Virgin Mobile vs Vodafone: differences between the networks

✔ Virgin use O2’s network while Vodafone use their own

Virgin have moved networks once again. They now use O2’s network when they used to use Vodafone’s, meaning there are now differences between the two providers for signal.

One big difference is in their 4G coverage. Vodafone have better coverage of UK’s landmass for 4G, meaning you’ll usually get stronger data signal in rural areas on Vodafone than on Virgin.

The two are largely identical when it comes to call signal (3G/2G), as both cover around 99% of the UK’s landmass. And both typically provide good indoor coverage as well.

Ultimately we think Virgin’s move to O2 has negatively impacted their 4G coverage vs being on Vodafone. However it’s worth using either network's coverage checkers in your area to see which one is best for you.

Useful link: How Vodafone have improved their network

✔ 5G is live in more locations on Virgin

Both networks offer access to 5G. But as we said above, Virgin now use O2’s 5G network and provide access to it on all their SIM only and phone deals. So which network is better for 5G?

Virgin provide 5G in the same 750+ locations as their hosts, while Vodafone’s list is comparatively short with 141+ UK towns and cities with 5G. But how good is coverage within those locations on either network?

For now it depends per location. One network might have better coverage in one location, but worse coverage in another. The best thing to do is to use their network maps to see which is better in your area.

But 5G is an ever-changing game and we could see Vodafone begin to overtake Virgin’s hosts as time goes on. As it stands, Virgin benefit from O2’s more widespread 5G coverage.

Useful link: Getting 5G data on Virgin Mobile

✔ 4G data speeds are typically faster on Vodafone

Virgin’s move over to O2 means that data speeds are now another point of difference between them and Vodafone. So which network gets you the faster 4G speeds?

According to independent network testers Opensignal, you get typical 4G speeds on Vodafone around 21.2 Mbps. On Virgin’s hosts they measured typical 4G speeds of 16.8 Mbps.

But what does that mean in real life. In our tests we got speeds as high as 110+ Mbps on Vodafone in the city vs 95 Mbps on Virgin. In more rural areas both networks slowed down to around 5 Mbps.

So Vodafone work out as the faster network both in real life and according to the network testers results. If fast speeds are a priority for you, we think you’ll be impressed with Vodafone.

Useful link: 5G vs 4G on Vodafone

✔ 5G speeds are a lot faster on Vodafone than on Virgin

There’s now more data out there on 5G speeds than ever before, meaning we can get a much better idea of which networks offer the fastest 5G. It’s a massive improvement in speeds over 4G on both networks.

According to independent network testers Opensignal and Speedtest by Ookla you get typical 5G speeds between 105.2 Mbps - 146.01 Mbps on Vodafone and 80.57 Mbps - 92.3 Mbps on Virgin.

Peak speeds on Virgin 214.2 Mbps and 322.91 Mbps on Vodafone. Virgin have switched to using the slowest UK network for 5G, which is why they (along with O2) are last place in our rankings for the best 5G networks.

Speeds on Virgin have gone down over time, which may be due to people using 5G on the fringes of coverage. But Vodafone’s speed results have got faster, so for now they look like the healthier network for 5G speeds.

Useful link: Our guide to the best 5G networks

✔ Vodafone’s WiFi calling is better on balance

Vodafone broadcast their call signal on frequencies that are effective at getting indoors through building materials. But if you’re far from the mast or live in a particularly thick-walled building, you may still need some help.

That’s where WiFi calling comes in. It lets your phone use WiFi connection to connect to calls. You won’t get it on Vodafone’s low-cost Basics plans, but it comes as standard on all other pay monthly SIM only and phone deals.

We’d say Vodafone’s WiFi calling works well, so long as your phone is on their supported list here. Older models that aren’t on the list generally won’t work with WiFi calling. You can also send and receive texts over WiFi.

What’s also great is that you can move from WiFi to 4G without your call dropping. Overall, the fact that Vodafone has had WiFi calling for a long time means it is better implemented than on Virgin.

Useful link: Vodafone’s guide to 4G calling

✔ Virgin Mobile’s WiFi calling is pretty limited still

This is one thing that separates Vodafone and Virgin, as Virgin use their own WiFi calling instead of using Vodafone’s. But this comes at the consequence of it being a less well developed feature than Vodafone’s.

Virgin have a shorter list of supported devices. They also state that if you move out of WiFi range but have 4G signal that your call will transfer from one to the other. But we found our call dropped even when we had 4G signal as a backup.

If you can get it to work, it’s alright. Sometimes the receivers of our calls complained about sound quality, but this was only on occasion. Virgin claim they support SMS texting over WiFi, but we could only receive texts, not send them.

While Vodafone’s have the better feature, Virgin offer WiFi calling on all of their plans. And if your phone is supported then there’s not too much difference between them. It’s a choice of quality against price as Virgin are cheaper.

Useful links: Virgin’s guide to their WiFi calling

✔ Virgin Mobile use the Virgin Media hotspot network

While data coverage these days is good enough to keep you connected on the go, we still like it when networks offer free WiFi hotspots (read our full guide here). It can help you hang on to the data you’ve paid for.

Virgin Mobile are one of the best for this. Being on any Virgin Mobile plan gets you access to 4.3+ million hotspots around the UK and 20 million around the world. If you download their app you won’t have to log in every time.

These hotspots cover high streets all over the UK and on the TFL network. But there are also a few in residential areas where Virgin Media broadband is available as your phone can use a separate connection from home WiFi.

In our testing the app didn’t always log us in automatically. But when you log in, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you’re not using up your data allowance.

Useful link: Virgin’s full guide to their free hotspots

✖ Vodafone no longer offer any WiFi hotspot provisions

Vodafone used to offer free WiFi hotspots on the TFL network that kept you connected on the London Underground. That’s now gone completely.

It’s odd because Vodafone do offer home broadband, so they could do the same as Virgin in using a separate private connection to keep you connected in residential areas. But, no such luck.

We think this has been done to cut costs so that Vodafone can expand their 4G and 5G networks. It might also be there to push people onto bigger data plans, but we can only speculate.

In all, it’s a case of comparing one of the biggest networks in the UK for WiFi hotspots against one that offers none.

Useful link: Vodafone’s full guide to free WiFi

✔ Vodafone offer inclusive worldwide roaming on premium plans

Vodafone have changed their roaming policy so that you’ll only get inclusive roaming on pricier Xtras plans. You’ll need a plan with 4 Xtras in order to get roaming. They’re the only network to offer 5G while abroad, however.

On non-unlimited 4 Xtras plans you get inclusive roaming in 51 EU destinations, but with their unlimited plan with 4 Xtras you get an extra 32 worldwide destinations on top of that (see the latest list of destinations here).

Their current plans with 4 Xtras

If you don’t have a plan with 4 Xtras, then roaming can get expensive quickly. On any other pay monthly SIM only or phone plan you’ll have to pay £2 a day to roam in the EU, and £6 a day further afield.

You don’t get roaming at all on Vodafone’s Basics SIMs. We don’t just mean free roaming, we mean your SIM won’t work at all when abroad on a Basics plan. Roaming is pricey either way, but getting worldwide destinations is nice.

Useful link: All roaming costs on Vodafone

✔ Virgin Mobile’s roaming is only really for EU

Virgin Mobile have largely kept their EU roaming in place. But you only get roaming in 43 EU destinations. There’s no inclusive worldwide roaming.

There is a fiddly fair usage policy that limits how much of your regular allowance you can use while abroad depending on the cost of your plan. It shouldn’t be too much of an issue, but it’s annoying to have to think about it.

If you were thinking about going beyond the EU with Virgin, you’d better save up. Virgin become very expensive with rates of £2 per minute and £5 per MB in the US. Using 1GB in the US costs you £5000 (you can cap spending).

For going abroad to the EU, Virgin are a fine choice. Especially these days where some networks are pulling their EU roaming. But for long haul jet-setters, we’d steer clear of Virgin.

Useful link: All roaming costs on Virgin Mobile

✔ Keep unused data for a month on Virgin Mobile

Virgin are among the handful of networks to offer data rollover. This “rolls over” your unused data into your next month, meaning you get to keep what you haven’t used to use it up later.

Vodafone only offer this on pay as you go. You don’t get the benefit on their pay monthly plans, so once your monthly is up your unused data is gone for good.

Virgin let you keep your data for a month, which is fairly standard. But it’s overshadowed by Sky’s “piggybank” scheme where you can bank your unused data for three years, gift it to users on your account and trade it for discounts.

We tried Virgin’s out and it works just fine. What’s nice is that you will use up your rolled over data first so you have. You can change plans if this keeps happening.

Useful link: Virgin’s help guide to data rollover

✔ Free unlimited social media data offered on every Virgin plan

A fair few networks offer free data for streaming or social media. Virgin Mobile are among them. With them, you can use Messenger, Whatsapp and Twitter without using up data.

So whenever you use these apps for messaging you’re effectively getting unlimited data, and it’s offered at no extra cost on all of their pay monthly and SIM only plans.

For Messenger and Whatsapp you can message and download files without using data, but calling will eat into your allowance. You can use Twitter without using data at all. But, if you switch to an app that’s not covered it will use your data.

Vodafone’s sub-brand VOXI offer something similar. They let you use social media without limits (on certain apps) and also get you unlimited video streaming data on some deals too.

Useful link: More details on Virgin Mobile’s scheme

✔ Get money off extra plans added to your account

Any pay monthly plan you add to your existing Vodafone account will be discounted by 15% of the regular price. You can add up to 9 extra plans on top of your own.

All 12 or 24-month contracts can benefit, but the discount doesn’t apply to 1-month contracts. And you can only get the discount if your main account is on a 12-month contract or longer.

Vodafone's current best SIM only deals

Any of Vodafone’s 12 or 24-month contracts benefit from Vodafone’s discount. Here are the best ones in our eyes:

The discount also applies to phone contracts, but only to the airtime (mins, texts, data) plan and not the overall cost. But some of their phones are offered with discounts to sweeten the deal.

Overall, it’s a great way of saving a bit of money on multiple plans. But there are better family plan schemes out there that get you extra benefits or more money off. Virgin used to offer a scheme like this, but not anymore.

Useful link: 15% off phones | 15% off SIM only plans | 15% off tablets | 15% off dongles

✔ Vodafone’s VeryMe Rewards are nice to have

If you know about O2 Priority or Three+, then Vodafone’s have something very similar called VeryMe. It’s a loyalty scheme to reward you for staying with them.

VeryMe is already in the My Vodafone app. You get a bunch of new offers every week that you can choose which range from discounts on highstreet restaurants and cafes to prize draws and even giveaways.

If you’re a big fan of sites like Groupon, we think VeryMe will appeal to you. You can find some genuinely nice offers to choose from if you keep a lookout every week.

In all, VeryMe is a nice thing to have on top of your Vodafone deal.

Useful link: See examples of the rewards

✔ Both networks offer flexible phone contracts

If you want to pay less per month on your phone contract (at the cost of a longer commitment) then both Virgin and Vodafone are good choices.

With Virgin, you pay nothing upfront and choose to spread your contract over 24 months or 36 months. With Vodafone you can set your upfront payment (you have to pay some) and set your contract length anywhere between 12 and 36 months.

Both networks base their phone contracts on finance, meaning they’re essentially loaning you a phone for you to pay them back. This does give you the flexibility to pay off your loan early before your contract is up or leave altogether.

Virgin’s phone contracts work out cheaper than Vodafone’s (especially joining them directly) and get you access to all the pay monthly benefits we’ve gone through above in this article. But Vodafone’s are more flexible.

Useful link: Compare phone contracts with us

✔ Join Vodafone via resellers to get better value

There’s more ways of getting a Vodafone contract than joining them directly on vodafone.co.uk. Instead, you can join via a long list of third party retailers, like Carphone Warehouse, Mobiles.co.uk, Fonehouse and more.

These retailers buy more phones than Vodafone do and so are able to give you a better deal than Vodafone would be able to, while still getting you onto a Vodafone contract.

This means you’ll get the same pay monthly benefits, whether you join Vodafone directly or via a retailer. You can compare joining Vodafone directly vs retailers here, and we think it’s well worth a look.

These contracts are not based on finance, however. So you don’t have the flexibility to upgrade early or pay lump sums to lower your monthly bill. It’s a trade off of flexibility for better prices.

Useful link: Compare phone contracts using our tool