Octopus Energy vs Boost Power (2026)
Boost was OVO's dedicated pay-as-you-go brand, but OVO has since wound it into the main OVO business, so "switching to Boost" is no longer really an option — its prepayment customers are now OVO customers. That makes this less a like-for-like fight and more a question of whether a prepay-minded household should stay in the OVO family or move to Octopus. Octopus suits you if you want a top-rated, fully renewable supplier that still supports prepayment and gives you a route onto smart tariffs once you have a smart meter; the OVO/Boost set-up may suit those who value its long-running prepayment app and don't want to change anything. Either way, only Octopus comes with a £50 welcome credit when you join through a referral link like the one on this page.
Switching from Boost Power takes ~5 working days with no break in supply — and my link gets you £50.
Switch to the UK’s most awarded energy supplier! Switch to Octopus Energy and you’ll get £50 credit once your switch is complete. T&Cs apply (only one switching offer per household).
The verdict
Boost was OVO's dedicated pay-as-you-go brand, but OVO has since wound it into the main OVO business, so "switching to Boost" is no longer really an option — its prepayment customers are now OVO customers. That makes this less a like-for-like fight and more a question of whether a prepay-minded household should stay in the OVO family or move to Octopus. Octopus suits you if you want a top-rated, fully renewable supplier that still supports prepayment and gives you a route onto smart tariffs once you have a smart meter; the OVO/Boost set-up may suit those who value its long-running prepayment app and don't want to change anything. Either way, only Octopus comes with a £50 welcome credit when you join through a referral link like the one on this page.
Boost was launched by OVO in 2017 as a dedicated pay-as-you-go brand, built on OVO's earlier Smart PAYG+ prepayment platform, and grew to serve hundreds of thousands of prepayment homes. OVO has since retired the Boost name and folded those customers into OVO itself, so Boost no longer operates as a separate supplier.
Where Octopus tends to win
- Octopus is the UK's largest electricity supplier, powering around 1 in 4 GB homes, and has been a Which? Recommended Provider for nine years running — a consumer-service track record neither Boost nor OVO can match.
- Octopus's electricity is 100% renewable as standard, its app is award-winning, and its overall service earns an 'Excellent' Trustpilot score of around 4.8/5 from hundreds of thousands of reviews.
- Octopus supports prepayment and smart pay-as-you-go meters, so prepay-minded households aren't shut out — you keep paying as you go but with a mainstream, top-rated supplier behind you.
- Once you're an Octopus customer with a working smart meter you can move free onto its smart tariffs — Tracker, Agile, Intelligent Octopus Go and Cosy — options Boost never offered its prepayment users.
- Joining through a referral link earns £50 of bill credit for you, paid automatically with no code to enter and nothing to claim — there's no equivalent welcome credit waiting for you by simply staying with OVO/Boost.
Where Boost Power still has a case
- Boost was a genuine smart-prepayment pioneer: built on OVO's Smart PAYG+ platform, it let customers top up by app or online instead of trekking to a shop with a key or card, and that easy top-up experience defined the brand.
- It sits inside OVO, one of the UK's biggest suppliers and owner of the former SSE domestic customer base, so there is real financial stability and an established prepayment support operation behind it.
- Pay-as-you-go by design means no Direct Debit and no surprise catch-up bills, which genuinely helps some households budget and avoid building up debt.
At a glance
| Feature | Octopus Energy | Boost Power |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.8/5 “Excellent” | Lower |
| Which? Recommended | 9 yrs running | No |
| Smart / EV tariffs | Agile, Tracker, Intelligent Go, Cosy | Limited |
| 100% renewable electricity | Yes | Varies |
| £50 welcome credit | Yes — via referral link | No equivalent |
These are general, evergreen comparisons — Octopus’s Trustpilot and Which? standing are Octopus’s own ratings, not ours. Tariff prices change with the energy price cap and your region, so always confirm live rates on octopus.energy before switching.
Is Boost Power cheaper than Octopus Energy?
There's no fixed answer, and anyone who gives you one is guessing. On a standard prepayment tariff both Octopus and OVO/Boost are bound by the same energy price cap, so headline unit rates sit close together and the real difference comes down to your region, your usage and the exact tariff you land on. Check octopus.energy for today's live prepayment rates rather than relying on an out-of-date comparison.
How to switch from Boost Power to Octopus
Switching a prepayment account from Boost or OVO to Octopus works the same protected way as any energy switch: start from the referral link on this page, give Octopus your address and a recent meter reading, and it handles closing your old account for you. There's no engineer, no new meter and no break in supply — the same pipes and wires, changed over in around five working days under the Energy Switch Guarantee. For most customers the £50 welcome credit then lands automatically once the switch completes and your first monthly Direct Debit clears, usually around four weeks, sometimes longer if your old supplier is slow. On prepayment accounts there's no Direct Debit, so Octopus applies the credit manually, which can take a little longer, but it still costs you nothing. The one thing that cancels it is joining through a price-comparison or switching site such as Uswitch or GoCompare, which drops the referral and lets them collect the reward instead — so go straight through the link on this page.
FAQs
Is Boost Power cheaper than Octopus Energy?+
There's no fixed answer, and anyone who gives you one is guessing. On a standard prepayment tariff both Octopus and OVO/Boost are bound by the same energy price cap, so headline unit rates sit close together and the real difference comes down to your region, your usage and the exact tariff you land on. Check octopus.energy for today's live prepayment rates rather than relying on an out-of-date comparison.
How much is the Octopus Energy referral credit?+
£50 of credit when you switch to Octopus through a referral link. Business and charity switches get £75. It’s added straight to your Octopus energy account.
Is the Octopus referral code still working in 2026?+
Yes. The scheme is active and we re-verify our code on the 1st of every month. We last confirmed it works on 1 June 2026.
How long does it take to get the £50 credit?+
It’s paid automatically once your switch completes and your first monthly Direct Debit has been taken — usually around 4 weeks after you join. No claim needed.
Is this an official Octopus Energy offer?+
Yes — the £50 referral credit is Octopus’s own scheme. Octopus Energy Referral is an independent guide, not affiliated with Octopus, but the link takes you straight to Octopus’s website where you sign up directly with them.
Ready to switch? Use my link and get £50 — it costs you nothing.
Switch to the UK’s most awarded energy supplier! Switch to Octopus Energy and you’ll get £50 credit once your switch is complete. T&Cs apply (only one switching offer per household).