Which energy providers have the best apps to track daily usage?

We've gone through a variety of the energy apps available in Finder's database to determine the energy apps with the best features. Be aware that most apps need a smart reader to reach their full potential so reach out to your provider and ask if you have one installed.

What you need to know:

• Our top energy apps are AGL, Origin and Powershop.
• AGL's app provides live customer service and comprehensive management.
• Origin's app features push notifications when your usage spikes and comprehensive management.
• Powershop's app includes super detailed usage reports and pre-purchase power on your phone.
• If your energy provider does not have an app, there are third-party energy management apps that may help you keep track of your energy usage and provide ways to reduce costs.

Our top energy apps

Which providers offer energy apps and what are their pros and cons?

• AGL
• Amber Electric
• Aurora Energy
• EnergyAustralia
• Horizon Power
• Kogan Energy
• Origin Energy
• Powershop
• ENGIE

Is your provider not on this list?

There are 3 alternative apps that can help you keep track of your energy bill.

Finder survey: How many Australians care if their energy provider has an app?

AGL: Get support in real time, no calls required

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA (gas only)

• Easy to navigate and great reviews
• In app payment available
• Account management
• Provides an overview of electricity and gas usage per billing period
• View your internet, mobile and energy on one app
• Connect to an AGL representative in real time
• Tracks solar activity
• Need a smart reader to take advantage of all the apps features

AGL's app goes above and beyond, offering you the chance to speak live to AGL customer service without closing the app. On top of that, AGL lets you see your solar production and exports. You can track your solar battery charge and see AGL Virtual Power Plant events that you might benefit from.

Amber Electric: Wholesale price insights, but no real management

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA

• View live wholesale prices and forecast
• Custom price notifications
• Daily usage history
• Solar management
• No in app payment option
• Poor account management

The Amber Electric app is less for management and more for maximising your wholesale value. You can get a 30-day price history, 12-hour price forecast, custom price notifications for wholesale prices and daily usage insights. You can't really manage your account in it.

Aurora Energy: Plan management for Tasmanian residents

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: TAS

• In app payment available
• Solar management available
• Predict future bill feature
• Poor account management
• Negative reviews and ratings

The aurora+ app does have a few useful features such as decent usage graphs and clearly presented information. There are also reports that you can't access up-to-the-minute usage info, instead having to wait a day or more to see your consumption.

EnergyAustralia: Your basic management app

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA

• In app payment available
• Solar management
• Good account management
• Negative reviews and ratings

The EnergyAustralia app allows both electricity and gas customers to manage their account and pay their bills online. There are graphs available that let you compare your usage to the previous year, but they're only for electricity.

Horizon Power: Browse planned outages and easily report faults

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: WA

• Good account management
• In app payment available
• Solar management
• Positive ratings and reviews
• Can't enter meter readings

Horizon Power has some more in-depth graphs than most of the other providers' apps. It allows you to see usage down to the hour plus how much power your appliances have consumed. There's also a unique "outages" tab where you can check planned power outages, report electrical faults and access emergency WA announcements for bushfires, cyclones and more.

Kogan Energy: Simple but effective

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA

• Good account management
• In app payment available
• Can enter meter readings
• No solar management
• Limited reviews

Following Kogan's general design philosophy, the Kogan mobile app is straightforward to use. Its best feature is the detailed graphs of your power usage, including how much you spent on electricity each day.

Origin Energy: A comprehensive app with great reviews

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA

• Good account management
• In app payment available
• Solar management
• Easy to navigate and great reviews
• Members can earn points which convert to PayPal cash or gift card for completing energy-saving goals during peak power hours
• Need a smart reader to take advantage of the apps features

As Australia's largest energy company, Origin has an app to match. It lets you track your usage and costs – for solar, power and gas – down to the hour. There are even push notifications if you want to know when a bill has arrived or when your usage spikes.

Powershop: Pre-purchase power and save

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA

• Good account management
• In app payment available
• View account history and rates
• Solar management
• Can refer friends to switch and can receive referral credit to put towards your next energy bill
• Need a smart reader to take advantage of all the apps features

The Powershop app stands out with extremely detailed insights into your power usage, including usage/cost graphs and an estimate of future use. You can also pre-purchase several energy packs through the in-app store, saving you from visiting the website.

ENGIE (formerly Simply Energy): A simple app with monthly usage charts

Available on: Apple/Android

Get a plan in: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA (gas only)

• Good account management
• In app payment available
• Monitor live energy usage (for those with a smart reader)
• Solar management
• Positive ratings and reviews
• Need a smart reader to take advantage of all the apps features

ENGIE doesn't go much beyond the basics, with monthly usage charts and limited ability to compare to previous years. You do have the option to apply for payment plans and other financial hardship tools in-app, which could be useful.

Third-party energy management apps

If you're keen on taking your energy management further, there are apps and devices that can help you track your usage and reduce it. Here are 3 of our favourites:

• Wiser Energy app: This allows you to track your consumption in detail, get estimates for bills and get notifications about household electrical problems. It's available on Apple and Android.
• Light Bulb Saver: This app helps determine how much energy you could save by switching your light bulbs to more energy-efficient models. It provides tips on choosing the right lighting for different rooms. It's on Apple.
• JouleBug: Designed to be a bit more like a game, JouleBug sets carbon-reducing tasks into daily actions. Once you've done the task, for example, turning off the lights or running a cold wash, the app lets you know if you've saved money or reduced your carbon footprint. You can get it on Apple and Android.

Learn more about energy

Our energy guides can help you compare and understand what plan is best for you.

Best energy plans: 5 plans selected by our experts, assessed and updated regularly

Cheap energy plans: Find the cheapest energy plans available this month

Solar power plans: Got rooftop solar? Compare your options and save even more

Average energy bill: Find out how your energy bill compares to the rest of Australia

Frequently asked questions

• Are there apps specifically for tracking solar energy?

  Yes, our favourite solar energy apps are MySolarEdge and Enlighten from Enphase. These apps provide information on how much energy you're consuming and storing, as well as each panel's individual energy production.

  The MySolarEdge monitoring app is available on Apple and Android.

  The Enlighten app from Enphase is also on Apple and Android.

• Does Lumo energy have an app?

  Yes, Lumo Energy has an app for their customers, Lumo Energy Rewards. The Lumo Energy Rewards app is designed to let South Australian customers claim savings across a range of categories, such as food, entertainment, travel and more.

  Lumo Energy Rewards is available on Apple and Android.

• Which energy company has the best app?

  Our favourtie energy provider apps are AGL, Origin and Powershop. You can find out more here.

• Is there an app to connect to your smart reader?

  Yes, if you have a smart reader, your provider's energy app will allow you to track your energy consumption and usage.

• What costs the most electricity in your house?

  There are 5 appliances considered the most expensive to run in your home. These include your air conditioner, television, refrigerator, clothes dryer and dishwasher.

  Households in some suburbs consume over twice the electricity of others so it is important to make sure you switch off appliances when they aren't in use. Consider on- vs off-peak usage time to decrease the costs that these appliances contribute to your electricity bill.