Best Energy App of 2022: Manage Energy Use on Your Phone

Could you imagine doing your shopping without Amazon? Finding a cab without using Uber? Or how about buying your music without online streaming services? We continuously use technology in our daily lives, but our utility companies are still stuck in the dark ages. Luckily there are some suppliers leading the way and bringing energy management right to your fingertips.

From the smart meter to the smartphone: technology is coming for your utility company

As far as mobile technology goes, the banking sector has been leading the way for the last five years. In that period of time, there has been a 356% increase in the use of mobile tech, which has made finance available, accessible and customisable.

“Fintech” or financial technology has suddenly made finance cool, and customers these days almost never have to step into a bank, wait in a queue, or speak to someone face-to-face. Monzo, for example, is a 100% app based bank which tracks your spending and helps you budget as well.

Utility suppliers have been a little slower on the uptake. Let’s be honest - helping people understand their electricity bills and save money has never really been at the top of the agenda for some providers.

However, things have slowly started to change with a wave of energy apps appearing on the market and some online-only suppliers such as Pure Planet cropping up to shake the status quo and bring these dinosaurs of the past in line with our modern habits.

What can you do with your smartphone energy app?

Our homes are becoming more and more tech-filled, and it’s never been easier to control how much energy we use in our homes. There are hoards of cool gadgets you can use to save energy in your household. That’s why it’s even more imperative that energy apps get a revamp - the power to save money on our bills would literally be in our own hands!

It’s starting to feel much more like the future we imagined in the 1970s and 80s. Systems such as the Google Nest are becoming more common and new energy companies, such as Igloo Energy, are jumping on the bandwagon and offering discounts to customers with these products in their home.

These whizzy energy gadgets mean that you can control the temperature of your house more efficiently - even when you aren’t at home. They can also detect when windows are open or when you leave the house, and automatically adjust settings to make sure that you aren’t wasting energy to save money on your utility bills.

Is there an app to read my smart meter?

With the new government regulations aimed at making sure everyone has a smart meter in their homes by 2024, many apps now offer the ability to see exactly how much you are spending, when you are spending it and even get tips on how to save money, right in the palm of your hand.

So, which are the best energy apps out there? Sadly, many of the utility apps on the market are abysmal and have terrible ratings on the App store and Google Play store. Not only are their interfaces unoriginal and boring, but the user experience also leaves much to be desired.

Red Davis, a freelance app developer, explained to us why he thinks many energy apps aren’t up to scratch. He said, “I think a lot of them are just terribly built and try to do too much (many just jam their website into a mobile app).

“Sometimes it feels like the companies don't even use their own apps...functionality is not enough by itself, apps should delight their users. This could be something as simple as having a button that turns the phone’s torch on when the user is trying to submit their meter readings or, even better, use Optical Character Recognition to automatically read the numbers off the meter, so the user doesn't even need to type it.

“It could even be having a dark UI so that the app doesn't blind the user when they're trying to read the meter in a dark cupboard.”

These features will be increasingly important as customers are becoming more demanding with their technology. Energy companies and app developers need to do more to keep up with their needs.

We’ve tried and tested some of the best energy apps out there at the moment for those who just can’t put their phones down.

Npower App

Npower is currently at the top of the energy app game. Their app has many features which many others lack, making it stand out noticeably from the crowd.

The app itself is great to look at, with a range of personalised themes that customers can choose from. Menus work well with the touchpad on both mobile phones and tablets. Additionally, the user experience in the app is well thought out and easy to navigate. Each new page comes with “handy tips” to help new users get the best out of their Npower app experience.

One of the main features of the app is the personal timeline, which plots readings and shows your billing history. You can tap on events or pinch to zoom, to find out more information about each of the individual events on the timeline.

You can also receive reminders when your tariff is up for renewal, when your bill is ready, and when it’s time to send a meter reading.

Simply put, the app makes managing your energy more straightforward.

Customers can also keep track of how much energy they are using with the energy tracker which displays usage either in pounds and pence or in kilowatt-hours. This is perfect for budgeting and for those eco-conscious customers who want to reduce their impact on the environment.

One fun addition is the built-in torch for meter readings which means that there is no more fumbling about in the meter cupboard with a flashlight. Small touches like this make customers feel like Npower has thought about their needs and taken them into consideration.

On the downside, the app loads slowly on some Android phones, the only area in which this app doesn’t really shine. This is a bit of a disappointment considering the British smartphone market is made up of 51% Android users. Hopefully, this is something that will be ironed out in further updates of the app.

Overall, the Npower app is a reliable and robust contender. Few technical problems, easy to use interface, funky appearance and some nifty added extras make it a good choice for customers who not only want to track their energy usage but be able to manage it and save money.

Ovo Energy App

The Ovo Energy app is the workhorse of our selection. While there are no stand-out features like with the Npower app, it does do everything well.

The design is consistent with Ovo’s brand but fails to turn heads, preferring to keep things simple and straightforward with a green and white colour scheme. Much like with Npower, everything works as it should, and it is easy to find what you need.

With the app you can quickly and easily see b energy you have used and you can submit your meter readings wherever you are. This makes it easier to keep to a budget for the majority of customers.

One thing which does make Ovo stand out is their prepayment app. Boost is a part of the Ovo family, which means you’ll still speak to the same award-winning Ovo customer service team. However, there will be new phone numbers to call, a cool new website and a unique app for customers who already have a smart meter.

Prepayment customers have traditionally drawn the short straw when it comes to apps and new technology but with this new brand it's clear to see that Ovo Energy are putting prepayment customer's needs at the forefront of their minds.

In contrast to the Ovo Energy App, the Boost prepayment app has funky colours and a modern design - a breath of fresh air for prepayment customers who are often left behind in this fast moving market.

Octopus Energy App

There are a number of third party apps out there for Octopus Energy customers which have all been endorsed by the supplier themselves, such as Octopus Agile Watcher, Octopus Energy Watchdog and Octopus Watch. However, we’re going to focus on the green energy provider’s own inhouse app, which is available for free on the App store.

Android users, unfortunately this one’s not for you. The Octopus Energy app is only available on iPhone and iPad at present. For now, Octopus Energy customers who don’t own an Apple device are encouraged to use the online portal on its website for mobile or tablet.

The Octopus Energy app is a stripped down affair compared to most of the others on our list, offering just access to your bills, account balance and a meter reading option, where you can submit your latest read using your mobile device’s camera, instead of having to manually enter the numbers.

The general feeling among reviewers on the App Store seems to be that the Octopus Energy app is no different to its online login page and lacks many of the additional features of its competitors, such as a smart meter tracker or the ability to set up meter reading reminders.

This is a functional app offering all the basics with none of the flashy stuff. That may be fine for the average customer, but those with smart meters or EV tariffs might expect more, given Octopus Energy’s reputation for innovation.

Bulb Energy App

The king of cool when it comes to energy we were excited to try out the Bulb Energy app. It is surprisingly disappointing from a design point of view, much like the Ovo app. It is functional, simple, and gels with the overall feel of Bulb as a whole, but it doesn’t have the flair of Npower’s app. It also has issues with functionality, on both Android and iOS, with some customers calling the navigation “frustrating.”

The app does have some unique features such as the ability to refer friends directly on the app to earn £50 credit, and photometer readings, which customers love as it saves them time.

The app is a work in progress and Bulb are working hard on customer feedback. In fact, for their next update, they have asked customers about what functionality they would like to add to the app and how they could improve. Popular choices are the ability to measure CO2 savings and smart home control - something that we feel will be coming soon to most of the energy apps on the market.

Overall we’d say that Bulb still has some perfecting to do on the app but have made a solid start by providing a usable app that helps customers submit meter readings and check their balance.

EDF Energy App

EDF Energy have updated their mobile app in recent times, much to the delight of their customers. Whereas their previous app was clunky and prone to crashing, the latest version has received very positive reviews on both the App Store and Google Play, scoring an impressive 4.6/5 and 4.4/5 respectively.

The EDF Energy app packs more features than many of the other apps we reviewed. In our tests, we especially liked how easy it was to use, while the option to message EDF Energy directly through SMS or Whatsapp was a particularly welcome feature.

Setting updates and reminders, viewing energy usage and sending meter readings by photo are all available functions. You can also switch tariffs, manage your Direct Debit and submit payments instantly without leaving the app.

For those on prepay tariffs, there is the option of switching on low balance alerts or auto top-ups, meaning EDF Energy Pay As You Go customers don’t need to worry about being left in the dark with no gas or electricity.

Another advantage the EDF Energy app has over the others we tested is the ability to switch between different accounts and properties, which is great for landlords or those with holiday homes.

Overall, the EDF Energy app is user-friendly and offers a lot of extra features unavailable in other suppliers’ apps. The app is sure to save you time, and almost definitely money, particularly with its energy usage tracking feature.

Powershop App

More so than with other energy suppliers, Powershop’s app is a fundamental part of their operations - not just an added extra. So, we were looking forward to taking a look at a different concept for an energy app.

For those not in the know, Powershop is a new company from New Zealand which has set up shop in the UK with a new concept - to commodify the utilities market.

With Powershop, you get to choose when and how you pay for your electricity and gas bills. You buy “power packs” at discounted rates and use them against the cost of your electricity. The more power packs you use, the more you can save.

The app taps into the familiar concept of in-app purchases where you download the app and then have paid add-ons.

What we are hearing from customers is that you must “engage to save” and how you interact with the app will dictate how much money you will save on your energy bills. Buying power packs can give you up to a 33% discount. 47% of their customers love the method and find the app engaging and fun.

Many Powershop customers also claim to have saved a considerable amount on their bills and on their website this seems to be backed up as they say an average customer will save up to £346 when compared to the big six if using their ‘top shopper’ rate.

This obviously means that the app is fundamental and customers must engage with it on an almost daily basis to get the best deal on their electricity and gas. The app lets you:

• see how much power you're using and what you need to buy
• make sure you never miss a special offer
• forecast future usage and cost
• shop for Powerpacks to manage your budget
• compare and gain insights into your usage

Many customers used to traditional energy companies have taken a while to get used to the new system.

Some customers have claimed that the app is sometimes difficult to understand and that the daily usage report doesn’t average your consumption or estimate your future usage based on your historical usage. As a result, it can be challenging to put your finger on exactly how much you are spending.

Also, many users wanted the display to include the actual power units purchased/used, and how much energy each of these actually counted for both for current and future months.

Overall, however, we like the fact that Powershop is trying a new way of managing our energy and we can’t deny that buying and using the Powerpacks is satisfying. However, we would say that Powershop still have some way to go in ironing out the kinks in the system to make it really clear to customers how much they are spending, and more importantly how much they are saving!

Pure Planet App

Last but not least is Pure Planet’s offering. Again, it’s a nice looking app which has simple menus and a layout that make it easy for customers to use.

Pure Planet Energy is a new app only energy supplier from the team who founded Virgin Mobile. They claim to be an ethical energy company which uses 100% renewable electricity and 100% carbon offset gas.

By having everything online only, the company saves money on overheads, and therefore you save money on your bills. Just remember that 100% of your experience with Pure Planet is going to be by using their app.

The most innovative or exciting aspect of the Pure Planet app is Watt Bot, which is a customer-facing chatbot.

It is powered by AI algorithms meaning that it is able to understand a broad range of queries even if they’re written in conversational English. Watt Bot was built to answer common customer queries meaning that customer service agents can be freed up to help customers with more complex issues.

This means that simple tasks such as giving meter readings or paying bills will be done with Wattbott. If you have a more important or complex problem that needs human interaction, then you can type "talk to the team" into Wattbott, and he will put you in touch with a customer service agent.

Reactions to the app have been mixed with the most significant problems emerging from customers not able to get the app to function and thereby not being able to get in touch with customer support at all. We’d recommend that any customers who are struggling to get through send a message on the supplier’s community webpage.