Octopus vs Aira heat pump (UK 2026)
Octopus vs Aira heat pump (UK 2026): side-by-side decision aid with capex, grant treatment, payback shape and surveyor's note.
Direct answer: Aira vs Octopus
Octopus and Aira do not price the same way, so there is no single "cheaper" answer. Octopus publishes a typical price anchor (median £4,459 net after the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, across all quotes between September 2025 and February 2026; its earlier "from £500" headline was ruled misleading by the ASA in 2025). Aira keeps the firm heat pump capital cost quote-only but publishes an illustrative example of £6,729 after the £7,500 grant for a 6kW system, and its All-Inclusive service plan at £19.90 / month for 15 years with the first year free, covering a 15-year guarantee and servicing. On the published figures Octopus's typical £4,459 sits below Aira's £6,729 worked example, though the two are not a like-for-like median. Choose Octopus for the transparent typical price; choose Aira where the 15-year cover and fixed servicing are worth more than a lower published capex.
| Dimension | Octopus (Cosy 6) | Aira UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Typical (median) price published, post-BUS | Heat pump quote-only (outright or financed) + All-Inclusive service plan on a published monthly rate |
| Published anchor | Typical (median) £4,459 net after £7,500 BUS (Cosy 6) | Illustrative example £6,729 net after £7,500 BUS (6kW system, Aira's own stated config); firm capital cost otherwise quote-only. All-Inclusive plan £19.90 / month for 15 years (first year free); guarantee + servicing |
| Warranty | above 5-year workmanship | above 15 years on All-Inclusive |
| Tariff bundling | Cosy Octopus time-of-use tariff | Standard supply, no in-house tariff |
| Scale | ~40k cumulative installs to end-2025 | UK launch Nov 2023; scaling |
Surveyor's note (clearly opinion)
Octopus is the volume play with the tightest headline figure. Aira is the subscription play with a 15-year warranty that genuinely changes the risk profile over a 15-year horizon. Neither is "right" or "wrong" in the abstract; the right choice follows the household's preference for capex vs opex.
Further questions
- What warranty does each give?
- Octopus provides a 5-year workmanship warranty. Aira's All-Inclusive plan carries a 15-year guarantee plus servicing. Over a 15-year horizon the longer Aira cover materially changes the risk profile, which is the main non-price reason to choose it.
- How much is the Aira monthly plan?
- Aira's All-Inclusive plan is £19.90 / month for 15 years with the first year free (airahome.com, verified August 2026). It covers the 15-year guarantee and servicing. The heat pump itself is bought outright or financed on a separate quote, so the monthly plan is not the full cost of the installation.
- Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant apply to both?
- Yes. Octopus and Aira are both MCS-certified installers, so both installs qualify for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in England and Wales. Octopus applies it to reach its typical (median) £4,459 net figure.