Virgin Media broadband review

Virgin Media is the second-biggest home broadband provider in the UK, but that doesn't necessarily make it the best. Its extensive fibre network plus TV, phone and mobile services make it an appealing choice, but how does it compare to rivals? Our latest customer survey reveals how Virgin Media broadband customers rated their Virgin Media broadband service.

Each year we survey thousands of UK broadband customers to check how they rate each big provider's speed, reliability, customer service and value for money. Read our review or use the free broadband comparison service from Which? to find the best Virgin Media broadband deal for you.

Virgin Media broadband review

Below you’ll find a range of information about Virgin Media broadband. Which? members can also read our full review, including:

• A full breakdown of how its customers rated it for key factors, such as the technical support it provides
• Quotes from real Virgin Media broadband customers on their experiences
• A round-up of all of Virgin Media broadband deals.
• Access to our Virgin Media broadband satisfaction survey results.

We'll tell you exactly what you need to know about all the UK's biggest broadband providers, and help you avoid signing up for a deal you'll come to regret.

If you're already a member, log in now, or join Which? today.

Discover which providers impressed their customers most in our latest survey - we reveal the best and worst broadband providers 

Virgin Media broadband deals

Virgin Media uses its own cable network, rather than the Openreach network used by most of the other major providers. While it's becoming more common to find broadband deals that don't include a phone line, Virgin Media was one of the first big providers to offer this. However, with Virgin Media you have the option of combining broadband with a wide range of phone bundles, and these usually offer better value than standalone broadband packages. You can further customise your deal by adding a TV component.

The company doesn't sell standard-speed deals. It supplies only high-speed broadband starting from an average speed of 54Mbps and running as high as 1,130Mbps, via its fibre-optic cable network. Unsurprisingly, it's more expensive than most other providers, although Virgin Media regularly offers special introductory deals.

Contracts usually last for either 18 or 24 months, although unusually you can opt for a flexible 30-day rolling contract instead (but you'll need to pay a bit more). 

Virgin Media customers get access to O2 Priority - this gives customers access to a range of perks, including ticket pre-sales and other special offers.

If you want a bundle that includes a pay-TV service, read our Virgin Media TV and broadband provider review

Our guide to the best broadband deals includes top picks from our experts on the best value broadband

How much is Virgin Media broadband?

Virgin Media offers a wide range of packages, with various combinations of TV and premium channels alongside its broadband service.

You can view the entire range of Virgin Media broadband packages, or check the latest prices for broadband-only deals below.

Virgin Media broadband speeds

Virgin Media offers only superfast and ultrafast broadband. It has five different widely available speed options, with average speeds of 54Mbps, 132Mbps, 264Mbps, 362Mbps and 516Mbps. Customers in certain areas can subscribe to its fastest deal, Gig1, which has an average speed of over 1Gbps (1,000Mbps). However, Virgin Media is continuing to roll out the deal, so it is gradually becoming more widely available.

Virgin Media deals are much faster than the standard home-broadband speeds you can get from most providers that use the Openreach network. The flipside of using its own network is that Virgin Media has less coverage than other providers. It's currently available to just over half of the UK's homes.

To compare prices and see more details on each package, take a look at our Virgin Media broadband package reviews

Does Virgin Media put up broadband prices every year?

Yes - Virgin Media will start putting up its prices every year from 2024. So if you decide to sign up to a Virgin Media deal, keep in mind that each spring, the amount you pay will go up in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation as published in February, plus an additional 3.9%.

What is the latest Virgin Media broadband router?

Virgin Media now provides most customers with its Hub 3 router with 'Intelligent WiFi'. This is a cloud-based system which is meant to work in the background to assess wireless speeds and adjust to performance issues. Is it up to the job? Find out more in our Virgin Media Hub 3 Intelligent WiFi review.

Customers who opt for Virgin Media's new Gig1 deal will receive one of its new Hub 4 or Hub 5 routers.

How to contact Virgin Media broadband

Bookmark our Virgin Media broadband customer contact page, which contains helpful links to service status updates, customer service phone numbers and social media accounts.