Broadband · Head to head
BT vs Virgin Media broadband: which costs less?
The quick answer
On 27 Oct 2026, BT's best-value deal is Fibre 1 at £32.99 a month real cost and Virgin Media's is M125 Fibre Broadband at £23.99. Virgin Media is cheaper by £9.00 a month on its best-value deal, with fees and stated price rises counted.
Best value from each 27 Oct 2026
11 deals · best value first
Every deal from both, ranked by real cost
Ranked by real cost: setup fees and every stated price rise in, reward cards out. Prices checked on each provider's own site, 27 Oct 2026.
Leaving early
What it costs to leave each one early
Leaving BT early
The remaining amount you would have paid up to the end of the minimum period (usually 12, 18 or 24 months), minus the costs BT saves from you leaving early; monthly price x months left, plus VAT. No fee after the minimum period.
Notice: 30 days' notice (14 days when switching through an approved switching process).
Leaving Virgin Media early
Early Disconnection Fee: a percentage of the remaining monthly charges (Virgin's guide shows 78% to 96% depending on package and pricing), plus the 30-day notice charge; VAT is added. After the minimum term the contract rolls monthly with no fee.
Virgin's own example: Bigger Bundle at £79 a month with 4 months left, standard pricing = £280.45 to £304.15 including the £79 notice charge. Broadband M500 at £62, 4 months left = £234.98 to £240.56.
Notice: 30 days' notice, unless stated otherwise.
From Virgin Media's own page, price list (PDF), read 26 Oct 2026
The big difference
BT and Virgin Media differ most on their network and on how they handle price rises. BT mainly runs on the Openreach network, which BT Group also owns. Virgin Media runs its own cable and full fibre network. Full fibre means a fibre cable runs all the way into your home.
Speeds vary too. BT's advertised speeds run from 35Mb to 900Mb. Virgin Media's run from 132Mb to 2000Mb, so its top speed is higher. Both offer 24-month contracts, and both come without a landline.
The price-rise approach is the clearest gap. BT states its mid-contract price rises in pounds on its deal page, and our table builds them into the real cost. Virgin Media's deal page states no price rise in pounds for these packages.
Choose BT if
Choose BT if you want a speed guarantee, help with leaving fees, or you live outside Virgin Media's network.
- You want a speed guarantee. BT lists 425Mbps and 700Mbps speed guarantees with its broadband. Sort the table by speed to compare them.
- You want help with leaving fees. BT offers up to £300 towards leaving fees, applied as a bill credit. New customers only.
- You live outside Virgin Media's network. BT sells full fibre, a cable running all the way into your home, where your postcode has it. Elsewhere it sells part fibre, which uses copper for the last stretch. Check your postcode on BT's site.
Choose Virgin Media if
Choose Virgin Media if you want fast speeds, a social tariff, or TV and broadband together as a bundle.
- You want very fast broadband. Virgin Media's advertised speeds reach 2000Mb in our table. Check your postcode on Virgin Media's site first, as its deals depend on your area.
- You receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Virgin Media offers a social tariff, a cheaper plan for people on qualifying benefits. A DWP check confirms your benefits.
- You want TV and broadband together as a bundle. Virgin Media's bundles are shown in our second table. Its broadband also has no setup fee and includes Netflix Standard with Ads.
Straight answers
Questions people ask
- Is BT cheaper than Virgin Media?
- It depends on your package and postcode, so sort the tables by real cost. Real cost adds up your monthly price, every stated price rise and any setup fee, then takes off bill credit. BT's up to £300 leaving-fee credit lowers its figure, while Virgin Media states no price rise in pounds for these packages.
- Which is faster, BT or Virgin Media?
- Virgin Media is faster, with advertised speeds up to 2000Mb against BT's 900Mb. Both offer full fibre, where a fibre cable runs all the way into your home. Your real speed depends on your address, your router and your Wi-Fi. BT also lists 425Mbps and 700Mbps speed guarantees with its broadband.
- Can I switch from Virgin Media to BT easily?
- Yes, you can switch from Virgin Media to BT by contacting only BT. Ofcom's One Touch Switch means BT tells Virgin Media and arranges the move for you. Check your postcode on BT's site first, because BT deals depend on where you live.
Keep comparing
Your next question, answered
- BT broadbandEvery BT broadband deal we track: speeds, contract, stated price rises and the real monthly cost, read from BT's own site daily.
- Virgin Media broadbandEvery Virgin Media broadband deal we track: speeds, contract, stated price rises and the real monthly cost, read from Virgin Media's own site daily.
- Cheapest broadbandThe cheapest UK broadband deals today by real cost over the contract, fees and price rises included. Every provider, checked daily.