Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs RED by SFR
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Astound |  RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 2,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 1,000 |
| Price from | $19.95 | €1.99 |
| 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 | 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 |
| Exit fee terms | No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime | Termination fee 59 EUR fibre/THD, 29 EUR Box 5G |
| Router | Whole Home WiFi powered by eero included with Gig plans; eero Max 7 with 5 Gig | SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G |
| Address checker | https://www.astound.com/check-for-service/ | https://www.red-by-sfr.fr/offres-internet/eligibilite-fibre-adsl-vdsl/ |
| Markets | US | FR |
| 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 9.4.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Astound: 5,000 vs 2,000.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at Astound: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Support channels: only RED by SFR offers Community.
- Technology: only RED by SFR offers 5G.
- Markets: only Astound offers US.
- Markets: only RED by SFR offers FR.
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.
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 | Astound | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 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 | 9.3HigherNo cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.1Each plan carries 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing, with the larger allowances aimed at streaming, plus roaming in 137 countries. |
By the numbers
| Fact | Astound | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 2,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 1,000 |
A third option
Odido Thuis has upload speed (mbps) at 8,000, against 5,000 for Astound and 1,000 for RED by SFR.
Odido Thuis reviewWhere these facts come from
Astound
- astound.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
RED by SFR
- red-by-sfr.fr: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Astound | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 1 of 416 | 69 of 416 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 15 of 389 | 83 of 389 |
| Broadband providers | 2 of 124 | 29 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 2 of 107 | 17 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 2 of 46 | 10 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Cable, Fttp | Fttp, Cable, 5GCovers more |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | SOCIETE FRANCAISE DU RADIOTELEPHONE - SFR |
| Headquarters | United States | France |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Mobile plans
| Fact | Astound | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Network |
| Host network | Not confirmed | SFR |
| SIM-only | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Rolling | Rolling |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Paid | Fair use |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 137 |
| Data rollover | No | No |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | RED by SFR | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 2,000above 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.
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
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.
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 | Astound | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| France | 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.
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
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