YouFibre vs Zzoomm 2026: Which Full Fibre Altnet Should You Choose?

The verdict in one line: if you can get YouFibre it is faster with Wi-Fi 7 on every plan, and if you can get Zzoomm it adds TV and a contract buyout, but they rarely reach the same address, so availability usually decides it.

Quick answer: YouFibre and Zzoomm are both full-fibre altnets running on their own networks, with symmetric speeds and no mid-contract price rises. YouFibre goes faster, up to 7Gbps, and includes a Wi-Fi 7 router on every plan. Zzoomm adds a TV service and a contract buyout worth up to £300. Both offer a home phone, and both are rated Excellent by customers.

These are two of the strongest alternative networks in the UK, and on paper they look similar: own full fibre, symmetric speeds, fixed prices, challenger pricing. Look closer, though, and they pull in different directions, one chasing raw speed and simplicity, the other breadth of services. Here is how they genuinely compare, and, just as importantly, what is happening to each behind the scenes.

First, the practical truth: it usually comes down to availability

Before comparing features, here is the honest starting point. YouFibre and Zzoomm have built different networks in different parts of the country, and they seldom reach the same street. YouFibre, on the Netomnia network, is strongest across the North East of England and parts of Wales, and is expanding across more than 150 towns. Zzoomm is strongest across the Midlands, Wales and the South West, plus the towns it inherited from its merger with FullFibre. For most people, then, the real question is not "which is better" but "which one, if either, can I get". Run a postcode check first, because more often than not it answers the question for you.

YouFibre vs Zzoomm at a glance

Which is faster, and whose network is bigger?

Both run their own full fibre networks, entirely separate from Openreach, and both offer symmetric speeds, where your upload matches your download. That symmetry is a genuine strength for video calls, cloud backups, uploading large files and streaming your own content.

On raw top speed, YouFibre is in a class of its own. Its Netomnia-based tiers run from 200Mbps up to an extraordinary 7Gbps consumer package, which is among the fastest you can buy anywhere in the UK (ISPreview UK, 2026). Zzoomm runs from 200Mbps up to 2.3Gbps (Zzoomm, 2026). In practice, both cover the needs of almost any household many times over, so this only matters if you specifically want multi-gigabit speed, in which case YouFibre is the one that offers it. YouFibre's network is also the larger of the two, passing around three million premises, against roughly 600,000 for Zzoomm, though what counts is which network reaches your address.

Do YouFibre and Zzoomm raise prices mid-contract?

No, and that is a shared strength worth having. Both providers promise no price rises during your contract, which stands out against the big names, whose new contracts now carry a fixed increase every year following Ofcom's ban on inflation-linked mid-contract rises (Ofcom, 2025). YouFibre offers a clean fixed price for the length of its 12-month term (YouFibre, 2026). Zzoomm holds your price for the term too, with the nuance that its 24-month deals apply an introductory discount for the first year before stepping up to the standard rate for the second, which is set out upfront (Zzoomm, 2026). Both start at competitive entry prices, and because exact pricing varies by tier and address, the deals pages show the live figure for your postcode.

What contracts do YouFibre and Zzoomm offer?

Zzoomm offers more choice of term: a rolling monthly plan, a 12-month and a 24-month, the last of which brings the monthly price down for those happy to commit (Zzoomm, 2026). YouFibre keeps it simpler, with a 12-month fixed plan and a 1-month rolling option (YouFibre, 2026). If you want the flexibility of a genuine no-commitment monthly plan, both offer one. If you want the lowest monthly price and do not mind a longer tie-in, Zzoomm's 24-month is the lever to pull.

Which has the better router?

Both include a router free, but they differ on how far the newest Wi-Fi reaches down their range. YouFibre includes a Wi-Fi 7 Hub on every plan, from the entry tier upwards, with a more advanced Hub Pro on its fastest package (YouFibre, 2026). Zzoomm includes a Wi-Fi 7 router on its 1000Mbps and 2300Mbps plans, and a Wi-Fi 6 router on its 200Mbps and 500Mbps tiers (Zzoomm, 2026). For a modern, device-heavy home, YouFibre's universal Wi-Fi 7 is the more generous offer, though Wi-Fi 6 is still perfectly capable for most households on the lower tiers. Both offer whole-home mesh if you need to cover a larger property. If you are unsure which matters for you, our guide to Wi-Fi 6 vs 6E vs 7 explains the difference.

Which has TV, phone and the better extras?

Here the two diverge most clearly. Zzoomm is the more rounded package: it offers a home phone with the option to keep your number, and it has launched Zzoomm TV, so you can bring television onto the same bill (Zzoomm, 2026). It also runs a contract buyout worth up to £300 to help cover exit fees when you switch, which can make moving genuinely painless.

YouFibre is deliberately broadband-first, but it is not bare: it offers YouPhone, a VoIP home phone add-on, optional YouMesh for larger homes, a static IP for those who need one, and a You 50 social tariff for eligible low-income households (YouFibre, 2026). What it does not sell is a TV package, so you would arrange streaming separately. In short, both give you a home phone; only Zzoomm gives you TV and a buyout.

Do YouFibre or Zzoomm use CGNAT?

This one is for gamers, remote workers and anyone who hosts something at home. YouFibre officially confirms it uses CGNAT on standard connections, a common approach among altnets that shares public IP addresses across customers (YouFibre, 2026). For most people this is completely invisible and causes no problems. But it can interfere with running a game server, some port-forwarding setups, certain security cameras and a few VPN configurations, unless you add YouFibre's static IP, which costs £5 a month. If that describes you, factor it in; for everyday browsing, streaming and normal online gaming, it makes no practical difference. It is worth checking the equivalent option with Zzoomm too if a public IP matters to you.

What is happening to YouFibre and Zzoomm?

This is the part most comparisons skip, and it genuinely matters when you are signing up.

YouFibre is in the middle of a change of ownership. In February 2026, a deal was announced under which nexfibre would acquire the Netomnia network and Virgin Media O2 would acquire the YouFibre retail brand. The Competition and Markets Authority referred the deal for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation on 1 July 2026, with a statutory decision deadline of 15 December 2026 (Competition and Markets Authority, 2026). Nothing changes immediately: existing YouFibre contracts continue as they are, and the expectation is that the YouFibre brand would be kept on at first, run at arm's length in a similar way to giffgaff, if the deal is approved (ISPreview UK, 2026). Over the longer term, though, a YouFibre customer would likely become a Virgin Media O2 customer, and the outcome of the CMA review is not guaranteed.

Zzoomm is in the opposite position. It has just completed its own consolidation, merging with FullFibre and bringing the BeFibre brand under the Zzoomm name, and it now operates as an established, independent altnet (Be Fibre, 2026). So if certainty about who you will be a customer of matters to you, Zzoomm currently offers more of it. If you would like the full picture of the wider shake-up, see our Great Consolidation report and our altnet consolidation tracker.

So, which should you choose?

Choose YouFibre if it is available at your address and you want the fastest possible speeds, universal Wi-Fi 7, a simple fixed-price 12-month plan, and you are comfortable that the brand is moving to Virgin Media O2 in time. It is the more technically aggressive product, and a superb fit for a busy, high-demand or multi-gigabit household. For the current line-up, see our YouFibre deals.

Choose Zzoomm if it is the one available to you and you want TV on the same bill, a choice of contract lengths, a contract buyout to ease your switch, and the reassurance of an independent provider that has just finished consolidating. It is the more rounded, service-led package. For the current line-up, see our Zzoomm deals.

And if, like most people, only one of them reaches your street, the good news is simple: both are strong full fibre networks, so an available one is well worth taking.

Frequently asked questions

Are YouFibre and Zzoomm the same company?

No. They are separate alternative network providers running on their own separate full fibre networks: YouFibre on Netomnia, and Zzoomm on its own. YouFibre is, however, in the process of being acquired by Virgin Media O2, subject to a Competition and Markets Authority review.

Which is faster, YouFibre or Zzoomm?

YouFibre reaches higher top speeds, up to 7Gbps, compared with Zzoomm's top tier of 2.3Gbps. Both offer symmetric speeds, where upload matches download, and both are far faster than most households will ever need, so this mainly matters if you specifically want multi-gigabit speed.

Do YouFibre or Zzoomm use Openreach?

No. Both build and run their own full fibre networks, separate from Openreach: YouFibre uses the Netomnia network, and Zzoomm uses its own. That is why coverage is specific to the streets each has built, so a postcode check is essential.

Can I get both YouFibre and Zzoomm at my address?

Rarely. They have built different networks in different parts of the country and seldom cover the same street, so for most people the real question is which one, if either, is available. A postcode check is the only way to know, and often it decides the choice for you.

Is YouFibre being taken over?

Yes. Under a deal announced in February 2026, Virgin Media O2 has agreed to acquire the YouFibre retail brand, with nexfibre taking the Netomnia network. The Competition and Markets Authority is reviewing it in an in-depth Phase 2 investigation with a decision due by 15 December 2026. Existing YouFibre contracts continue unchanged for now.

Which is better for gaming, YouFibre or Zzoomm?

Both are symmetric full fibre, which is ideal for gaming, with low latency and strong upload. One difference worth noting: YouFibre uses CGNAT on standard connections, which can affect hosting a server or some port-forwarding setups unless you add its static IP for £5 a month. If that applies to you, check the static IP option with either provider before ordering.

Do YouFibre or Zzoomm raise prices mid-contract?

Neither raises the price during your fixed contract term, which is a real advantage over the big providers and their annual rises. Note that Zzoomm's 24-month deals apply an introductory discount for the first year that then steps up to the standard rate for the second year, which is set out upfront rather than being a surprise rise.

Which has TV, YouFibre or Zzoomm?

Zzoomm. It offers a Zzoomm TV service, whereas YouFibre is broadband-first and does not sell a TV package. Both offer a home phone: YouFibre through its YouPhone VoIP add-on, and Zzoomm as part of its service with the option to keep your number.

Does YouFibre have a social tariff?

Yes. YouFibre offers a social broadband tariff called You 50, which provides full fibre with average download speeds of around 50Mbps for eligible low-income households. It is worth checking current social tariff availability with either provider if cost is a concern.

References

• Be Fibre. (2026). BeFibre joining Zzoomm. Be Fibre Ltd. https://be-fibre.co.uk/befibre-zzoomm/
• Competition and Markets Authority. (2026). nexfibre / Substantial merger inquiry. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/nexfibre-slash-substantial-merger-inquiry
• ISPreview UK. (2026). Broadband ISP YouFibre tops 500,000 UK fibre customers on Netomnia. https://www.ispreview.co.uk
• Ofcom. (2025). Rules on mid-contract price rises [Inflation-linked and percentage-based mid-contract price rises prohibited for new contracts from 17 January 2025]. Office of Communications. https://www.ofcom.org.uk
• YouFibre. (2026). Full fibre broadband and add-ons. YouFibre Limited. https://www.youfibre.com
• Zzoomm. (2026). Home broadband. Zzoomm Plc. https://zzoomm.com

Written by Adrian James, Broadband Editor at BroadbandSwitch.uk. Connect on LinkedIn. Reviewed July 2026.