4th Utility vs Hyperoptic: which is better value?
4th Utility is £17.88 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£15.75 against £33.63). 4th Utility wins 8 and Hyperoptic wins 2 of the 19 checks below.
4th Utility vs Hyperoptic, check by check
Prices, rises, fees, guarantees and complaints side by side. A tick marks the better value where the difference is clear.
| Check |  4th Utility |  Hyperoptic |
|---|---|---|
| Live deals todayBroadband-only, national prices | 32 | 6 |
| Lowest average a monthOver the whole contract, set-up and price rises included | ✓£15.75150Mb Full Fibre CityFibre (24 Months) · 150 Mb | £33.63150Mb Full Fibre Broadband only · 158 Mb |
| Lowest starting priceFirst month | ✓£18150 Mb | £30158 Mb |
| Cheapest Under 150 MbAverage a month, everyday band | £18.50100Mbps Full Fibre (24 Months) · 100 Mb | — |
| Cheapest 150–500 MbAverage a month, fast band | ✓£15.75150Mb Full Fibre CityFibre (24 Months) · 150 Mb | £33.63150Mb Full Fibre Broadband only · 158 Mb |
| Cheapest 500–900 MbAverage a month, very fast band | ✓£21.88500Mb Full Fibre CityFibre (24 Months) · 500 Mb | £38.63500Mb Full Fibre Broadband only · 527 Mb |
| Cheapest 900 Mb +Average a month, gigabit band | ✓£22.751Gb Full Fibre CityFibre (24 Months) · 1,000 Mb | £36.631Gb Full Fibre Broadband only · 900 Mb |
| Fastest dealAverage download speed | ✓2,300 Mb | 900 Mb |
| Average Deal ScoreAcross all live deals, 0–100 | ✓58 | 38 |
| Price risesDuring the minimum term | CheckSources disagree on a £4 rise in March; confirm when you order | +£4 · April+£4 a month every April, set in the contract |
| Set-up feeLowest on live deals | ✓£0£0; Icotera router stays theirs | £19£19 activation on contracts, £29–£39 on monthly; Hyperhub Wi-Fi 6 router included |
| Leaving earlyExit fee rule | Early exit charges apply; the formula is not published | The charges left, minus costs saved; 30 days’ notice |
| Speed and Wi-Fi guarantee | A fault if wired speed is under 70% for 3 days | Guaranteed speed equals the advertised speed (symmetrical); leave if it is below for 3 days |
| Credit check | Not published for standard plans; none on the social tariff | Yes (Experian or Equifax) |
| Social tariffFor Universal Credit and some other benefits | Social tariff £13.99 (30 Mb) | ✓Fair Fibre from £12 (50 Mb) |
| Automatic compensationOfcom scheme: £10.34 a day for faults | No | ✓Yes |
| Ofcom complaintsPer 100,000 customers, Q1 2026 (average 6) | Not in Ofcom’s table | Not in Ofcom’s table |
| Network | Own full fibre in apartment buildings and CityFibreMajor English and Welsh cities | Own full fibre, mostly in apartment buildings64 towns and cities |
| Contract length | 30 days, 12 or 24 months | 1, 12 or 24 months |
| Checks won | 8 | 2 |
✓ marks the better value where the difference is clear. Averages include set-up and price rises written into the contract; rolling deals are averaged over 12 months. Where a provider does not fix its rises in advance (Sky, NOW, Gigaclear), we do not award it the cheaper average. Live prices 28 October 2026, 11:08; facts checked 24 October 2026.
What you pay over 24 months
The cheapest comparable deal from each, month by month, with the rises written into each contract.
Cheapest deal from each in the 150–500 Mb band, paid for 24 months from November 2026.
4th Utility costs £411 less over 24 months.
- Hyperoptic: +£4 a month every April adds £104.
Best 4th Utility and Hyperoptic deals today
Top three broadband-only deals from each provider by Deal Score, national prices on 28 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
Choose 4th Utility if…
- you want the lower bill: its cheapest deal averages £15.75 a month over the contract
- you want the fastest speeds, up to 2,300 Mb
- you want the cheapest 900 Mb + deal
- you want the cheapest 500–900 Mb deal
Choose Hyperoptic if…
- you get Universal Credit: Fair Fibre from £12 (50 Mb)
- you want automatic compensation when a fault drags on
- you live in its area (64 towns and cities)
4th Utility and Hyperoptic deals that reach you
Compare 4th Utility or Hyperoptic with others
4th Utility vs Hyperoptic: common questions
Is 4th Utility cheaper than Hyperoptic?
4th Utility is £17.88 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£15.75 against £33.63). 4th Utility wins 8 and Hyperoptic wins 2 of the 19 checks below. Prices depend on your address, so check both with your postcode.
Which is faster, 4th Utility or Hyperoptic?
In our national feed, 4th Utility’s fastest deal is 2,300 Mb and Hyperoptic’s is 900 Mb. Networks: 4th Utility, Own full fibre in apartment buildings and CityFibre; Hyperoptic, Own full fibre, mostly in apartment buildings. The speed you get depends on which networks reach your home.
Do 4th Utility and Hyperoptic put prices up every year?
4th Utility: sources disagree on a £4 rise in March; confirm when you order. Hyperoptic: +£4 a month every April, set in the contract. Since 17 January 2025, rises in new contracts must be shown in pounds and pence.
Which has fewer complaints?
Ofcom only publishes complaint figures for the seven biggest providers.
How do I switch from 4th Utility to Hyperoptic?
Contact Hyperoptic only: One Touch Switch handles the move, and 4th Utility must tell you about any exit fee. Leaving 4th Utility early: early exit charges apply; the formula is not published.
Live prices from our deals feed, updated every six hours; provider facts checked 24 October 2026; complaints from Ofcom, Q1 2026. Some providers pay us a commission when you switch through us; it never affects Deal Score or which provider wins a check. How we make money →