Ambit Energy vs Chariot Energy
Quick Verdict
Same wires. Same grid. Same electrons flowing to your house. The only real difference? Who sends you the bill and what they charge.
Since there's no major differentiator, this comes down to price. Check ComparePower for current rates.
8-Year Experience Gap
Ambit Energy: 18 years in Texas. Chariot Energy: 10 years. Companies don't survive 18 Texas summers by accident.
Complaint Comparison
PUCT Data • Jul-Dec 2025
Ambit Energy
Chariot Energy
Chariot Energy has 4.1 fewer complaints per 10k customers
Trust & Reputation
External ratings comparison
Trust Score is a weighted average: Google (40%), BBB (35%), Trustpilot (25%)
The Verdict
- You want a company that's survived 18 Texas summers (Chariot Energy has 10)
- You know an Ambit consultant you want to support
- You're interested in building an MLM business yourself
- You like earning free energy through referrals
- You want more green plan variety (check if they have actual renewable generation backing)
- You have solar panels and want competitive buyback rates
- You want genuinely green energy, not just credits
- Community solar programs interest you
Category Breakdown
18 years vs 10—8+ more grid crises survived
Both sell green plans—check who has actual renewable generation backing
Rates change constantly. Check ComparePower with your actual usage.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Ambit Energy | Chariot Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Company | Ambit Energy Holdings, LLC | Independent |
| Years in Texas | 18+ | 10+ |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas | Houston, Texas |
| Fixed-Rate Plans | ||
| Variable Plans | ||
| Prepaid Options | ||
| Green Energy | ||
| Free Nights/Weekends | ||
| Deposit Required | Conditional | Conditional |
| Credit Check |
What Actually Differs
Ambit Energy and Chariot Energy deliver the exact same electricity through the exact same wires. The electrons don't care whose logo is on your bill. What differs: the price, the service when something goes wrong, and the fine print in contracts.
Who's Behind These Companies
Ambit Energy: Owned by Ambit Energy Holdings, LLC. 18 years in Texas—they've survived enough grid crises to prove they won't fold mid-contract. Based in Dallas, Texas.
Chariot Energy: Owned by Independent. 10 years in Texas—that track record matters when you're signing a multi-year contract. Based in Houston, Texas.
What They Actually Sell
Ambit Energy offers fixed-rate, variable-rate, green. They sell "green" plans (mostly accounting—same electrons, but they buy renewable credits).
Chariot Energy offers fixed-rate, green, solar-buyback. They sell "green" plans (mostly accounting—same electrons, but they buy renewable credits).
The Money Part
Ambit Energy: Deposit depends on credit—expect $200-400 if your score is below 600.
Chariot Energy: Deposit depends on credit—expect $200-400 if your score is below 600.
The Honest Answer
Both are legitimate. Neither is a scam. The electricity is identical. What matters is: (1) who's cheaper for your actual usage, (2) whether you need to skip a credit check, and (3) if you care about green marketing. Scroll up to the "Choose if..." sections—they'll tell you which one fits your situation. For actual rates, check ComparePower. Takes 2 minutes.
Company Snapshots
Ambit Energy
- Parent Company
- Ambit Energy Holdings, LLC
- Years in Texas
- 18+
- Headquarters
- Dallas, Texas
- Deposit Required
- conditional
Chariot Energy
- Parent Company
- Independent
- Years in Texas
- 10+
- Headquarters
- Houston, Texas
- Deposit Required
- conditional
More Head-to-Head Matchups
See who wins when Ambit Energy and Chariot Energy face other competitors.
Featured In Best-Of Lists
See where Ambit Energy and Chariot Energy are featured in our category guides.
"I like that it searched multiple companies for me. So I don't have to search one by one. Saves time."
— Lacy L., Texas
View Company Profiles
Read full profiles to decide which fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should I choose Ambit Energy over Chariot Energy? ▼
You want a company that's survived 18 Texas summers (Chariot Energy has 10). You know an Ambit consultant you want to support. You're interested in building an MLM business yourself. You like earning free energy through referrals.
Q: When should I choose Chariot Energy over Ambit Energy? ▼
You want more green plan variety (check if they have actual renewable generation backing). You have solar panels and want competitive buyback rates. You want genuinely green energy, not just credits. Community solar programs interest you.
Q: What is the main difference between Ambit Energy and Chariot Energy? ▼
Ambit Energy leads in track record. Both companies deliver the same electricity through the same grid—the real differences are in pricing, service quality, and available plan types.
Q: Is Ambit Energy or Chariot Energy cheaper? ▼
Anyone who answers this without knowing your zip code and usage is lying. The "advertised rate" is calculated at exactly 1,000 kWh—use 800 or 1,200 and the math changes completely. Both companies exploit this. Check ComparePower with your actual usage. Takes 2 minutes, and you'll see real numbers instead of marketing.
Q: Which company has been in Texas longer, Ambit Energy or Chariot Energy? ▼
Ambit Energy: 18 years. Chariot Energy: 10 years. Similar track records. Both have survived enough Texas summers to prove they won't fold mid-contract.
Q: Which is better for green energy, Ambit Energy or Chariot Energy? ▼
Both sell "green" plans. But "green" in Texas electricity means they buy renewable energy credits—it's accounting, not physics. Your electrons come from the same grid as everyone else. Want to know which has renewable generation backing versus just buying paper credits? Gexa has NextEra (the largest renewable generator in the US) behind them. Most others just buy credits. That's the difference.
Q: What types of plans do Ambit Energy and Chariot Energy offer? ▼
Ambit Energy: fixed-rate, variable-rate, green. Chariot Energy: fixed-rate, green, solar-buyback. Similar variety. Both have enough options for most situations.
Q: Which is better overall, Ambit Energy or Chariot Energy? ▼
Same grid. Same wires. Same electrons. The electricity is literally identical—the only differences are price, service, and plan options. Ambit Energy wins if you know an ambit consultant you want to support. Chariot Energy wins if you have solar panels and want competitive buyback rates. For everyone else? Whoever's cheaper for your usage right now. Check ComparePower—it takes 2 minutes.