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We’ve assessed dozens of ground source heat pumps and identified the top ones on the market. These are our recommendations.
Nowadays, many people are turning to ground source heat pumps (also known as GSHPs) to replace their oil and gas boilers, not least because they can reduce your carbon emissions and are generally cheaper to run than traditional heating systems. Because these pumps can provide cooling during the warmer months, they can double up as air conditioners as well.
The way ground source heat pumps work is relatively simple: they harness the heat from the ground and use it to deliver renewable hot water and heating for your home. Basically, the process is similar to that of a fridge, but reversed.
Heat pumps are not a silver bullet for reducing all your bills, and they come at a significant price point that won’t suit every household’s budget. However, they constitute a great renewable energy solution that should be considered, especially if you are renovating your home or building a new house.
To help you find the best ground source heat pump for your home, we’ve assessed dozens of products from leading companies on the market, pitting them against each other in terms of price, guarantee, output, performance and customer reviews. To find out about the best air source heat pumps, read our dedicated guide.
The NIBE S1256 is a powerful and innovative ground source heat pump which uses a newer, more climate-friendly refrigerant called R454B. It also has an integrated 180-litre water heater for all your domestic hot water needs.
The S1256 comes in 3 output sizes, from 1.5-8kW to 4-18kW, so the provider estimates it is suitable for houses up to 400 square metres. Thanks to its non-intrusive design and QuietMark certification, this heat pump is suitable for both new builds and older homes.
Where the NIBE ground source heat pump really shines is in its connectivity and smart home features. It is WiFi compatible and comes with a smart thermostat which automatically adjusts the temperature inside your home to suit your preferences, but you can also control it remotely from your phone. The heat pump can also memorise your hot water consumption patterns and adapt the temperature accordingly, saving you both energy and money.
This heat pump is among the most expensive on the market, but we think its power output, energy efficiency and smart features are well worth the price, if your budget stretches to it.
For more information, see our full NIBE S1256 ground source heat pump review.
The Vaillant flexoTHERM range includes 5 models covering 5, 8, 11, 15 and 19 kW heating outputs. They are multi-source heat pumps, meaning they use energy from the ground, water, or air.
All of these heat pumps have received a Quiet Mark certification to attest to their low sound levels during operation. The range is also certified by the nationally recognised quality assurance scheme Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
The flexoTHERM range is suitable for ground collectors and vertical boreholes and can be combined for large properties and commercial buildings (you can install up to 7 of them together).
Vaillant heat pumps are easy to install and come with WiFi connectivity and intelligent weather compensating controls, which means that the systems can be operated remotely and can automatically adapt to the current weather and temperature.
As of January 2026, the company is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 22,000 reviews, and customers frequently praise the services and help they receive from Vaillant engineers.
Read our full Vaillant flexoTHERM ground source heat pump review.
Kensa is an award-winning ground source heat pump designer and specialist. The company manufactures and instals reliable British-made heating and cooling alternatives, including 3 heat pump series that are perfect for buildings of all shapes and sizes.
Kensa’s ground source heat pumps are smaller and thus more affordable than competitors.
The Shoebox Ground Source Heat Pump is a silent and really compact heat pump that is ideal for flats, apartment blocks and new builds in particular. The pump can be integrated with new or existing radiators, underfloor heating, and fan coils.
All Kensa ground source heat pumps are MCS-accredited.
As of January 2026, Kensa is rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot, with a rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 from just under 100 reviews. Customers have deemed the company’s technical support knowledgeable and patient, with many praising the team’s ability to resolve issues over the phone, while others have said their pumps are highly efficient, even after several years.
Read our full Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pump review.
Ecoforest offers high-performance geothermal heat pumps that use wells to extract heat from the ground for an efficiency rate of up to 500 per cent.
The ecoGEO+ PRO comes in different models, with a max power output of 16kW for its most powerful one. You can also cascade up to 3 pumps for a higher power output. They are all suitable for retrofitting, so you can opt for one whether you live in a new build or an older house.
Ecoforest ecoGEO pumps use a refrigerant with a lower environmental impact called R290.
The company has a great ethos when it comes to heat pump installation, adapting its systems to your home and needs for greater efficiency and lower costs.
Read our full Ecoforest EcoGEO review.
Viessmann is a popular ground heat pump brand with a long tradition of manufacturing boilers. Since it expanded its business to cover a broader range of needs, customers have provided consistent positive reviews of Viessman heat pumps.
The company sends an expert to visit your property to determine how much heat gets lost in your home before sizing up the heat pump installation to ensure your needs are met even on the coldest days.
All Viessmann ground heat pumps are MCS accredited, and its equipment boasts low noise and low vibration designs. The Vitocal 350-G is a great option for modernisation projects, as well as its larger and more powerful counterpart, the Vitocal 350-G Pro.
Viessman pumps is that they are easy to control remotely through the ViCare app, which you can install on your phone or tablet. The interface is very intuitive and works with a range of other existing household appliances.
As of January 2026, the company is rated “Excellent” (4.4 out of 5 stars) on Trustpilot. Customers are generally very pleased with Viessmann heat pumps and their competitive prices. If you are not sure which heat pump is best for you, their team can help you with a free product consultation and a personalised quote.
Read our full Viessmann Vitocal 350-G review.
Ground source heat pumps can significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint and bring your fuel bill prices down.
It can be hard to choose a brand, so our researchers have compared all their main features (plus guarantee options and installation costs) to present you with the best heat pump brands in the UK – and what makes them a good choice for your home.
An important factor when choosing the best ground source heat pump is its installation cost. Running costs for heat pumps tend to be much lower compared to combustion boilers, so all models tend to be more convenient in terms of efficiency.
If you’re looking for a reliable option, Worcester-Bosch is a great option that fits many needs – although the price of a heat pump starts at around £8,000. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, Kensa offers a small, efficient heat pump (the Shoebox) for just £3,686.
Many customers, for example, commercial and large enterprises, require powerful types of equipment that can cascade heat generation capacity. Ecoforest is a good option for them because their heat pumps can generate up to 600kW. Worcester-Bosch and Vaillant also offer excellent cascading capabilities for their heat pumps.
Ground source heat pumps can be combined with solar panels to reduce running costs. Not all heat pumps support this integration ‘out of the box’. A good option if you’re considering this feature is Worcester-Bosch systems. Viessmann’s ground source heat pumps also come ready to use with photovoltaic systems, helping your home become more self-sustainable by depending less on fossil fuels.
The size of the heat pump is an important factor for many homes considering upgrading their heat system. If you’re looking for a small system, Vaillant offers the UK’s first wall-hung ground source heat pump, a compact model suitable for low energy homes and new build housing that can provide an efficient solution for decentralised heating and hot water.
Many ground source heat pumps can also generate cold. For example, Ecoforest uses unique inverter technology and variable speed compressors to produce cold and heat simultaneously and using the same equipment. Kensa heat pumps also have excellent cooling capabilities.
The UK government has shown a commitment to decarbonising heat by implementing a renewable heat incentive policy that promotes the use of ground source heat pumps. Popular options include the ECO (Energy Company Obligation, for retrofitting ground source heat pumps into social housing), the GHNF (Green Heat Network Fund, for helping heat networks move to low and zero-carbon technologies), and the PSDS (Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, a £1 billion fund for projects in non-domestic public sector buildings across England) among others.
If you’re thinking of investing in or upgrading your ground source heat pump, you may be eligible for one or more of these programs.
It’s worth considering the impact of the UK’s weather on ground source heat pumps. Luckily, even in a climate like this, the ground stays at a constant warmer temperature around the whole year. That’s why all heat pumps produce more energy than they consume, so the amount of heat generated is always a surplus. Viessmann is one of the companies with pumps that can gather heat even when it’s as low as -20°C outside.
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The average home can save £490 per year!
When it comes to cooling and heating needs, heat pumps are the most efficient alternative to oil, fuel, and electrical systems. Heat pumps also support a larger capacity than them, with efficiency rates going as high as 500%.
Although installing a ground source heat pump can be expensive (between £7,000 and £18,000 depending on the size of the property you want to heat), their running cost is much lower than other systems. Heat pumps also require less maintenance than combustion heating alternatives.
Heat pumps are safer than alternative systems. They don’t need to burn fuel to generate the heat, so there are fewer safety concerns when it comes to operating and running them.
Ground source heat pumps can reduce your carbon emissions considerably, as they have much better energy to heat conversion rates than combustion heating systems. Many heat pumps are also eligible for the RHI scheme (Renewable Heat Incentive) which assists customers in installing renewable heat systems.
The heat source a ground pump uses can be outside air or a water mix, either blown or pumped over a heat exchange surface that is placed outside the heat pump. When the air is warm enough, it causes the refrigerant liquid to evaporate, turning into a gas that is then put through a compressor. The pressure on the gas causes the temperature to rise, making it ready to be passed over an internal heat exchange surface and transferred to the home’s central heating or hot water system.
Heat pumps can be pricey to install (between £7,000 and £17,000 including installation costs), but they tend to be cheaper to run than traditional heating solutions, and can save you more money on your energy bills.
The main advantages 0f a ground source heat pump are lower running costs compared to oil and gas boilers, less maintenance required, reduced carbon emissions, and better conversion rates for turning energy into heat. The disadvantages include higher upfront costs, the complex installation process, and the special planning permissions required in Wales and Northern Ireland.
While an air source heat pump absorbs heat from the air to heat the air inside your home or water, a ground source heat pump absorbs heat from the ground.
The COP measures the efficiency of ground source heat pumps, or the amount of energy needed to input in order to get a set amount out. For example, if a heat pump has a COP of 4, it means that for every kW of electrical energy used by the pump, you would get about 4kW out.
