An independent side-by-side of Gigabit IQ and Zen Internet parental controls, scored against our six-pillar Online Safety Score (v1.1). Gigabit IQ ranks higher overall at 96/100 vs 62/100 for Zen Internet.
Safety by Design broadband built around online safety, not bolted on
Full Gigabit IQ reviewCapable router-platform controls, but vendor-led and package-dependent
Full Zen Internet reviewHigher awarded points win each pillar. Ties are shown with no badge.
| Pillar | Gigabit IQ | Zen Internet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
Protection Capability Max 45 | 44 | 30 | Gigabit IQ |
Bypass Resistance Max 20 | 19 | 9 | Gigabit IQ |
Parent Usability Max 15 | 15 | 11 | Gigabit IQ |
Parent Experience Max 10 | 10 | 6 | Gigabit IQ |
Safety by Design Max 5 | 5 | 3 | Gigabit IQ |
Industry Recognition Max 5 | 3 | 3 | Tie |
| Feature | Gigabit IQ | Zen Internet |
|---|---|---|
| Network-level protection | Yes | Yes |
| Content filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Screen-time controls | Yes | Partial |
| Per-child profiles | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time alerts | Yes | Partial |
| Ease of setup | 5 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Typical monthly price | £29.99 | £35.00 |
Gigabit IQ scores 96/100 against Zen Internet at 62/100 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 62/100 for Zen Internet. Safety by Design broadband built around online safety, not bolted on.
Gigabit IQ network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: yes.
Zen Internet network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: yes.
Gigabit IQ scores 5/5 for ease of setup; Zen Internet 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. Zen Internet: screen-time partial support, alerts partial support. Gigabit IQ also has stronger bypass resistance.
For younger children, whole-home network filtering matters most. Gigabit IQ: network yes, filtering yes. Zen Internet: network yes, filtering yes. Gigabit IQ scores higher on the Protection Capability pillar overall.
Typical monthly prices: Gigabit IQ £29.99, Zen Internet £35.00. 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 Zen Internet scores 62/100 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.