Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
4th Utility vs toob
4th Utility vs toob: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £13.99Lower | £18 |
| 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 | home150: GBP 18/month, 150 Mbps, 24 months home900: GBP 23/month, 900 Mbps, 24 months home2300: GBP 29/month, 2300 Mbps, 24 months |
| Mid-contract price rises | price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 | GBP 2 annual increase each April from 2026 |
| Address checker | https://4thutility.co.uk/ | https://www.toob.co.uk/home/residential-order/ |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 2,300 |
| Price after contract | Not confirmed | £26 to £37 |
| Exit fee terms | Not confirmed | Early termination: monthly fee minus GBP 7 x remaining full months |
| Router | Not confirmed | Linksys Wi-Fi 7 router included |
| Static IP | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Top download speed (Mbps) (2,300), Setup fee (£0), Social tariff (Yes), Markets (GB).
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Key differences
- toob scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Price from is lower at 4th Utility: £13.99 vs £18.
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.
toob
toob suits UK households that want full fibre with uploads matching downloads, and it sits 5 of 36 brands on the monthly price kept after the term ends. The trade-off is the annual increase each April, so the later bill sits well above the opening figure.
Score breakdown
| Area | 4th Utility | toob |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.7HigherEntry at £18 a month, no setup fee, and a renewal band of £26 to £37 sit well inside the field. |
| Offer | 9.1Speeds to 2,300 Mbps on fibre, a social tariff and contract terms of 1, 12 and 24. | 9.2HigherFull fibre at 2,300 Mbps down and 2,300 Mbps up, plus a social tariff and a static IP. |
| Trust | 8.3Founded 2017 and based in GB, with support on phone, chat and help centre. | Not confirmed |
How the counts compare
| Fact | 4th Utility | toob |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300 | 2,300 |
| Price from | £13.99 | £18 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | 4th Utility | toob |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 43 of 124 | 30 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 29 of 107 | 18 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 18 of 46 | 11 of 46 |
Licences and countries
| Country | 4th Utility | toob |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both.
A third option
Vodafone has price from at £10, against £13.99 for 4th Utility and £18 for toob.
Vodafone reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | 4th Utility | toob |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Fttp |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24 | 1, 12, 24 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 4th Utility | toob | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300above the median | 2,300above the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 2,300highest quarter | 900 |
| Price from | £13.99lowest quarter | £18lowest quarter | £23.97 |
| Setup fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Price after contract | Not confirmed | £26 to £37lowest quarter | £37 |
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.
toob
Pros
- Setup is free, and toob sits 1 of 86 on the setup fee ranking.
- Upload speed of 2,300 Mbps puts toob at 10 of 46 on the upload table.
- Once the term ends, bills of £26 to £37 place toob at 5 of 36 brands.
Cons
- The £18 entry is introductory: the terms add an annual increase each April, so the later bill is higher.
- Coverage is GB only, and the service runs on fttp, so a full fibre build has to reach your address.
- Early termination charges apply, worked out as the monthly fee less a set amount for each remaining full month.
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.
toob
Who it suits
- Households in the UK on a full fibre line that want uploads as quick as downloads, at 2,300 Mbps.
- Anyone who wants a static IP and a Linksys Wi-Fi 7 router included without buying extra kit.
- Households that qualify for the social tariff.
Who should look elsewhere
- People outside GB: EarthLink lists 5G and satellite as well as fibre: fttp, 5G and satellite.
- Buyers chasing the highest headline speed: Abissnet is listed at 10,000 Mbps against 2,300 Mbps here.
- Shoppers who want cable in the mix: Astound lists it alongside fibre: cable and fttp.
Current offers
toob
Current offer
First period offer
2300 Mbps for GBP 29 a month on 24 months: GBP 29/month
New customers only, 24-month contract, varies by location
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Bonus
Up to 9 months free broadband: up to GBP 207 bill credit
New 24-month home900 customers in contract elsewhere; evidence within 21 days
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | 4th Utility | toob |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
toob
What does toob cost to get started?+
The entry plan starts at £18 a month, and the setup fee is £0, so nothing is added to the opening invoice. Available contract lengths are 1, 12 and 24 months, so a short term and a long one both sit on the same list.
What will I pay once the contract ends?+
After the initial term the monthly bill moves to £26 to £37, depending on the plan you pick. That places toob at 5 of 36 brands on the price you keep, among the stronger positions on this measure. Ask for the renewal rate in writing before you sign.
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