An independent side-by-side of LightSpeed and Zen Internet parental controls, scored against our six-pillar Online Safety Score (v1.1). LightSpeed ranks higher overall at 68/100 vs 62/100 for Zen Internet.
Capable 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 | LightSpeed | Zen Internet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
Protection Capability Max 45 | 33 | 30 | LightSpeed |
Bypass Resistance Max 20 | 9 | 9 | Tie |
Parent Usability Max 15 | 13 | 11 | LightSpeed |
Parent Experience Max 10 | 7 | 6 | LightSpeed |
Safety by Design Max 5 | 3 | 3 | Tie |
Industry Recognition Max 5 | 3 | 3 | Tie |
| Feature | LightSpeed | 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 | 4 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Typical monthly price | £32.00 | £35.00 |
LightSpeed scores 68/100 against Zen Internet at 62/100 across our six pillars. Stronger router-platform controls via eero WiFi 7.
LightSpeed scores 68/100 on our v1.1 Online Safety Score compared with 62/100 for Zen Internet. Stronger router-platform controls via eero WiFi 7.
LightSpeed network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: yes.
Zen Internet network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: yes.
LightSpeed scores 4/5 for ease of setup; Zen Internet scores 3/5. LightSpeed is the simpler setup for most parents.
LightSpeed and Zen Internet score equally for bypass resistance across VPNs, alternative DNS and privacy relays.
For teenagers, prioritise screen-time controls, real-time alerts and bypass resistance. LightSpeed: screen-time yes, alerts yes. Zen Internet: screen-time partial support, alerts partial support.
For younger children, whole-home network filtering matters most. LightSpeed: network yes, filtering yes. Zen Internet: network yes, filtering yes. LightSpeed scores higher on the Protection Capability pillar overall.
Typical monthly prices: LightSpeed £32.00, 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.
LightSpeed scores 68/100 and Zen Internet scores 62/100 on the CompareParentalControls.com Safety Score™ v1.1 methodology. LightSpeed 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.