Octopus Intelligent Go offers a fixed rate of 8p per kWh overnight, automated scheduling, and total predictability. Octopus Agile prices electricity every 30 minutes — rates can be far lower than 8p/kWh during high renewable periods, but also far higher during peak demand. Both tariffs are from the same supplier. The right choice depends on your driving patterns, tolerance for variable pricing, and whether you want smart home automation or simple overnight charging.
This article lays out the key differences, the typical savings on each tariff, and the scenarios where each one wins.
How Each Tariff Works
Octopus Intelligent Go
Intelligent Go sets a fixed off-peak rate of 8p/kWh between 11:30pm and 5:30am every night. The rate applies to your whole home during that six-hour window. Daytime electricity costs more — check the current rate at octopus.energy as it varies by region.
The defining feature is automated scheduling. For compatible EVs (Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Cupra, Nissan, Renault, MINI, Porsche) and compatible chargers (Ohme, Zappi, VCHRGD, Hypervolt, Indra, Andersen), Octopus integrates directly via the app. You tell it when you need the car ready and the target battery percentage; the system finds the cheapest and greenest slots within the overnight window and charges automatically. You do not set a timer. You just plug in.
With over 150,000 customers, Intelligent Go is the UK’s most popular EV tariff. For a driver covering 7,000 miles per year, it saves approximately £271 annually versus a standard variable tariff.
Octopus Agile
Octopus Agile links electricity pricing directly to the wholesale market. Every 30 minutes, the price changes. Rates for the following day are published at 4pm, so you know what tomorrow’s pricing looks like before it arrives.
The price range is wide: when there is high renewable generation and low demand — typically overnight in high-wind weather — rates can fall below 0p/kWh, meaning Octopus pays you for consuming electricity. At peak demand times (typically weekday evenings), rates can reach 30–40p/kWh or higher.
The unit price is capped at £1/kWh. The standing charge is approximately 61.19p per day.
There is no fixed cheap window. To consistently benefit from Agile’s lowest rates, you need to either monitor rates daily or use automation tools (Home Assistant, Octopus Watch, or similar) to trigger charging when prices fall below a threshold.
The Core Difference: Predictability vs Flexibility
This is the fundamental trade-off.
Intelligent Go is predictable. You know the off-peak rate in advance (currently 8p/kWh). You know the window (11:30pm–5:30am). Your overnight charging costs are consistent every night.
Agile is flexible. On some nights, rates drop to 2–3p/kWh or below zero. On others, overnight rates might settle at 12–15p/kWh. Your average is better than a standard tariff, but it varies month to month and requires active engagement to optimise.
Cost Comparison: Typical Charging Scenarios
Overnight charging only, no automation
On Intelligent Go, overnight charging is consistently 8p/kWh within the guaranteed window. Set a timer once; never revisit it.
On Agile without automation, you are left manually checking rates and adjusting charge start times. During a calm, overcast winter night, rates may sit at 12–18p/kWh overnight — comparable to a standard tariff. During a windy night, they may drop to 2p/kWh. Without tools to capture those drops automatically, the savings potential is largely unrealised.
Winner for overnight-only charging: Intelligent Go.
Overnight charging with Home Assistant or Octopus Watch
With automation, Agile becomes significantly more powerful. The system monitors published rates, starts charging when the price drops below a threshold (say, 8p/kWh), and stops it when prices rise again. During windy nights, this can deliver rates of 2–5p/kWh — well below Intelligent Go’s fixed 8p.
Over a full year, consistent use of Agile with smart automation can deliver an average charging cost below 8p/kWh, particularly for drivers whose profiles align with the lowest-rate periods.
Winner for automated charging with smart home tools: Agile (when set up correctly).
Flexible daytime charging
Agile rates during sunny, low-demand periods can drop to 5p/kWh or lower. Drivers who are home during the day and can start a charge session at 1pm on a low-demand Tuesday may find rates comparable to the best overnight fixed tariffs.
Winner for daytime flexible charging: Agile.
High-mileage commuters who always charge overnight
High-mileage drivers who charge every night and need a full battery by 7am benefit most from Intelligent Go’s automated scheduling. The car is always charged to the right level at the right time, and the rate is consistently 8p/kWh. No planning required.
Winner for consistent high-mileage overnight use: Intelligent Go.
Smart Charger Compatibility
Both tariffs work with most smart chargers.
For Intelligent Go, compatible chargers include Ohme Home Pro, Zappi GLO, VCHRGD Seven Pro, Hypervolt Home 3 Pro, Indra Smart Pro, and Andersen A3/Quartz. These enable fully automated scheduling through the Octopus app.
For Agile, any charger with an open API — particularly the Zappi — can be configured to respond to published rate data and start charging automatically when prices drop below a set threshold.
Which Tariff Suits Which Driver?
| Driver profile | Better tariff |
|---|---|
| Overnight charger, wants automation, compatible EV or charger | Intelligent Go |
| Overnight charger, no compatible EV/charger, wants simple timer | Intelligent Go or E.ON Next Drive Smart |
| Home during the day, wants to exploit cheap daytime slots | Agile |
| Has home battery and solar, wants to maximise arbitrage | Agile or Octopus Flux |
| Uses smart home automation (Home Assistant etc.) | Agile |
| High-mileage, charges every night, wants predictability | Intelligent Go |
| Low-mileage, flexible, willing to manage scheduling | Agile |
Switching Between the Two Tariffs
Both tariffs are from Octopus Energy, so if you want to switch between them, you are doing an internal product change rather than a full supplier switch. Octopus allows this via the app or online account. Some customers trial one tariff before switching to the other.
If you are not currently with Octopus, switching to either tariff takes around five working days from any other supplier.
What About Octopus Go (Standard)?
Octopus also offers a standard Go tariff — a simpler fixed overnight rate without the automated scheduling of Intelligent Go. Go rates are periodically updated; at the time of writing, Intelligent Go’s 8p/kWh rate is competitive with or better than standard Go. The main reason to consider standard Go over Intelligent Go is if your EV or charger is not compatible and you prefer a straightforward off-peak product. Check octopus.energy for current Go rates before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Octopus Intelligent Go or Agile? It depends on how actively you manage your charging. Intelligent Go guarantees 8p/kWh overnight. Agile’s average can be lower if you use automation to capture sub-5p/kWh and negative-rate periods, but can also be higher if you charge at peak times without management. For most people who charge overnight and want a consistent, predictable cost, Intelligent Go is the better choice.
Can I switch between Octopus Intelligent Go and Agile? Yes. Both are Octopus products, and you can switch between them via the Octopus app or website without changing supplier. There is typically no exit fee for moving between Octopus tariffs.
Does Octopus Agile ever go negative? Yes. During periods of high wind generation and low grid demand — typically overnight in windy weather — Agile prices can fall below 0p/kWh. When this happens, Octopus credits you for each unit you consume during those slots. The cap is £1/kWh in the opposite direction: you are credited up to 100p for each kWh consumed at negative rates.
Do I need a specific charger for Octopus Intelligent Go? For fully automated scheduling, you need either a compatible EV with direct API integration (Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen group, Nissan, Renault, Porsche, MINI) or a smart charger on the approved list (Ohme, Zappi, VCHRGD, Hypervolt, Indra, Andersen). Without these, you can still use Intelligent Go but must set charging timers manually.
Which tariff has the lowest standing charge? Both tariffs carry a daily standing charge. Agile’s standing charge is approximately 61.19p per day, which is at the higher end of the Octopus range. Intelligent Go’s standing charge varies by region — check the Octopus tariff details for your area before signing up.
Key Takeaways
- Octopus Intelligent Go offers a fixed 8p/kWh overnight rate from 11:30pm–5:30am with automated scheduling for compatible EVs and chargers — ideal for consistent overnight chargers.
- Octopus Agile prices electricity every 30 minutes based on wholesale markets; rates can drop below 0p/kWh during high renewable generation, making it potentially cheaper than Intelligent Go for drivers who use automation or are home flexibly.
- For most EV owners who charge overnight and want simplicity, Intelligent Go is the better starting point.
- Agile delivers greater savings if you have smart home automation, a home battery, solar panels, or highly flexible charging habits.
- Both tariffs are available from Octopus Energy; you can switch between them without changing supplier.
Useful Resources
Octopus Energy — Intelligent Octopus Go
https://octopus.energy/smart/intelligent-octopus-go/
Octopus Energy — Agile tariff
https://octopus.energy/smart/agile/
energy-stats.uk — Octopus Go vs Agile comparison
https://www.energy-stats.uk/octopus-go-versus-agile/