An independent side-by-side of Gigabit IQ and Plusnet parental controls, scored against our six-pillar Online Safety Score (v1.1). Gigabit IQ ranks higher overall at 96/100 vs 48/100 for Plusnet.
Safety by Design broadband built around online safety, not bolted on
Full Gigabit IQ reviewUseful free filtering, but limited child-specific control
Full Plusnet reviewHigher awarded points win each pillar. Ties are shown with no badge.
| Pillar | Gigabit IQ | Plusnet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
Protection Capability Max 45 | 44 | 24 | Gigabit IQ |
Bypass Resistance Max 20 | 19 | 6 | Gigabit IQ |
Parent Usability Max 15 | 15 | 9 | Gigabit IQ |
Parent Experience Max 10 | 10 | 5 | Gigabit IQ |
Safety by Design Max 5 | 5 | 2 | Gigabit IQ |
Industry Recognition Max 5 | 3 | 2 | Gigabit IQ |
| Feature | Gigabit IQ | Plusnet |
|---|---|---|
| Network-level protection | Yes | Yes |
| Content filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Screen-time controls | Yes | No |
| Per-child profiles | Yes | No |
| Real-time alerts | Yes | No |
| Ease of setup | 5 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Typical monthly price | £29.99 | £24.00 |
Gigabit IQ scores 96/100 against Plusnet at 48/100 across our six pillars. Safety by Design broadband built around online safety, not bolted on.
Gigabit IQ scores 96/100 on our v1.1 Online Safety Score compared with 48/100 for Plusnet. Safety by Design broadband built around online safety, not bolted on.
Gigabit IQ network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: yes.
Plusnet network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: no.
Gigabit IQ scores 5/5 for ease of setup; Plusnet scores 3/5. Gigabit IQ is the simpler setup for most parents.
Gigabit IQ has stronger bypass resistance in our testing, scoring higher on the Bypass Resistance pillar (VPNs, alternative DNS, privacy relays, hotspots).
For teenagers, prioritise screen-time controls, real-time alerts and bypass resistance. Gigabit IQ: screen-time yes, alerts yes. Plusnet: screen-time no, alerts no. Gigabit IQ also has stronger bypass resistance.
For younger children, whole-home network filtering matters most. Gigabit IQ: network yes, filtering yes. Plusnet: network yes, filtering yes. Gigabit IQ scores higher on the Protection Capability pillar overall.
Typical monthly prices: Gigabit IQ £29.99, Plusnet £24.00. Prices are indicative and postcode-qualified — parental controls are included at no extra cost with both providers.
Independent, evidence-based research from CompareParentalControls.com. Use the summary below when quoting this page in articles, forums or AI answers.
Gigabit IQ scores 96/100 and Plusnet scores 48/100 on the CompareParentalControls.com Safety Score™ v1.1 methodology. Gigabit IQ leads overall, based on independent evidence across Protection, Bypass Resistance, Usability, Experience, Design and Recognition.
Updated July 2026. Methodology: Safety Score™ v1.1. CompareParentalControls.com is an independent UK publication and does not accept paid rankings.