Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
4th Utility vs RED by SFR
4th Utility vs RED by SFR: the differences
| Compare |  4th Utility |  RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300Higher | 2,000 |
| Price from | £13.99 | €1.99 |
| 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 | 1Go: 1.99EUR per month, 1GB, no commitment; 120Go 5G: 12.99EUR per month, 120GB, no commitment; 250Go 5G Voyage: 15.99EUR per month, 250GB, no commitment |
| Setup fee | £0 | €0 to €29 |
| Address checker | https://4thutility.co.uk/ | https://www.red-by-sfr.fr/offres-internet/eligibilite-fibre-adsl-vdsl/ |
| Markets | GB | FR |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 1,000 |
| Mid-contract price rises | price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 | Not confirmed |
| Exit fee terms | Not confirmed | Termination fee 59 EUR fibre/THD, 29 EUR Box 5G |
| Router | Not confirmed | SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G |
| Social tariff | Yes | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- RED by SFR scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at 4th Utility: 2,300 vs 2,000.
- Support channels: only RED by SFR offers Community.
- Technology: only RED by SFR offers Cable, 5G.
- Contract length: only 4th Utility offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only 4th Utility offers GB.
- Markets: only RED by SFR offers FR.
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.
RED by SFR
RED by SFR suits readers in FR who want a sim only plan on 1 month terms with rolling billing and no commitment. Data does not roll over and EU roaming runs on fair use terms, so the low entry price fits light users and short stays rather than heavy data habits.
Score breakdown
| Area | 4th Utility | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.8HigherEntry price of €1.99 a month sits well under the site median of €9.30, and it ranks 32 of 258 brands on entry price. |
| Offer | 9.1Speeds to 2,300 Mbps on fibre, a social tariff and contract terms of 1, 12 and 24. | 9.1Each plan carries 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing, with the larger allowances aimed at streaming, plus roaming in 137 countries. |
| Trust | 8.3Founded 2017 and based in GB, with support on phone, chat and help centre. | Not confirmed |
Availability and regulation
| Country | 4th Utility | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | France |
Additional countries for 4th Utility: 1. Additional countries for RED by SFR: 1.
If neither fits
YouFibre has top download speed (mbps) at 8,000, against 2,300 for 4th Utility and 2,000 for RED by SFR.
YouFibre reviewHow they place
| Ranking | 4th Utility | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 43 of 124 | 29 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 29 of 107 | 17 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 18 of 46 | 10 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 4th Utility | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Fttp, Cable, 5GCovers more |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | SOCIETE FRANCAISE DU RADIOTELEPHONE - SFR |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | France |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 4th Utility | RED by SFR | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300above the median | 2,000above the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 1,000above the median | 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.
RED by SFR
Pros
- Sim only plans, so a new line can be activated on its own without a handset in the same order.
- Billing is rolling on 1 month terms, so a line can end without serving a long fixed period.
- The host network is SFR, and the same provider also sells fixed lines at 2,000 Mbps with routers SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G.
Cons
- Data rollover is not offered, so data left at the end of a month expires instead of carrying over.
- EU roaming runs on fair use terms, so frequent travel across Europe is not a flat included allowance.
- Billing is rolling only, while GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) also list contract billing, so no committed term sits behind a lower monthly figure.
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.
RED by SFR
Who it suits
- Readers in FR who pay as they go and would rather not serve a fixed minimum term
- People who want 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing on one bill without a handset
- Households after mobile and fixed lines from one provider, with fibre at 2,000 Mbps and a choice of SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a contract term, since GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) both list contract billing while this brand bills rolling
- Readers whose address has weak reception on SFR, since yesss! runs on A1 instead
Country by country
| Country | 4th Utility | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| France | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
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.
RED by SFR
What does the entry plan cost and what comes with it?+
The entry plan is priced at €1.99 a month and runs on 1 month terms with rolling billing, and it carries a small data allowance. Larger plans sit above it, all on no commitment terms, with allowances sized for streaming and heavier use. The price list holds the full ladder to compare.
Do I have to sign a minimum term?+
No commitment is attached to any of the plans, and billing is rolling, so the arrangement can be stopped without serving a long fixed period. That is the main difference from brands such as GETESA, where billing covers prepaid and contract, and Lonestar Cell MTN, which lists contract and prepaid.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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- 4th Utility vs Optimum
- 4th Utility vs Hyperoptic B2C
- 4th Utility vs Kinetic
- 4th Utility vs Odido Thuis
- 4th Utility vs OiSTER
- RED by SFR vs TelecomItalia
- RED by SFR vs GOMO by Singtel
- RED by SFR vs EarthLink
- RED by SFR vs Frontier Communications
- RED by SFR vs YouFibre
- 4th Utility vs Astound
- RED by SFR vs PremiumSIM
- RED by SFR vs sim.de
- RED by SFR vs Eni Plenitude
- RED by SFR vs Singtel
- RED by SFR vs Homefi