbin service guide. If you already know you want it, go straight to the promo code page.

Why do you do this monthly?

Because it is the easiest way to keep a current swipe file of real product patterns. It also helps you avoid designing based on outdated "best practice" screenshots from 2019.

What should I do with the app list?

Pick one flow you are designing right now (onboarding, checkout, subscription, search, settings), then pull five to ten examples across the new apps and compare the patterns. That is where the practical value lives.

More useful reads on CoolCuration

  • Affinity by Canva — a free professional design suite that is giving Adobe a proper headache.
  • Gift guide for designers — curated picks for the design-obsessed that go well beyond Pantone mugs.
  • Daylight Computer — a beautifully different screen for people tired of staring at LCDs all day.
  • Best AI assistant UK — how the main AI tools compare for everyday use in 2026.
  • Penpot app — open-source design software that keeps getting better with every release.

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