Virgin Mobile vs O2: are the networks the same or different?

✔ They operate on different networks - signal will vary

O2 operate their own network, where Virgin currently use Vodafone’s. However, Virgin Media have just bought O2, so Virgin Mobile might end up using the O2 network in the future. We’ll update this page if they do.

They’re both joint-best choices for calls and texts. The O2 and Vodafone networks have similar amounts of the UK’s landmass covered. Both have good indoor call signal too, as their frequencies are great for getting through walls.

The only major difference is in 4G data. Virgin Mobile can generally get you slightly better 4G reception out in rural areas than O2 can. But in more populated areas you’ll notice little difference between them.

We always recommend using their coverage checkers to see which network has better signal in your area. Look at all the areas you’ll expect to use your phone, not just at home.

Useful links: Our full O2 network review | Our full Virgin Mobile review

✔ Both have rapidly expanding 5G networks

You now get 5G as standard on all Virgin Mobile and all O2 pay monthly plans (SIM only and phone deals). Be sure to choose it in the checkout when buying from O2 to get the right SIM.

Best 5G SIMs on Virgin and O2

The major networks are in a fast-moving race to offer 5G in more areas than the others, and networks will claim a location covered even if they only cover a small area of it (except EE). So comparing coverage is tricky.

Virgin currently cover the same 120+ locations as Vodafone, where O2 claim to cover 190+ locations. We’ve generally found O2’s coverage within those locations more consistent than Virgin’s, so we give O2 the edge for 5G coverage.

Useful link: O2’s guide to their 5G rollout

✔ Virgin Mobile’s 4G downloads are generally faster

To see which network has better 4G download speeds we use the results of independent network tester Opensignal, who take readings from volunteers’ phones up and down the country.

Their most recent report puts O2’s average 4G download speeds at 17.1 Mbps and Virgin’s at 21.6 Mbps. That’s a fairly significant difference, but you shouldn’t notice it too much when browsing the internet or social media.

If you need to download big files, play games on the go or watch HD videos comfortably, we’d say Virgin are the better choice. Still, O2’s speeds are enough to stream HD video, you just might get a bit more lag.

There’s now more information on 5G speeds available. Both Opensignal and Speedtest by Ookla (another independent network tester) record very different results from each other:

O2’s 5G speeds were reported to be between 110.9 Mbps and 141.3 Mbps, where Virgin’s were between a disappointing 73.3 Mbps and a speedy 149.9 Mbps. We can’t say why there’s such a big difference.

Useful link: O2’s guide to their 5G

✔ O2 have slightly better WiFi / 4G calling

Even though both networks broadcast on frequencies that are decent for getting through buildings, your indoor signal might still suffer on both. This is where WiFi calling comes in handy.

Both networks offer WiFi calling and 4G calling. WiFi calling lets your phone connect to calls using WiFi signal if call signal is weak. 4G calling lets your phone use 4G signal (instead of just 2G/3G) for calls which improves coverage.

O2’s WiFi calling supports more phones and won’t drop your call when moving from WiFi to 4G signal. Virgin’s supported phone list is disappointingly short and you’ll find your call dropping when you lose WiFi connection.

It’s notable that Virgin let you send SMS messages over WiFi, but in testing we found we couldn’t receive them over WiFi signal. O2 don’t support this at all, so it’s one thing that Virgin’s WiFi calling has over O2’s.

Useful link: Our best network choices for WiFi calling

✔ Virgin Mobile offer more free WiFi hotspots

Both Virgin Mobile and O2 offer free WiFi hotspot provisions for their customers, but Virgin have by far the larger hotspot network of the two. You’ll get access to over 4.3+ million hotspots on any Virgin Mobile plan.

You’ll just have to download their Virgin Media Connect app after buying your plan. Then, whenever you’re in range you’ll be automatically logged in for free. This helps you save your data on the go.

On the other hand, O2 offer a more moderate 15,000+ hotspots across the UK. But, anyone with a phone can connect to these. The only exclusive benefit you get from being on O2 is that you can be logged into 7000 of these automatically.

Both networks get you WiFi access on the London Underground. But with Virgin you’ll have a better chance staying connected on the go. O2’s WiFi provision is good, but Virgin’s is a couple steps ahead of them.

Useful link: Our favourite networks for free WiFi

✔ Virgin’s data rollover is pretty standard

Data rollover is a feature where the data you don’t use from one month will be added to your data allowance for your next month. Between O2 and Virgin, only Virgin offer it on their pay monthly plans.

It’s pretty standard for networks that do offer data rollover to offer it for only a month, and this is the case with Virgin Mobile. If you don’t use your “rolled-over” data in the next month it will disappear.

However, you shouldn’t need to worry as you’ll automatically use your rolled-over data before your new monthly allowance. If you keep losing your rolled over data, you’d be better off with a smaller data plan.

It would be nice to see Virgin do something a bit different to stand out, but there’s also merit in having a simple system that works. It’s a good scheme and that’s all that needs to be said.

Useful link: Full ins and outs of Virgin’s data rollover

✔ O2 offer data rollover on pay as you go

Unfortunately, O2 don’t offer data rollover on their pay monthly plans, but they do offer it on pay as you go. We think it’d be more appealing on pay monthly, as that’s the more common type of plan people are using these days.

O2 offer their pay as you go scheme with “Big Bundles”, which get you unlimited minutes and texts with a data bundle without being tied to a contract.

Since you’re not on a monthly contract, your unused data can be rolled over for multiple months. But, O2 do set a cap on how much data can be rolled over. It’s usually the same amount as the bundle you took (10GB bundle = 10GB cap).

If you switch data bundles then you’ll lose your rolled over data. You’ll also have to make sure to renew your bundle on the same day it expires otherwise you’ll lose it. It’s not an amazing scheme, but not a terrible one either.

Useful link: O2’s FAQs page on their Big Bundles

✔ O2 discount up to 20 extra plans on one account

To draw in as many customers as possible, networks will sometimes offer discounts for extra users added onto one main account. This mainly helps families who want to keep all their plans under one roof.

O2 offer a flat 20% off added SIM only plans and off the usage (minutes, texts, data) of phone contracts. Bear in mind this only applies to the added users and not to the main account holder.

In order to get the benefit you’ll have to have an O2 account with a SIM only or phone contract and then register another contract which the discount can be applied to. It can only be applied within 28 days of taking that extra contract.

The only drawbacks are that it’s a bit fiddly to apply the discount (other networks just let you do it in the checkout) and O2’s plans are already expensive. While you can add up to 20 contracts, this is subject to your credit history.

Useful link: Read O2’s FAQs on their Multisave scheme

✖ Virgin have scrapped their family plan scheme

Virgin Mobile are no longer as good as they used to be for parents looking to get their family onto a single account. This is because they don’t offer their family plan discount any more.

It used to get customers £2 off the monthly cost of up to 4 extra SIM only plans. It was one of our favourite schemes for the sheer amount of money off you could get (£24 per year for each plan).

The main downside was that it only applied for Virgin broadband or TV customers, where other family plans like SMARTY’s or even O2’s give you a discount on added plans without needing any other services.

In any case, they might reintroduce this scheme at some point. If we do we’ll keep this page updated. But for now O2 win by default here.

Useful link: Virgin’s Family SIM FAQs

✔ Some worldwide destinations included on O2

With some networks now removing inclusive EU roaming, it’s nice to see that O2 have kept theirs in place. You can travel to 48 EU destinations where you can use your regular UK plan with no extra cost.

While you’re abroad you’ll be limited to 25GB a month, but we’d say this is more than enough for the average user.

They also include 27 worldwide destinations (notable ones include Australia and the US) in their “Inclusive Zone.” Here you can roam, but with a limited usage amount. You get 120 minutes, 120 texts and 150MB full speed data.

O2 plans with worldwide roaming

There’s actually no usage cap on how much data you can use in the Inclusive Zone, but it will be severely speed capped. Once you hit your regular allowance you’ll start paying at these rates.

It’s a scheme that we rate quite highly. You can use it for short trips across the channel or for long haul journeys to the other side of the world.

Useful link: See O2’s full guide to their Travel Inclusive Zone

✔ Virgin Mobile have a fiddly fair usage policy

Virgin Mobile have also kept their EU roaming in place. But they have a fiddly fair usage policy that limits how much of your regular allowance you can use while abroad depending on the size of your plan.

You can use their calculator here to work out how much you can use abroad. For mid-range data plans it’s usually around half of your allowance, but for larger plans you’ll only get around 15GB to use abroad.

There’s also no worldwide roaming on Virgin and using your plan somewhere like the US can become unusably expensive (see rates here).

Virgin are a good enough choice for small trips to the EU, but you’ll really have to reign in your data usage while there. It’s definitely not one of our favourite schemes.

Useful link: Check Virgin Mobile roaming destinations

✔ Virgin get you free unlimited social media messaging data

Virgin let you use Whatsapp, Messenger and Twitter out and about without eating into your data allowance with their free unlimited social media data offered on all of their plans.

They are on our list of networks that give you free streaming or social media data. It’s a similar idea to VOXI’s unlimited social media data benefit, but VOXI’s covers far more than just messaging apps.

When you send a message, download a file on Whatsapp or Messenger you won’t eat into your data. But calls will use data. With Twitter you can scroll, tweet and watch videos without using data if you stay in the app.

The main benefit here is Twitter, but you’ll save a fair bit with the other apps too, especially if you’re out and about a lot.

Useful link: Full terms and conditions

✔ O2 Priority is the best daily reward scheme

Generally the major networks want to give their customers a reason to stick with them and put up with the pricier deals. So, O2 offer their Priority Rewards scheme to help sweeten the deal.

If you haven’t heard of it, Priority gives O2 customers a set of discounts, special offers and freebies for shopping, food and drink and other services and experiences.

You also get first priority for purchasing tickets for events and gigs that are hosted at O2 sponsored venues before non-O2 customers and you can get preferential treatment at these venues (see what's on offer here).

It can get you some nice value and genuinely save you money. But we don’t think it’ll be anyone’s number one reason for joining O2. At most it’s just nice to have.

Useful link: See O2's full list of Priority perks

✔ O2 Extras give you a choice of free trials

To help justify the higher price tag that comes with getting on a major network provider, O2 offer one free limited-time subscription. Generally the more expensive your plan, the longer your free trial will be.

You can get between a one month or six months free trial of Disney+ or even an up to 12 months free Amazon Prime subscription. on certain plans. Or you can choose a free trial of Apple Music for up to six months.

Check what you get with your plan before buying. You don’t get any free subscriptions on 30-day contracts. But O2 make it pretty transparent what you’re getting when you select your plan.

If you’re dead set on getting one of these subscriptions, then going with O2 can save you a decent amount on your subscription. But make sure to cancel if you don’t want to keep paying for them after the trial is up.

Useful link: Read O2’s terms and conditions for their Extras

✔ O2 offer more flexibility with Refresh plans

O2 call their phone contracts “Refresh” and they base these on credit agreements (basically loaning you the phone with the expectation that you’ll be able to pay them back). See their full guide here.

The advantage of this over a regular contract is that you can pay off the cost of your phone early, letting you upgrade before your contract is up. If you want the newest phone then this flexibility is essential.

They also give you the freedom to choose your contract length between 3 and 36 months, choose a data plan between 2GB and 100GB and pay as much upfront as you want. You can really suit your plan to your budget.

The big downside is that because it’s a financial agreement it could be harder for you to get accepted for one of these contracts if you have any small blips on your credit history.

Useful link: Read more about their custom plans

✔ Get cheaper phone contracts with Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile offer a similar sort of phone deal to O2, but with lower prices coming at the cost of less flexibility. You get one payment for your phone and another for your usage that comes together to make your monthly bill.

They call this “Freestyle” and it lets you choose either to take a 24-month contract or a 36-month contract. The overall cost of your phone will be the same, but how much you pay per month will be different between them.

You also have the flexibility to upgrade early, pay lump sums to lower your monthly payment or to switch your usage plan whenever you need to. You can also leave your data plan when your phone is paid off (with 30 day’s notice).

Again, like with O2 you could find it difficult to get accepted for a contract if you have poor credit history. Virgin may have more competitive prices, but this doesn’t mean it’s easier to get accepted.

Useful link: Compare phone contracts with us