Thinking about switching to Virgin Media M125? Before you choose it, compare M125 with Virgin Media’s faster broadband plans, so you can find the better option for your needs.
First, let’s compare the speeds.
| Virgin Media plan | Average download speed | Average upload speed |
|---|---|---|
| M125 | 132Mbps | 20Mbps |
| M250 | 264Mbps | 25Mbps |
| M350 | 362Mbps | 36Mbps |
| M500 | 516Mbps | 52Mbps |
| Gig1 | 1,130Mbps | 104Mbps |
| Gig2 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps |
Virgin Media M125 & M250 Online Exclusive Deals
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Is Virgin M125 is fast enough for your home. Lets see whether you can manage with its speeds.
What is 132Mbps download speed, is it really fast?
132Mbps means your broadband can download 132 megabits of data every second. For one person or a couple, 132Mbps is usually more than enough. For a small family, it can still be fine, as long as everyone is not downloading large files or streaming in 4K at the same time.
| Activity | How many devices at a time? |
|---|---|
| Browsing websites | 10+ devices |
| Social media | 8–10 devices |
| Online shopping and banking | 8–10 devices |
| HD streaming (YouTube) | 5–6 devices |
| 4K streaming (Netflix) | 4–5 devices |
| HD video calls | 4–6 calls |
| 4K video calls | 1–2 calls |
| Online gaming (Fortnite, Call of Duty, EA FC, GTA Online, Minecraft, Roblox and Rocket League) | 4–6 players |
| Downloading large games | 1–2 large downloads at once |
Download time at 132Mbps
| File or download | Download time on 132Mbps |
|---|---|
| 1GB file | 1 minute 1 second |
| 5GB HD movie | 5 minutes 3 seconds |
| 20GB game update | 20 minutes 12 seconds |
| 50GB game | 50 minutes 30 seconds |
| 100GB game | 1 hour 41 minutes |
What is 20Mbps upload speed, and is it enough?
20Mbps upload speed means your broadband can send data from your home to the internet at 20 megabits per second. It can manage HD video calls, online gaming, social media uploads and cloud documents. It can feel limited if you upload large videos, use cloud backup often, or have several people on video calls at the same time.
| Activity | How many devices at a time? |
|---|---|
| Sending emails | 10+ devices |
| Social media uploads (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or X) | 4–6 devices |
| Uploading photos (phone photos, WhatsApp images, Google Photos or iCloud) | 2–4 devices |
| HD video calls (Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Google Meet) | 4–5 calls |
| 4K video calls (where the app and camera allow 4K video) | 1–2 calls |
| Online gaming (Fortnite, Call of Duty, EA FC, GTA Online, Minecraft, Roblox or Rocket League) | 4–6 players |
| Working on cloud apps (Google Docs, Microsoft 365, Dropbox or OneDrive) | 4–6 users |
| Uploading large video files (YouTube videos, work projects or design files) | 1 large upload at once |
Upload time at 20Mbps
| File size | Upload time on 20Mbps |
|---|---|
| 500MB photo folder | 3 minutes 20 seconds |
| 1GB file | 6 minutes 40 seconds |
| 5GB video file | 33 minutes 20 seconds |
| 20GB backup | 2 hours 13 minutes |
Virgin Media Hub 5 router
The latest Hub 5 is Virgin Media’s WiFi 6 router. It comes with seven internal antennas, one 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and three 1Gbps Ethernet ports. It also uses DOCSIS 3.1 technology, which is used for Virgin Media’s faster cable networks.
However, M125 customers may still receive the older Hub 3, which uses WiFi 5. For a small home, flat or light-use household, Hub 3 should still be enough for M125’s 132Mbps average download speed. It can manage browsing, streaming, video calls and everyday broadband tasks.
Hub 5 is a clear advantage if you have a larger home, many rooms, upstairs bedrooms, thicker walls or many devices connected at the same time. The newer WiFi 6 technology can give better wireless performance than Hub 3, especially on newer phones, laptops and tablets.
WiFi Max
Virgin Media WiFi Max is Virgin Media’s whole-home WiFi add-on. It uses WiFi Pods to improve wireless coverage in rooms where the main router signal is weak.
WiFi Max comes with a WiFi guarantee of at least 30Mbps download speed in every room, or Virgin Media gives a £100 bill credit. You can get up to three WiFi Pods if needed.
For M125 customers, WiFi Max costs £8 per month unless it is included through a Volt package.
WiFi Max is worth considering if M125 gives good speed near the router but weaker WiFi signal in bedrooms, upstairs rooms, garden offices or areas behind thick walls. In that case, the issue is usually WiFi coverage inside the home, not the M125 speed itself.
M125 broadband price: is it good value, or should you choose M250?
M125 is the cheapest broadband option from Virgin Media, while M250 is the next faster plan.
Compared with M125, M250 gives you average 264Mbps download speed and 25Mbps upload speed. That means you get double the download speed of M125, plus 5Mbps more upload speed.
Choose M250 when you need faster speeds and more bandwidth for your activities. Stick with M125 when 132Mbps is enough for your usage and the cheaper deal saves you money.
When is M250 the better value?
M250 can offer better value when the price difference is small. This is especially true during promotional deals, where the faster package may only cost a few pounds more per month than M125. In that case, paying slightly more for double the download speed can be worthwhile, especially if you are unsure whether M125 gives enough bandwidth for your home.
M250 is also the better option if you regularly download large files, stream in 4K on more than one device, have several people online in the evening, or want extra capacity for future use. The upload speed increase is smaller, so the main benefit is the faster 264Mbps download speed.
When is M125 the right option?
M125 is the right deal when its speed is enough for your home and the monthly price is clearly lower than M250. If you mostly browse, stream, use video calls, shop online and use social media, M125 can give you the speed you need while keeping the monthly bill lower.
M125 broadband alternatives
If you are looking at entry-level fibre plans with 100Mbps+ download speeds, M125 is a good choice to consider. But before you choose it, compare similar plans from other providers available in your area.
BT Full Fibre 150
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 28Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster download and upload speeds |
| Cons | Expensive |
| Gift offer | £95 Reward Card |
Sky Full Fibre 150
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 27Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster download and upload speeds |
| Cons | Expensive (£23 / month) |
| Gift offer | £110 voucher |
Vodafone Full Fibre 150
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 27Mbps/ 150Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster download and upload speeds, symmetrical speeds in CityFibre areas |
| Cons | Price and availability vary by area (£23 / month) |
| Gift offer | £120 voucher |
Symmetrical full fibre alternatives
Hyperoptic 150Mb
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Same upload speed as download speed, flexible contract options |
| Cons | Limited availability |
Community Fibre 150Mbps
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Same upload speed as download speed, cheaper price, flexible contract options (£17.99 / month) |
| Cons | Available in London and nearby areas only |
| Gift offer | £80 voucher |
YouFibre 150
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster upload speed, cheaper price |
| Cons | Limited availability |
Low-cost alternatives
Plusnet Full Fibre 145
| Average download speed | 145Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 30Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster download and upload speeds, cheaper |
| Cons | Fewer extras than Virgin Media |
Vodafone Full Fibre 150
| Average download speed | 150Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 27Mbps/ 150Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster download and upload speeds, cheaper |
| Cons | Price depends on postcode and offer |
TalkTalk Full Fibre 150
| Average download speed | 152Mbps (vs M125 132Mbps) |
| Average upload speed | 30Mbps (vs M125 20Mbps) |
| Pros | Faster download and upload speeds, low priced full fibre |
| Cons | Poor customer service |
FAQs
Is Virgin Media customer service bad?
Virgin Media customer service gets mixed feedback. Some customers are happy with the speed and reliability, but complaints often mention billing, cancellation, price rises and difficulty getting issues resolved.
Ofcom’s 2025 customer service report found that 26% of Virgin Media broadband customers had a reason to complain in 2024, which was higher than the broadband average of 23%. So customer service is a real point to consider before choosing M125
How can out-of-contract pricing and annual price rises increase the M125 price?
If M125 starts at £18.99 per month, a £4 annual rise would take it to £22.99 per month after the first April increase, and £26.99 per month after a second April increase during a 24-month contract. After the contract ends, the price could move to the standard monthly price unless you renew, switch or agree a new deal.
| Online exclusive starting price per month | £18.99 |
| After one £4 annual increase (April 2027) | £22.99 |
| After two £4 annual increases (April 2028) | £26.99 |
| Standard out-of-contract price | £68 |
What are the cancellation terms for Virgin Media M125?
You can cancel Virgin Media M125 by giving 30 days’ notice.
If you are still within your minimum contract period, you may need to pay an early termination fee. Virgin Media first charges you for the 30-day notice period. After that, the early termination fee is calculated on the remaining months of your contract.
For example, if you cancel with 5 months left, you pay for the 30-day notice period first. Virgin Media then calculates the early termination fee on the remaining 4 months.
What is the M125 Flex TV bundle?
Virgin Media Flex TV is a rolling 30-day TV add-on that can be added to broadband. It costs extra compared with broadband-only, and Virgin Media describes Flex as a TV option for people who mainly stream through services such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video. Virgin Media also promotes bill credit on selected entertainment subscriptions added to the package.
What does M125 broadband and phone include?
Virgin Media M125 broadband and phone is more expensive than the broadband-only plan because it includes a Virgin Media landline with Anytime chatter. The Anytime chatter call plan includes unlimited inclusive calls to UK landlines and UK mobiles at any time of day.
How do your exclusive offers work?
Our exclusive offers can include a lower monthly price that is not available on Virgin’s official site, although you may still find free setup promotions available to all customers. Our online exclusives can also include bill credit of up to £200 at times. These offers can help you save hundreds of pounds.
When you click our affiliate link, you are taken to the deal page showing the exclusive price, where you can sign up.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, but this does not increase the price you pay.
