Octopus Energy vs Bulb Energy (2026)
This is an unusual head-to-head, because Bulb Energy no longer exists. Bulb collapsed in late 2021 during the energy crisis, was placed into a government-run special administration, and was then bought by Octopus — so its roughly 1.5 million customers are now Octopus customers, with the migration finished by mid-2023. Bulb was genuinely well-liked for its simplicity and its 100% renewable promise, and much of that ethos carried over to Octopus, which kept the green commitment and added a far wider range of tariffs and rewards. If you're searching for Bulb's old referral deal, it closed when Bulb did — but Octopus runs its own referral scheme, and joining through a link still gets you £50 of welcome credit.
Switching from Bulb Energy 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
This is an unusual head-to-head, because Bulb Energy no longer exists. Bulb collapsed in late 2021 during the energy crisis, was placed into a government-run special administration, and was then bought by Octopus — so its roughly 1.5 million customers are now Octopus customers, with the migration finished by mid-2023. Bulb was genuinely well-liked for its simplicity and its 100% renewable promise, and much of that ethos carried over to Octopus, which kept the green commitment and added a far wider range of tariffs and rewards. If you're searching for Bulb's old referral deal, it closed when Bulb did — but Octopus runs its own referral scheme, and joining through a link still gets you £50 of welcome credit.
Bulb was launched in 2015 by Hayden Wood and Amit Gudka and rocketed to around 1.7 million customers on a single simple tariff, but its unhedged energy buying left it dangerously exposed when wholesale gas prices spiked — it collapsed in November 2021 and became the only supplier ever placed in the government's Special Administration Regime. Octopus won the bid to rescue it, completed the acquisition in December 2022, and finished moving every Bulb account onto its own Kraken platform by 30 June 2023.
Where Octopus tends to win
- Octopus is, quite literally, where Bulb ended up: it won the regulator-approved bid to rescue every Bulb account and finished migrating all ~1.5 million customers by 30 June 2023, and it is now the UK's largest electricity supplier, powering around 1 in 4 GB homes.
- It kept the part of Bulb people valued most — 100% renewable electricity as standard — and added the smart, money-saving tariffs Bulb never had, including Agile and Tracker (which follow wholesale prices), Intelligent Octopus Go for cheap overnight EV charging, Cosy for heat pumps and Outgoing for solar export.
- Octopus is rated far more highly than the average supplier for service: a multi-year Which? Recommended Provider with an 'Excellent' rating of around 4.8/5 on Trustpilot — independent recognition Bulb's single-tariff model never carried.
- Octoplus rewards add value Bulb didn't offer, including free monthly Wheel of Fortune spins and Saving Sessions that pay you to shift usage away from peak times.
- There's a live £50 referral on the table: Bulb's old referral scheme is gone for good, but Octopus's is active and pays you £50 in account credit, applied automatically with nothing to claim.
Where Bulb Energy still has a case
- Bulb pioneered radical simplicity — one straightforward variable tariff (its 'Vari-Fair' rate) instead of a confusing maze of fixed deals — which a lot of customers genuinely loved and which made switching feel painless.
- It was an early green champion, supplying 100% renewable electricity and carbon-neutral gas and operating as a certified B Corp, helping push the whole market towards cleaner energy before that was the norm.
- On strong word-of-mouth and a friendly, approachable brand it grew to around 1.7 million customers in just a few years — a reminder it got plenty right before unhedged wholesale buying left it exposed when gas prices spiked.
At a glance
| Feature | Octopus Energy | Bulb Energy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Bulb Energy cheaper than Octopus Energy?
You can't actually choose Bulb any more, so there's no live Bulb price to compare against — every former Bulb customer is now on an Octopus tariff. What you pay with Octopus depends on which tariff you're on, your region and how much you use, and rates move every quarter with the energy price cap, so the honest answer is to check the current prices on octopus.energy rather than rely on old Bulb figures. If you liked Bulb's single simple rate, Octopus's standard variable tariff works much the same way, with smart tariffs available to move onto for free once you're a customer.
How to switch from Bulb Energy to Octopus
If you were a Bulb customer, your account moved across to Octopus automatically when Octopus took Bulb on, so there's nothing to switch. If you're coming from any other supplier, joining is simple: use the referral link on this page, enter your address and a recent meter reading (about five minutes), and Octopus arranges the handover with your old supplier for you — there's no need to cancel anything yourself. It's the same pipes, wires and meter, so your supply is never interrupted; the switch is protected by the Energy Switch Guarantee and usually completes in around five working days. Your £50 then lands as account credit automatically once your switch completes and your first monthly Direct Debit clears — usually about four weeks, sometimes a little longer if your old supplier is slow to release you. The one thing that voids it is signing up via a price-comparison site, which makes Octopus pay them instead of crediting your account.
FAQs
Is Bulb Energy cheaper than Octopus Energy?+
You can't actually choose Bulb any more, so there's no live Bulb price to compare against — every former Bulb customer is now on an Octopus tariff. What you pay with Octopus depends on which tariff you're on, your region and how much you use, and rates move every quarter with the energy price cap, so the honest answer is to check the current prices on octopus.energy rather than rely on old Bulb figures. If you liked Bulb's single simple rate, Octopus's standard variable tariff works much the same way, with smart tariffs available to move onto for free once you're a customer.
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).