An independent side-by-side of TalkTalk and Plusnet parental controls, scored against our six-pillar Online Safety Score (v1.1). TalkTalk ranks higher overall at 53/100 vs 48/100 for Plusnet.
Useful free filtering and Homework Time, but weak bypass resistance
Full TalkTalk reviewUseful free filtering, but limited child-specific control
Full Plusnet reviewHigher awarded points win each pillar. Ties are shown with no badge.
| Pillar | TalkTalk | Plusnet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
Protection Capability Max 45 | 26 | 24 | TalkTalk |
Bypass Resistance Max 20 | 6 | 6 | Tie |
Parent Usability Max 15 | 10 | 9 | TalkTalk |
Parent Experience Max 10 | 5 | 5 | Tie |
Safety by Design Max 5 | 3 | 2 | TalkTalk |
Industry Recognition Max 5 | 3 | 2 | TalkTalk |
| Feature | TalkTalk | Plusnet |
|---|---|---|
| Network-level protection | Yes | Yes |
| Content filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Screen-time controls | No | No |
| Per-child profiles | No | No |
| Real-time alerts | No | No |
| Ease of setup | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Typical monthly price | £25.00 | £24.00 |
TalkTalk scores 53/100 against Plusnet at 48/100 across our six pillars. Useful free filtering and Homework Time, but weak bypass resistance.
TalkTalk scores 53/100 on our v1.1 Online Safety Score compared with 48/100 for Plusnet. Useful free filtering and Homework Time, but weak bypass resistance.
TalkTalk network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: no.
Plusnet network-level protection: yes. Content filtering: yes. Per-child profiles: no.
TalkTalk scores 3/5 for ease of setup; Plusnet scores 3/5. Both are equivalent for everyday parents.
TalkTalk and Plusnet score equally for bypass resistance across VPNs, alternative DNS and privacy relays.
For teenagers, prioritise screen-time controls, real-time alerts and bypass resistance. TalkTalk: screen-time no, alerts no. Plusnet: screen-time no, alerts no.
For younger children, whole-home network filtering matters most. TalkTalk: network yes, filtering yes. Plusnet: network yes, filtering yes. TalkTalk scores higher on the Protection Capability pillar overall.
Typical monthly prices: TalkTalk £25.00, 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.
TalkTalk scores 53/100 and Plusnet scores 48/100 on the CompareParentalControls.com Safety Score™ v1.1 methodology. TalkTalk 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.