Choosing between BT and Virgin Media? We know it can be confusing to decide which is best. They’re two of the UK’s biggest names - but what they offer is slightly different.
Whether you're chasing the fastest speeds, need wide coverage, or care about extras like TV and rewards, this guide will help you pick the right broadband service.
At a glance: BT vs Virgin Media Broadband
| Feature | BT | Virgin Media | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Deal | Fibre 2 (£26.99 p/m) | M125 (£25.99) | Virgin |
| Top Broadband Speed | 910Mb (Full Fibre 900) | 1.1Gb (Gig1) / 2Gb (Gig2) | Virgin |
| Set-up Fees | £0-£62 | £0-£35 | Tie |
| Rewards | Reward Cards (£50–£125) | Bill Credit (£25-£110) | BT |
| UK Availability | Nationwide (Openreach) Full Fibre (FTTP) - 56% |
55% | BT |
| Customer service | Consistently better reviews | More complaints | BT |
| TV bundles | EE TV + NOW + TNT Sports | Virgin TV 360 / Flex TV + Sky | Virgin |
| Phone & Mobile Extras | Bundled Calls or PAYG | Bundled Calls or PAYG | Tie |
Cheapest broadband only deals: Virgin is cheaper
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BT Fibre 2
|
Virgin Media M125 Fibre
|
|---|---|---|
| Download speed (average) | 74Mb | 132Mb |
| Upload speed | 19Mb | 20Mb |
| Data usage limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Traffic Management | No | No |
| Contract length | 24 months | 18 months |
| Monthly price (initial contract term) | £26.99 | £25.99 |
As of June 2025, Virgin’s M125 Fibre Broadband offers 132Mb for £25.99 per month. That’s nearly double the speed of BT’s Fibre 2, which gives 74Mb for £26.99 per month.
Both plans come with unlimited usage and no traffic management.
Winner: Virgin Media
Broadband speed: Virgin is faster
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BT Fibre Full Fibre 900
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Virgin Media Gig1
|
|---|---|---|
| Download speed (average) | 910Mb | 1.1Gb |
| Upload speed | 110Mb | 104Mb |
| Data usage limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Traffic Management | No | No |
| Contract length | 24 months | 18 months |
| Monthly price (initial contract term) | £44.99 | £36.99 |
Virgin Media takes the lead on average download speeds. Its Gig1 plan hits 1.1Gb, and there's an even faster, high-speed Gig2 (2Gb) option in limited areas.
BT’s Full Fibre 900 is slightly behind at 910Mb but offers faster upload speeds.
Fewer homes can get BT’s full fibre service - your home will need to have been upgraded to a full fibre network (FTTP).
Winner: Virgin Media
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What is FTTP broadband?
Full Fibre broadband is also known as ‘Fibre To The Premises’, ‘Fibre To The Home’. This is often shortened to FTTP or FTTH. They’re all the same thing!
Instead of copper telephone wire making up the final part of the journey from that green cabinet on the street, fibre optic cables are installed right up to your home.
It’s amazing the difference in speed this small data journey can have. With full-fibre broadband you can expect to receive speeds of 1Gb+.
The downside is full-fibre is only available to a small percentage of homes in the UK, and it’s taking a good while to get everyone up to speed.
More reading: 'FTTC vs. FTTP: what's the difference?'
Setup cost: installation costs vary
BT broadband's set-up deals vary a lot. Often you can get a special deal with £0 set-up, but it’s not guaranteed. Other times, you can expect to pay between £32-£62, depending on the package.
Virgin Media’s standard installation cost is £30, but you might find broadband offers with free installation.
Virgin uses its own network. Unless your property already has a Virgin line, installation will be needed. There may also be a longer waiting time for set-up.
BT Broadband uses either a phone or fibre optic line. There’s a good chance you’ve already got a phone line in your home, so there’s probably not much to do when setting it up besides plugging in your free Wi-Fi router.
Winner: Tie
Freebies and rewards: BT’s Reward Card adds more value
It’s common BT offers a pre-paid Reward Card worth £50–£100 when you join as a new customer. This is a pre-paid card that you can spend in most places that accept Mastercard.
Virgin may include a Bill Credit or throw in gifts like streaming subscriptions, but these vary more and it’s rare to get a reward you can spend elsewhere.
Winner: BT
Shop Broadband with Free Gifts
Availability: BT is more widespread
BT uses the Openreach network, so nearly every UK home can get some kind of BT service. The Virgin Media network, on the other hand, is separate and entirely owned and operated by Virgin.
While the advantage is that it can deliver much faster speeds, it does mean that fewer homes have access to a Virgin line.
Winner: BT
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Customer service: BT scores higher
In our 2024 Broadband Awards, BT customers rated the provider’s technical and billing support with a high 70% customer satisfaction rate. Unfortunately, Virgin Media's customer support reputation has fallen over the past year.
Ofcom's broadband complaints data from July to September 2024 showed Virgin Media to have more complaints than the industry average.
Winner: BT
TV bundles: Virgin offers more
Virgin Media’s TV service delivers Sky Max, Sky Atlantic, on-demand shows and hundreds of channels.
Flex TV is also now available - giving customers access to popular streaming subscriptions on a rolling monthly basis. The stream box costs a reasonable £5 per month (+ chosen subscriptions).
BT’s EE TV offers Freeview, TNT Sports, and NOW bundles - ideal if you love live sport or want a temporary Sky Cinema pass. No matter which TV package you go for, you can also add Netflix.
Winner: Virgin Media
Compare Broadband & TV Bundles
Extras: phone and mobile options
Home phone
You can get BT phone service without inclusive calls. But if you do use the phone regularly, you can sign up to inclusive calling bundles, including unlimited UK landline and mobile calling and free international calls.
You’ll find a similar selection of inclusive calling bundles with Virgin. You can also opt to take a 'phone line-only deal' and just pay for what you use at a standard rate.
Mobile
Virgin and BT both offer mobile phone packages, with various tariffs, including SIM-only plans, and bonuses for broadband customers.
Winner: Tie
Verdict: which is better - BT or Virgin?
| Go with BT if... | Go with Virgin Media if... |
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FAQs
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Is Virgin Media faster than BT?
Yes, Virgin Media offers faster top-end speeds than BT, with its Gig1 package reaching 1.1Gb (2Gb is some locations). However, BT Full Fibre speeds are still very fast and may be easy to sign up to, depending on your location.
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Which provider is better for gaming and streaming?
Both are good, but Virgin’s higher speeds make it ideal for large households or 4K streaming. BT’s FTTP services offer low latency and steady performance for gamers.
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Can I get Virgin Media and BT at the same address?
Yes, many homes can get both, but availability depends on your location. Use a postcode checker to see what’s available where you live.
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Which provider is cheaper?
It depends on the broadband packages and any current promotions. BT often has lower upfront fees and better rewards. Virgin Media may cost more monthly but offers higher speeds.
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Do both providers offer phone and TV bundles?
Yes. BT uses NOW TV and includes BT Sport, while Virgin Media offers its own TV platform with Sky channels and add-ons. You can also sign up to a rolling monthly TV subscription with Virgin Flex.
Looking for the best deal right now? Compare BT and Virgin broadband deals to find what suits your home and budget.