So Energy vs British Gas: Which Is Cheaper?

So Energy vs British Gas comes down to how much predictability you want versus how much you might save on a tracker tariff, and how you feel about exit fees. On one stored comparison model captured on 2 September 2026, a So Energy tracker tariff came out around £43/year cheaper than a comparable British Gas tracker, but that gap depends entirely on your usage, your region and the tariffs available on the day you switch.

Both suppliers sit inside the same regulatory framework. The Great Britain energy price cap set by Ofgem is £1,663/year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit for 1 July to 30 September 2026, rising to £1,723/year for 1 October to 31 December 2026. If you are on a standard variable tariff, you are paying at or near that cap right now.

Free Price Compare sources tariff data from Ofgem publications and whole-of-market comparison, so the sensible test is not which brand is famous but which live tariff is cheapest for your meter and postcode today.

Last updated: September 2026

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

Who is cheaper, So Energy or British Gas?

So Energy tends to price its tracker tariff below the Ofgem cap, and on one stored comparison model from 2 September 2026 a So Energy tracker came out around £43/year cheaper than a comparable British Gas tracker. That single example does not make So Energy universally cheaper. British Gas has at times offered competitive fixed rates among the larger suppliers, and the cheapest option depends on your annual gas and electricity use, your payment method and your region. So Energy says its So Green Tracker changes every three months in line with the price cap and is set to stay £50 below it, which gives cost-conscious households a way to sit just under the cap without locking into a fixed price. Because both suppliers refresh their tariffs regularly, the reliable answer is always a live quote for your own meter rather than a headline claim.

For a wider view of how So Energy stacks up against other big names, our So Energy vs Octopus Energy comparison covers another popular head-to-head.

Compare live energy tariffs for your postcode

How do their tariffs and prices compare in 2026?

So Energy and British Gas both offer a mix of tracker and fixed tariffs, and the prices below come from stored comparison examples captured in early September 2026 rather than live quotes. According to Ofgem, the price cap for a typical dual-fuel Direct Debit household is £1,663/year for 1 July to 30 September 2026, so any tariff quoted below that level is priced under the cap for a medium-usage home. The table shows how a few example tariffs sat against each other, including their contract length and exit fees, which matter as much as the annual figure if you might want to move again.

Figures are indicative and may change.

The So Energy tracker looked cheapest on annual cost in this snapshot, but the British Gas tracker had the lower exit fee and no fixed term, which gives more flexibility if you expect to move home or switch again soon. A higher headline saving with a £190 exit fee can be worse value than a slightly pricier tariff you can leave for £50. If you want to see how these brands compare with other suppliers, our So Energy vs EDF Energy guide and Octopus Energy vs British Gas comparison add more context.

What is the So Green Tracker and how does it work?

The So Green Tracker is a variable tariff from So Energy that adjusts every three months in line with Ofgem’s price cap and is set to sit £50 below it, according to So Energy. A tracker tariff is one where your unit rates move with an external benchmark rather than staying fixed, so your price falls when the cap falls and rises when it rises. Because the Ofgem cap is refreshed quarterly, a cap-linked tracker gives you a small, predictable discount against the default rate without the certainty of a fixed price. For a household on a standard variable tariff paying at the cap, moving to a cap-minus tracker is one of the simplest ways to shave a modest amount off each period. The trade-off is that if wholesale costs fall sharply, a well-priced fixed deal locked in beforehand could beat a tracker that only ever stays £50 under the cap.

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What are So Energy’s exit fees if I want to leave?

So Energy’s fixed and tracker tariffs in the examples above carry a £190 exit fee per fuel arrangement if you leave before the end of the term, based on stored comparison data from September 2026. An exit fee is a charge your supplier applies for ending a fixed-term contract early, and it usually does not apply once you reach the final weeks of the term or if you are on a standard variable tariff. British Gas tracker examples showed a lower £50 exit fee, while its longer fixed deals carried up to £200. Under Ofgem rules, suppliers cannot charge an exit fee if you switch within the last 49 days of a fixed contract, and you can always leave a standard variable tariff without penalty. Always check the exact exit fee and how it applies per fuel before committing, because two households on paper-identical tariffs can face very different costs to leave.

Should I choose a fixed or variable tariff?

Choose a fixed tariff if you value certainty over your unit rates for the contract term, and a variable or tracker tariff if you want your price to follow the market. A fixed tariff locks your gas and electricity unit rates and standing charges for a set period, so your rates cannot rise even if the Ofgem cap goes up. A variable tariff, including a cap-linked tracker, moves with the market, which helps when prices fall but exposes you when they rise. The cap trend matters here: Ofgem confirmed the price cap rose 13% for 1 July to 30 September 2026 and is set to rise a further 4% for October to December 2026, so households nervous about further increases may prefer a competitive fix. Low-usage homes often gain more from tariffs with lower standing charges, since a large share of a small bill is the daily standing charge rather than the units used.

• Pick a fix if you want budget certainty and think prices will keep rising.
• Pick a tracker if you want a small guaranteed discount against the cap with no long lock-in on price.
• Check the standing charge, not just the unit rate, if you use little energy.

Our So Energy vs OVO Energy guide shows how another supplier balances fixed and variable options.

See fixed and tracker deals near you

Will my supply be interrupted if I switch?

No, switching supplier never interrupts your gas or electricity supply. The physical infrastructure stays exactly the same when you change supplier: the same cables, pipes, meter and network operator continue to deliver your energy, and only the billing relationship changes. Under Ofgem’s switching rules, a switch should complete within five working days once you request it, and you get a 14-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel without charge. There is no engineer visit, no loss of power and no gap in supply. If a supplier ever fails, Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort process moves you to a new supplier automatically with your credit balance protected, so your energy keeps flowing throughout. This is one of the most common worries among people considering a switch, and it is entirely unfounded.

How do their customer service and extras compare?

Customer service is where the two suppliers differ most in character, since British Gas is a large legacy supplier with a broad service network and So Energy is a smaller renewable-focused challenger. British Gas fields a high volume of contact and consistently appears in searches for complaints and live chat support, which reflects its scale rather than a definitive verdict on quality. So Energy positions itself around green supply and simpler tariffs, supplying a small share of the UK market. Both must follow the same complaints rules, and if a complaint is unresolved after eight weeks you can escalate it free to the Energy Ombudsman, whose decision is binding on the supplier. Vulnerable customers with either supplier can ask to join the Priority Services Register for extra support, and eligible low-income households may qualify for the Warm Home Discount. If service track record matters most to you, read independent review scores rather than relying on brand recognition.

You can also weigh these two against the wider market in our British Gas vs OVO Energy comparison.

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Information correct as of 14 September 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).