Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Hyperoptic B2C vs Lightning Fibre
Hyperoptic B2C vs Lightning Fibre: the differences
| Compare |  Hyperoptic B2C |  Lightning Fibre |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | 10,000Higher |
| Price from | £17Lower | £24 |
| Reference plan prices | 150Mb: GBP 19 per month, 150Mb, 24 months; 500Mb: GBP 17 per month, 500Mb, 24 months; 1Gb: GBP 29 per month, 1Gb, rolling monthly | Ultra Lightning 150Mb: GBP24 per month, 150Mb, 24 months | Ultra Lightning Plus 500Mb: GBP34 per month, 500Mb, 24 months | Hyper Lightning 1Gb: GBP39 per month, 900Mb avg, 24 months |
| Setup fee | £0 | £0 to £150 |
| Mid-contract price rises | GBP 4 increase every April | No price rise during contract term |
| Router | Wi-Fi router included at no extra cost | 10Gbps Modem and WiFi 6 Mesh Router Included |
| Address checker | https://hyperoptic.com/home | https://portal.lightningfibre.co.uk/getbroadband |
| Price after contract | Not confirmed | £34 to £49 |
| Exit fee terms | No exit fees within 30 days; fee applies in minimum term | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Upload speed (Mbps) (900), Static IP (Yes), Social tariff (Yes), Markets (GB).
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Key differences
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Lightning Fibre: 10,000 vs 1,000.
- Price from is lower at Hyperoptic B2C: £17 vs £24.
- Support channels: only Hyperoptic B2C offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
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.
Lightning Fibre
Lightning Fibre suits UK households wanting full fibre, high upload speeds and no in-term price rise. Entry pricing starts at £24 with rank 61, and a modem plus mesh router come as standard. Renewal pricing needs weighing before you commit.
Score breakdown
| Area | Hyperoptic B2C | Lightning Fibre |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherEntry pricing of £17 a month, ranked 17 out of 95 on our data. | 9.2Entry pricing starts at £24 and setup fees run £0 to £150, with rank 61 on entry price. |
| Offer | 9.0Speeds of 1,000 Mbps down and 900 Mbps up, plus a social tariff and Wi-Fi router included at no extra cost. | 9.1HigherMax download of 10,000 Mbps, upload of 900 Mbps, a modem and mesh router included, and rank 1 on speed. |
| Trust | 8.8Run by Hyperoptic Ltd, founded in 2011, and serving GB only. | Not confirmed |
Pick Hyperoptic B2C if, pick Lightning Fibre if
Pick Hyperoptic B2C if cost and price from matter most.
Pick Lightning Fibre if top download speed (mbps) matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | Hyperoptic B2C | Lightning Fibre |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Hyperoptic B2C | Lightning Fibre |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 44 of 124 | 45 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 30 of 107 | 31 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 19 of 46 | 20 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hyperoptic B2C | Lightning Fibre |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Fttp |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24 | 1, 12, 24 |
| Legal entity | Hyperoptic Ltd | LF Holdco2 Ltd t/a Lightning Fibre |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2011 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Hyperoptic B2C | Lightning Fibre | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 1,000at the median | 10,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 900at the median | 900at the median | 900 |
| Price from | £17lowest quarter | £24above the median | £23.97 |
| Setup fee | £0at the median | £0 to £150at the median | £0 |
| Price after contract | Not confirmed | £34 to £49below the median | £37 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Lightning Fibre
Pros
- Max download of 10,000 Mbps and upload of 900 Mbps put it at rank 28 on upload, ahead of most full fibre rivals.
- No price rise during the contract term, so the £24 entry price holds for the whole term.
- Setup fees run £0 to £150, and rank 1 on setup fee puts it at the top of the field.
Cons
- Renewal pricing after the contract climbs to £34 to £49, ranking 14 on post contract price.
- Plan terms run 1, 12 and 24, so the longer options tie you in for a long stretch.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
Who each suits
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.
Lightning Fibre
Who it suits
- Households already inside Lightning Fibre's build area who want symmetrical fibre speeds
- Anyone sending large uploads for work, streaming or backups, given the 900 Mbps figure
- Buyers who want the price held flat through the term and a router in the box
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want short terms, since plan terms run 1, 12 and 24
- Anyone outside GB, where the service does not reach
- Households priced purely on renewal cost, where post contract pricing sits at £34 to £49
Country by country
| Country | Hyperoptic B2C | Lightning Fibre |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Lightning Fibre
What does Lightning Fibre cost to start?+
Entry pricing starts at £24, and that is the introductory rate for a fixed term rather than a permanent price. Setup fees run £0 to £150 depending on the line. After the term, prices move to £34 to £49, so budget for that step when comparing against cheaper rivals.
How fast is Lightning Fibre?+
Max download reaches 10,000 Mbps and upload runs at 900 Mbps, which is close to symmetric and good for large uploads. That download figure places Lightning Fibre at rank 1 of 114 brands, and upload ranks 28.