Last updated: Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when BT or Virgin Media change their prices, when thinkbroadband publishes new network coverage figures, or when the CMA decides on the nexfibre and Netomnia deal (due by 15 December 2026).
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd
As of 21 October 2026, the biggest alternative to Virgin Media is Openreach full fibre, which independent analysis puts at 22.4 million UK premises and which BT, EE, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, Vodafone and others sell; BT Full Fibre 900 costs £35.99 a month on a 24-month contract. CityFibre, YouFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and Gigaclear reach fewer homes but can be faster or cheaper where they are built, and you can leave Virgin Media through One Touch Switch, so your new provider arranges the move for you. The catch is that Virgin TV isn’t covered by One Touch Switch, and an early disconnection fee applies if you are still in your minimum term. This SwitchSquid guide compares every realistic Virgin Media alternative, network by network, with the costs and switching steps. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.
Sources: ISPreview — largest UK full fibre networks, H1 2026 (thinkbroadband data), Ofcom — switching broadband provider, BT broadband deals, Virgin Media gigabit broadband and Gigaclear packages (all checked on 21 October 2026).
BT Full Fibre 900 — £35.99 a month
Up to 900Mbps with a 700Mbps guarantee and 110Mbps upload for £35.99 a month on a 24-month contract when we checked on 21 October 2026
Runs on Openreach full fibre, the biggest alternative network to Virgin Media
Main limitation: the price rises to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028, and full fibre isn’t at every address
Virgin Media alternatives: the short answer
Most homes: Openreach full fibre is the likeliest alternative at a Virgin Media address. BT, EE, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, Vodafone and NOW all sell it, so you can shop on price and extras.
Many towns and cities: CityFibre (sold by Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen and others) and Netomnia (sold as YouFibre) are often cheaper for very fast speeds and give matching upload speeds on many plans.
London and blocks of flats: Community Fibre and Hyperoptic are strong options where they have built.
Villages and rural areas: Gigaclear builds its own full fibre network in rural communities, mostly where Virgin Media’s cable doesn’t reach.
The right answer depends on your address, so start with a postcode check. Our broadband coverage checker shows which networks reach your home.
Why people look for an alternative to Virgin Media
Virgin Media is still one of the fastest broadband options in the UK. Its Gig1 package offers an average download speed of 1,136Mbps for £29.99 a month on a 24-month minimum term, according to Virgin Media’s own page when we checked on 21 October 2026. So why do so many customers look elsewhere?
The price after the minimum term. Virgin Media says Gig1 moves from £29.99 to £43.69 a month after the minimum term. If you are already out of contract, you could be paying well above new-customer prices.
Upload speeds. Most of Virgin Media’s network is cable, which gives much slower uploads than downloads. Full fibre plans from altnets such as YouFibre and Gigaclear often offer the same speed both ways, which helps with video calls, cloud backups and big file uploads.
Bundles you no longer use. Many customers started on a TV bundle and now stream everything. A broadband-only plan elsewhere can cost less.
Reliability in your area. If your street has had repeated faults, our Virgin Media outage guide explains your rights, but a different network may simply suit you better.
Before you leave, it is worth calling Virgin Media to ask for its best retention price. You can compare that offer with the alternatives below. Our Virgin Media broadband comparison shows its current packages.
Virgin Media alternatives compared, network by network
Most broadband brands don’t own a network. They rent lines from a network operator, so the real question is which networks reach your home. This table uses thinkbroadband’s April 2026 premises counts, as published by ISPreview in August 2026.
Network | Type | Premises passed (April 2026) | Who sells it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Openreach | Full fibre | 22.4 million | BT, EE, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, Vodafone, NOW, Zen and others | Widest choice of providers and bundles |
CityFibre | Full fibre | 4.4 million | Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen, Cuckoo and others | Fast, often cheaper plans in many towns and cities |
Netomnia | Full fibre | 3.2 million | YouFibre | Very high speeds with matching uploads |
Community Fibre | Full fibre | 1.5 million | Community Fibre | London homes and flats |
Hyperoptic | Full fibre | 1.4 million | Hyperoptic | Apartment blocks and new-build developments |
Gigaclear | Full fibre | 642,000 | Gigaclear | Rural homes and villages |
Virgin Media (nexfibre full fibre and cable) | Full fibre and cable | 2.5 million on nexfibre full fibre, plus Virgin Media’s cable network | Virgin Media | The network you are leaving, for comparison |
ISPreview notes that thinkbroadband’s figures can run one to three months behind real build, and that Virgin Media’s own network is hard to track while it upgrades cable areas to full fibre. Treat the numbers as a guide to scale, not a promise for your street.
What it costs over the first 12 months (from a November 2026 start): BT Full Fibre 900 is £35.99 a month until 31 March 2027, then £39.99, which comes to about £460 over the first year. Gigaclear lists its 900Mbps package from £29 a month on an 18-month term, about £348 a year if the price doesn’t change. For comparison, Virgin Media Gig1 is £29.99 a month for new customers on a 24-month term.
Rural home? Gigaclear 900Mbps from £29 a month
900Mbps average upload and download speed from £29 a month on an 18-month term, about £348 a year if the price stays the same
£0 activation fee and an eero WiFi 7 router included
Only at addresses on Gigaclear’s rural network; prices may change during the contract and move to the list price after 18 months
Openreach full fibre: the biggest Virgin Media alternative
Openreach is BT Group’s network business, but you don’t have to buy from BT to use it. Dozens of providers sell broadband over the same lines, so you can choose on price, router, customer service or TV extras.
BT Full Fibre 900 is a good benchmark. When we checked on 21 October 2026, BT listed it at £35.99 a month on a 24-month contract, rising to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028, with a 700Mbps minimum guaranteed speed, 110Mbps upload and a £0 activation fee. Our BT Full Fibre 900 guide breaks those costs down.
Since January 2025, Ofcom rules have required broadband providers to show any in-contract price rises in pounds and pence, which is why BT can list the exact price for each year of the contract. That applies to Virgin Media too, so compare the full contract cost rather than the first month. The full fibre vs cable guide explains the technical differences.
CityFibre, YouFibre and other altnets
If an alternative network has reached your street, it is often worth a look. Altnets compete hard on price to win customers from Virgin Media and Openreach providers.
CityFibre is the largest independent full fibre network, with 4.4 million premises in thinkbroadband’s April 2026 count. You buy it through providers such as Vodafone, TalkTalk and Zen.
YouFibre runs on Netomnia’s network, which passed 3.2 million premises in April 2026. Our YouFibre review covers its prices and reviews.
Community Fibre and Hyperoptic are strongest in London and in blocks of flats.
Gigaclear serves rural communities, with 642,000 premises in the same count. Our Gigaclear review has the detail.
One thing to watch: the Competition and Markets Authority is reviewing nexfibre’s planned purchase of the group behind Netomnia and YouFibre. Nothing changes for customers today, and the CMA’s statutory deadline is 15 December 2026.
How to leave Virgin Media without paying twice
Switching away from Virgin Media is easier than it used to be. Under Ofcom’s One Touch Switch process, you only need to contact your new provider.
Check your contract end date. Virgin Media charges an early disconnection fee if you leave during your minimum term. Your new provider must show you any fees before the switch goes ahead.
Order with your new provider. Give them your address, your current provider and the services you want to switch. They contact Virgin Media for you.
Read the information Virgin Media sends. It sets out any charges and your contract details. If you are happy, confirm the switch.
Book any installation. Moving from cable to full fibre usually needs a new connection, so your new provider should tell you if an engineer visit is needed.
Cancel Virgin TV separately. One Touch Switch covers broadband and landline, not TV, so call Virgin Media about any TV package.
Return your kit. Virgin Media asks you to return its equipment when you leave, and it may charge if you don’t.
Ofcom says your old provider can’t charge you for any notice period after the switch date, and any loss of service should last no longer than one working day. You have 14 days to cancel a new order if you change your mind. Our One Touch Switch guide covers the process in more detail.
Cable vs full fibre: what actually changes when you leave
For most streaming and browsing, you won’t notice much difference between Virgin Media’s fastest cable plans and a 900Mbps full fibre plan. Where you will notice it is upload speed and consistency. BT Full Fibre 900 offers 110Mbps upload, while some altnets match upload to download.
The other change is your router. Every provider supplies its own, and you will need to reconnect your devices or set the new router to use your old Wi-Fi name and password. Ofcom suggests the second option to save time, as long as the password is strong.
If you aren’t sure which networks reach you, ask Squid AI, SwitchSquid’s AI deal assistant, to explain the options for your postcode, or read our guide to checking broadband deals by postcode.
Fit summary
Good fit for Openreach full fibre: you want the widest choice of providers, a clear price for each year, or a bundle with mobile or TV from BT, EE or Sky.
Good fit for an altnet: CityFibre, YouFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre or Gigaclear has reached your street and you want fast uploads for less.
Stay with Virgin Media if: it offers a retention price that beats the alternatives, or no full fibre network reaches your address yet.
Important conditions
Availability depends on your exact address, so check your postcode before ordering.
Virgin Media charges an early disconnection fee if you leave before your minimum term ends.
One Touch Switch doesn’t cover TV, so cancel any Virgin TV separately.
BT Full Fibre 900 rises to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028.
Gigaclear prices may change during the contract and move to its standard list price after 18 months.
Final decision card
Openreach full fibre at your address? BT Full Fibre 900 at £35.99 a month gives you 900Mbps with a 700Mbps guarantee.
In a village outside Virgin Media’s network? Check whether Gigaclear has reached your home.
Still in contract? Work out the early disconnection fee before you switch.
Leaving Virgin Media? Check BT Full Fibre 900
BT Full Fibre 900 for £35.99 a month, £0 activation fee
Switch by contacting BT only, with One Touch Switch
Cancel any Virgin TV separately and return your Virgin Media kit
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Virgin Media?
For most homes, it is a full fibre plan on Openreach’s network, sold by BT, EE, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, Vodafone and others. If CityFibre, YouFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre or Gigaclear has reached your street, they can be cheaper for similar speeds. Check your postcode to see which networks you can get.
Can I switch from Virgin Media to BT without calling Virgin?
Yes. Under One Touch Switch, you order with BT and BT contacts Virgin Media for you. Virgin Media will send you details of any charges before the switch goes ahead. You still need to cancel any Virgin TV package yourself.
Do I have to pay to leave Virgin Media?
If you are still in your minimum term, Virgin Media charges an early disconnection fee. If you are out of contract, you can leave without that fee and Virgin Media can’t charge you for a notice period after the switch date. Your new provider must show you any fees before you confirm.
Is full fibre faster than Virgin Media?
Download speeds are similar at the top end, with Virgin Media Gig1 averaging 1,136Mbps and many full fibre plans offering 900Mbps or more. Full fibre usually has faster uploads and a more consistent connection. For video calls and cloud backups, that can make a real difference.
Which providers don’t use Virgin Media’s network?
Virgin Media is the only provider on its own cable network. BT, EE, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, Vodafone and NOW use Openreach, while CityFibre is sold by Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen and others. YouFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and Gigaclear run their own full fibre networks.
Will I lose my internet when I switch from Virgin Media?
Ofcom says any loss of service during a One Touch Switch should last no longer than one working day. If you are moving to a new network, you may need an engineer visit to connect your home first. Your old service should stop automatically once the new one is working.
Last updated: Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when BT or Virgin Media change their prices, or when the CMA decides on the nexfibre and Netomnia deal.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd
