Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
4th Utility vs Astound
What sets them apart
| Compare |  4th Utility |  Astound |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300 | 5,000Higher |
| Price from | £13.99 | $19.95 |
| 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 | 150 Mbps: $19.95/mo, 150 Mbps, no contract; 1 Gig WiFi: $40/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; 1.5 Gig WiFi: $60/mo, 1500 Mbps, no contract |
| Setup fee | £0 | $0 |
| Mid-contract price rises | price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates |
| Address checker | https://4thutility.co.uk/ | https://www.astound.com/check-for-service/ |
| Markets | GB | US |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 5,000 |
| Exit fee terms | Not confirmed | No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime |
| Router | Not confirmed | Whole Home WiFi powered by eero included with Gig plans; eero Max 7 with 5 Gig |
| FCC broadband label | Not confirmed | https://www.astound.com/labels/ |
Same on both: Social tariff (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Astound: 5,000 vs 2,300.
- Technology: only Astound offers Cable.
- Contract length: only 4th Utility offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only 4th Utility offers GB.
- Markets: only Astound offers US.
Our verdict on each
4th Utility
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.
Astound
Astound suits US households that want matching download and upload speeds, a low entry price and no contract to be tied into, and the same account can carry mobile lines. Entry pricing starts at $19.95 a month, Gig tiers arrive with Whole Home WiFi included, and the setup fee is $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | 4th Utility | Astound |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry price £13.99 with a setup fee of £0, against the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00. | 9.6Entry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. |
| Offer | 9.1Speeds to 2,300 Mbps on fibre, a social tariff and contract terms of 1, 12 and 24. | 9.3HigherNo cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. |
| Trust | 8.3Founded 2017 and based in GB, with support on phone, chat and help centre. | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | 4th Utility | Astound |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 43 of 124 | 2 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 29 of 107 | 2 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 18 of 46 | 2 of 46 |
A third option
YouFibre has top download speed (mbps) at 8,000, against 2,300 for 4th Utility and 5,000 for Astound.
YouFibre reviewWhat we checked
4th Utility
- 4thutility.co.uk: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- uswitch.com: 4 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Astound
- astound.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 4th Utility | Astound |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Cable, FttpCovers more |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre |
Mobile plans
| Fact | 4th Utility | Astound |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Not confirmed | Reseller |
| SIM-only | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Billing | Not confirmed | Rolling |
| Unlimited plan price | Not confirmed | $30 |
| 5G | Not confirmed | Yes |
| eSIM | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| EU roaming | Not confirmed | Paid |
| Data rollover | Not confirmed | No |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Credit check required | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Multi-line discount | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 4th Utility | Astound | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300above the median | 5,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 5,000highest quarter | 900 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
4th Utility
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.
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.
Astound
Pros
- Download of 5,000 Mbps matches upload of 5,000 Mbps, so sending a large file is as quick as downloading one.
- The setup fee is $0, and it ranks 1 of 86 on that measure, ahead of every other brand compared.
- Service runs on cable and fttp, so one provider can cover a cable street or a fibre to the home street.
Cons
- EU roaming is paid, so European travel is billed separately.
- Data rollover is no, so unused mobile allowance does not carry into the next cycle.
- A credit check is required on the mobile side, which adds a step before a line is active.
Who each suits
4th Utility
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.
Astound
Who it suits
- Households in US whose street already has cable or fibre to the home and who want equal download and upload speeds.
- Families adding mobile lines to the same account, where a multi line discount and rolling billing apply.
- Renters and short-stay households, since No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a fibre to the home provider and nothing else, because cable and fttp includes cable while Abissnet and Kinetic list fibre to the home alone.
- Homes a wired network does not reach, where EarthLink adds fttp, 5G and satellite options.
- Travellers who expect European roaming to come included, since EU roaming is paid.
Country by country
| Country | 4th Utility | Astound |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
4th Utility
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.
Astound
How much does Astound broadband cost a month?+
Plans start at $19.95 a month on the entry tier. The listed lineup then steps up through Gig and multi-Gig WiFi plans, and every plan shown is on no-contract terms, so the monthly figure is the whole commitment. Whole Home WiFi is included with Gig plans rather than sold as an extra.
Is there a setup or installation fee with Astound broadband?+
Setup costs $0 to add, and in this comparison the brand ranks 1 of 86 for setup fee, ahead of every other brand measured on that point. Equipment also counts: Whole Home WiFi is supplied with Gig plans, with the top tier hardware paired to the quickest speeds.
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