Comparing energy: rates and contracts in 2026
By Laurens Arends · updated 05-10-2026
All rates side by side
* Lowest monthly amount of the supplier at average consumption (2.300 kWh, 900 m³, grid management € 45), discounts spread over 12 months; feed-in does not count in this column. Share tabs via ?tab=terug.
How we compare (and why you can check us)
- ✓We calculate all deals with the same profile: 2.300 kWh of electricity, 900 m³ of gas and optionally your feed-in.
- ✓We spread discounts and cashbacks over 12 months, so that the monthly amount is the real amount.
- ✓We show all suppliers, even if we earn nothing from them; the order is always by price, never by fee.
- ✓Rates are refreshed automatically every morning; the date is shown with every table.
What suits you?
With solar panels
Feed-in fee and feed-in charges weigh more heavily than the bare rate.
Compare for solar panels3 years fixed
Maximum certainty; watch out for the new cancellation fee rules.
Vergelijk 3 years fixedWith a gift
Calculate the net annual price; sometimes the promotion with a gift really is the best deal.
Gift promotions this monthTorn between two? Put them side by side
Best discounts and customer service; mediocre for solar panels.
Strong app and stable; higher fixed costs this month.
Calculate your exact monthly amount
| Supplier | Contract | Per month | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ENGIELowest | 3 years | € 188 | € 2.256 | View › |
 Innova Energie | 3 years | € 190 | € 2.280 | View › |
 Energiedirect | 2 years | € 196 | € 2.352 | View › |
 Oxxio | 3 years | € 199 | € 2.388 | View › |
 Budget Energie | 3 years | € 204 | € 2.448 | View › |
How we compare energy contracts
We start with your postcode, house number and expected annual consumption. The postcode determines, among other things, your grid operator. We then calculate every available contract with the same data. If you have solar panels, we also process the expected consumption from the grid and the electricity actually fed back. The more up-to-date information you provide, the more accurately we can compare the energy contracts.
The calculations are sometimes very complex, but can be summarised relatively simply:
Expected net annual costs = costs of energy supplied after net metering + fixed supply charges + taxes + grid operator charges + feed-in charges − feed-in fee − discount − energy tax reduction
We only process a one-off discount once. With a multi-year contract, we spread it over the full term for a fair comparison. A one-off bonus of € 600 on a three-year contract is therefore € 200 of benefit per contract year in that comparison. We also check when the discount is paid out and whether you lose it if you cancel early.
The tax rates and grid operator charges are in principle the same for every supplier at the same address and consumption, but they do belong in the expected total amount. Supply rates, fixed supply charges, discounts, feed-in charges and feed-in fees do differ. The ACM therefore requires suppliers to show all costs and an estimate of the annual price in a personal offer. We use this supplier data when we compare energy contracts.
With a dynamic contract that annual price is a forecast and not a guarantee. After all, future market prices are unknown. That is why we also compare the fixed purchasing fee, subscription costs, conditions for feeding back and the way in which the price estimate was made. The actual outcome depends on the market and on the moment at which you use energy.
Rates and promotions can differ per day and sales channel. The comparison tool shows the contracts that are available via the system at that moment. EnergieAanbieding.nl may receive a fee when you take out a contract via the site. You do not pay extra for this. The ACM advises looking at more than one comparison tool. So even if, for example, you have already made the comparison via Gaslicht , it is a good idea to make a new comparison at EnergieAanbieding.nl.
Comparing energy contracts on net annual costs
Anyone who only looks at the rate per kWh or the monthly amount is comparing only part of the bill. The price structure is in fact much more complex. As a result, the cheapest supplier for a flat can turn out expensive for a detached house. A provider with high fixed costs and low consumption rates is, for example, relatively more favourable with high consumption than with low consumption. According to ACM ConsuWijzer you should therefore include both the fixed and the consumption-dependent costs.
Comparing an energy contract therefore starts with mapping out your full costs, not with focusing on one attractive rate or one discount. So get out your latest annual bill and only then start comparing energy. Use your actual annual consumption of electricity and gas, not just the instalment amount. That instalment amount is merely an advance payment. Only the annual bill reveals your real costs.
Comparing fixed, variable or dynamic energy
| Contract type | What is fixed? | What should you watch out for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | The supply rate for the agreed term. | You do not benefit from falling market prices and a cancellation fee may apply if you cancel early. |
| Variable | Nothing for the entire term; the supplier may change the rate in accordance with the terms and conditions. | Check how often rates may change and what notice period for announcements applies. |
| Dynamic | The mark-up and fixed costs can be fixed, but the electricity price changes per quarter of an hour or hour and the gas price per day. | The annual price shown is an estimate; a smart meter is needed and the price risks are greater. |
With a fixed contract, only the agreed supply rates are fixed. Taxes and grid operator charges can change during the term. According to ACM ConsuWijzer, a fixed contract turns into a variable contract after the end date if you do nothing.
Comparing energy with solar panels
When comparing energy with solar panels, the ordinary electricity rate and a high feed-in fee are not enough to make a good comparison. So enter the electricity you take from the grid and the electricity you actually feed back separately. Use your annual bill or meter readings for this. The total production of your panels is not the same as the feed-in, because you use part of it directly at home.
Then compare the total of feed-in charges, feed-in fee and consumption costs. A high fee can be cancelled out by high fixed or variable feed-in charges. The ACM already established in 2025 that suppliers use different calculation methods and that this makes energy contracts difficult to compare.
A contract that runs into 2027 must be assessed per period. This is because net metering stops on 1 January 2027. From then on you receive a fee for all electricity fed back and suppliers can charge feed-in charges. Comparing energy with solar panels therefore means that you check both the conditions up to and including 2026 and the rates from 2027. With a dynamic contract, feeding back during hours with negative prices can even cost money.
Energie vergelijken 3 years fixed
Anyone who opts for a three-year fixed energy contract prefers price certainty. Do note: the supply rate stays the same for three years, but taxes and grid operator charges do not. So compare the average costs over all three contract years and divide a one-off bonus by three. Otherwise the first year appears artificially cheap. Also check how much flexibility you give up.
If you have solar panels, a heat pump or a charging point installed within three years, your consumption profile changes and possibly also which contract is advantageous. Anyone who ends a fixed contract early may have to pay a cancellation fee. As a result, switching early can be financially unfavourable and you may remain tied to a less advantageous energy contract for longer.
Comparing energy with a gift
Since 1 January 2026, under the new Energy Act, suppliers may no longer link a tablet, television, gift card or voucher to an energy contract. A monetary discount or bonus is still allowed. Anyone who now compares energy with a gift is therefore in practice comparing financial benefits. Bear in mind that gifts also come with conditions. We map these out as well.
Check with the current energy deals when you receive the discount, whether it only applies to new customers and what happens if you end the contract early. Do not let the largest discount amount win automatically. A bonus of € 400 is not interesting if the other contract costs over the same period are € 500 higher. The net annual costs remain decisive.
Comparing business energy
Comparing a business energy contract works differently. In that case, use the consumption of the business connection and check whether amounts are shown including or excluding VAT. Also pay attention to the term, payment conditions, feed-in and the arrangement for early cancellation.
For large business connections, different metering and grid operator charges may apply than for small-scale consumption. Do you run a business from home? Then also compare a residential contract and find out which is the most advantageous. A business energy contract does not automatically make an offer cheaper. Read more on our page about comparing business energy.
The main hidden catches in comparing energy
With every energy contract, look at the payout date and conditions of the discount. Also check the end date of your current contract. A lower new annual price can still be unfavourable if you pay a cancellation fee or lose a bonus not yet paid out at your old supplier.
Also pay attention to what happens after the fixed term. A sharp promotional rate may then be replaced by a variable rate without discounts. So check the market again shortly before the end date. Also be careful with telephone sales, because the offer is then not always equally easy to understand. This is also shown by the ACM's Energiemonitor 2025. It showed that 55% of consumers find it difficult to understand prices with temporary promotions and discounts.
Finally, look beyond just the price. Also look at the origin of the electricity, the accessibility of customer service, payment options, the app, help to save energy and the financial stability of the energy supplier. The lowest calculated annual price is only the best choice if the contract type and service suit you.
Frequently asked questions about comparing energy
When is the best time to compare energy?
There is no fixed month in which energy is always cheapest. The ACM points out that deals can differ from day to day. If your fixed contract is ending, start comparing about two months before the end date. That is also the advice of the Consumentenbond. Only let the new contract start after your current contract. This way you avoid a cancellation fee and do not lose a bonus that is only paid out at the end of the term.
Can I compare energy if I do not know my annual consumption?
Yes. You can estimate the consumption (or have it estimated) based on the number of occupants and the characteristics of the home. Such an estimate is less accurate than the meter readings on an annual bill. So check after a few months whether the actual consumption differs and adjust your instalment amount if necessary.
Can I compare electricity and gas separately?
Yes. Electricity and gas do not have to come from the same supplier. So calculate both one combined contract and the cheapest combination of two separate contracts. For the latter, include the fixed costs of both suppliers. If you have district heating, you cannot choose a different heat supplier yourself, but you can compare an energy contract for electricity only.
Why is the instalment amount of my new supplier higher than in the comparison tool?
A comparison tool often shows an average monthly price that is derived from the net annual costs and in which a later discount has already been included. Some suppliers only settle that discount on the annual bill and will meanwhile collect a higher advance payment. This prevents you from facing surprises afterwards if you do not get the discount after all, for example because you switch again early. Either way, the instalment amount is merely an advance payment.
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