British Gas vs Hometree: Which Is Better Value?

British Gas vs Hometree comes down to two different approaches to the same problem: British Gas bundles established engineer-network boiler cover under its HomeCare brand, while Hometree sells more flexible, digital-first heating and home emergency plans with adjustable excess. For a bill-conscious household, the right choice depends on your boiler’s age, how much cover you actually need, and whether you want the option to pay a lower excess or none at all.

There is one point worth being clear on before you compare either brand: boiler cover and your energy tariff are two separate purchases. You do not need to buy your gas and electricity from British Gas to hold a British Gas HomeCare plan, and switching energy supplier does not cancel your cover. Free Price Compare sources this comparison from published British Gas tariff and price-guidance pages, Hometree plan information and Ofgem price cap data.

Last updated: August 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed August 2026

How British Gas and Hometree cover actually differ

British Gas and Hometree both sell boiler and heating cover, but the products are structured differently: British Gas HomeCare is traditional engineer-network cover with fixed plan tiers and typically no upfront excess choice, while Hometree offers digital plans with a choice of excess (commonly £0, £60 or £95) that lets you flex the monthly price. British Gas relies on its own large field-engineer workforce, whereas Hometree operates through a managed contractor network. Both advertise unlimited repairs on their cover plans. The practical result is that Hometree tends to appeal to households who want to control the monthly cost, and British Gas to those who want a single household-name brand handling everything.

Neither product should be confused with an energy tariff. Boiler cover is a service plan; your gas and electricity supply is a separate contract. You can keep a British Gas HomeCare plan after switching energy supplier, and you can buy Hometree cover while buying energy from anyone.

Is Hometree cheaper than British Gas for boiler cover?

Hometree is often positioned as the lower-cost option for boiler cover, largely because its plans let you choose a higher excess to reduce the monthly price, whereas British Gas HomeCare traditionally prices without that lever. Independent review coverage has put Hometree home emergency plans as low as around 42p a day with an excess applied, while British Gas boiler-focused plans have been quoted in the region of £19 to £28 a month when assuming a £60 excess. These are indicative figures from third-party comparison content rather than official price tables, so treat them as a guide and confirm a live quote for your postcode and boiler.

The honest answer is that neither brand is universally cheaper. A £0-excess Hometree plan and a discounted first-year British Gas HomeCare plan can land close together, while the gap widens once British Gas renewal pricing kicks in. If cutting monthly outgoings is the priority, weigh the excess trade-off carefully: a lower headline price with a £95 excess costs you more the moment something breaks.

Figures and features are indicative and may change; confirm current details before you buy.

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Does British Gas or Hometree cover all boiler makes, models and ages?

Neither British Gas nor Hometree guarantees to cover every boiler regardless of age or condition, and both apply eligibility checks before cover starts. Cover plans generally require the boiler to be in good working order at sign-up, and older boilers (often beyond a set age threshold, or where parts are obsolete) can be refused, excluded or subject to a survey. Pre-existing faults are a common exclusion for both providers: a breakdown that already existed when you took out cover is unlikely to be paid.

Before committing, check three things in the policy wording: the maximum boiler age accepted, whether an initial service or inspection is required, and how ‘not included’ parts (such as certain flues, filters or system components) are treated. If you are replacing an old boiler anyway, it can be worth timing cover to start on the new unit. For a fuller breakdown of what each tier includes, our British Gas HomeCare plans guide sets out the standard cover levels, and the Hometree heating cover guide covers its plan structure.

Which has better customer reviews and response times?

Customer experience is mixed for both British Gas and Hometree, and no single authoritative satisfaction dataset ranks one clearly above the other for boiler cover. British Gas benefits from a large in-house engineer network, which can mean quicker attendance in some areas, but common complaints centre on renewal price increases and disputes over what a plan excludes. Hometree, as a smaller digital-first provider, is often praised for straightforward pricing and app-based booking, though its contractor-network model means response times can vary by location.

Two recurring themes matter more than headline star ratings. First, read what is excluded before you judge value, because most dissatisfaction stems from a repair being declined as ‘not included’ rather than from slow service. Second, check the callout and repair process for your area. If you want the reliability of a big established brand across energy and cover, our comparison of the big six energy suppliers gives useful context on British Gas as part of Centrica.

Cut the bigger bill first

Your energy tariff usually dwarfs your boiler cover cost, so compare tariffs before you renew.

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Will my renewal price go up, and by how much?

Renewal price rises are the single most common complaint against British Gas HomeCare, with some households reporting annual increases of around £100 when a plan renews after an introductory discount. First-year prices are frequently discounted (promotions of around 25% off are regularly advertised), and the renewal price is where the true ongoing cost shows. Hometree renewal terms vary by plan, but the same principle applies: the year-one price is not always the year-two price.

To avoid a surprise, note your renewal date and the full (non-discounted) price when you sign up, not just the introductory figure. Both providers will write to you before renewal, and you are free to shop around or negotiate at that point. Treating the discounted first year as the whole story is the mistake that leaves people paying the most over time.

Does each plan include an annual boiler service and is there a cancellation fee?

Yes, both British Gas HomeCare and comparable Hometree plans typically include an annual boiler service on the relevant cover tiers, and this is often a key reason people buy cover rather than pay per repair. The annual service checks the boiler is running safely and efficiently, which can reduce the chance of a mid-winter breakdown. Confirm the service is included on the specific tier you choose, as entry-level or breakdown-only options sometimes exclude it.

On cancellation, most cover plans are monthly rolling or 12-month agreements, and cancellation terms differ by provider and plan. Some plans let you cancel with notice at little or no cost, while others may apply a charge if you leave within the first year after an engineer visit. Read the cancellation section of the policy before you buy, and if you are comparing this against switching your energy contract, our guide to British Gas exit fees and switching explains how energy exit charges work separately.

Can I keep British Gas cover if I switch energy supplier?

Yes, you can keep a British Gas HomeCare plan even if you switch your gas and electricity supply to another provider, because boiler cover and energy supply are entirely separate contracts. Buying cover from British Gas does not tie you to British Gas energy, and moving your energy elsewhere does not cancel your HomeCare plan. The same applies to Hometree cover.

This separation matters for value. Many households stay on a British Gas standard variable tariff purely out of inertia, believing it is linked to their cover, when they could switch energy to a cheaper deal and keep the cover untouched. Where British Gas cites Ofgem price-cap rates for the relevant period, a competitive fixed tariff can sometimes beat the variable rate you drift onto. Reducing the energy bill is usually a larger annual saving than any boiler-cover choice.

See if a fixed energy tariff beats your variable rate

British Gas energy tariffs: what you pay in 2026

British Gas energy is billed through unit rates and a daily standing charge on each fuel, and its tariff prices are set out on British Gas’ own pricing pages. Published British Gas guidance for the 1 July to 30 September 2026 period cites cap rates of 6.33p/kWh for gas and 25.73p/kWh for electricity, according to Ofgem. Its Standard Variable default tariff has regional unit rates and standing charges that vary by area.

British Gas also publishes indicative annual gas costs by usage band on direct debit. Fixed tariffs are also available, and some may include exit fees. If you are weighing British Gas against another supplier on energy alone, our British Gas vs E.ON Next comparison and the Fuse Energy vs British Gas guide are useful next reads. Understanding what uses the most energy in your home also helps you cut the bill before you switch.

Who should choose British Gas, and who should choose Hometree?

Choose British Gas HomeCare if you want a single established brand with its own large engineer network and prefer cover with no upfront excess to think about, and you are willing to review the renewal price each year to keep it competitive. British Gas suits households who value brand familiarity and in-house engineers, and who may already buy their energy from the same provider.

Choose Hometree if you want to control the monthly price by selecting a higher excess, prefer digital booking and clear plan pricing, and are comfortable with a smaller provider using a managed contractor network. Hometree suits cost-focused households who want flexibility on excess and are happy to check contractor coverage in their area. Whichever cover you pick, treat your energy tariff as the bigger prize: switching from a standard variable tariff to a competitive deal usually saves more per year than the difference between these two cover plans.

Compare British Gas and other suppliers

• OVO vs British Gas Boiler Cover | Compare Features & Value
• Compare Big Six Energy Suppliers UK – Prices & Reviews
• Hometree Heating Cover | Compare Boiler & Energy Prices
• British Gas Exit Fees & Switching Guide: Avoid Extra Charges
• British Gas vs E.ON Next – Who Is Better?

Information correct as of 10 August 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).