Rise Fibre is part of 4th Utility and offers broadband over CityFibre, Openreach FTTP and its own full fibre network in certain new-builds and flats. It’s not limited to one region, which gives it broader availability than many smaller altnets.
Pricing and speeds are still in line with challenger providers. The main plans range from 150Mbps up to 900Mbps. Upload speeds are equal to download on CityFibre, while Openreach addresses receive the typical lower upload speeds.
At similar speeds, Rise Fibre tends to be cheaper than the national providers — especially if you’re on a CityFibre connection with equal upload and download speeds. Unlike smaller fibre brands like toob or brsk, it also has wider availability. This review breaks down what the service is like to use, what router is included, where it’s available, and how it compares with other broadband options.
Rise Fibre broadband at a glance
Rise Fibre keeps things simple. Most customers see a clear set of packages between 150Mbps and 900Mbps, and the router is either a Wi-Fi 5 Icotera or a Wi-Fi 6 Icotera depending on the plan. Upload speeds change depending on whether your address is served by CityFibre, Openreach or 4th Utility’s own fibre. Contracts normally run for 24 months, with 12-month options available in some cases.
Main details
• Speed range: 150Mbps to 900Mbps download. Upload speeds are the same as download speeds in CityFibre areas
• Contract options: mainly 24-month, 12-month plans
• Network: CityFibre, Openreach FTTP and 4th Utility infrastructure in selected buildings.
• Router: Icotera i4850 (Wi-Fi 5) or Icotera i4880 series (Wi-Fi 6).
• Highlight: symmetric upload speeds and wider availability than many altnets.
For families and multi‑device homes
150Mbps from Rise Fibre is fast enough for most everyday tasks. HD streaming, working from home, schoolwork and social media will run fine, even on a few devices at once.
For bigger households, or homes with 4K streaming and online gaming, 300Mbps is more suitable. It gives more bandwidth and handles heavier use without slowdown. The router matters too — the Wi-Fi 6 model offers better coverage and performance, especially in busy homes.
500Mbps is a good option for shared houses or families where several people are always online. It can handle multiple video calls, large downloads and gaming all at once. If Wi-Fi coverage is patchy, adding your own mesh system can help.
900Mbps is the top-end plan. It suits homes that need fast uploads and downloads, or where lots of people are doing data-heavy things at the same time. On CityFibre, you also get symmetric upload speeds, which makes it better for video calls and file uploads.
For home workers and freelancers
Rise Fibre is well suited to home working because full fibre is more reliable than part fibre connections (FTTC). The 150Mbps plan comes with enough speeds for video calls, shared documents and remote login tools without issue. If more than one person is working from home, or you switch between several work devices, the 300Mbps plan is better option.
Upload speeds are important for people who upload large files or use cloud storage frequently. On CityFibre, Rise Fibre offers symmetric uploads, which makes video calls and file transfers much smoother. On Openreach FTTP, uploads are lower but still perfectly usable for day‑to‑day work.
There are no business plans, but you can add a static IP if you need one for remote access. The router also supports bridge mode, so using your own hardware is easy.
For lighter work, 150Mbps or 200Mbps plans are suitable. For design work, large files or heavier workloads, the 500Mbps or 900Mbps plans give extra bandwidth you need.
For gamers and heavy users
Fast ping and consistently faster speeds matter more for gaming than high download numbers. Because Rise Fibre uses full fibre, latency is lower than on older broadband types like ADSL and FTTC, which is good for multiplayer and cloud gaming.
There’s no known traffic management. What you get depends on your area and whether you’re on CityFibre or Openreach. CityFibre gives faster uploads and more consistent ping, which helps with online play and streaming. Openreach is still fine for gaming, but uploads aren’t as quick.
Game downloads and big updates are fast on any plan above 300Mbps. One console will be fine on that, but homes with more gamers should go for 500Mbps or more.
The 900Mbps plan is best if you want top-end performance, stream your gameplay, or need fast uploads. On CityFibre, uploads are as fast as the downloads, which is useful if you’re sharing video or live streaming.
For budget-conscious households
Rise Fibre broadband usually costs less than big providers such as BT, Sky and Virgin Media at the same speeds. It falls within the same price band as lower‑cost altnets like YouFibre, brsk and toob. This makes it appealing if you want to cut monthly bills without switching to very slow broadband.
The 150Mbps plan is the most affordable option that still works for everyday use. It is fast enough for HD streaming, browsing and home working. It also costs less than many 100–150Mbps FTTP plans from the major ISPs.
A social tariff is available for customers on qualifying benefits. It delivers about 30Mbps and is priced well below the standard plans. It’s not fast, but it is still suitable for basic streaming, video calls and day‑to‑day use.
Contracts come with 24 months and 12‑month options. There are usually no large upfront charges. The main thing to track is the flat £3 increase each March or April.
If your focus is reducing monthly spending, Rise Fibre often offers the best balance of price and speed. But if you need bundled TV or a long period with no mid‑contract changes, one of the major providers like Sky or Virgin Media may suit you better.
Availability
Rise Fibre has wider coverage than most altnets. It uses three full fibre networks — CityFibre, Openreach FTTP, and 4th Utility’s own fibre.
If you’re in a CityFibre area, you can get download and upload speeds between 150Mbps and 900Mbps. Some places also have speeds above 1Gbps. On Openreach, the options are 200Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps or 900Mbps, with slower upload speeds. In some new‑builds and flats, Rise Fibre also connects through 4th Utility’s own fibre network.
To know availability, use Rise Fibre’s postcode checker and find deals available in your area.
Customer feedback and reviews
Since Rise Fibre is a newer brand, most customer reviews are based on 4th Utility, the company that runs the service behind the scenes. Trustpilot scores are generally high. People often praise the installation team, helpful customer support and full fibre performance, especially on CityFibre addresses where upload and download speeds are the same.
Some customers have flagged issues. These include delays in booking installations, long phone queues at busy times, and Wi‑Fi that doesn’t always perform well out of the box. On CityFibre, a few users say they needed to adjust DNS settings or use their own router for better results. That’s quite common among altnets and not unique to Rise.
Compared with the large providers, Rise Fibre tends to get better customer feedback. 4th Utility’s reviews are often more positive than BT, Sky or Virgin Media’s. However, real‑world experience still depends on your local network and how smooth the installation process is.
Best Rise Fibre broadband plans
Rise Fibre offers a small but clear set of plans. These are the ones that will suit most households. 12month/24 month contracts apply. Prices range between £21 and £29 per month.
• 150Mbps Full Fibre
Best for smaller homes or couples who mainly stream HD content, browse and work from home lightly. Usually the cheapest plan and offers good value against bigger brands.
• 300Mbps Full Fibre
Best all-rounder for families and shared houses. Comfortable for multiple 4K streams, gaming and regular cloud usage. Upload speeds are excellent on CityFibre addresses.
• 500Mbps Full Fibre
Best for busy households with several users online at once. Ideal for people juggling large downloads, gaming and 4K streaming across multiple rooms.
• 900Mbps Full Fibre
Best for heavy users, content creators and tech-heavy homes. Offers fast uploads on CityFibre areas and plenty of extra capacity for multiple devices.
Final verdict by usage
Families and larger households:
300Mbps or 500Mbps is ideal for streaming, gaming and remote work at the same time. Speeds stay consistent across devices. On CityFibre, upload speeds are equal to download. In big houses, a mesh system may be needed for full Wi‑Fi coverage.
Home workers and freelancers:
If you’re on CityFibre, uploads are ultrafast for large files, cloud storage and video calls. Openreach FTTP still provides reliable performance. Static IPs are available, and you can switch to your own router for more control.
Gamers and heavy internet users:
Because Rise Fibre uses full fibre, latency stays low. That’s an significant advantage for online play and cloud gaming. Game downloads and patches are quick on 300Mbps and above. Streamers benefit from fast upload speeds on CityFibre.
Households trying to reduce monthly costs:
150Mbps is fast enough for daily use and costs less than plans from BT or Sky. There’s also a social tariff with about 30Mbps for eligible households. The fixed £3 annual increase is simpler than inflation-linked pricing, but it still affects long-term cost.
Overall:
Rise Fibre gives you fast full fibre broadband without the high prices of bigger providers. It’s a good option if you want reliable speeds, decent upload performance and a clear pricing model. If you need TV services or better hardware included, you can consider providers like BT, Sky and Virgin Media.
FAQ
Is Rise Fibre any good?
Yes. Speeds are fast, prices are fair, and upload performance is strong on CityFibre. Some users mention delays and average Wi‑Fi.
Are upload speeds the same as download?
Only on CityFibre. On Openreach FTTP, uploads are lower.
Where can I get Rise Fibre?
It’s available in parts of England, Scotland and Wales with FTTP from CityFibre, Openreach or 4th Utility. Use the postcode checker.
Do prices go up during the contract?
Yes. £3 is added each March or April. It’s fixed and shown during sign‑up.
Can I use my own router?
Yes. You can use bridge mode or request login details.
Is it better than BT, Sky or Virgin?
Rise Fibre offers better upload speeds and lower prices — but doesn’t include TV or phone bundles.