| 🔄 Updated April 2026 This guide has been updated with the latest April 2026 rates, provider information and July 2026 outlook. |
Octopus Tariff Lineup April 2026
| Tariff | Best for | Typical annual cost | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus 12-Month Fixed | Most households | £1,480-£1,620 | Fixed rate, 150-200 below cap |
| Octopus Agile | Flexible users, EV owners | £1,150-£1,380 (if shift usage) | 30-minute pricing |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | EV owners | 7.5p overnight rate | Smart EV charging |
| Octopus Go | EV owners without charger | 9.0p overnight rate | Overnight cheap rate |
| Octopus Tracker | Risk-tolerant | Variable daily | Daily wholesale pricing |
| Flexible Octopus (SVT) | No commitment needed | £1,641 (capped) | Can leave anytime |
Intelligent Octopus Go: The EV Owner's Goldmine
For UK EV owners, Intelligent Octopus Go offers one of the lowest electricity rates available anywhere in the UK: 7.5 pence per kWh between 23:30 and 05:30 (6 hours of cheap power). For a typical electric vehicle doing 8,000 miles per year at 3.5 miles per kWh, this is approximately 2,285 kWh of charging. At 7.5p, that is 171 pounds per year. At the April 2026 cap's 24.67p daytime rate, the same charging would cost 564 pounds — a saving of nearly 400 pounds per year just from when you charge.
The requirement: a smart meter with half-hourly capability, a compatible EV, and a home charger (or compatible on-street charging). Octopus has partnered with most major UK charger brands (Pod Point, Ohme, Easee, Tesla Wall Connector) to enable automatic scheduling. The app decides when to charge based on price windows and your departure time.
For households with no EV, the standard Octopus 12-Month Fixed remains the best choice. For households with an EV that does not want to manage charging timing actively, Octopus Go (at 9.0p overnight) offers a simpler version without requiring compatible equipment.
Agile Octopus: When It Really Saves Money
Octopus Agile offers half-hourly pricing that reflects actual UK wholesale electricity prices. On typical days, prices range from around 10 pence per kWh overnight to 30 pence during weekday peak (4-7pm). On high-renewable-generation days (very windy, very sunny), prices can drop below zero — Octopus occasionally pays customers to use electricity during periods of genuine excess supply.
The catch: to save meaningfully on Agile, you need to shift significant consumption to off-peak periods. Households with a smart tumble dryer running overnight, an EV charging overnight, a heat pump with thermal storage, or a battery storage system can save 30-50 percent versus the price cap. Households who simply run everything during typical evening hours (when Agile peak pricing often exceeds the cap) can actually pay more than cap SVT customers.
Rule of thumb: Agile saves money if you can shift 30 percent or more of your consumption to off-peak periods. If not, stick with a fixed tariff. The Octopus website includes an 'Agile Predictor' tool that estimates your specific savings based on your smart meter history.
Kraken: The Technology Platform Behind Octopus
Octopus's Kraken technology platform is increasingly influential beyond the company itself. Originally built to handle Octopus's own customers, Kraken is now licensed to over 50 energy companies globally — including major suppliers in Japan, Australia, USA, Germany, and France. Licensees include E.ON UK (for its retail operations), Origin Energy (Australia), and Tokyo Gas.
For UK customers, the practical effect is that Kraken continues to receive investment and improvement from global users. The Octopus app, automated billing, smart meter integration, and customer service tools all benefit from this scale. For 2026, key Kraken features include automated energy usage insights, bill forecasting, smart meter troubleshooting, and integration with home energy management systems (solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, EVs).
