Reviewed September 2026
WiFiXpert rates BT Smart Hub 2 higher overall (65 against 64), while Sky Broadband Hub is the better answer if sky customers in smaller homes who want no involvement at all.
| BT Smart Hub 2 | Sky Broadband Hub | |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi names and bands | One Wi-Fi name for both bands; the hub decides which one a device gets. | One Wi-Fi name for both bands. |
| Wi-Fi generation | As supplied by BT with the broadband package. | As supplied by Sky with the broadband package. |
| Ethernet | Four Ethernet sockets. | Ethernet sockets on the back; the number varies by hub. |
| Wired backhaul | Not a mesh on its own; BT sells add-on discs that can be wired back to the hub. | Not a mesh on its own; Sky sells boosters as an add-on. |
| Security | Modern encryption with automatic updates from BT. | Modern encryption, updated by Sky. |
| App and settings | The My BT app shows connected devices and basic controls. | The Sky app shows basic status and Broadband Shield settings. |
| Subscription | Included with the broadband package. | Included with the broadband package; boosters cost extra. |
| What we measured | Weight | BT Smart Hub 2 | Sky Broadband Hub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi performance | 11% | 7/10Fine speeds close to the hub. | 7/10Good speeds in the same room as the hub. |
| Coverage | 11% | 5/10A single box in the hallway is the most common cause of our upstairs cases. | 5/10Single box; upstairs and rear rooms are our most common Sky cases. |
| Reliability | 12% | 7/10Generally steady day to day. | 7/10Steady, with the usual single-box limits. |
| Ease of setup | 7% | 9/10Arrives working; nothing to do. | 9/10Arrives working. |
| Mesh capability | 8% | 5/10Only becomes a mesh if you add BT's own discs. | 5/10Only with Sky's own boosters. |
| Wired backhaul support | 7% | 5/10Add-on discs can be wired, but this isn't a cabled system. | 4/10Boosters are designed to be wireless. |
| Wi-Fi generation | 4% | 6/10Depends entirely on the hub BT supplied. | 6/10Depends on the hub Sky supplied. |
| Security | 6% | 7/10Updated by BT without you doing anything. | 7/10Updated by Sky automatically. |
| Management app | 7% | 6/10Basic, but it does show what's connected. | 5/10Thin on detail when you're trying to diagnose something. |
| Parental controls | 3% | 6/10BT Parental Controls are included and easy to use. | 7/10Broadband Shield is genuinely simple and included. |
| Smart-home compatibility | 8% | 7/10One Wi-Fi name and no guest isolation by default helps smart-home kit. | 7/10One Wi-Fi name helps; Shield occasionally gets in the way. |
| IoT friendliness | 4% | 7/10Most 2.4 GHz gadgets join without a fight. | 7/10Most small gadgets join without trouble. |
| Troubleshooting & support | 5% | 8/10BT owns the problem when it's their hub — that counts for a lot. | 7/10Sky will help with their own hub. |
| Value for money | 4% | 8/10It's included; nothing to pay. | 8/10Included in the package. |
| Upgrade longevity | 3% | 5/10Replaced when your package changes, not when you choose. | 5/10Tied to your package, not your choice. |
Taken straight from the WiFiXpert Compatibility Index.
| Ecosystem | BT Smart Hub 2 | Sky Broadband Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Sonos | Good | Good |
| Ring | Works with configuration | Works with configuration |
| Google Nest | Good | Good |
| Aqara | Known limitationsAqara hub and sensors can struggle with today's stricter Wi-Fi security settings. | Known limitationsAqara hub and sensors can struggle with today's stricter Wi-Fi security settings. |
| Amazon Alexa / Echo | Good | Good |
| Apple HomeKit / HomePod | Excellent | Excellent |
Best for: BT customers in smaller homes who want provider support to stay responsible.
Best house: Flats, small terraces and open-plan homes.
Watch out: No amount of setting changes will fix a coverage problem in a large house.
Best for: Sky customers in smaller homes who want no involvement at all.
Best house: Flats and small houses.
Watch out: When something misbehaves there is very little left to try beyond restarting.
Scored using WiFiXpert Hardware Index Methodology v1.0 — how we score. Reviewed September 2026.
Before you buy either of these, it's worth checking the problem isn't something free to fix. Common Wi-Fi problems and Wi-Fi answers.