The best Carbon Reduction Plan software in the UK (2026)
The verdict
There is no single “best” — it depends on what you need. For most SMEs that just need a compliant PPN 006 plan for a tender, fast and at a fixed price, a self-serve generator like CarbonPass (from £199/year, unlimited CRPs) or Gopher Zero (from £199 per report) is the practical choice. Want a human adviser embedded and broad framework coverage? Seedling. Run your books in Xero or resell to clients? EcoHedge. Complex, high-value or scientifically demanding bid? A consultancy like Tunley Environmental.
How we score: we rate every tool — including CarbonPass — on the same seven criteria, using each product's publicly available information as of July 2026. We make CarbonPass, so we've tried to be even-handed and to show where rivals are genuinely stronger (deeper Scope 3 tooling, an included human adviser, native accounting integrations). Prices and features move, so treat this as a starting point and check each provider's own site.
| Tool | PPN 006 output | NHS Evergreen | Scope 3 depth | Speed to first CRP | Price transparency | Human review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarbonPass | Full — all sections, DEFRA 2026 | High — Level-1 guidance | The 5 required categories, guided | Fast — ~20 min (bill upload) | High — Free / £199 / £499 / £1,499 listed | £100 Completion Check (add-on) |
| Gopher Zero | Full — PPN 006-compliant | Medium — NHS marketed, Evergreen not named | Scope 1/2 + some Scope 3 | Fast — ~30 min (guided entry) | High — per-report tiers listed | Expert support on Platinum (from £499) |
| Seedling | Full — dedicated PPN 06/21 tool | High — NHS + Evergreen referenced | Broad — adviser-validated, SBTi-capable | Medium — ~1 week with an adviser | Low — quote-based (free Starter) | Dedicated adviser (in the model) |
| EcoHedge | Full — government Annex A template | Low–Medium — NHS as context | Broad — large factor set, Xero import | Report <1hr; full CRP ~2–4 weeks | High — from £24–£99/mo listed | Assurance add-ons (£750–£5,950) |
| Tunley Environmental | Full — Cabinet Office template | Medium — NHS supplier readiness | Deep — PhD-led, complex supply chains | Slower — consultancy, weeks | Low — quote-based | Fully consultant-led |
Competitor details verified from each provider's live website (July 2026). Figures such as “from £199” are the providers' own; quote-based tools do not publish fixed prices — check their sites.
Who each tool suits
- CarbonPass. SMEs that want a fast, fixed-price self-serve CRP and a public Carbon Passport for government and NHS bids.
- Gopher Zero. SMEs that want a CRP plus bundled decarbonisation-planning tools, paid per report.
- Seedling. SMEs and mid-market firms that want a human adviser embedded and coverage of many frameworks beyond one CRP.
- EcoHedge. Xero users and accountants who want unlimited self-serve reports (white-label at scale) plus optional third-party assurance.
- Tunley Environmental. Organisations with complex, high-value or scientifically demanding bids that want an expert-built, defensible plan and can budget for consultancy fees.
For a deeper one-to-one comparison, read CarbonPass vs Gopher Zero, vs Seedling or vs Green Business.
What actually makes a CRP compliant
Whichever tool you pick, procurement teams assess the document against the PPN 006 content requirements, not the brand that produced it. A compliant Carbon Reduction Plan reports Scope 1, Scope 2 and the five required Scope 3 categories using the GHG Protocol and current DEFRA factors, states a baseline year, commits to Net Zero, sets out reduction measures, is signed off by a director, and is published on your website.
That is why price is a poor proxy for quality: a £199 plan that meets those criteria is as acceptable as a consultant's. See are CRP generators accepted? and, if you are weighing the two routes, our consultant-vs-software decision guide.
Self-serve software vs adviser-led vs consultancy
The five tools sit on a spectrum. Self-serve software (CarbonPass, Gopher Zero, and EcoHedge's core product) is fastest and cheapest, with transparent pricing — you do the data entry and get a compliant plan. Adviser-led platforms (Seedling) add a person who validates your data and supports sign-off, which helps if you lack the time or confidence, at a quote-based price. Consultancies (Tunley) do the work for you and bring scientific depth for complex Scope 3 or high-value bids, at the highest cost.
Most SMEs bidding for a specific tender sit at the self-serve end: the requirement is a compliant document, quickly, that they can publish and cite. The further your needs move towards complex supply chains, science-based targets or hands-off delivery, the more an adviser or consultancy earns its fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Carbon Reduction Plan software in the UK?
It depends on what you need. For most SMEs that just need a compliant PPN 006 plan for a tender — fast and at a fixed price — a self-serve generator such as CarbonPass (from £199/year, unlimited CRPs) or Gopher Zero (from £199 per report) is the practical choice. If you want a human adviser embedded and broad framework coverage, Seedling fits; if you run your books in Xero or resell to clients, EcoHedge suits; and for complex, high-value or scientifically demanding bids, a consultancy such as Tunley Environmental is worth the higher, quote-based fee.
How did you score these tools?
We rated every tool — including CarbonPass — on the same seven criteria using each product's publicly available information as of July 2026: PPN 006 output, NHS Evergreen readiness, Scope 3 depth, speed to first CRP, price transparency, human review, and best-fit segment. We are the makers of CarbonPass, so we have tried to be even-handed and to show where rivals are stronger (for example, deeper Scope 3 tooling or an included human adviser). Prices and features change — treat this as a starting point and check each provider's site.
Is cheap CRP software accepted for government and NHS bids?
Yes — acceptance depends on methodology and required content, not on price or who produced the document. A Carbon Reduction Plan is compliant when it covers the PPN 006 sections (net-zero commitment, Scope 1, 2 and the mandated Scope 3 categories, baseline year, targets, initiatives and director sign-off) using recognised DEFRA emission factors, and is published on your website. A £199 plan that meets those requirements is as acceptable to procurement teams as a consultant's.
Software or a consultant — which should I choose?
If your operations are straightforward and you can do a little data entry, self-serve software produces the same compliant document faster and cheaper. If your data is messy, your Scope 3 is complex, or you want an expert to build and defend the plan for a high-value or NHS bid, a consultancy can be worth the fee. See our consultant-vs-software decision guide for a checklist.
Try the fast, fixed-price route — a PPN 006 CRP in 20 minutes.
See CarbonPass pricing →