Referral code
The Octopus referral code, without the fluff
Switching to Octopus Energy through a referral link gets you £50 of account credit, and the referrer the same. You must sign up directly on the Octopus website, not through a comparison site, or neither of you gets anything.
Opens octopus.energy. You must sign up there directly for the credit to count.
The short version
Four steps between you and the £50
Open the link
It goes straight to octopus.energy. Check the address starts share.octopus.energy before you type anything.
Get your quote and sign up
Directly on the Octopus site, never through a comparison site. Same tariffs, same prices as going direct.
Let the switch run
Octopus handles your old supplier. Around two to three weeks, and you submit one opening meter reading.
Credit lands
Once supply starts and your first Direct Debit clears, £50 appears in your balance history. About four weeks in.
Eligibility, in full
Six rules decide whether the credit is paid
- You must sign up directly on the Octopus websiteJoining through a price comparison or switching site means no referral reward for either side, because Octopus already pays that third party.
- The link must be applied before the switch completesIf you forgot, Octopus can usually add the code afterwards provided you signed up directly with them.
- You cannot already be an Octopus customerThis includes their white-label brands and supply under the Bulb licence.
- You cannot have been an Octopus customer in the last 12 monthsReturning customers within a year are not eligible.
- The switch has to complete and the first Direct Debit has to clearCredit is paid after you are on supply and the first monthly payment has been taken successfully. Roughly four weeks in practice, longer if the old supplier drags.
- One switching offer per householdIf you qualify for more than one incentive, Octopus pays the highest single one, not both.
The order of operations
What happens, and when
| Stage | Roughly when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| You apply through the link | Day 0 | The URL should be share.octopus.energy before you enter any details. |
| Old supplier notified | Days 1–5 | You get a cooling-off period. Nothing to do. |
| Supply start date | Around day 17–21 | Submit an opening meter reading if you are not on a smart meter. |
| First Direct Debit taken | Roughly a month in | It has to clear. A failed payment stalls the reward. |
| Credit appears | Days after that payment | Balance history in the app, shown as a referral reward line. |
If you signed up directly with Octopus but did not apply a code, contact them with the code afterwards. They can usually attach it to both accounts. This does not work if you joined via a comparison site.
When not to bother
£50 is one month of a bad tariff
The credit is a one-off. The unit rate is every month for a year. If you are inside a fixed deal that beats the current cap, or facing exit fees above the value of the credit, stay where you are and come back in the last 49 days of your term, when you can leave without penalty.
The referral reward is a reason to use a link when you were switching anyway. It is a poor reason to switch.
Opens octopus.energy. You must sign up there directly for the credit to count.
FAQ
Does the Octopus Energy referral code still work in 2026?
Yes. The refer-a-friend scheme has been running for years and is still active, paying £50 in account credit to the person who switches and £50 to the referrer.
How much do you get for switching to Octopus Energy with a referral link?
£50 is applied as credit to your Octopus account. It is credit against your bills, not a cash payment, and it is the same £50 whichever valid referral link you use.
When is the Octopus referral credit paid?
After two things have both happened: your supply has started with Octopus, and your first monthly Direct Debit has been taken successfully. That is typically around four weeks after you apply.
Why did I not get my Octopus referral credit?
The three common reasons are signing up through a price comparison site instead of directly with Octopus, having been an Octopus customer within the previous 12 months, or the switch being cancelled before the first Direct Debit cleared.
Can I use a stranger’s Octopus referral code?
The refer-a-friend scheme is intended for people you know. Octopus runs a separate High Referrer programme for people sharing links publicly, and links used commercially on the friends scheme can be deactivated. The link on this page is issued under the correct programme.
Does using a referral link change the tariff or price I get?
No. You get the same tariffs and the same unit rates as anyone applying directly. The credit is added on top.
Can I refer a business to Octopus Energy?
Yes, and it pays more: £75 to the business that switches and £75 to the referrer. It is a separate process from the household scheme.
Is there a limit on how many people you can refer to Octopus?
There is no fixed cap on the friends scheme, but Octopus states it is meant for people you actually know. If a link looks like it is being used commercially they will move the referrer onto a scheme designed for that.
Can I add a referral code after I have already signed up?
Usually yes. Contact Octopus with the referral code. As long as you signed up directly on their site rather than through a third party, they can normally attach it to both accounts.
What if I have a prepayment meter?
You are still eligible. Sign up using the link, then contact Octopus after your account is set up and ask them to apply the referral credit to your meter or issue it as pre-loaded credit.
Do I need a smart meter to get the Octopus referral credit?
No. The referral credit does not require a smart meter. Some Octopus tariffs, such as Agile and Tracker, do require one, but the standard tariff and the credit work with any meter.
Can renters use an Octopus referral code?
Yes. If your name is on the energy bill you can choose your supplier and use a referral link, whether you rent or own. If bills are included in your rent, the account is your landlord’s and the choice is theirs.
How long does switching to Octopus take?
The switch itself typically completes in around two to three weeks, including a two-week cooling-off period. The referral credit follows later, once your first Direct Debit has cleared, about four weeks after you apply.
Does switching energy supplier affect your credit score?
Switching itself does not damage your credit score. A supplier may run a soft check when you set up an account with a Direct Debit, and soft checks are not visible to other lenders.
What happens to money I have built up with my old supplier?
Your old supplier must send a final bill and refund any credit balance you hold. The switch does not forfeit it. Take a meter reading on switchover day so the final bill is right.
Do I contact my old supplier to cancel before switching to Octopus?
No. Sign up with Octopus and the switch is handled between the suppliers through the industry process. The one exception is a fixed contract with an exit fee, which is worth checking before you start.