Aira vs. Octopus heat pumps. Which one is right for you?

Key takeaways

• Both Aira and Octopus now publish real-world heat pump performance data, helping homeowners compare how their systems actually perform outside the lab.
• Aira’s all-inclusive plan includes the 15-Year Comfort Guarantee, 15-Year Performance Guarantee, 15-Year Product & Installation Warranty, servicing and ongoing support.
• While both companies offer smart, professionally installed heat pumps, Aira combines intelligent software, premium design and ongoing aftercare in a single package.

Octopus shares our vision of making clean energy and clean energy-tech accessible to every home. Like Aira, they design, manufacture, and install their own heat pump: the Cosy. But that’s where the similarities end and the real choice begins.

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between Aira and Octopus, and compare the Aira Heat Pump with the Octopus Cosy to see how they stack up.

Head-to-head comparison: Aira vs Octopus

Heat pumps are still relatively new to many UK homeowners. And when it comes to your heating, it’s natural to have questions. Will it keep my home warm enough? How much will it cost to run? And do heat pumps really perform as well as manufacturers claim?

That’s why both Aira and Octopus have taken an important step towards greater transparency by publishing real-world performance data from installed heat pumps.

For years, the industry has relied heavily on laboratory testing and manufacturer specifications. While these have their place, we believe homeowners deserve to see how heat pumps are actually performing in real homes.

That’s exactly what the Aira Performance Dashboard and Octopus Cosy Heat Pump Performance Dashboard are designed to do.

You can explore them here:

• Aira Heat Pump Performance Dashboard
• Octopus Cosy Heat Pump Performance Dashboard

We’d encourage anyone considering a heat pump to look at both.

Because while Aira and Octopus take different approaches to design, software and aftercare, both are helping prove something important: modern heat pumps are significantly more efficient than gas boilers and can comfortably heat UK homes throughout the winter.

We believe transparency is good for homeowners and good for the industry. The more real-world data that’s available, the easier it becomes for people to make informed decisions about moving away from fossil fuels.

Aira

From free home energy assessment and design to seamless installation and aftercare, everything’s included in your switch with Aira. And, at the heart of it all, is our intelligent Aira Heat Pump.

Why are people choosing Aira Heat Pumps?

Head-turning. Energy-saving. Ultra-efficient. The Aira Heat Pump is not only designed to complement your home, but engineered to cut energy bills, slash CO₂ emissions and keep your home cosy. Even in sub-zero temperatures.

Let's look at some of the reasons why thousands across the UK are ditching their boiler for an Aira Heat Pump.

• Optimised with Aira Intelligence: Automatically adapts to your home and the weather for maximum efficiency, comfort and savings.
• Covered by the 15-Year Aira Guarantee: Complete peace of mind with industry-leading protection and support. Includes the 15-Year Comfort Guarantee, 15-Year Product and Installation Warranty and 15-Year Performance Guarantee. Learn more about our 15-Year Aira Guarantee.
• Designed, built and installed by Aira Experts: We handle everything – from manufacturing to installation – so you get a tailored system designed for lasting performance and reliability.
• Compatible with any energy tariff: Pair with any energy tariff to maximise your savings and efficiency. Learn more about how our smart tariff optimisation works here.

Head-turning Aira Heat Pump features

• Remarkably quiet: The Aira Heat Pump is designed to blend right in. At just 46-51 decibels,* it’s a noise that fades into the background. So you can forget it’s even there.
• A+++ energy-rated: The Aira Heat Pump is efficient. Very efficient. That’s why it’s been awarded the industry's highest possible energy class rating (A+++).*
• Industry-leading efficiency: There’s an efficiency rating called SPF-4. A typical boiler? Around 0.85. An average heat pump? Around 3.5. Want to see how Aira Heat Pumps perform in real homes? Explore our Performance Dashboard.
• Uses natural R290 refrigerant: Unlike other heat pumps, ours uses R290 refrigerant. It’s natural, efficient, non-toxic and free of ozone-depleting properties.
• Timeless Scandi design: Distinctive. Beautiful. Timeless. The Aira Heat Pump system’s simple, clean Scandi design blends seamlessly with any home.
• Remote monitoring: The Aira Heat Pump is so intelligent that it constantly monitors its own performance, identifying inefficiencies and resolving issues automatically. If it detects something it can't fix, it alerts our team, who fine-tune it remotely. So you can enjoy a cosy home without interruption.
• Seamless control: The Aira Heat Pump takes pretty good care of itself. But when you want to take control, you've got two smart ways to do it: the Aira Thermostat and the Aira Home Energy app. The app lets you fine-tune your perfect temperature, check your energy use, manage hot water, monitor savings and track efficiency. The sleek Aira Thermostat allows you to see and set your temperature and activate extra hot water.

Aira pricing and installation

No two homes are the same. That’s why we design every Aira Heat Pump to match your home’s unique layout, insulation and heating needs.

Because each system is bespoke, we need more details about your home before giving you a quote. That's why we offer people free home energy assessments, so we can understand more about their home and calculate a taiilored quote based on their home and heating needs.

There’s nothing to pay upfront for your system and flexible finance options let you spread the cost with affordable monthly payments. Plus, since every Aira Technician is MCS-approved, we’ll handle the £7,500 government grant for you, and take it straight off your quote. Simple.

And, because we handle every single aspect of your switch, you get an all-inclusive plan and our industry-leading 15-Year Aira Guarantee. So you can be just as confident in your heating as we are.

Octopus

Octopus Energy’s Cosy heat pump is designed and built in the UK, and offers a more efficient alternative to a boiler. But how does it compare to the Aira Heat Pump? Let’s take a closer look.

Octopus' Cosy heat pump system

The Cosy heat pump integrates with the Octopus Energy app, providing users with effortless control over their heating and hot water systems. The Cosy system includes an outdoor unit, a hot water cylinder, the Cosy Hub for smart communication, and up to four Cosy Pods to monitor temperature and humidity throughout the home.

Let's look at some of the Cosy's key features.

• Efficient performance: With a yearly average SPF of 3.76, the Cosy offers reliable efficiency.
• Remote monitoring: Octopus Energy offers remote monitoring of the Cosy system, ensuring any issues are promptly addressed by their in-house team.
• Smart integration: The system pairs seamlessly with the Octopus Energy app, allowing users to control heating and hot water schedules, monitor energy usage, and adjust settings remotely.

Octopus pricing and installation

Like Aira, Octopus manages every part of your switch, from home survey and system design through to installation and aftercare.

One of Octopus’s biggest selling points is affordability. According to their website, their typical heat pump installation costs around £4,459 after the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant, although the final price depends on your home and heating system requirements.

As part of the installation, Octopus includes support with the BUS grant application, planning assistance where needed, EPC support, asbestos testing, installation and commissioning. Their standard package also includes an 8-year warranty on Cosy heat pumps, a 5-year workmanship warranty and a 2-year warranty on other installed components.

For customers looking for ongoing support, Octopus also offers optional service plans from £9 per month. These include annual servicing, warranty validation and priority support.

Like Aira, Octopus has invested heavily in making heat pumps simpler, more affordable and more accessible for UK homeowners. The difference is in the details of the package, the technology and the long-term support that comes with it.

Aira Heat Pump vs Octopus Cosy heat pump: Which heat pump should you choose?

Both Aira and Octopus are helping more UK homeowners move away from gas boilers. And that’s a good thing. The more people choosing low-carbon heat pumps, the better.

The right choice ultimately depends on what’s most important to you. Our aim isn’t to tell you which heat pump to buy. It’s to give you the information you need to make an informed decision, so you can choose the solution that’s right for your home.

If you’d like to learn more about the Aira Heat Pump, simply answer a few quick questions about your home’s setup. We’ll then arrange a free Home Energy Assessment and build a tailored quote for your home.