- Octopus Energy is the UK’s biggest energy supplier
- It’s also our top heat pump installer and one of the best solar panel installers
- The Octopus Cosy 6 heat pump is the best air source heat pump
- Octopus receives outstanding customer feedback for its products, services and value for money
Few UK companies have had as much impact in as short a time as Octopus Energy. Founded just a decade ago, Octopus is now the nation’s biggest energy supplier – and one our leading installers of heat pumps and solar panels.
In this article, we’ll reveal why we think Octopus is far more than an industry disruptor. Its installation services and smart tariffs have made energy easier and greener, and helped keep prices down amid a cost of living crisis.
Octopus already features in our roundups of the best heat pump installers and solar panel installers currently working in the UK. Here, we’ll take a closer look at its products, services and prices, and scrutinise feedback from real customers. Read on to find out if it’s the perfect partner for your switch to renewables.
READ NEXT: What government grants are there for heat pumps?
Octopus Energy overview
Octopus Energy launched in 2015, when the UK energy market was dominated by the “big six” energy suppliers including British Gas, EDF Energy, Scottish Power and SSE. Octopus has since overtaken them all, and now supplies nearly a quarter of UK energy customers.
It also now helps customers switch to their own green energy sources. Octopus teams install heat pumps, solar panels, storage batteries and EV chargers for homes and businesses.
Octopus currently installs systems across most of England, which is a narrower reach than some of its rivals. However, following a partnership with the National Grid to build a network of verified installers across the UK, coverage is likely to grow fast.
The company continues to find innovative ways to drive a greener grid. Key strategies include investing in green energy and offering a range of fixed and flexible green tariffs.
These tariffs use the firm’s Kraken tech platform to optimise customers’ energy usage and minimise costs. Octopus also now powers tariffs used by other renewable energy companies including Aira.
Installation services are available to existing Octopus Energy customers and non-customers alike. If you already have solar panels and want to switch to an Octopus tariff, that’s also possible. Octopus’s customer service and tariffs receive superb feedback, so whatever your current situation you’re likely to get the help you need.
What heat pumps does Octopus install?
Octopus Energy began installing heat pumps in 2021, and is now the UK’s leading heat pump installer. It installs its own Octopus Cosy 6 and 9 heat pumps and, where more appropriate for the customer, Daikin heat pumps.
How good is the Octopus Cosy heat pump?
We’re so impressed by the compact, relatively affordable Cosy 6 that we named it our best overall heat pump.
The A++-rated Cosy 6 is compact, good-looking and affordable, and throws out loads of heat considering its size. Heat output is particularly good, with water reaching a toasty 75°C.
Both the Cosy 6 and the Cosy 9 are compatible with Eco and Turbo installs, the latter of which enables higher temperatures. This distinguishes the Cosy from other heat pumps, which normally only support an Eco install.
The Cosy is compatible with most existing radiators, depending on the installation package you go for. This makes it suitable for most houses, from one-bedroom to four-bedroom.
A drawback of the Cosy heat pump is that you can’t buy one off the shelf and ask a third party installer to fit it. Instead, Octopus installers fit it as part of the Cosy heating system, which includes the outdoor unit, a hot water cylinder, room sensors, Cosy Hub control system and Octopus Energy app. All these components work together to maintain optimal heating.
Despite being a full heating system, Cosy can be relatively cheap to install, costing from £4,300 including all standard labour and components. It comes with an eight-year warranty, which is longer than average.
Among the numerous smart energy tariffs Octopus offers is the Cosy tariff, which is designed to work well with heat pumps. Cosy Octopus is currently the UK’s cheapest smart heat pump tariff.
What solar panels does Octopus install?
Octopus began installing solar panels in 2023. It currently installs one model of solar panel: the 440W DeepBlue 4.0 Pro solar panel from JA Solar, which it installs with IQ8 Series microinverters. The panel is powerful, highly efficient (22% rating) and affordable. They come with a 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance warranty.
It also installs solar storage batteries (Tesla and Enphase) and EV chargers for homes and businesses.
We posed as customers asking for quotes, and found Octopus’s solar prices to be very competitive. Packages start from under £4,000 for a small panel-only installation. The company’s best-selling solar package comes to around £9,200 for 10 panels and 5 kWh Enphase battery storage.
Octopus’s solar tariffs are excellent value, too. The team will help you choose the right one for your energy usage.
What grants and financing does Octopus offer?
Like all the installers we consider for review, Octopus helps you claim any available government grants for your green home improvement project.
If you’re having heat pumps installed, the team will apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant on your behalf. Unlike many others, Octopus also gives you a free EPC check and asbestos test.
Octopus’s £30 million hardship fund, Octo Assist, offers further support in several different ways including payment holidays, standing charge waivers, thermal camera loans and debt forgiveness loans in winter.
There are also various financing options on offer, including 0%, monthly instalments, buy now pay later, and packages for “zero bills” upgrades. Zero bills aims to reduce your energy bills to nothing by installing solar panels, batteries and heat pumps.
What qualifications does Octopus have?
Octopus, like all the companies we consider for inclusion in our roundups of the best installers, is MCS-certified. This means its installers and products are certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme as meeting strict green industry standards for quality, competence and compliance. It’s a bottom-line essential.
The company is also registered by TrustMark, a government-backed scheme that certifies installations as safe and carried out by experienced professionals.
These certifications offer you peace of mind that the work is safe, reliable and will deliver the energy benefits and savings you’re hoping for. They could also make all the difference to what you pay for an installation, since they’re a prerequisite if you want to access government grants for home improvements.
What do Octopus Energy’s customers say?
Despite its rapid expansion, Octopus has maintained an incredibly high customer rating. A 4.8 Trustpilot score is excellent for any company, but for a firm this big it’s rare and impressive.
Octopus receives new five-star reviews for heat pump and solar panel installations several times a day. There’s particular praise for efficient installations, competitive pricing and outstanding aftercare.
There’s even an Octopus Energy Reddit community full of detailed feedback about installations and tariffs.
Here are a few reviews posted by verified Octopus customers within a single week:
“Outstanding assistance with my questions about moving house, new smart tariffs registering the four solar panels. Incredibly refreshing to have such help from a big company.” – Mark, April 2025
“This was a huge job and the (installers) never stopped working. They were incredibly respectful and made sure I had heating and hot water whenever the children were home. The work is so neat and tidy too. I am very happy with my heat pump and would highly recommend Octopus Energy.” – Susan Parkinson, April 2025
“When going through the change from my previous provider to Octopus… every question was answered, to the point and perfectly. I now look forward to shifting to a smart tariff and making best use of my battery and solar panels.” – Maw, April 2025
“We have been with Octopus for 18 months now and would never go back. The biggest difference is the combination of support and alternate tariffs. Our heat pump… was cheaper to install than a new gas boiler. In 9 months it has saved us over £600 compared to our previous bill.” – Tim Evans, April 2025
Should you use Octopus Energy?
Octopus Energy dominates the UK market for grid energy and renewables. We think it deserves its success. This company disrupted a broken market, put renewables centre stage, and has helped millions of households switch to cleaner energy.
Customer reviews glow with praise for Octopus’s service, installation teams and renewable energy systems. The Cosy heating system is a game-changer, and its smart tariff has transformed customers’ energy bills.
Switching to renewable energy at home is a big project and a serious investment. While there are advantages in hiring a solar specialist for solar panels and a heating specialist for heat pumps, there are significant economies of scale in opting for a one-stop-shop. Octopus is the best one-stop-shop in the industry. We have no hesitation in recommending them.
