Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
4th Utility vs Hyperoptic B2C
What sets them apart
| Compare |  4th Utility |  Hyperoptic B2C |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300Higher | 1,000 |
| Price from | £13.99Lower | £17 |
| 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 | 150Mb: GBP 19 per month, 150Mb, 24 months; 500Mb: GBP 17 per month, 500Mb, 24 months; 1Gb: GBP 29 per month, 1Gb, rolling monthly |
| Mid-contract price rises | price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 | GBP 4 increase every April |
| Address checker | https://4thutility.co.uk/ | https://hyperoptic.com/home |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 900 |
| Exit fee terms | Not confirmed | No exit fees within 30 days; fee applies in minimum term |
| Router | Not confirmed | Wi-Fi router included at no extra cost |
| Static IP | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Setup fee (£0), Social tariff (Yes), Markets (GB).
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Key differences
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at 4th Utility: 2,300 vs 1,000.
- Price from is lower at 4th Utility: £13.99 vs £17.
- Support channels: only Hyperoptic B2C offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Hyperoptic B2C: 2011 vs 2017.
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.
Hyperoptic B2C
Hyperoptic B2C suits homes already inside its UK footprint that want upload speeds close to their download speed, with entry prices starting at £17 a month and a free setup fee. The one trade-off to weigh is renewal, so read the rise before you commit.
Score breakdown
| Area | 4th Utility | Hyperoptic B2C |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price £13.99 with a setup fee of £0, against the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00. | 9.5Entry pricing of £17 a month, ranked 17 out of 95 on our data. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherSpeeds to 2,300 Mbps on fibre, a social tariff and contract terms of 1, 12 and 24. | 9.0Speeds of 1,000 Mbps down and 900 Mbps up, plus a social tariff and Wi-Fi router included at no extra cost. |
| Trust | 8.3Founded 2017 and based in GB, with support on phone, chat and help centre. | 8.8HigherRun by Hyperoptic Ltd, founded in 2011, and serving GB only. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | 4th Utility | Hyperoptic B2C |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300 | 1,000 |
| Price from | £13.99 | £17 |
Where these facts come from
4th Utility
- 4thutility.co.uk: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- uswitch.com: 4 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Hyperoptic B2C
- hyperoptic.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | 4th Utility | Hyperoptic B2C |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 43 of 124 | 44 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 29 of 107 | 30 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 18 of 46 | 19 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 4th Utility | Hyperoptic B2C |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Fttp |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24 | 1, 12, 24 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Hyperoptic Ltd |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2017 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 4th Utility | Hyperoptic B2C | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300above the median | 1,000at the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 900at the median | 900 |
| Price from | £13.99lowest quarter | £17lowest quarter | £23.97 |
| Setup fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
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.
Hyperoptic B2C
Pros
- The setup fee is £0, so nothing is added to the first bill on top of the monthly price.
- Static IP: yes, which suits home servers, remote access and camera systems that need a fixed address.
- Social tariff: yes, so households on qualifying benefits get a lower-priced route onto the same network.
Cons
- Prices rise under GBP 4 increase every April, so the entry figure is a starting point rather than the long-run cost.
- Leaving early inside the minimum term costs money, per No exit fees within 30 days; fee applies in minimum term.
- It serves GB only, so anyone outside that footprint has to look at other providers.
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.
Hyperoptic B2C
Who it suits
- Households already inside the build area in GB that need upload as strong as download for calls, backups and large uploads.
- Households on qualifying benefits, because a social tariff is listed as available.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone outside its footprint, since Hyperoptic B2C serves GB only.
- Shoppers who want wireless or satellite coverage, since Earthlink also lists fttp, 5G and satellite.
- Buyers chasing the biggest headline speed, since Abissnet lists 10,000 Mbps against 1,000 Mbps here.
Country by country
| Country | 4th Utility | Hyperoptic B2C |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | 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.
Hyperoptic B2C
What does Hyperoptic B2C cost to start with?+
Entry pricing begins at £17 a month, and the setup fee is £0, so there is nothing to pay to join. Reference plans are published at more than one speed, with the top listed plan the highest priced and sold rolling monthly. The plans below it sit under that price but run on a fixed term, so a shorter commitment costs more per month.
Does the monthly price change after I join?+
Yes. The published rise is GBP 4 increase every April, which lands on a fixed yearly cycle rather than at a moment of their choosing. That means the price you agree at the start is not the price you keep, so budgeting on the higher figure makes sense if you plan to stay past the first increase.