Octopus vs E.ON Next: Switching Bonus and Prices

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Joining offers: Octopus credit vs E.ON Next voucher

Octopus gives new customers £50 of energy credit when they switch through a referral link. The credit arrives after your first Direct Debit is taken, so it comes off a later bill rather than paying out at sign-up. Our Octopus referral page has the link and the current terms.

E.ON Next runs its refer-a-friend scheme through Mention Me. When a friend joins through your link, you both get a £50 voucher to spend. So the headline figure is the same, but Octopus reduces your energy bill and E.ON Next gives you a voucher instead.

Referral rewards usually depend on starting from the referral link. If you sign up through a comparison site instead, you may not get the £50.

Octopus vs E.ON Next prices this autumn

Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is £1,723 a year for a typical dual fuel home paying by Direct Debit, up from £1,663. That figure already reflects the removal of VAT from household electricity on 1 October. Octopus publishes its fixed prices for all 14 regions, so we priced its two new fixes at Ofgem's typical use of 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas. E.ON Next quotes by postcode, so its rows show what each tariff promises.

So this autumn, both Octopus fixes cost more than the cap in every region. E.ON Next Pledge promises to stay below the cap, although its price still moves each quarter. Exit fees are charged per fuel, so leaving a dual fuel E.ON Next Fixed 24m early costs £200.

Before you fix, our guide on whether to fix your energy tariff weighs a fix against the cap.

Smart tariffs and standard deals

Octopus is known for smart tariffs. Agile and Tracker follow the wholesale market. Intelligent Octopus Go and Cosy Octopus give electric car and heat pump owners cheaper hours. They suit homes with a smart meter that can shift usage.

E.ON Next offers 12 and 24 month fixes, a price cap tracker and its own smart tariffs. Next Drive is for electric car owners and Next Pumped is for heat pumps. It also gives fixed tariff customers discounts on home energy tech.

Switching and customer service

Both suppliers use the same national switching system, so your gas and electricity stay on throughout. Ofgem's rules say the switch must happen within five working days. If it does not, your new supplier must pay you £40. You can also cancel a switch within 14 days.

For customer service, E.ON Next says Citizens Advice rated it the top Big Six supplier for customer service in the second quarter of 2026. Octopus describes itself as the UK's most awarded energy supplier.

Who should choose which

• Choose Octopus if: you want the £50 as bill credit, you have a smart meter, or you want a tracker or EV tariff.
• Choose E.ON Next if: you want a fixed deal or the Pledge tracker priced against the cap, or you would rather have a £50 voucher.
• Stay put if: your current fix beats both and leaving would trigger an exit fee.

The limits of this comparison

E.ON Next does not publish its fixed prices without a postcode, so we cannot price its fixes side by side with Octopus. Your own usage will also differ from Ofgem's typical figures. Check your annual usage on your bill, then get a quote from both suppliers.

Fixed prices change often. Octopus launched new fixes on 27 October 2026, so these figures can be out of date within days.

Where to switch

Both suppliers sign you up online. E.ON Next lists its current tariffs on its tariffs page, and Ofgem explains your rights in its guide to switching your home energy supplier.

Switch to Octopus with £50 credit

FAQs

Is Octopus or E.ON Next cheaper?

It depends on the tariff. On 27 October 2026, Octopus's fixes cost £101 to £329 a year more than the price cap at typical use, while E.ON Next Pledge promised to stay below the cap.

Do Octopus and E.ON Next both have a £50 referral bonus?

Yes. Octopus pays £50 of bill credit after your first Direct Debit. E.ON Next gives both people a £50 voucher.

How long does it take to switch from E.ON Next to Octopus?

Ofgem's rules say five working days. If the switch takes longer, your new supplier must pay you £40.

Will I pay an exit fee to leave E.ON Next?

Only on a fixed or Pledge tariff. Fees run from £25 per fuel on Pledge to £100 per fuel on the 24 month fix. Next Flex has no exit fee.

Can I get both the Octopus and E.ON Next referral rewards?

Only from the supplier you join. Each referral rewards a new customer who switches to that supplier.

More from CoolCuration

• Energy price cap October 2026: what the new cap means for a typical bill.
• Can you leave Octopus anytime?: which Octopus tariffs carry exit fees.
• Energy switching bonus: credit, vouchers and perks, and how to weigh them.
• How to read your energy bill: find your usage before you compare.
• tado Smart Thermostat X: room-by-room heating control, whichever supplier you use.

I checked the Octopus prices and the E.ON Next tariffs on 27 October 2026. Prices change, so get a quote before you switch. This is information, not financial advice.

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