Updated October 17, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs Budget Energie
Astound vs Budget Energie: the differences
| Compare |  Astound |  Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 1,000 |
| Price from | $19.95 | €3.75 |
| Reference plan prices | 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 | 3GB: EUR 3.75 per month, 3GB, 24 months; 30GB: EUR 5.25 per month, 30GB, 24 months; Unlimited: EUR 10 per month, unlimited, 24 months |
| Setup fee | $0 | €0 |
| Exit fee terms | No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime | 1 month notice; early termination costs charged on final bill |
| Router | Whole Home WiFi powered by eero included with Gig plans; eero Max 7 with 5 Gig | Nokia Beacon G3.1 or Draytek Vigor |
| Address checker | https://www.astound.com/check-for-service/ | https://www.budgetthuis.nl/internet |
| Markets | US | NL |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates | Not confirmed |
| Social tariff | Yes | Not confirmed |
| FCC broadband label | https://www.astound.com/labels/ | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Astound: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at Astound: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Support channels: only Budget Energie offers Email.
- Technology: only Astound offers Cable.
- Technology: only Budget Energie offers Fttc.
- Contract length: only Astound offers 1.
- Contract length: only Budget Energie offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only Astound offers US.
- Markets: only Budget Energie offers NL.
Our verdict on each
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.
Budget Energie
Budget Energie suits Dutch households that want electricity and gas from a single supplier and want to choose how the price moves. Its green tariff is backed by 100% renewable certificates, and the business has grown to 1,000,000 customers since it was founded in 2011.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.3No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.3fixed, variable and dynamic all available, electricity and gas on one account, fixed terms 12 and 36 months. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.4Registered in NL as Budget Thuis B.V., trading since 2011, with support on email, chat and phone. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
Additional countries for Astound: 1. Additional countries for Budget Energie: 1.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 1 of 416 | 18 of 416 |
| Broadband providers | 2 of 124 | 5 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 2 of 107 | 4 of 107 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 1,000 |
If neither fits
YouFibre has top download speed (mbps) at 8,000, against 5,000 for Astound and 1,000 for Budget Energie.
YouFibre reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Cable, Fttp | Fttp, Fttc |
| Contract length | 1 | 12, 24 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Budget Thuis B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2011 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Mobile plans
| Fact | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Mvno |
| Host network | Not confirmed | KPN |
| SIM-only | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Rolling | Contract |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | €10 |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Paid | Fair use |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 43 |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | Budget Energie | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 1,000at the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 1,000above the median | 900 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Budget Energie
Pros
- Tariff choice runs wide, with fixed, variable and dynamic under a single name.
- Green power is 100% renewable, backed by certificates.
- Fixed terms run 12 and 36 months, so there is a date to plan around.
Cons
- The exit fee terms ask for notice, and early termination costs land on the final bill.
- Service is limited to NL, so it is not an option for a household outside the Netherlands.
- Electricity Ratings lists fixed, ev and time of use, adding electric vehicle and prepay tariffs that sit outside fixed, variable and dynamic.
Who each suits
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.
Budget Energie
Who it suits
- Households that want power and gas under a single contract instead of juggling separate suppliers.
- Households that want a spread of tariff types, since Budget Energie lists fixed, variable and dynamic.
- People who prefer a phone line and chat to a single contact route, and who want dynamic and green options rather than the fixed, time of use and ev list at Endesa.
Who should look elsewhere
- Electricity Ratings, if you need an electric vehicle or prepay tariff, since fixed, ev and time of use runs wider than fixed, variable and dynamic.
- Endesa, if you only want fixed, time-of-use or electric vehicle pricing, because Endesa lists fixed, time of use and ev.
Country by country
| Country | Astound | Budget Energie |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Budget Energie
What tariff types does Budget Energie offer?+
Budget Energie sells fixed, variable and dynamic tariffs, so a household can choose between a price that holds for a set term and one that follows the market, plus a dynamic option and a green option. The spread means you can start on a fixed deal and change type at renewal without moving supplier, and it keeps the door open if your usage pattern changes.
How long are the fixed terms?+
Fixed terms run 12 and 36 months, which gives you a date to plan around. Take the shorter term if you expect prices to move your way and want the chance to switch sooner; take the longer term if you would rather not revisit the decision each year. The variable and dynamic tariffs carry no fixed end date.
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