BT and Virgin Media are the two biggest broadband providers in the UK, both quite well-known for their high speeds and ‘premium’ options, due to their wide range of fibre packages, bundle deals, and performance. While BT is well-known for its excellent coverage and popularity among UK homes, Virgin Media is highly opted for its lightning speeds through its independently built cable network. Although pricing from both providers is often on the higher side, each offers attractive promotions, TV add-ons, and incentives to make the deals more appealing.
In this guide, we will compare BT and Virgin Media on the most important factors—speeds, coverage, contracts, costs, and customer service—to determine which is the better option for you in 2025.
BT and Virgin Media At a Glance
BT
BT uses the Openreach network, which reaches most parts of the country, offering a variety of broadband plans ranging from traditional ADSL to ultrafast Full Fibre.
BT has a large customer base and extensive coverage in the UK. The ISP also offers many add-ons; customers can combine broadband with TV, sports channels, or phone services. However, BT can be more expensive than smaller providers, and its two-year contract is also lengthy.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media is another top broadband provider in the UK, particularly known for its high-speed options in cities and towns. Virgin operates its own network, which utilises cable and fibre infrastructure to deliver speeds exceeding 1Gbps in its network areas.
Virgin Media offers 18-month contracts, which are shorter than BT’s typical 24-month term. However, when it comes to coverage, Virgin only reaches about 60% of UK homes and receives mixed feedback regarding customer service. Its premium TV bundles are generally quite expensive. Nevertheless, Virgin Media is a great option for those who need ultrafast speeds of 100Mbps or more.
BT Speeds
BT offers a basic ADSL option, BT Broadband Unlimited, with average speeds of 10Mbps, suitable for customers who are not covered by fibre network. However, most people opt for one of BT’s fibre plans:
- BT Full Fibre Essential: ~36Mbps
- BT Full Fibre 1: ~50Mbps
- BT Full Fibre 2: ~74Mbps
- BT Full Fibre 100: ~150Mbps
- BT Full Fibre 300: ~300Mbps
- BT Full Fibre 500: ~500Mbps
- BT Full Fibre 900: ~900Mbps
Virgin Media Speeds
Virgin Media offers fibre or cable-based packages, with its lowest tier offering speeds faster than traditional ADSL or FTTC broadband. The main speed tiers are as follows:
- M125: ~132Mbps
- M250: ~264Mbps
- M350: ~362Mbps
- M500: ~516Mbps
- Gig1: ~1130Mbps (1.13Gbps)
- Gig2: ~2000Mbps (2Gbps) in limited areas
Quick view: Compare BT vs Virgin Media
Broadband only, Digital Voice, BT TV bundles
Broadband only, Broadband + TV bundles
50–910 Mbps (average downloads)
132–1130 Mbps (average downloads)
24 months
24 months
From £25 /mo
From £25 /mo
Free setup. £145 BT Reward Card
Free setup. £150 bill credit
15th October 2025
23rd October
Find the available packages in your postcode and address.
Compare deals nowWhich Speeds will you need?
You don’t need 1Gbps or 2Gbps if you only browse social media and watch movies on one or two devices simultaneously. A 50–100Mbps plan is ideal for users who watch HD content, make video calls, or work from home. Larger households that use multiple 4K streams simultaneously and those who play online games or use bandwidth-intensive apps may need ultrafast packages (500Mbps or more) for the best experience.
FTTP Broadband
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) broadband connections directly reach your home or office using fibre optic cables, which can provide faster speeds compared to FTTC lines that use copper to connect the street cabinet and premises. An FTTP connection offers lower latency and symmetrical speeds, which are great for HD streaming, online gaming, and lightning-fast uploads.
BT offers Full Fibre broadband packages starting at 100Mbps average download speeds (known as Full Fibre 100). Faster packages include Full Fibre 300 (300Mbps), Full Fibre 500 (500Mbps), and Full Fibre 900 (900Mbps). However, BT’s FTTP does not offer symmetrical broadband speeds, meaning your upload speeds will be significantly lower than your download speeds.
Virgin Media’s Gig2 is delivered using FTTP with average download speeds of 2Gbps (2,000Mbps). Virgin Media’s FTTP employs advanced fibre technology known as XGS-PON, and Nexfibre is collaborating to develop this new network. Nexfibre is building a fully fibre network, which currently reaches around two million homes, with a target to expand the network to about 7 million homes across the UK. This upgrade will enable Virgin to deliver speeds up to 10Gbps with symmetrical capabilities in its cable areas.
Importantly, Virgin Media is also offering symmetrical speeds as an optional add-on.
TV Bundles
Both providers offer TV packages, set-top boxes, premium channels, sports, and add-on subscriptions.
BT TV has its own platform and offers you Freeview channels plus add-ons:
- Entertainment: Includes basic and extra channels and catch-up services.
- Big Entertainment: Includes popular Sky channels or Sky Cinema.
- Big Sport: Adds major sports channels like TNT Sports and sometimes includes the option for Sky Sports.
- VIP: This top tier merges sports, movies, and extra entertainment channels in one. It usually costs more with premium content like Sky channels are added.
Virgin Media offers hundreds of channels, including premium ones like Sky Sports and Sky Cinema. Virgin’s set-top boxes are known for their quality and superior recording features. If you want even more channels, you can include add-ons. However, the more you add, the more you pay.
While both providers offer TNT Sports, Virgin Media’s may come at a higher price. Both providers also include channels from Sky in selected bundles. Overall, both BT and Virgin Media are excellent options if you want to bundle TV channels with your broadband service.
Availability
BT, using the Openreach network, reaches up to 97% of homes—though not all those homes receive the fastest fibre speeds. Many can access a standard or FTTC option instead. Still, most postcodes can provide a BT plan that suits basic needs.
Virgin Media’s network covers about 60% of the country. This coverage is better in urban and suburban areas, where Virgin can deliver very high speeds, but the service is unavailable in many rural areas.
Contract, Cost , Special Offers and Rewards
BT often requires 24-month contracts, which can be comparatively lengthy, especially if you prefer to switch to better deals. However, BT usually offers promotional gifts to new customers.
Virgin Media: Typically offers 18-month contracts, which are shorter than BT’s. Virgin also provides 30-day rolling plans, although these usually come at a higher cost
Neither BT nor Virgin Media are the cheapest broadband options in the UK, yet each runs promotions and special offers. Therefore, comparing actual monthly charges and available offers is important to check which provider offers better value for money.
- BT: Basic ADSL or entry fibre plans start £29–£30 per month. The fastest Full Fibre deals (like 900Mbps) can cost around £50–£60 per month. BT also adds a setup fee that can be about £10–£30, though special offers might waive it.
- Virgin Media: Offers competitive pricing at the lower end. The M125 plan might be as low as £26 per month. The Gig1 plan, offering speeds comparable to BT’s 900Mbps, ranges from £40–£45 per month, often better than BT’s pricing.
BT packages often include a Reward Card, which is a prepaid card that can be spent anywhere standard debit cards are accepted. Virgin Media offers promotions with free setup fees and bill credits.
With both BT and Virgin Media, you can bundle broadband, phone, and TV services. Virgin’s packages, especially those that include premium channels, start at £60 or more per month. BT’s TV + Sports bundles are also pricey; however, you can often find better value by adding additional services.
Customer Service
According to Ofcom and other surveys, BT and Virgin Media both receive mixed reviews, though BT usually ranks a bit better than Virgin.
BT: Receives fewer complaints on average than Virgin Media. Its call waiting time is under three minutes. Many customers find BT representatives helpful when contacting them for any issues.
Virgin Media: Often receives more complaints about customer support. Users say it is sometimes hard to get in touch with customer care and that they have to wait.
Overall, BT is ranked better for complaint handling and resolution.
Routers
BT Smart Hub 2
BT includes its Smart Hub 2 with most fibre deals. It has:
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz).
- “Smart scan” features that auto-reboot or fix problems.
- Seven antennas for wider coverage.
- Wi-Fi 5 standard (802.11ac). This is still decent, but not the newest Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
Virgin Media Hubs
Virgin Media offers following routers:
- Hub 3: Most common. Uses Wi-Fi 5.
- Hub 4: Also Wi-Fi 5, but better at handling high data transfer.
- Hub 5: Wi-Fi 6, available with Gig1 or other top-tier packages. Faster data handling and better capacity for many devices.
- Hub 5x: Used for Gig2 which is available in limited areas.
You can upgrade to Virgin Media’s Hub 5 or 5x for better WiFi, or you can use a compatible third-party router if you need additional features.
Extras
Both providers offer free extras as follows:
BT:
- BT Virus Protect: (powered by Norton in some cases) safeguards multiple devices.
- BT Cloud: Provides online storage (up to 1,000GB on some packages).
- Web Protect: Adds protection against phishing and suspicious sites.
- Access to BT Wi-Fi hotspots: Useful if you’re frequently on the move, scattered across the UK.
Virgin Media:
- Web Safe: Blocks potentially harmful sites and aids in parental control.
- F-Secure Antivirus Protection: Offered as an optional paid add-on, covering multiple devices.
- Virgin Media Wi-Fi Access: Available in certain public locations, not as many as BT’s hotspots.
Home Phone
Both BT and Virgin Media offer broadband and phone bundles. Home phone comes with following call options:
- Evening & Weekend Calls
- Anytime UK Calls
- International Minutes
Both BT and Virgin Media also offer mobile services (EE and O2 network respectively). By bundling mobile SIMs or phone contracts with broadband, you can receive additional discounts or data perks.
Performance
It’s important that your internet connection has enough speed to handle streaming, online gaming, and working from home.
Streaming: HD videos require about 5Mbps, while 4K content may need 25Mbps or more. Both BT and Virgin Media offer mid-range tiers (50Mbps+) that are excellent for HD streaming.
Gaming: Online gaming requires low latency more than extreme download speeds. BT is slightly better in terms of low latency.
Remote Work: Consistent upload speeds are crucial for video calls. BT’s Full Fibre 900 offers 110Mbps upload, while Virgin’s Gig1 provides 104Mbps. However, for everyday internet activities, 10–20Mbps upload is often sufficient.
While entry-level fibre plans are suitable for basic usage, if you are watching 4K videos or conducting Zoom calls on multiple devices simultaneously, you will need a plan offering 100–200Mbps or faster.
Installation and Setup
BT: If your home already has a phone line in place, self-installation can be straightforward. Plugging in the Smart Hub 2 usually takes just a few minutes, though an engineer visit is necessary for installing new FTTP lines.
Virgin Media: Since Virgin Media uses its own network, an engineer visit is often required if the property has never been connected before. In areas already cabled for Virgin, you might be able to use a QuickStart kit.
Reliability
BT broadband uses the nationwide Openreach network. Infrastructure issues sometimes cause outages in rural areas, but these are usually fixed by BT promptly.
Virgin Media’s cable network is known for its high bandwidth capacity and faster download speeds, especially in urban or suburban areas. However, outages can still occur, and because Virgin runs its own infrastructure, the repair timeline may depend on technician availability in your area.
Most broadband providers comply with guidelines set by Ofcom, including automatic compensation for extreme downtime or delayed engineer visits. BT and Virgin Media participate in Ofcom’s compensation scheme and must comply with Ofcom regulations if unexpected service issues become prolonged.
Pros and Cons
BT Broadband
Pros
- Widespread coverage across the UK, thanks to Openreach.
- Good variety of speeds, including an ADSL fallback.
- Generally solid customer service ratings.
- Extras like BT Virus Protect, large cloud storage, and Reward Cards.
Cons
- 24-month contracts can feel lengthy.
- Higher monthly costs, particularly for ultrafast tiers.
- The fastest speeds may not be available everywhere, even if fibre is offered.
Virgin Media
Pros
- Lightning-fast speeds, one of the best options for ultra fast speeds.
- 18-month contracts and flexible terms.
- Comprehensive TV bundles for sports, movies, and premium channels.
Cons
- Less coverage (around 60% of UK).
- Some customers report poor support.
- Can be expensive for top bundles.
- Engineer visits are needed for new installations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I get both BT and Virgin Media at my address?
You can check their websites using your postcode to see if you can get their services. BT covers more of the UK, so you’re more likely to find a BT plan anywhere. Virgin Media might not be available in rural areas.
Q2: Does Virgin Media always cost more than BT?
Not always. Virgin has some good deals at the entry-level, and its top-tier gigabit plan can cost less than BT’s 900Mbps plan. Prices change, so compare current offers. BT might be cheaper in some regions and during promotions.
Q3: Which provider is better for sports channels?
Both offer premium sports channels. BT includes TNT Sports. while Virgin Media also offers TNT Sports and offer premium channels like Sky Sports.
Q5: Why are Virgin Media’s speeds faster?
Virgin Media uses its own cable and fibre lines, which can handle more data than traditional copper phone lines and FTTC lines. BT relies on Openreach, which uses both old copper lines and FTTC lines. However, BT Full Fibre offers ultrafast speeds in selected areas.
Conclusion: Which Provider Should You Choose?
BT and Virgin Media are both offer a range of speeds and extras, yet they differ as you notice below:
- BT: BT broadband is available across the UK due to its wide coverage, while Virgin Media may not be available in your area. BT also has better ratings for customer care. That said, BT is a reliable broadband provider offering good add-ons.
- Virgin Media: Virgin Media is a great option for ultrafast speeds and bundles. It offers 18-month contracts, which are shorter than BT’s usual 24 months.
When considering all factors—speed, coverage, cost, customer service, and flexibility—you’ll find that BT wins on coverage and service reliability, while Virgin Media outshines for ultimate speed and shorter contract terms.
By checking availability, comparing deals, and going through the pros and cons above, you can make an informed decision on the best broadband provider—BT or Virgin Media.
BT vs Virgin Media – Summary table
| Feature | BT | Virgin Media |
|---|---|---|
| Network Type | Openreach network | Own fibre and cable network |
| FTTP Availability | Widely available across UK | Limited (suburban & semi-rural areas) |
| Maximum Download Speed | 900Mbps | 2000Mbps (Gig2) |
| Lowest Fibre Speed | 36Mbps (Full Fibre Essential) | 132Mbps (M125) |
| Symmetrical Speeds | No | Yes (Gig2 only, optional add-on) |
| FTTP Technology | GPON | XGS-PON (Gig2 only) |
| Maximum FTTP Upload Speed | 110Mbps (Full Fibre 900) | Up to 2Gbps (Gig2 symmetrical add-on) |
| Coverage | Approx. 97% | Approx. 60% |
| Coverage Expansion | 25 million homes by end of 2026 | 7 million homes targeted (with Nexfibre) |
| Contract Length | Usually 24 months | Usually 18 months |
| Monthly Cost (Entry-level Fibre) | £29-30 | £26 |
| Monthly Cost (Ultrafast/gigafast) | £55-£60/month (900Mbps) | £40-£50/month (Gig1/Gig2) |
| Setup Fees | £10-£30, sometimes waived | Approx. £35, sometimes waived |
| Installation | Self-install or engineer visit | Engineer visit usually required |
| Customer Satisfaction | Above average | Below average |
| Ofcom Complaint Levels | Lower complaints rate | Higher complaints rate |
| Public Wi-Fi Hotspots | Widely available across UK | Limited availability |
| Wi-Fi Router Included | Smart Hub 2 (Wi-Fi 5) | Hub 5x (Wi-Fi 6) for Gig2 |
| Wi-Fi Technology | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) on Gig2 |
| Wi-Fi extenders | Complete Wi-Fi discs | Virgin Wi-Fi Pods |
| Broadband & TV Bundles | Yes, variety of options (including TNT Sports) | Yes, extensive options (including premium Sky channels) |
| TV Bundle Flexibility | Less flexible, longer terms (24 months) | More flexible bundles available |
| Phone Line | Optional | Not required |
| Home Phone call plans | Available (Evening, Weekend, International) | Available (similar call plans) |
| Mobile network | EE | O2 |
| ADSL Availability | Yes | No |
| Data Limits | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Traffic Management Policy | None | None |
| Free Security Software | BT Virus Protect included | Web Safe included, antivirus optional (paid) |
| Online Storage | BT Cloud storage (up to 1,000GB) | Not included |
| Outage Compensation Scheme (Ofcom) | Yes | Yes |
| Latency for Online Gaming | Good performance (Openreach) | Very good performance (fibre/cable) |
| Speeds for HD/4K Streaming | Excellent at mid and high tiers | Excellent across all fibre tiers |
| Future Network Upgrades | Rapidly expanding Full Fibre | Upgrading to symmetrical 10Gbps (Nexfibre partnership) |
| Engineer Visit Required? | Sometimes (for FTTP) | Required for installing new cable lines |
| One month contract | No | Yes |
| Special Offers | BT Reward Cards (Prepaid cards) | Bill credit Free Setup |
| Suitable for Remote Work? | Good | Excellent (symmetrical option with Gig2) |
| TV packages | Yes | Wide range of TV packages |
| Fastest speed available | 900Mbps | Gig1 (1130Mbps), Gig2 limited |
| Good for very busy homes? | Yes, extensive ultra-speed options | Yes, extensive ultra-speed options |
| Pricing | Less flexible (generally pricier) | More flexible (cheaper entry plans) |
| Quick Installation | Usually quick (phone line) | QuickStart only if existing infrastructure |
| Customer Helpline Waiting Time | Shorter (under 3 mins) | Longer average waiting time |