Octopus Tracker is a variable tariff with unit rates that change each day based on wholesale energy prices. It can be cheaper than a standard variable tariff when wholesale prices are low, but rates can also rise during periods of high demand or market disruption. If you want a clear, current picture of how Octopus Tracker works in 2026, including its latest rates and who it is likely to suit, this page is for you.
Octopus Tracker tariff rates
Tracker prices change every day, so any rates shown here would be out of date by tomorrow morning. Use our Octopus Tracker pricing dashboard to view live prices in your area and explore historical pricing trends.
What is Octopus Tracker?
Octopus Tracker is a variable energy tariff from Octopus Energy, with gas and electricity unit rates updated once a day based on wholesale market prices. Gas and electricity are treated separately, so you can choose Tracker for one fuel or both.
Unlike Flexible Octopus, where rates usually change when the Ofgem price cap is updated, Tracker follows changes in the wholesale market much more closely. This means prices can fall sooner when wholesale costs drop, but they can also rise from one day to the next.
How does Octopus Tracker work?
Each afternoon, Octopus publishes the unit rates that will apply the following day. The same electricity and gas rates then apply from midnight to midnight, so there are no half-hourly price changes to manage as there are with Octopus Agile.
Tracker prices are calculated using a published formula. This takes wholesale market prices for gas and electricity and adds allowances for costs such as network charges, government levies, taxes and supplying your energy. Because the Tracker pricing formula is public, customers can see more clearly how their daily rate has been calculated.
Your unit rates can change every day, but the standing charge does not. It is set separately for your region and reviewed periodically rather than moving with the wholesale market each day.
The price cap on Tracker
Octopus Tracker is not protected by the Ofgem standard variable tariff price cap. Instead, Octopus applies its own upper limit, known as Price Cap Protect. This currently limits the unit rate to 100p per kWh for electricity and 30p per kWh for gas. These limits are much higher than typical rates, so they are only likely to matter during an extreme wholesale market spike.
Who is Octopus Tracker best for?
Octopus Tracker is likely to suit households that:
- Have a compatible smart meter
- Are comfortable with unit rates changing from one day to the next
- Can accept the risk of occasional price spikes
- Prefer a tariff that follows wholesale prices more closely than a standard variable deal
- Are willing to check rates occasionally and keep an eye on how the market is moving
- Want the option to use Tracker for gas, electricity or both
Tracker may also appeal to customers who want the potential benefit of lower wholesale prices without having to manage half-hourly rates. Unlike Octopus Agile, the same electricity rate applies throughout each day, so there is no need to move usage into particular time slots.
Who should avoid Octopus Tracker?
Octopus Tracker is unlikely to suit households that:
- Need predictable unit rates and greater certainty over their bills
- Would find daily price changes or occasional spikes stressful
- Do not have a compatible smart meter and do not want one
- Have high winter energy use and limited ability to absorb a period of more expensive rates
- Prefer a tariff they can largely ignore without checking prices
Winter can be the main risk. Colder weather may increase gas demand, while periods of low renewable generation can push up electricity prices. Because Tracker responds more quickly to changes in the wholesale market, its rates can rise during these periods.
If an unpredictable run of higher prices would put pressure on your budget, a fixed tariff or Flexible Octopus may offer more certainty.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Octopus Tracker, you will need:
- To be an Octopus Energy customer, or switch to Octopus first
- A SMETS2 smart meter, or a compatible SMETS1 meter
- Half-hourly meter readings enabled
How to switch to Octopus Tracker
If you’re already with Octopus
You can switch to Octopus Tracker through your online account or the Octopus app once your smart meter is communicating correctly and sending half-hourly readings. If Tracker does not appear as an available option, you may need to contact Octopus directly.
If you’re switching to Octopus
New customers are normally moved onto Flexible Octopus first while the supply transfer and smart meter setup are completed. Once your account is active and your meter is sending readings correctly, you can apply to move onto Tracker.
Find out more about switching to Octopus Energy and receiving £50 credit.
Leaving and rejoining Tracker
Tracker has a 12-month tariff term, but there are no exit fees, so you can leave at any time. However, if you leave before the end of the term, you will normally need to wait nine months before rejoining. This restriction does not apply if you leave during the final 49 days of the tariff.
Octopus Tracker FAQs
Is Octopus Tracker cheaper than the price cap?
It can be, but it is not guaranteed. Tracker rates follow wholesale energy prices and can sit below or above the equivalent rates on a standard variable tariff. Whether you save depends on market conditions, your region and how much gas and electricity you use during cheaper or more expensive periods.
Can I have Tracker for gas but not electricity?
Yes. Tracker is available separately for gas and electricity, so you can use it for one fuel while keeping the other on a different Octopus tariff. For example, you could have gas on Tracker and electricity on Agile or another suitable import tariff.
Do I need a smart meter for Octopus Tracker?
Yes. You need a compatible smart meter that Octopus can communicate with and use to bill you correctly. This will usually be a SMETS2 meter, although some SMETS1 meters may also be compatible.
If you do not already have a suitable smart meter, you will normally need to join Octopus on another tariff and arrange an installation before moving onto Tracker.
Can I leave if Octopus Tracker prices rise?
Yes. Tracker has no exit fees, so you can move to another available tariff at any time.
However, if you leave before the end of your 12-month Tracker term, you will normally need to wait nine months before rejoining. This restriction does not apply if you leave during the final 49 days of the tariff term.
Are there exit fees on Octopus Tracker?
No. You can leave Tracker without paying an exit fee. The main restriction is the potential nine-month wait before you can rejoin if you leave before the end of your tariff term.
Is Octopus Tracker the same as Octopus Agile?
No. Tracker gives you one electricity rate and one gas rate for each day. Agile is an electricity-only tariff with 48 different prices each day, one for every half-hour period.
Tracker is simpler because you do not need to move your usage between different times of the same day. Agile is more suited to households that can shift a meaningful amount of electricity use into cheaper half-hourly periods.
How often do Octopus Tracker prices change?
Tracker unit rates change once a day. Octopus publishes the following day’s prices in advance, and those rates apply from midnight to midnight.
Your standing charge does not move with wholesale prices each day. It is set separately and is normally fixed for the duration of your particular Tracker tariff term.
What happens if my smart meter stops sending readings?
Contact Octopus if your smart meter stops communicating. Tracker depends on compatible smart-meter data, so Octopus may need to investigate the connection, request manual readings or arrange work on the meter.
The exact process will depend on the cause of the problem and how long the readings have been unavailable.
Tracker is only one of several Octopus smart tariffs. You can also compare Octopus Energy tariffs to see which options suit different household setups.