Bionic review

Bionic review summary

Bionic is one of the UK’s best-known business comparison services, with a strong focus on business energy switching for small and medium-sized companies. It helps businesses compare, switch and renew essential services including energy, broadband, insurance and finance, and says it supports more than 200,000 customers through a team of more than 500 experts.

For business energy, Bionic is best suited to SMEs that want a guided comparison service rather than contacting suppliers one by one. Bionic says it compares quotes from a panel of business energy suppliers, uses smart data to reduce form-filling, and provides UK-based experts to talk customers through the quotes and switching process.

The main point to understand is that Bionic is a broker and comparison service, not the energy supplier. The actual gas or electricity contract will normally be with the supplier chosen through the comparison process. Businesses should therefore check the supplier name, unit rate, standing charge, contract length, broker commission and renewal terms before agreeing.

Quick verdict

Category	Rating	Notes
Business energy comparison	4.5/5	Strong SME focus and a clear comparison-led service
Ease of use	4.4/5	Postcode-led journey and smart data reduce form-filling
Supplier choice	4.1/5	Uses a panel of suppliers rather than claiming whole-market comparison
Transparency	4.2/5	Bionic publishes information about commission and says customers can request exact commission figures
Customer reviews	4.2/5	Strong overall Trustpilot score, but a notable minority of negative reviews
Best for	SMEs	Particularly useful for small businesses wanting guided switching
Overall rating	4.3/5	A strong SME broker, provided fees and renewal terms are checked carefully

What is Bionic?

Bionic is a business comparison and switching service aimed mainly at small businesses. Its website describes it as “the comparison site for your small business” and says it helps companies compare, switch and renew business energy, insurance, broadband and other services.

Companies House currently records company number 05949018 as Business Essential Services Limited, with previous names including Bionic Services Limited from 9 December 2019 to 7 May 2026 and Make It Cheaper Limited from 27 September 2006 to 9 December 2019. The registered office is listed as 5th Floor, 9 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2AP.

For business energy customers, the Bionic brand is best understood as a broker and comparison service that helps arrange contracts with suppliers, rather than as an electricity or gas supplier itself.

What does Bionic offer?

Bionic’s wider business services include energy, connectivity, insurance and finance. Its energy service focuses on helping businesses compare, switch and renew gas and electricity contracts.

Service	What it means	Best suited to
Business electricity comparison	Comparing electricity quotes from Bionic’s supplier panel	Shops, offices, cafés, salons, workshops and SMEs
Business gas comparison	Comparing gas contracts for commercial premises	Hospitality, retail, leisure, care and light industrial users
Renewal support	Arranging a new deal before the current contract expires	Businesses wanting to avoid out-of-contract rates
Supplier switching	Support through the switch once a supplier is chosen	SMEs that want less admin
Digital Renewals	Bionic says it can automatically compare quotes ahead of renewal	Businesses that want renewal reminders, but should check consent and terms
Wider business services	Broadband, insurance, finance and other essentials	SMEs wanting to review several overheads

Bionic also says it helps commercial customers from major price comparison websites, including Compare the Market, MoneySuperMarket, Uswitch and Confused.com, compare business energy prices.

How Bionic business energy comparison works

Bionic’s process starts online. It says customers can begin with a business postcode and that it uses smart data to find energy information and reduce the amount of form-filling required. Its UK-based experts then compare quotes and talk customers through their options before the business chooses a supplier and rate.

Step	What happens
Start online	The business enters its postcode and some basic details
Data is checked	Bionic searches current supplier and usage information through industry-held data
Quotes are compared	Bionic compares quotes from its panel of business energy suppliers
Expert support is provided	A Bionic energy expert talks the customer through the options
Supplier is chosen	The business chooses the supplier and contract it wants
Switch is supported	Bionic supports the switching process

Bionic says it compares quotes from a panel of suppliers, including big names and specialist providers. This can save time, but it also means businesses should ask which suppliers were included in their specific quote comparison.

Bionic prices and broker fees

Bionic does not publish one fixed energy broker fee because commercial energy contracts are priced individually. Rates depend on factors such as the supplier, business size, usage, location, meter type, contract length and market conditions.

Bionic says its comparison service is free to the customer and that it makes money by receiving commission from the supplier when a customer switches. It also says it tells customers how much commission will be paid before contracts are signed.

Bionic’s service page says that, for standard energy contracts, agents will tell customers the commission band their new contract falls within. It also says customers can request the exact commission by emailing Bionic, and Bionic will reply within 24 hours. For larger or more complex contracts, it says agents will discuss the exact commission.

Fee issue	What Bionic says	What businesses should do
Direct customer fee	Bionic says its comparison service is free	Confirm whether any fee is included in the energy price
Supplier commission	Bionic says it is paid by the supplier when a contract is sold	Ask for the commission in p/kWh and in total pounds
Commission disclosure	Bionic says customers are told how much commission will be paid	Request written confirmation before agreeing
Standard contracts	Bionic says it gives a commission band	Ask for the exact figure if needed
Complex contracts	Bionic says exact commission is discussed	Make sure this is confirmed in writing

Example broker-fee calculation

Broker commission can look small when expressed as pence per kWh, but it can become substantial over a long contract.

Annual energy usage	0.5p/kWh broker fee	1p/kWh broker fee	2p/kWh broker fee
10,000 kWh	£50 per year	£100 per year	£200 per year
25,000 kWh	£125 per year	£250 per year	£500 per year
50,000 kWh	£250 per year	£500 per year	£1,000 per year
100,000 kWh	£500 per year	£1,000 per year	£2,000 per year
250,000 kWh	£1,250 per year	£2,500 per year	£5,000 per year

For example, a business using 100,000 kWh per year would pay £1,000 per year for every 1p/kWh of broker commission included in the contract price. Over a three-year contract, that would be £3,000. That does not automatically mean the broker is poor value, but the fee should be visible before the contract is agreed.

Broker fee rules for business customers

Broker fee transparency has become more important in the UK business energy market. Ofgem confirmed that, for non-domestic contracts signed from 1 October 2024, broker fees must be displayed in the contract’s principal terms, and suppliers must make this information available on request.

The UK government has also confirmed plans to appoint Ofgem as the regulator for third-party intermediaries, including energy brokers, when parliamentary time allows. The proposed framework includes principles, specific rules, registration requirements and enforcement tools.

This means businesses using Bionic should expect clear written information about broker fees and contract terms. If a quote is not clear, the business should ask for a full breakdown before agreeing.

Bionic customer reviews

Bionic has a strong Trustpilot profile overall. At the time of writing, Trustpilot lists Bionic with a score of 4.6 out of 5 from 20,599 reviews, with 82% of reviews rated 5-star and 12% rated 1-star. Trustpilot also says Bionic has replied to 96% of negative reviews and typically replies within one week.

Trustpilot’s review summary says customers frequently praise Bionic staff for helpfulness, professionalism and clear explanations, and often mention efficiency and ease of use. However, it also notes some customer concerns about slow replies, conflicting information and dissatisfaction with the Digital Renewal service.

Review theme	Positive signals	Caution points
Staff	Helpful, professional and clear explanations are commonly mentioned	Service can depend on the individual adviser
Speed	Many customers praise quick handling and efficiency	Businesses should still take time to check terms
Price	Customers often mention competitive deals	Savings should be checked against total contract cost
Digital Renewals	Can reduce renewal admin	Some customers have expressed dissatisfaction with renewal handling
Complaints handling	Bionic replies to most negative Trustpilot reviews	A high review score does not remove the need to check contract details

The review picture is therefore mixed but broadly positive. Bionic has a high overall rating, but the 1-star share and comments about renewals mean businesses should pay particular attention to renewal permissions, contract length and written confirmation of fees.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Strong brand recognition in SME business comparison	Uses a supplier panel, not necessarily the whole market
Can compare energy, broadband, insurance and finance	Broker commission may be included in the contract price
Postcode-led comparison process reduces admin	Business energy contracts usually have no cooling-off period
UK-based experts talk customers through quotes	Some customers report dissatisfaction with Digital Renewals
Bionic publishes information about how it earns commission	Standard contracts may initially be shown in commission bands
Strong Trustpilot score and high review volume	12% of Trustpilot reviews are 1-star at the time of writing
Can help avoid out-of-contract rates	Businesses should still compare direct supplier quotes where possible

Who is Bionic best for?

Bionic is best suited to small and medium-sized businesses that want a guided, broker-led way to compare business energy contracts. It is especially relevant for companies that do not have the time to contact multiple suppliers themselves.

Business type	Suitability	Why
Small offices	High	Simple usage and standard contracts are usually well suited to comparison
Shops and salons	High	Good fit for SME electricity and gas switching
Cafés and restaurants	High	Useful where both gas and electricity costs matter
Trades and workshops	Medium to high	Can help compare fixed rates and avoid out-of-contract prices
Small warehouses	Medium to high	Suitability depends on usage and meter type
Multi-site SMEs	Medium	Useful, but may need more hands-on account management
Large manufacturers	Medium	May need specialist procurement alongside Bionic quotes
Large corporates	Lower	Strategic procurement consultancies may be more appropriate

Who might need an alternative?

Bionic may not be the best choice for every energy buyer. Some businesses may prefer a specialist energy consultancy or direct supplier tender.

Situation	Why another option may help
Very high annual energy spend	A procurement consultancy may provide deeper market strategy
Flexible purchasing needs	Large users may need fixed, flexible or pass-through contract analysis
Complex half-hourly metering	Specialist support may be needed for capacity, TNUoS and DUoS issues
Multi-site estates	A dedicated account-managed consultancy may be more suitable
Disputes with existing suppliers	It may be better to resolve issues before switching
Preference for direct negotiation	Some businesses may want supplier quotes without broker commission

Bionic compared with other brokers

Broker	Best for	How Bionic compares
Love Energy Savings	Fast online business energy comparison	Bionic has a broader “business essentials” proposition beyond energy
Utility Bidder	Energy, water and telecoms comparison	Bionic is particularly strong for SME energy and broader business services
Northern Gas and Power	Larger and more complex procurement	Northern Gas and Power may suit higher-usage or multi-site users better
Inenco	Large energy users and strategic procurement	Inenco is more consultancy-led and suited to complex energy portfolios
Inspired PLC	Corporate procurement and risk management	Inspired is more appropriate for large-scale energy strategy
Auditel	Cost reduction and carbon support	Auditel may be better where energy is part of wider procurement or net zero work

For a typical SME, Bionic is a strong option to include in a comparison. For larger or more complex businesses, it may be sensible to compare Bionic with one or two specialist energy procurement consultancies.

What to check before signing through Bionic

Before agreeing to a business energy contract through Bionic, ask for the following in writing:

Check	Why it matters
Supplier name	Confirms who will actually supply the energy
Unit rate	Shows the p/kWh electricity or gas rate
Standing charge	Important for low and medium-usage sites
Contract length	Business contracts can lock customers in for years
Broker commission	Shows how Bionic is being paid
Total broker fee	Helps compare the real cost of the contract
Renewal process	Important if Digital Renewals are used
Switching date	Confirms when the new contract starts
Exit terms	Business contracts are usually difficult to cancel early
VAT and CCL treatment	Incorrect assumptions can distort the expected bill
Written principal terms	Confirms fees, rates and key contract conditions

Complaints and dispute resolution

Bionic publishes a complaints policy. It says customers can complain by calling its complaints team, emailing [email protected], or writing to its complaints team at 5th Floor, 9 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2AP.

The Energy Ombudsman lists Bionic as an energy broker it can review disputes about, with active membership shown under company number 05949018.

From 19 December 2024, the Energy Ombudsman says eligible UK small businesses can receive free dispute resolution support for energy broker disputes. Eligibility can apply where the business has fewer than 50 employees and meets turnover or balance sheet limits, or where annual electricity consumption is not more than 200,000 kWh, or annual gas consumption is not more than 500,000 kWh. Businesses must normally follow the broker or supplier complaints process first and wait eight weeks or receive a deadlock letter before escalating.

Final verdict: Bionic review

Bionic is a strong choice for UK SMEs that want a guided way to compare and switch business energy contracts. Its main strengths are brand recognition, a clear SME focus, smart-data-led comparison, expert support and the ability to review several business essentials in one place.

However, businesses should not treat any broker quote as automatically the cheapest or safest option. Bionic uses a supplier panel, is paid through supplier commission, and business energy contracts can be legally binding without a cooling-off period. The most important checks are the unit rate, standing charge, contract length, broker commission, renewal process and supplier terms.

For small businesses, Bionic is worth comparing alongside Love Energy Savings, Utility Bidder and direct supplier quotes. For larger or more energy-intensive companies, Bionic may still be useful, but it should be compared with specialist procurement consultancies such as Inenco, Inspired PLC or Northern Gas and Power.

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