Octopus Go Review 2026: Fixed Overnight Rate, No Smart Device Needed

Octopus Go is the straightforward overnight EV tariff from Octopus Energy. There is no smart dispatch, no compatibility checklist, and no app pairing required. You get a 9.4p/kWh off-peak rate between 00:30 and 05:30 every night, and the cheap rate applies to your whole home, not just your car. Set your timer and charge.

This review covers what Octopus Go offers, who it suits, how it compares to Intelligent Octopus Go, and when a different tariff might serve you better.

How Octopus Go works

Octopus Go is a two-rate time-of-use tariff. During the overnight window (00:30 to 05:30) you pay 9.4p/kWh for all electricity used in your home. Outside that window you pay the peak rate, which averages 37.90p/kWh and varies by region.

To benefit, you simply set a charging timer on your electric vehicle or home charger to start at 00:30. Your car will charge during the cheap window and stop at 05:30 (or whenever your target charge is reached, if set earlier). No app pairing, no smart charger, no compatibility check required.

The whole-home rate means your other appliances also benefit. Running the washing machine, dishwasher, or tumble dryer during the 00:30–05:30 window extends the saving beyond EV charging alone.

Octopus is currently selling Octopus Go only as a 12-month fix. That protects you from price cap rises during the term, but there is a £50 exit fee if you leave early.

Octopus Go rates at a glance

Rate	Unit	Applies
Off-peak	9.4p/kWh	00:30–05:30 daily
Peak	37.90p/kWh (average)	All other times
Standing charge	55p/day (average)	Always

Rates are correct as of November 2026 and include 0% VAT, which applies to household electricity in Great Britain until 31 March 2027. Peak rates and standing charges vary by region.

A 60kWh battery charged from empty during the overnight window costs around £5.64, compared with roughly £15.80 at the October 2026 price cap average of 26.32p/kWh.

Octopus Go vs Intelligent Octopus Go

The natural comparison is Intelligent Octopus Go, which offers 6.5p/kWh on its variable tariff (7.9p/kWh on the 12-month fix) for six hours from 23:30 to 05:30, plus up to six hours of smart charging at other times.

The key difference is that Intelligent Octopus Go requires a compatible smart charger or a compatible electric vehicle. If you have an Ohme Home Pro, Indra Smart Pro, Hypervolt Home 3 Pro, or a compatible EV, Intelligent Octopus Go will generally be cheaper because of the lower rate and the extra smart charging slots.

Octopus Go suits drivers whose car or charger is not on the Intelligent Octopus compatibility list, or those who simply prefer the predictability of a fixed window over smart scheduling.

See our dedicated Intelligent Octopus Go review for the full comparison.

Smart meter requirement

Both Octopus tariffs require a SMETS2 smart meter. Octopus will arrange free installation if you do not have one, though wait times vary by region. Without a smart meter, Octopus cannot read half-hourly consumption data and cannot apply the off-peak rate correctly.

Is Octopus Go the cheapest option?

No. Octopus Go is competitive but not the cheapest fixed-window tariff. E.ON Next Drive charges 8.5p/kWh across a longer six-hour window (midnight to 6am), with a lower average peak rate of 35.17p/kWh and no exit fee. EDF GoElectric has the lowest off-peak rate of the fixed-window tariffs we track at 6.66p/kWh from 11pm to 6am, though it carries a £75 exit fee per fuel.

Octopus Go makes sense if you are already with Octopus and want minimal disruption, if your priority is brand trust or the Octopus app, or if you plan to upgrade to a compatible smart charger and switch to Intelligent Octopus Go in the near future.

Compare all tariffs on our EV tariffs hub before deciding.

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This page contains affiliate links. BestChargers.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Octopus Energy. Sign-up credit of up to £50 is subject to Octopus Energy terms and conditions; only one switching offer applies per household. Octopus Energy’s 100% renewable electricity claim is matched through Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates under Ofgem’s Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin scheme; the electricity delivered to your home still comes from the national grid mix.