4th Utility review
Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
4th Utility suits households inside its single UK market that want a full fibre line reaching 2,300 Mbps and no joining charge. Read the renewal figure before you commit, though: the entry price of £13.99 sits far below the ongoing cost, with the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00.
Key facts
- Best for
- A low entry price and a free setup fee on a full fibre line, for households that can plan around the March price rise.
- Top download speed (Mbps)
- 2,300 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Price from
- £13.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Reference plan prices
- Full Fibre 1Gbps: GBP 10.00/mo for 4 months then GBP 23.00/mo, 1000Mbps, 24 months; Full Fibre 500Mbps: GBP 21.00/mo for 6 months then GBP 46.00/mo, 500Mbps, 24 months; Full Fibre 2.3Gbps: GBP 10.00/mo for 4 months then GBP 33.00/mo, 2300Mbps, 24 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Setup fee
- £0 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Mid-contract price rises
- price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Social tariff
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Address checker
- https://4thutility.co.uk/ (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- GB (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2017 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Chat, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Technology
- Fttp
- Contract length
- 1, 12, 24
- Official website
- 4thutility.co.uk
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- LinkedInXfacebook.cominstagram.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Entry price £13.99 places 4th Utility at 9 of 95 on price from, close to the top of that ranking.
- The setup fee is £0, and the provider sits at 1 of 86 on that measure.
- Speeds of 2,300 Mbps on full fibre sit well above the median top speed of 1,000 Mbps.
- A social tariff is available, and contract terms of 1, 12 and 24 mean a short commitment is possible as well as a longer one.
Cons
- Contract prices move upward under the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00, so a long term bills more the longer it runs.
- The listed reference plan prices open low and renew much higher, so the introductory months are the cheapest part of the deal.
- Service is limited to GB, so it is not an option for readers outside that market.
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre only, with no other route listed.
Who it suits
- Households inside its single market that want an entry price of £13.99 with no setup charge.
- Heavy users who need 2,300 Mbps on a full fibre line for a shared home or working from home.
- People on low incomes looking for a social tariff, and buyers who want the choice of terms in 1, 12 and 24.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers outside the UK, since 4th Utility covers GB while EarthLink lists fttp, 5G and satellite and can reach homes fibre does not.
- Anyone chasing the biggest headline speed, because Abissnet advertises 10,000 Mbps against 4th Utility's 2,300 Mbps.
- Buyers who want a cable option, since Astound sells cable and fttp while 4th Utility is fibre only.
Plans and prices
Prices start at £13.99 a month, and there is a setup fee of £0 before the line goes live. The full fibre plans follow a different pattern: each opens at a low introductory rate for a handful of months, then renews at a much higher rate for the rest of a fixed term. The gigabit plan and the top speed plan share the same low opening rate, while the entry level plan opens higher and renews at the highest rate in the range. Weigh the renewal figure rather than the opening one before you commit.
Core features
Speed is the headline. 4th Utility's fibre lines run up to 2,300 Mbps, and the provider sells on a single access technology, fibre to the property, so the technology does not change between plans. A social tariff is available as well, which gives households on low incomes a separate and cheaper way onto the same network. The practical decision is the speed you pick, not the kind of line you get.
How it compares on our data
Price measures favour 4th Utility. On price from it sits at 9 of 95, and on setup fee it is at 1 of 86, as high as that ranking goes. Speed tells a different story: on max download it ranks 32 of 114, well down the field, because its top speed stops short of the highest speeds in the market.
The company behind it
4th Utility is a GB broadband provider, founded in 2017 and headquartered in the United Kingdom. Its footprint covers a single market, so an address check is the first practical step for most readers. Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, which means a phone line, live chat and a help centre. For anyone already inside the footprint, that mix covers billing, faults and a change of address.
How 4th Utility compares
- 9.2 vs 8.5
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- 9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 9.0
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4th Utility vs Astound9.2 vs 9.5
9.2 vs 9.4- 9.2 vs 9.4
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Budget Thuis Mobile
9.2 vs 9.1
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Where 4th Utility is available
- Available
- United Kingdom
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way in to 4th Utility?+
The entry point is the social tariff at £13.99 a month, and the setup fee is £0, so joining does not carry a joining charge. The full fibre plans are sold separately and start at a higher rate, so the standard plans are the route for anyone not eligible for the social tariff.
Do 4th Utility prices stay the same after the first few months?+
Not on the full fibre plans. The listed reference plan prices open at a low introductory rate for a handful of months, then step up to a renewal rate for the rest of the term, with the entry level plan renewing highest in the range. Add the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 and the bill keeps climbing.
How fast is 4th Utility broadband?+
The top line runs at 2,300 Mbps on full fibre, with lower speed options listed beneath it. On our speed measure 4th Utility ranks 32 of 114, since some competitors carry higher maximum speeds. Check your address first, because not every street is covered.
Is there a cheaper tariff if I am on a low income?+
Yes, a social tariff is available, and its price of £13.99 a month comes from that tariff. The setup fee is £0, which keeps joining costs down as well. Eligibility depends on your own circumstances, so read the tariff terms before assuming that rate applies to your address.
Do I have to sign a long contract?+
You can pick from contract terms of 1, 12 and 24, which includes a monthly option alongside longer fixed terms. The full fibre plans are sold on the longer commitments, so a shorter term suits anyone who expects to move home. Check the term before ordering, because the renewal rate is what lasts.
Where can I get 4th Utility broadband?+
4th Utility serves GB, and the company is headquartered in the United Kingdom. A UK address is therefore required, and the technology available is full fibre, so coverage depends on the street you live on. An address check shows which plans and speeds you can actually get.
How do I contact 4th Utility for help?+
Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, giving you a phone line, live chat and a help centre. Any of the three can handle billing questions, faults and a change of address, so there is a single place to go for account matters. Help is listed for customers rather than being limited to a single channel.
How does 4th Utility compare with other providers?+
On price from it sits at 9 of 95, and on setup fee at 1 of 86. On speed, Abissnet lists 10,000 Mbps and Astound offers cable and fttp, so both go wider on paper. The edge here is the low entry cost and the light joining fee.
Sources
- 4thutility.co.uk checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Address checker, Top download speed (Mbps), Technology
“Check availability Use our postcode checker”
- 4thutility.co.uk/about-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Markets
“Floor 7, Station House Stamford New Road Altrincham, Cheshire”
- 4thutility.co.uk/contact checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Call 0333 888 4050 Live Chat Help Desk and support page”
- 4thutility.co.uk/contact/my-account/our-broadband-products checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Contract length
“we offer 30-day rolling contracts, as well as 12 and 24-month contracts”
- 4thutility.co.uk/social-tariff checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Price from, Social tariff
“only: GBP 13.99 per month”
- uswitch.com/broadband/providers/4th-utility checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Mid-contract price rises, Reference plan prices, Setup fee
“founded in 2017”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Upload speed (Mbps).
4th Utility
A low entry price and a free setup fee on a full fibre line, for households that can plan around the March price rise.