EnergySorted vs Compare the Market

Compare the Market offers convenient, call-centre-backed switching. Here is how its commission-panel model differs from EnergySorted on independence and accuracy.

By EnergySorted Editorial Team · Updated 8 July 2026 · 6 min read

Two different businesses

Compare the Market is a well-known commercial comparison service that covers energy alongside insurance, broadband and more. Services like it generally operate on a commission or referral model (they are free to you because participating retailers pay when you sign up) and they typically compare a panel of partnered retailers rather than every retailer in the market.

EnergySorted is a different kind of business. You pay a small yearly subscription (around $39), we take no retailer commissions, and we compare every plan across every AER-listed retailer, not a panel. Neither model is wrong; they simply answer to different people. It is worth knowing which before you rely on either.

Panel vs whole-of-market

The panel question is the one most people miss. If a service compares only the retailers it has commercial arrangements with, the cheapest plan for your household may not be in the comparison at all, not because anyone hid it, but because that retailer is not on the panel. A convenient shortlist is useful, but it is a shortlist.

EnergySorted compares the whole AER-listed market, so a plan is never absent because a retailer chose not to partner. When you are hunting for the genuinely cheapest option for your usage, whole-of-market coverage is the difference between a good deal and the best available one.

Estimated quote vs real-usage costing

Commercial comparison services typically give you a one-off quote from a few details: a postcode, a rough usage band, whether you have solar. That is fast and convenient, but two plans that look similar on those inputs can cost very differently once your real peak/off-peak split, solar export and gas usage are applied.

EnergySorted asks you to upload a recent bill and costs every plan against your actual usage: peak, off-peak and shoulder, solar feed-in, and gas stepped rates. It then tracks your bills over time with a Bill Health Score and forecasts, and it covers electricity, gas and fuel together. Where a commercial service earns its fee at the point of switching, EnergySorted keeps working afterwards, backed by a savings guarantee.

When Compare the Market might suit you

If you value a big-brand, one-stop service that will walk you through the switch over the phone and bundle energy with your other household comparisons, Compare the Market can be a genuinely convenient choice, and being free at the point of use suits people who just want a quick, guided switch.

Choose EnergySorted when independence from retailer commissions matters to you, when you want whole-of-market coverage rather than a panel, and when you want the comparison costed on your real bill and monitored over time. You are paying a small subscription so that no retailer is paying us. That is the trade you are making, and for many households the accuracy and neutrality are worth it.

Frequently asked questions

Does Compare the Market charge me to compare energy?

No. It is generally free to use because it operates on a commission or referral model, with participating retailers paying when you sign up. EnergySorted instead charges a small user subscription (around $39) and takes no retailer commissions.

Does Compare the Market compare the whole market?

Commercial comparison services typically compare a panel of partnered retailers rather than every retailer. EnergySorted compares every plan across all AER-listed retailers, so a cheaper plan is never left out because a retailer did not partner.

Which is more accurate for my household?

EnergySorted costs plans against your real usage from an uploaded bill (peak/off-peak/shoulder, solar feed-in, gas steps) whereas commercial services typically use a quick estimate. Real-usage costing reflects your actual bill more closely than an estimate can.

Is Compare the Market a bad option?

No. It is a reputable, convenient service, especially if you want phone-guided switching and to bundle energy with other comparisons. The trade-offs are the commission model, a partnered panel, and one-off quotes rather than ongoing real-usage tracking.

What does EnergySorted do after I switch?

It keeps monitoring your bills with a Bill Health Score, forecasts your next bill and explains changes, so you are alerted when your plan steps up in price. Most commercial services earn their fee at the switch and do not track your bills afterwards.

Can EnergySorted compare gas and fuel too?

Yes. EnergySorted covers electricity, gas and petrol/diesel, so you can manage your major energy costs in one place rather than running separate comparisons across different tools.

Does Compare the Market compare more than just energy?

Yes, its strength is breadth: energy alongside insurance, broadband and other household products in one place. If you want to bundle those comparisons, that convenience is real. EnergySorted deliberately does the opposite and goes deep on energy alone.

What exactly is a commission or referral model?

It means the site is paid by a retailer when you sign up through it, which is why it is free to you. It is legal and disclosed, but it means the service earns from some outcomes more than others. Our explainer on whether comparison sites are really independent unpacks how to spot it.

Which is cheaper to use, and does that make it better value?

Compare the Market is free at the point of use; EnergySorted costs around $39 a year with a 30-day free trial. "Free" and "best value" are not the same, though: the paid model is what removes the retailer commission, and if the tool does not save you more than the fee it is not doing its job.

Does real-usage costing matter if my usage is simple?

Less, but it still helps. If you are on a flat single rate with no solar, an estimate is closer to reality. The moment you have a time-of-use tariff, solar or gas, the detail changes which plan wins, and that is where a real bill beats a quick quote.

What happens after I switch with each service?

A commercial service has typically earned its commission at the switch and moves on. EnergySorted keeps tracking your bills with a Bill Health Score, forecasts and change explanations, so you are told when a plan steps up in price rather than finding out months later.

General information only, current at the time of writing. Not financial advice. Rebate schemes and rules change; always confirm details with your retailer or state government energy site.