Our review of Virgin Media broadband

Is Virgin Media broadband worth it?

Virgin Media runs its own independent network, built separately from Openreach. For years that gave it a clear speed advantage over most rivals, but the gap has narrowed as full fibre (FTTP) reaches more of the UK. Virgin Media is also expanding its own full fibre coverage through a partnership with Nexfibre. This review looks at where it still stands out and where it falls short.

Speed remains a strong selling point, with packages running from 132Mb up to 2Gb on Gig2. That's still well above what most providers offer. However, Virgin Media no longer holds the title of the UK's fastest widely available broadband provider. Sky took that crown through its CityFibre partnership, which allows it to offer speeds of up to 5Gb. Unlike most broadband providers, Virgin Media also has its own TV service, which makes it worth comparing if you're looking to bundle broadband and TV together.

Customer service concerns in 2026

Customer service is where Virgin Media consistently draws criticism. Trustpilot reviews frequently flag billing issues and poor support, and Ofcom's complaints data has historically placed Virgin Media above the industry average, receiving more complaints than rivals such as Sky. See how Virgin Media compares against other major providers in our top 10 ISP reviews.

It's worth knowing that Virgin Media has signed up to Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme, so if an engineer misses an appointment or your service is delayed, you receive compensation without having to chase it.

Read Virgin Media broadband features in more detail

  • Features Virgin Media Hub 5x router Virgin Media Hub 5 router Virgin Media Hub 4 router Virgin Media Hub 3 router
    Hub Version Hub 5x Hub 5 Hub 4 Hub 3
    Number of Antennae 7 7 7 5
    2.4 GHz WiFi Band 3x3 11b/g/n/ax 3x3 11/b/g/n/ax 3x3 11/b/g/n 2x2 11/b/g/n
    5 GHz WiFi Band 4x4 11ax 4x4 11ax 4x4 11ac 3x3 11ac
    WiFi Spec WiFi Version 6 WiFi Version 6 WiFi Version 5 WiFi Version 5
    Dual Band Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Network Connection XGS-PON DOCSIS 3.1 DOCSIS 3.1 DOCSIS 3.0
    Ethernet 1x 10Gb, 3x 1Gb 1x 2.5Gb, 3x 1Gb 4x 1Gb 4x 1Gb
    WPS Push Button Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Guest Network Option Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Auto tuning WiFi Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Phone line socket Yes Yes Yes Yes
    WiFi Pod Compatible Yes Yes Yes Yes

  • Virgin Media offers 30 day rolling contracts on M125, M250, M350, and M500. There's no setup fee, and you can cancel with 30 days' notice. Gig1 and Gig2 are not available on a rolling basis.

    One month rolling contracts are always more expensive than a fixed term contract. But if you only need broadband short term and don't want to commit to a two year plan, it's probably your best option. Use our postcode checker to compare 1 month broadband options in your area.

  • Live Chat: Virgin Media offers live chat support from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

    Parental Controls: The router includes a feature to pause Wi-Fi access to specific devices, useful for managing screen time.

    Upload speeds: On Virgin Media's cable network, upload speeds are considerably lower than download speeds (see broadband speed table below). For households where upload matters, content creators, regular video uploaders, or anyone live streaming, FTTP providers such as Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, or providers using the CityFibre network may be a better fit, as they offer symmetrical speeds as standard. Worth noting that if you're in a Nexfibre coverage area, Virgin Media's symmetrical speed add-on is available for £6 per month, boosting upload speeds to match download speeds on most packages.

    Gig2: Virgin Media offers a 2Gb residential broadband service via its Nexfibre partnership, using XGS-PON full fibre technology. Availability is currently limited to areas served by the Nexfibre network, so check your postcode to see if it's available where you live.

  • Package name Advertised download speed Expected download speed Minimum
    guaranteed download    		 Advertised upload speed Nexfibre area upload speed add-on
    expected upload speed
    Essential broadband
    (social tariff)    		 15Mb 15Mb average download Not confirmed on Virgin Media social tariff page 2Mb Not Available
    Essential broadband plus
    (social tariff)    		 54Mb 54Mb average download Not confirmed on Virgin Media social tariff page 5Mb Not Available
    M50 54Mb 52–55Mb 27Mb 5Mb 52–55Mb
    M125 132Mb 136–137Mb 66Mb 20Mb 136Mb
    M250 264Mb 272–274Mb 132Mb 25Mb 271–272Mb
    M350 362Mb 380–382Mb 181Mb 36Mb 380–381Mb
    M500 516Mb 521–547Mb 258Mb 52Mb 543Mb
    Gig1 Full Fibre 1130Mb 1132–1137Mb 565Mb 104Mb 1143Mb
    Gig2 Full Fibre 2000Mb 2040–2084Mb 1000Mb 200Mb 2096Mb

    Last updated: May 2026. Source: Virgin Media

  • Virgin Media has fast speeds and its own TV service, which makes it a natural shortlist entry for households looking to bundle broadband and TV together. For those in Nexfibre coverage areas, the Gig2 package offers some of the fastest residential speeds available in the UK.

    There are reasons to go in with your eyes open though. Customer complaints about Virgin Media are consistently high. The minimum contract term is 24 months with no shorter fixed-term option. Monthly prices also increase by up to £4 every April from 2027 onwards.

    Virgin Media does offer a 30 day rolling contract for those who need flexibility. The monthly cost is significantly higher than an equivalent fixed-term deal, but it's there if you need it.

    If you do sign up and find the included hub doesn't cover your home well, Virgin Media hubs can be switched to modem only mode. That means you can run your own Wi-Fi 7 router alongside it for better coverage and speeds.