Australia’s electricity market has never been more interesting — or more confusing. Two retailers that keep coming up in conversations about smarter energy are GloBird Energy and Amber Electric. Both promise to save you money, but they go about it in completely different ways. Here’s an honest breakdown of what each actually offers, who they suit, and a few ways to sweeten the deal when you sign up.
Two Very Different Philosophies
Before comparing prices or plans, it helps to understand the core philosophy behind each retailer — because they really couldn’t be more different.
Amber runs on a wholesale pricing model. For a flat monthly subscription fee (typically around $25 per month), customers get access to real-time wholesale electricity rates. Prices can drop very low — even negative — when the grid is flooded with renewables, then spike significantly during the evening peak.
GloBird, by contrast, is a more traditional retailer — but one that has built genuinely innovative structured plans on top of that foundation. Plans like FOUR4FREE offer four hours of completely free electricity every day from 10am to 2pm, while Zero Hero is designed specifically for home battery owners who want reliable, low-effort daily savings without engaging with the volatility of the wholesale market.
In short: Amber is for people who want to play the energy market. GloBird is for people who want a smart plan that does the heavy lifting for them.
Availability: A Key Practical Difference
This one matters immediately. Amber Electric is available across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and ACT, while GloBird Energy is currently available in VIC only. So if you’re outside Victoria, Amber is likely your only option between the two — and that’s worth knowing upfront before you get too deep into the comparison.
Who Should Choose Amber?
Amber works brilliantly in specific circumstances. If your battery can comfortably cover your evening demand and you’re able to charge during low-price periods, Amber can work very well. But if your battery regularly runs flat early in the evening, or you’re a heavy peak user, exposure to price spikes can increase bills significantly.
What makes Amber unique is that your electricity price updates every 30 minutes to reflect the actual trading price on the National Electricity Market. This price fluctuates constantly depending on supply and demand across the eastern states — meaning your electricity could cost next to nothing, or even go negative, during periods of extreme renewable oversupply.
The catch is that this requires active engagement. You need to monitor prices, automate your battery or EV charging around cheap windows, and have a reasonable tolerance for the occasional bill shock when the grid gets stressed. Solar Choice puts it well: Amber is closest to playing the energy market from your kitchen. The trade-off is variance — you’ll have months where the wholesale upside is modest.
If that sounds exciting rather than stressful, Amber is probably a great fit.
Who Should Choose GloBird?
GloBird suits a broader range of households, particularly those who want real savings without micromanaging their energy use.
GloBird’s FOUR4FREE plan is arguably one of the most powerful options for EV charging in Australia, offering four hours of completely free electricity every day from 10am to 2pm. This allows for significant daily recharging at no cost.
For battery owners who want a reliable, low-effort approach, Zero Hero offers consistent daily savings and a faster return on battery investment, without the stress of market volatility — a leading choice for a “set and forget” smart home.
Based on average usage rates, GloBird offers more competitive rates for most households. That’s not always the deciding factor — Amber can win big for the right household — but for the average Australian family, GloBird’s structured approach tends to deliver more predictable and consistent results.
GloBird Referral Codes: An Easy Way to Start Ahead
One underrated advantage of choosing GloBird is their referral program. When you use a GloBird referral code, new customers typically enjoy a bonus reward such as $50 credit on their energy bill. That’s a meaningful head start on your first few bills.
The $50 referral credit appears on your second bill, not your first, and the process is straightforward — you’re directed to the GloBird sign-up page with the referral pre-applied, then select your plan, enter your NMI from your current bill, and GloBird handles the transfer from your existing retailer without you needing to contact them separately.
It’s worth checking coupon and promo code aggregator sites — including, conveniently, Trolley Saver’s GloBird page — where referral links are regularly shared and updated. GloBird’s current referral offer runs until 30 June 2026, so there’s a limited window to take advantage of it
Amber also has a referral program, though it functions differently given the subscription model — existing customers share links that can waive or discount the monthly fee for new signups.
The Bottom Line
There is no single “best” plan — the optimal choice depends entirely on your household’s technology and habits. Here’s a quick way to think about it:
Choose Amber if you have a home battery with good automation, enjoy monitoring energy prices, and are genuinely prepared to engage with wholesale market dynamics to maximise returns.
Choose GloBird if you’re in Victoria, want structured savings without constant attention, have an EV to charge during the day, or simply want a competitive retailer with transparent pricing and no lock-in contracts.
And whichever way you go, look for a referral code before you sign up. With GloBird offering up to $50 in bill credit through their refer-a-friend program, there’s no reason to leave that money on the table.