Virgin Media Broadband Review
Virgin Media is one of the UK’s fastest major broadband providers, with plans ranging from M125 at 132Mbps to Gig2 at 2Gbps. It is best for fast downloads, broadband and TV bundles, larger households, gaming downloads and homes with many connected devices.
The main drawbacks are lower upload speeds and mixed customer service. Virgin Media is a good choice if download speed matters most. It is less ideal if you need very fast upload speeds, the lowest possible latency or the cheapest full fibre deal available at your premises.
Virgin Media broadband at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Broadband speeds | 132Mbps to 2Gbps |
| Upload speeds | 20Mbps to 200Mbps |
| Best plan for most homes | M250 or M500 |
| Fastest plan | Gig2 |
| Best premium plan | Gig1 |
| Contract length | 24 months |
| Landline required | No |
| TV bundles | Available |
| Mobile bundle | Volt with O2 |
| Router | Hub 3, Hub 4, Hub 5 or Hub 5x |
| Whole-home Wi-Fi | WiFi Max |
| Best for | Fast downloads, TV bundles, larger households |
| Main drawback | Upload speeds and customer service |
Today’s Best Deals
Note: No price rises in 2026.
| Plan | Speed | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 M250 Fibre 24 month contract |
264Mb avg |
£18.99 / month £227.88 / year More details |
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| Free Setup. Includes £20 voucher. | |||
|
M125 Fibre 24 month contract |
132Mb avg |
£18.99 / month £227.88 / year More details |
|
| Free Setup. | |||
|
M500 Fibre 24 month contract |
516Mb avg |
£21.99 / month £263.88 / year More details |
|
| Free Setup. | |||
|
Gig1 Fibre 24 month contract |
1130Mb avg |
£24.99 / month £299.88 / year More details |
|
| Free Setup. |
Is Virgin Media broadband any good?
Virgin Media broadband is good if you want fast download speeds, TV bundles and broadband plans that go far beyond standard fibre speeds. M250 and M500 are the best options for most homes, while Gig1 is better for heavy users and larger households. Gig2 is the fastest Virgin Media plan, but it is available only in selected full fibre areas.
The main drawbacks are lower upload speeds and mixed customer service feedback. Upload speeds are much lower than download speeds, so full fibre rivals are better for users who upload large files, stream live video or do regular cloud backups. Customer service feedback is mixed because customers often report different experiences with fault repairs, installation delays, billing queries and cancellation.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very fast download speeds | Upload speeds are lower than download speeds |
| M250 and M500 suit many typical households | Customer service feedback is mixed |
| Gig1 is available in many Virgin Media areas | Gig2 is available only in selected full fibre areas |
| Broadband-only plans are available | Rural availability is limited |
| TV bundles include sport, cinema and entertainment options | Full fibre rivals can offer lower latency |
| Volt adds O2 mobile benefits | Some plans include annual price increases |
| WiFi Max improves room-to-room Wi-Fi | Premium TV bundles increase monthly cost |
| No landline needed for broadband-only plans | Availability depends on the exact premises |
Virgin Media broadband plans and speeds
Compare the main Virgin Media broadband plans by speed and household type.
Best for smaller homes and everyday browsing.
Best for most typical households.
Best for busier homes with several devices.
Best for larger households and heavier use.
Best for heavy users and gigabit downloads.
Best for selected full fibre areas.
Which Virgin Media plan should you choose?
M250 is the best starting point for many homes. Choose M500 for larger households, Gig1 for heavy use, and Gig2 only where the 2Gbps full fibre service is available.
Virgin Media M125
M125 is Virgin Media’s entry-level broadband plan. It provides an average 132Mbps download speed and 20Mbps upload speed. It is suitable for smaller homes, browsing, video calls, HD streaming, online shopping, social media and normal home broadband tasks.
M125 is enough for light use, but M250 is usually the better option if several people use the connection at the same time.
Read our Virgin Media M125 review
Virgin Media M250
M250 provides an average 264Mbps download speed and 25Mbps upload speed. It is suitable for typical households with phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles connected at the same time.
This is one of the most useful Virgin Media plans because it gives enough bandwidth for streaming, gaming downloads, remote work and multi-device use without moving to M500 or Gig1.
Read our Virgin Media M250 review
Virgin Media M350
M350 provides an average 362Mbps download speed and 36Mbps upload speed. It is suitable for busier homes that want more bandwidth than M250 but do not need M500.
It is a good middle option for homes with several people streaming, working from home, gaming and using smart devices together.
Read our Virgin Media M350 review
Virgin Media M500
M500 provides an average 516Mbps download speed and 52Mbps upload speed. It is suitable for larger households, 4K streaming, gaming downloads, software updates, home working and homes with many connected devices.
M500 is one of the best Virgin Media plans for families because it gives fast downloads without the higher cost of Gig1.
Read our Virgin Media M500 review
Virgin Media Gig1
Gig1 provides an average 1130Mbps download speed and 104Mbps upload speed. It is suitable for heavy users, large households, gamers, 4K streaming, smart homes and frequent large downloads.
Gig1 is the best premium Virgin Media plan for most customers because it is available more widely than Gig2 and gives gigabit download speeds.
Read our Virgin Media Gig1 review
Virgin Media Gig2
Gig2 provides 2000Mbps download speed and 200Mbps upload speed. It is Virgin Media’s fastest residential broadband plan and is available only in selected full fibre areas.
Gig2 uses XGS-PON technology and comes with the Hub 5x router. It is best for very heavy usage, fast wired networks, large households and customers who want the fastest Virgin Media plan available at their premises.
Read our Virgin Media Gig2 review
Virgin Media routers compared
Virgin Media supplies different hubs depending on the broadband package and network type. Hub 5 and Hub 5x are the best options to look for because they include Wi-Fi 6 and faster Ethernet ports.
Older Wi-Fi 5 router
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem
- 4 × Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
- Modem Mode for using your own router
- Intelligent channel selection and optimisation
- IPv6 support
Faster Wi-Fi 5 cable router
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- DOCSIS 3.1 for higher download capacity
- Improved antenna and radio performance compared with Hub 3
- 4 × Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
- Modem Mode and compatibility with WiFi Pods or mesh systems
- Automatic channel selection and interference management
Best cable broadband router
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- DOCSIS 3.1 and Gig1 compatible
- 1 × 2.5GbE port and 3 × 1GbE ports
- OFDMA and MU-MIMO for better multi-device performance
- Modem Mode and compatibility with WiFi Pods or mesh systems
- Automatic channel optimisation and IPv6 support
Best full fibre router
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- XGS-PON full fibre connection
- 1 × 10Gbps Ethernet port and 3 × 1Gbps Ethernet ports
- Used for Virgin Media full fibre services, including Gig2
- Tailored to newer full fibre areas using XGS-PON technology
- Best option for customers taking Virgin Media’s fastest broadband
Hub 5 is the key router for faster Virgin Media cable broadband. It adds Wi-Fi 6 and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, making it the better option for Gig1 customers.
Hub 5x is used for XGS-PON full fibre and includes a 10Gbps Ethernet port. It is the router linked with Virgin Media’s Gig2 broadband service.
Hub 3 and Hub 4 are older Wi-Fi 5 routers. Hub 5 and Hub 5x are the best Virgin Media hubs because they use Wi-Fi 6. Hub 5 is for DOCSIS 3.1 cable broadband, while Hub 5x is for XGS-PON full fibre.
WiFi Max explained
WiFi Max is Virgin Media’s whole-home Wi-Fi service. It includes Intelligent WiFi, up to three WiFi Pods where needed, and a room-to-room speed guarantee.
The guarantee gives at least 30Mbps download speed in every room or a £100 bill credit. WiFi Max is included with Gig1, Gig2 and Volt, and it is available as a paid extra on some other broadband plans.
WiFi Max is useful for larger homes, thick walls, loft rooms, extensions, garden offices and rooms far from the main router. It improves Wi-Fi coverage inside the home, but it does not increase the broadband speed entering the property.
Is Virgin Media good for streaming?
Yes, Virgin Media is good for streaming. M125 is enough for HD streaming and some 4K use. M250 is better for several devices. M500 and Gig1 are better for larger homes where different people stream on multiple TVs, tablets and phones at the same time.
Virgin Media TV bundles are useful if you watch live TV, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema or entertainment channels. Broadband-only is usually better value if your household mainly uses Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX and YouTube.
Is Virgin Media good for gaming?
Yes, Virgin Media is good for gaming, especially for game downloads, large updates and multi-device homes. M250 is enough for many casual gamers, M500 is better for larger households, and Gig1 is ideal for heavy gaming households.
Latency is usually suitable for normal online gaming, but full fibre providers can offer lower and more consistent latency. Competitive gamers should compare all FTTP options available at the same premises before choosing.
Is Virgin Media good for working from home?
Yes, Virgin Media is good for working from home. Video calls, email, browsing, cloud documents and normal office tasks run well on M125, M250, M350 and faster plans.
M250 is the best option for many home workers. M500 or Gig1 is better for multi-worker homes where several people use video calls, cloud services and large downloads during the day.
The main limitation is upload speed. If your work involves large file uploads, video production, cloud backups or frequent media transfers, a full fibre plan with faster upload speeds can be a better choice.
Virgin Media broadband-only review
Virgin Media broadband-only plans are best for customers who want fast broadband without TV or a landline. They are usually better value than bigger bundles and are suitable for homes that already use streaming apps.
Broadband-only is the right option if you mainly watch Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX and YouTube through a smart TV or streaming device.
A TV bundle is only worth adding if you regularly watch live channels, sport, films or premium entertainment.
Virgin Media TV bundle review
Virgin Media TV bundles are best for households that want live TV, premium channels and fast broadband together. Packages can include entertainment channels, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Netflix on selected bundles and Virgin TV 360.
The best reason to choose a TV bundle is convenience. Broadband, TV and selected streaming services can be placed on one bill.
Broadband-only is better value for homes that rarely watch live TV.
Virgin TV 360 review
Virgin TV 360 is Virgin Media’s main premium TV platform. It includes 4K and HDR playback, voice search, recordings, live channels, catch-up apps and major streaming apps.
It is better for households that still watch live TV and record programmes. It is less important for homes that only use streaming apps.
Mini boxes are available for multiroom viewing, which is useful for larger households that want Virgin TV in bedrooms, kitchens or another lounge.
Volt bundle review
Volt combines Virgin Media broadband with eligible O2 Pay Monthly mobile services. It includes a broadband speed boost to the next available level up to 1Gbps, double O2 mobile data, WiFi Max and extra O2 benefits where eligible.
Volt is best for customers who already use O2 or want a new O2 SIM with their broadband. It is less useful if you do not need extra mobile data, roaming benefits or WiFi Max.
Installation and setup
Virgin Media installation depends on whether the property already has the correct Virgin Media cabling.
QuickStart self-installation is usually available where a Virgin Media wall socket already exists. The customer receives the router and cables, plugs the hub into the wall socket and activates the service.
Engineer installation is needed where cabling, sockets or external work are required. TV bundles may also need setup for Virgin TV 360, Mini boxes or other TV equipment.
Before ordering, use a postcode checker to confirm available speeds, installation type and package options.
Customer service and complaints
Customer service is one of Virgin Media’s weaker areas. Common complaint areas include faults, installation, billing, cancellations and service changes.
Customers can get help through My Virgin Media, live chat, phone help and the Virgin Media Connect app. The Connect app can check hub status, test Wi-Fi and help with basic troubleshooting.
Ofcom’s Q3 2025 broadband complaints data placed Virgin Media close to the industry average for fixed broadband complaints, with common complaint themes across the sector including faults, service and provisioning.
Virgin Media should not be ruled out purely on customer service, but buyers should compare local feedback before signing up. Speeds are the main reason to choose Virgin Media. Customer service is the main reason to compare alternatives carefully.
Availability
Virgin Media is available in many UK towns, cities and suburban areas. Availability is more limited in rural areas and depends on the exact premises.
One property can get Virgin Media while another nearby home cannot. Flats, private roads, new-build developments and older network areas can all affect availability.
Gig1 is available in many Virgin Media areas upgraded to DOCSIS 3.1. Gig2 is available only in selected full fibre areas using XGS-PON.
A postcode check is essential before comparing plans, because speed options, router type, installation method and TV bundle availability depend on the property.
How does Virgin Media compare with other providers
Virgin Media vs BT
Choose Virgin Media if BT can only offer slower FTTC broadband at your premises. Virgin Media M250, M500 and Gig1 can provide much faster download speeds than standard part-fibre broadband.
Choose BT if Openreach FTTP is available and upload speed, lower latency or BT’s customer service structure matters more to you. BT can be a better option where full fibre is already installed.
Virgin Media vs Sky
Choose Virgin Media if you want faster broadband downloads and Sky only offers slower Openreach broadband at your property.
Choose Sky if you prefer Sky Stream, Sky Glass or Sky’s TV platform. Sky becomes more competitive where Openreach full fibre is available.
For broadband and TV together, both providers are worth comparing. Virgin Media is better for fast broadband and TV 360, while Sky is better for customers who prefer Sky’s own TV experience.
Virgin Media vs TalkTalk, Plusnet and Vodafone
Choose Virgin Media if TalkTalk, Plusnet or Vodafone can only offer slower broadband at your premises. Virgin Media is often much faster in areas where Openreach FTTP is not available.
Choose TalkTalk, Plusnet or Vodafone if they offer cheaper full fibre at the same premises. Compare download speed, upload speed, router, contract length, annual price terms and total contract cost before ordering.
Virgin Media vs Community Fibre and Hyperoptic
Choose Virgin Media for wider availability, broadband and TV bundles, premium sport, cinema and Volt benefits.
Choose Community Fibre or Hyperoptic where available if you want full fibre with faster upload speeds, lower latency or upload speed equal to download speed.
Community Fibre and Hyperoptic are especially attractive for content creators, home workers, gamers and upload-heavy users. Their main limitation is availability.
Final verdict
Virgin Media is worth choosing when speed is the main reason you are switching broadband. It is most useful in homes where the alternative is slower Openreach-based broadband, or where a broadband and TV bundle can replace separate services.
If good full fibre is available at your property, compare it with Virgin Media before ordering. Check the total contract cost, upload speed, router, customer service feedback and any TV or mobile extras.
Choose Virgin Media if:
- your current broadband feels slow during streaming, gaming or busy evening use
- you can get M250, M500 or Gig1 at a competitive monthly price
- you want fast broadband with live TV, sport, films or entertainment channels
- you already use O2 and can benefit from Volt extras
- your home needs WiFi Max because some rooms get weak Wi-Fi
- Openreach FTTP, Community Fibre, Hyperoptic or another fast full fibre option is not available at your property
Consider other providers if:
- you upload large files, livestream or rely on regular cloud backups
- you want upload speed equal to download speed
- a cheaper full fibre provider is available at the same premises
- you only need a basic broadband connection for browsing and streaming
- you do not need TV, Volt or whole-home Wi-Fi extras
- you want to prioritise customer service feedback over faster download speeds
FAQs
Is Virgin Media full fibre?
Virgin Media uses different technologies. Many homes receive cable broadband using DOCSIS technology. Selected areas receive full fibre using XGS-PON technology, including Gig2.
Does Virgin Media use Openreach?
No. Virgin Media does not use Openreach for its main broadband services. It uses its own cable network and selected full fibre areas through nexfibre.
Does Virgin Media need a phone line?
No. Virgin Media broadband does not need a phone line. Broadband-only plans are available, and landline packages are optional.
Can Virgin Media prices increase during the contract?
Yes, standard Virgin Media contracts can include annual price increases. Customers should check the contract summary and pre-contract information before ordering.
