If you’ve typed “British Gas vs Octopus boiler installation” into Google, you’re not alone – but there’s a twist: British Gas and Octopus are usually offering different types of heating.
British Gas is a mainstream provider of gas boiler installation and replacement.
Octopus is best known for heat pump installation (often described as a modern replacement for a boiler), including its own “Cosy” heat pump and installs eligible for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant in England & Wales.
So the most useful comparison isn’t just “Company A vs Company B”. It’s:
Do you want another gas boiler, or do you want to switch to a heat pump?
This guide breaks down the practical differences, what each company includes, how the grants and finance work, and how to decide based on your home…
1. What each company actually installs
British Gas: gas boiler replacement (the classic swap)
British Gas’ boiler pages focus on installing new gas boilers (combi and system options are presented as standard routes), packaged with add-ons like system cleansing/water treatment and controls. 
This is typically the most familiar option if you already have gas central heating and want a straightforward “old out, new in” replacement.
For many homes, it’s also the least disruptive path back to reliable heating – particularly if your radiators and pipework are broadly fit for purpose.
Octopus: “boiler replacement” usually means a heat pump install
Octopus’ mainstream heating proposition is air source heat pumps, sold as a whole-home heating system rather than a like-for-like boiler swap.
On Octopus’ order page, it lists inclusions like installation/configuration, a compatible hot water cylinder, any necessary radiators, and required plumbing/electrical parts, plus delivery and labour.
Octopus also markets its own heat pump (Cosy) with an 8-year product warranty and highlights that it’s MCS certified and eligible for the £7,500 grant (where the property and customer qualify). 
2. The big decision: gas boiler vs heat pump
Before you compare quotes, decide which “lane” you’re in.
A new gas boiler is generally a like-for-like replacement. It heats water quickly to high temperatures, works well with traditional radiator setups, and feels familiar.
A heat pump is a different approach. It runs at lower flow temperatures and works best when the home is set up to deliver heat efficiently (think: good insulation, correctly sized radiators, and system design that supports lower temperatures).
That doesn’t mean “heat pumps only work in perfect homes”. It means the survey and design matter more than the brand name on the van.
3. Upfront cost: why the numbers can look wildly different
British Gas: quote + finance often drive the decision
British Gas promotes loan options including up to 3 years interest-free at 0% APR or longer terms (e.g., up to 10 years at 9.9% APR), subject to status. 
That can make a boiler replacement feel more affordable month-to-month, but don’t confuse “manageable monthly payments” with “cheaper overall”. Always check the total payable across the full term.
British Gas also lists a bundle of included items on its boiler installation pages (e.g., system cleanse/water treatment, thermostat, CO alarm, waste disposal), which can reduce surprise extras later. 
Octopus: the £7,500 grant heavily shapes the “price”
For eligible properties in England & Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can reduce the cost of a heat pump installation by £7,500. 
The official GOV.UK “What you can get” page states the current grant amounts and notes key exclusions — including that hybrid heat pump systems aren’t eligible for BUS. 
Octopus’ heat pump order page explicitly states the £7,500 BUS grant is part of its proposition and that Octopus applies for it on the customer’s behalf. 
One important consumer note: very low advertised heat pump prices have attracted regulator attention across the market.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned multiple heat pump adverts for misleading presentation of grant availability/eligibility – and media coverage notes that Octopus ads have been caught up in similar scrutiny previously.
Practical takeaway: treat any “from £X” figure as provisional until you’ve had a property survey and you can see a clear breakdown.
4. What’s included in the install (and what to check)
This is where comparisons often go wrong, because customers compare headline prices rather than scope.
Typical British Gas “bundle” (as described on its pages)
British Gas lists inclusions such as:
- A 5-year British Gas warranty with parts and labour included
- System cleanse/water treatment
- Thermostat and carbon monoxide detector
- Waste collection/disposal
- Finance options (subject to status)
Not every home needs every extra, but seeing them itemised helps reduce “surprise costs” later.
Typical Octopus heat pump scope (as described on its pages)
Octopus’ heat pump order page lists:
- Installation and configuration by its team
- Compatible hot water cylinder
- Any necessary radiators
- Plumbing/electrical “bits”, plus delivery and labour
- 8-year product warranty with Cosy 6 (or 5 years for other brands)
- £7,500 BUS grant handling
- Free asbestos testing / EPC application if required
If you’re comparing a heat pump quote to a boiler quote, you’re often comparing different system scopes – which is why the quote breakdown is everything.
5. Warranty and aftercare: what you’re really buying
British Gas warranty positioning
British Gas highlights a 5-year warranty with parts and labour included on its boiler pages.
In its own boiler content, it also states that if it can’t repair the fault, it will provide a replacement, and it notes annual servicing requirements.
Octopus heat pump warranty positioning
Octopus positions its Cosy heat pump with an 8-year product warranty, and it states that other heat pump brands it installs may come with 5 years (per its order page). 
Reality check for both: warranties often hinge on installation quality and servicing.
Regardless of provider, ask what “servicing once a year” means in practice: who does it, what it costs, and what happens if you miss a year.
6. Installation experience: speed vs “system redesign”
Gas boiler replacement: usually faster and less disruptive
A boiler swap is often a contained job because it’s working within an existing high-temperature system. You may still need extras (power flush, filter, controls upgrades), but in many cases the home’s “heat delivery” side doesn’t need major change.
Heat pump installation: the survey matters more than the badge
A heat pump install is closer to a heating system upgrade than a simple appliance replacement.
Radiator sizing and pipework can become part of the job, and hot water is typically handled through a cylinder arrangement rather than instant hot water like many combis.
Octopus reflects that wider scope by listing “necessary radiators” and a compatible cylinder as part of what it may include. 
7. Safety and compliance: one non-negotiable check
If you are installing, repairing, or maintaining gas appliances, the engineer must be properly registered.
Gas Safe Register states that by law gas businesses and engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register, and that to work legally on gas appliances and installations you must be registered. 
(There are also official government/NI guidance pages that reiterate this point.) 
Even if you’re using a national brand, it’s still smart to verify the engineer’s Gas Safe ID and ensure it covers the type of work being done.
8. How to choose: practical scenarios
Scenario A: “I need a quick, familiar replacement”
If you’ve got gas, your home is already set up for radiators, and your priority is reliable heating with minimal change, British Gas’ boiler replacement service is aligned with that outcome. The finance options and the clearly stated 5-year warranty may also appeal. 
Scenario B: “I want to move away from gas”
If you’re aiming to reduce reliance on gas, and you’re open to a heating system upgrade, Octopus’ heat pump route is the more direct fit. It’s also the route where BUS can have a meaningful impact on upfront cost (if you’re eligible). 
Scenario C: “I’m mainly motivated by monthly cost”
If the decision is being driven by monthly payments, compare:
- total payable on finance (APR, term, fees) for a boiler
- survey-backed heat pump price after BUS, plus any ongoing service plan costs
A lower monthly payment doesn’t always mean lower total cost – and heat pump performance depends heavily on correct design.
9. Questions to ask before you sign (without turning this into a checklist wall)
When you’re close to choosing, ask both providers for a written scope that makes the comparison fair.
For British Gas, it’s about clarity on what’s included in that “installation package” (cleansing, controls, disposal, warranty terms, annual servicing requirement).
British Gas lists many of these items on its own pages, but you want them explicitly attached to your quote.
For Octopus, focus on what the survey says your home needs: radiator changes, cylinder requirements, and exactly how the £7,500 grant is being applied.
Octopus states it applies for the grant and includes it in the proposition, but you still want the line-by-line picture.
10. Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
People usually run into trouble in three places:
1) Comparing unlike-for-like.
A boiler quote and a heat pump quote can include totally different scopes (controls, cylinders, radiators, electrical upgrades). The only fair comparison is total installed cost with the same assumptions clearly stated.
2) Treating grant marketing as “guaranteed pricing”.
BUS has eligibility rules, and regulators have taken issue with ads that don’t communicate those clearly.
3) Ignoring warranty conditions.
Annual servicing requirements are common. British Gas explicitly notes servicing expectations in its warranty messaging.
Octopus’ warranty depends on which unit is installed (Cosy vs other brands), so ensure you’re clear on what applies to you.
Verdict: which is “better”?
There isn’t one universal winner, because these brands are often solutions for different goals:
British Gas is usually the better fit if you want a gas boiler replacement with a familiar installation model, finance options, and a clearly stated 5-year warranty package. 
Octopus is usually the better fit if you want to replace your “boiler” with a heat pump system, potentially taking advantage of the £7,500 BUS grant, and you’re willing to go through a proper survey-led design process. 
If you’re undecided, the best next step isn’t choosing a brand – it’s deciding whether you’re still committed to gas for the next 10–15 years, or whether you’re ready to switch to a lower-carbon system now.