Octopus Tracker and Flexible Octopus are both variable energy tariffs, but their prices are set very differently.
Tracker changes its unit rates every day using a formula linked to wholesale energy prices. Flexible is Octopus Energy’s standard variable tariff, with prices protected by the Ofgem price cap and usually changing every three months.
Tracker has often been cheaper than Flexible historically, but that does not mean it will always be the better choice. The main difference is whether you would rather have the opportunity to benefit from lower wholesale prices or the greater price protection offered by Flexible.
Octopus Tracker vs Flexible
| Octopus Tracker | Flexible Octopus | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit rates | Change every day | Usually change every three months |
| Pricing | Linked to wholesale energy prices | Standard variable tariff protected by the Ofgem price cap |
| Electricity | Yes | Yes |
| Gas | Yes | Yes |
| Smart meter | Required | Not required |
| Exit fee | No | No |
| Pros | Can benefit quickly when wholesale prices fall | Greater protection from sudden price rises |
| Cons | Daily rates can rise above Flexible | Can cost more when Tracker prices are low |
For most people deciding between the two, the biggest question is whether Tracker is likely to save enough money to justify having a rate that changes every day.
Is Octopus Tracker cheaper than Flexible?
Tracker has often been cheaper than Flexible, but there is no guarantee that this will continue.
Historical Octopus Energy data helps show the difference. Between 12 March 2024 and 12 March 2025, Tracker electricity averaged 21.07p per kWh compared with 24.1p per kWh on Flexible. Octopus also reported that Tracker electricity was cheaper than Flexible on 319 days during 2024.
That does not mean Tracker will be cheaper every day or every month. When wholesale energy prices rise, Tracker rates can rise with them and may temporarily move above Flexible.
The important difference is that Tracker customers see changes in the wholesale market almost immediately, while Flexible customers are partly insulated from those short-term movements.
Tracker prices also vary by region and change daily, so there is little value in quoting a single current Tracker rate here.
Use our Octopus Tracker pricing dashboard to check today’s Tracker prices for electricity and gas in your area and compare them against Flexible Octopus.
Why Tracker and Flexible prices are different
The two tariffs respond to the energy market in very different ways.
How Octopus Tracker prices work
Tracker uses a published pricing formula linked to wholesale energy prices.
A new electricity and gas unit rate is calculated every day, so falls in the wholesale market can feed through to customers much more quickly than they do on a standard variable tariff.
The downside is that increases feed through quickly too.
You pay one electricity rate for the whole day, rather than different rates at different times as you would with a tariff such as Agile Octopus.
Tracker is a 12-month tariff. Its pricing formula is fixed for the tariff term, but the unit rate calculated from that formula changes daily.
You can find more detail on eligibility, pricing and how the tariff works in our full Octopus Tracker tariff guide.
How Flexible Octopus prices work
Flexible Octopus is Octopus Energy’s standard variable tariff.
Its rates do not change every day. Instead, they usually remain relatively stable between Ofgem price cap periods, which run from January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December.
The price cap sets a maximum amount suppliers can charge customers on standard variable tariffs based on unit rates and standing charges. Actual Flexible prices can vary by region and do not necessarily sit exactly at the maximum cap level.
You do not need a smart meter to be on Flexible, there is no fixed term and there are no exit fees.
Read our full Flexible Octopus tariff guide for current rates and more information on how it works.
What happens if Tracker prices rise?
This is the main trade-off when choosing Tracker over Flexible.
Flexible customers have the protection of the Ofgem price cap. While that does not mean bills cannot increase, it limits the rates that can be charged on a standard variable tariff.
Tracker works differently. Its daily rates can rise above Flexible when wholesale prices increase.
Tracker does have its own maximum rates through Octopus Energy’s Price Cap Protect. These are currently much higher than typical Flexible rates, so they should be viewed as protection against exceptional market conditions rather than a cap designed to keep Tracker below Flexible.
This means there may be days or periods when a Tracker customer pays more per kWh than someone on Flexible.
Equally, when wholesale prices fall, Tracker can react much faster, while Flexible rates normally remain unchanged until the next price cap period.
Who is Octopus Tracker better for?
Tracker could be the better choice if:
- you have a compatible working smart meter
- you are comfortable with your unit rates changing each day
- you want the opportunity to benefit when wholesale prices fall
- you do not want to manage different peak and off-peak electricity periods
- you are comfortable accepting that Tracker may occasionally cost more than Flexible
Unlike Agile, you do not need to move your electricity use around the day to benefit from Tracker.
There is only one electricity rate each day, so you can continue using energy normally. Checking prices can still be useful, particularly if you have flexible usage such as laundry or charging a home battery, but it is not essential.
Who is Flexible Octopus better for?
Flexible could make more sense if:
- you do not have a compatible smart meter
- you would rather your rates did not change every day
- you want the protection provided by the Ofgem price cap
- predictable pricing is more important to you than potentially paying less
- you do not want to follow wholesale energy prices
Flexible is also a useful starting tariff if you have recently joined Octopus and are waiting for a smart meter to be installed or begin communicating properly.
There is nothing stopping you from moving to another Octopus tariff later if your circumstances change.
Can you switch from Flexible to Tracker?
Yes. If you are already an Octopus Energy customer on Flexible and have a compatible smart meter, you can request to move onto Tracker.
If you do not yet have a suitable smart meter, Octopus can normally arrange an installation before you switch.
Tracker has no exit fee, but there is an important restriction to be aware of. If you leave Tracker during your 12-month tariff term, you may need to wait nine months before joining Tracker again.
That means it is worth thinking about whether you are comfortable with daily pricing before moving across rather than treating Tracker as something you can move in and out of whenever prices change.
If you are not currently with Octopus, you can first switch to Octopus Energy and then move onto an eligible smart tariff once your account and smart meter are ready.
What about other Octopus tariffs?
Tracker and Flexible are both relatively simple tariffs, but they are not necessarily the best options for every household.
If you have an EV, Intelligent Octopus Go may offer much cheaper overnight charging.
Homes with a heat pump may benefit from Cosy Octopus, which has several cheaper electricity periods throughout the day.
Agile Octopus can work well if you are able to move a significant amount of electricity use away from expensive periods and take advantage of cheaper half-hourly prices.
Our Octopus Energy tariff page looks at the wider range of tariffs and which types of household they could suit.
Octopus Tracker vs Flexible: which should you choose?
For many households with a compatible smart meter, Tracker is likely to be the more attractive option if the priority is reducing energy costs and you are comfortable with prices changing from one day to the next.
It has often been cheaper than Flexible historically and allows customers to benefit much more quickly when wholesale energy prices fall.
Flexible offers something different. Its rates are protected by the Ofgem price cap and do not respond to every short-term movement in the wholesale market. That makes it a more predictable option for households that would rather not think about daily energy prices.
There is no guarantee that Tracker will always be cheaper.
New Octopus Energy customers can receive £50 credit when switching through our Octopus Energy referral code. Find out how the referral offer works and how to claim the credit before switching. If you switch through a referral link on this site, we may also receive a referral payment, at no extra cost to you. Energy prices, offers and tariff terms can change, so always check the latest information before switching.