Virgin Media M500 fibre broadband just £20.99 per month
Dan Howdle • February 3rd, 2026
Get M500 broadband for just £20.99 a month
Virgin Media’s M500 package usually sits in the 'seriously fast, but you pay for it' bracket. Not this time. At £20.99 per month on a 24-month contract, it’s suddenly one of the cheapest ways to get truly high-end broadband at home.
With average download speeds of around 500Mbps, this is a bit more speed than most households will ever fully use – but it does mean everything just feels instant. Big downloads, game installs, cloud backups and multi-device streaming all happen without you having to think about it.
At this price, a lot of slower Full Fibre deals from other big providers end up costing the same – or more. If you’ve been thinking about going faster, this is one of those rare moments where jumping up a speed tier actually saves you money rather than costing extra.
Virgin Media M500 Fibre Broadband
Fixed price until March 2026 bill
516Mb
Average speed
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£20.99 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
This truly is an amazing price. Amazingly cheap, with no compromises.
No bill credit, no reward gimmicks – just a very low price
Virgin Media is taking the simple route with this M500 deal, and it makes a lot of sense. Instead of bill credits, cashback cards and 'effective monthly cost' gymnastics, they’ve just cut the monthly price to £20.99 and called it a day.
That means what you see is what you pay. No waiting around for credits to be applied, no spreading discounts across several months, and no calculator needed. Your bill starts low and stays low, apart from the usual industry-wide price rise each April.
Put this next to other 500Mbps-ish deals and look at the real monthly price. There is nothing else even remotely as good value right now.
Buy online Compare Virgin Media deals
M500 is more speed than most homes need – and that’s the point
Truthfully, 500Mbps is already beyond what most households actually need day to day. Even with streaming, video calls, gaming and a house full of phones and tablets, you’re unlikely to push it to its limits very often. But having that extra headroom makes everything feel smoother and less crowded.
It means big downloads don’t turn into tea breaks, updates don’t hijack your evening, and multiple people can be online at once without anyone shouting that the Wi-Fi has 'gone slow again'. It’s the difference between broadband that just about keeps up and broadband that never seems bothered.
Talk to the team and unlock special deals and offers. We're open Monday to Sunday 8am-9pm. Call us now on:
0330 221 9429You’re also giving yourself some future breathing space. Homes only ever add more connected devices. Choosing a faster package like M500 means you’re less likely to feel the need to upgrade again in a year or two. It’s a bit indulgent, but very practical, and at this price, unusually sensible.
For more information, see our guide to getting broadband installed.
Gig1 Fibre Broadband
Fixed price until March 2026 bill
1.1Gb
Average speed
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£23.99 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
M500 Fibre Broadband
Fixed price until March 2026 bill
516Mb
Average speed
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£20.99 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
M125 Fibre Broadband
Fixed price until March 2026 bill
132Mb
Average speed
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£16.99 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
Virgin Media Hub 5
Hub 3 is no mare – it’s all Hub 5 now. And to be fair to Virgin, it’s a decent bit of kit for a free router – you plug it in, it does the job, and for most people that’s the whole brief.
The main upgrade with Hub 5 (versus Hub 3) is Wi-Fi 6 (so newer phones, tablets and laptops generally get a faster, steadier connection), plus you get a fast 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for anyone who likes plugging things in the old-fashioned way. Here's a look at the specs:
Hub 5 specs overview:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi spec | Wi-Fi 6 |
| 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band | 3x3 11/b/g/n/ax |
| 5 GHz Wi-Fi band | 4x4 11ax |
| Dual band | Concurrent |
| Antennas | 7 |
| Network connection | DOCSIS 3.1 |
| Ethernet ports | 1x 2.5Gbps, 3x 1Gbps |
| WPS push button | Yes |
| Guest network | Yes |
Installation and switching are very easy
Because Virgin Media runs on its own fibre network (where almost all the other providers run on Openreach), you'll need to contact your existing provider to let them know you are leaving, after you have signed up with Virgin Media. Be sure to check that you are out of your current contract period to avoid paying any early cancellation fees.
It's worth noting that from April 2023, the process became simpler. Under Ofcom regulations, switching providers now features 'One Touch Switching', meaning you’ll only need to sign up with Virgin, and they will handle the switch with your existing provider. Previously you would have had to inform both providers, old and new.
During the sign-up process with Virgin Media, you’ll be asked to book an appointment for an engineer to visit your property. The engineer will connect your home to the Virgin fibre network, which may involve running a new cable into your home and drilling a small hole in the wall. If you already have an existing Virgin Media connection in place, you may be eligible for self-installation, where Virgin will post you the router for a DIY setup.
For rented properties, it’s essential to get permission from your landlord for the installation, as drilling and external cabling may be required. Overall, the installation process is quick and smooth, with most installations completed within a couple of hours.
No setup fees with the M500 deal
A major plus with this Gig1 deal is that all setup costs have been waived. Many broadband providers charge for installation or router delivery, but with this offer, there are no such fees. This means that not only are you getting a great price for fast broadband, but you’re also avoiding additional costs that could otherwise add up.
In contrast, some other providers typically charge up to £35 for setup or delivery fees, making Virgin's offering even more appealing. So, when you sign up for this deal, your total cost is limited to the monthly fee, with no hidden extras.
Why Virgin Media is one of the best providers
Virgin Media consistently ranks as one of the top broadband providers in the UK, known for its fast speeds, reliable service, and solid equipment. Thanks having its own network, it provides consistently high speeds, with less congestion compared to Standard Fibre.
In Ofcom’s annual report, Virgin Media regularly scores well in terms of customer satisfaction, broadband speeds, and reliability. However, it should be noted that it had a bumpy patch recently (that it now seems to have addressed), finding itself lower in the customer satisfaction stakes. With its Gig1 package, you’re getting the best balance of speed and affordability, especially with this limited-time offer. The router, the speeds, and the bill credit make this a standout deal in today’s competitive broadband market.
How does M500 compare to other deals?
To get a thorough idea of how this deal stacks up, it's going to be a good idea to take a look at what the competition is offering. Here are two similar deals from Sky and BT:
Full Fibre 500
400Mbps speed guarantee£5 fee refunded to first bill
500Mb
Average speed
Pay as you go calls
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£30.00 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
You will be sent instructions on how to choose your Gift Card up to 120 days after your purchase. You will have 90 days to claim your Gift Card by sending it to your email or mobile phone.
Full Fibre 500
Prices may vary depending on location
500Mb
Average speed
No phone line
24
Month contract
Zero upfront cost
£31.99 Per month
Effective monthly cost is calculated by adding up all the monthly costs, price rises and any discounts and dividing it by the contract length.
Claim your BT Reward Card within 3 months of placing your order by entering your details on www.bt.com/manage/bt-reward-card/. You must activate the card within 3 months of it being issued.
- Sky Full Fibre Gigafast: Offers 500Mbps for £30 per month on a 24-month contract, with a £5 one-off cost that's refunded on your first bill. It's much more expensive than M500 now, but it is currently offered with a £80 gift card.
- BT Full Fibre 900: Provides 500Mbps average speed for £31.99 per month on a 24-month contract. There's no setup fee, but the deal currently has a £100 virtual reward card, and is still substantially more expensive than M500
Easily compare the best deals, providers and speeds where you live. It's free and takes less than a minute to check your postcode.
