The Top 3 Best VPNs for Virgin Media (2023 Research)

Virgin Media is one of the top UK providers of television, phone, and broadband services. Lately, though, the telecommunication services provider has morphed into a source of frustrations, with users consistently complaining about bandwidth and site restrictions.

What is worse is that the brand claims to offer “ultra-fast ultra-reliable and unlimited” bandwidth on its site. Nothing could be further from the truth, and these frustrations have driven users to using virtual private networks (VPNs).

However, getting the right VPN service that works with Virgin Media is a hassle. Even after resorting to this option, most users have remained disgruntled after discovering their VPNs are blocked on the platform. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this struggle of finding the ideal VPN because we’ve compiled a list of the best VPNs for Virgin Media.

This guide also explores:

• How to Bypass Virgin Media VPN Blocking
• What more a VPN can do
• Why most free VPN don’t work on Virgin Media

Why Do I Need a Reliable VPN for Virgin Media?

• 1. Bandwidth throttling
• 2. Censorship

Virgin Media offers a variety of TV, mobile, and broadband packages as you’d expect from a company in competition with the likes of BT and Sky. Its TV service gives users access to live TV and on-demand content, but there is a catch. The platform restricts access to this content only to UK customers. This restriction prevents users from streaming the offered content if they travel outside the UK regardless of their subscription.

Coupled with bandwidth limitations and its practice of blocking access to some sites, the platform puts off many potential subscribers. However, things are a little bit complicated if you are already a customer. While there are a few ways to circumvent these blocks, none is as effective as a VPN.

The only hitch is that not all VPNs are up to the task as some are simply bad and lots of others are blocked. This is why you need a reliable option. A decent VPN secures your connection and keeps your traffic private while bypassing all ISP restrictions and blocks. However, those are not the only advantage it brings to the table in regard to Virgin Media, as it will also help you overcome the main checks on the platform.

1. Bandwidth throttling

You have probably gone through this vexing experience at least once if you're a Virgin Media user. In its defence, the service provider blames this on what it terms "overutilization." It essentially limits the bandwidth of users in the areas that have high usage. If you happen to reside in such an area, you can use a VPN to ensure your bandwidth remains uncapped.

2. Censorship

Virgin Media has also blocked several sites, especially streaming and torrenting ones.  However, you won't have to miss out on any of your favourite internet destinations with a VPN. The VPN tunnels your traffic through a server of choice, bypassing these restrictions in the process.

The Top 3 VPNs for Virgin Media

We have rounded up the best VPNs that guarantee you access to Virgin Media based on what they have to offer. At a glance, here are our top picks:

1. ExpressVPN – Its unrivalled speeds make it the undisputed number 1 choice.
2. NordVPN – This is a great choice that checks all the boxes for the right Virgin Media VPN. An all-round VPN.
3. CyberGhost – The VPN provides lots of features, including specialized servers for streaming on all popular platforms.

Below is a detailed review of what makes each of them suited for Virgin Media. All you need to do is choose one, and you will be ready to go.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is, and rightfully so, the best pick if you are looking for the best VPN for Virgin Media. It is arguably the best overall VPN and bypasses the platform’s blocks with ease. The VPN lives up to its claims of unlimited bandwidth and has good uptime. It is also second to none when it comes to speeds, which gives you the convenience of streaming without interruptions.

ExpressVPN has an extensive network that consists of 3,000 servers spread across 160 locations in 94 countries. Security-wise, the VPN features AES256-bit encryption, and it comes with a kill switch as well as DNS leak protection. Further, you don’t need to worry about your data being logged as it maintains a no-logs policy. The policy is supplemented by the VPN’s TrustedServer technology which ensures that all servers run on RAM and no bit of your data is stored.

ExpressVPN is compatible with virtually every device (including specific routers), operating system, and browser, thanks to its clients and extensions. The VPN also allows for up to 5 simultaneous connections. It has unblocking capabilities for several streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer.

The only downside to ExpressVPN is the high subscription cost, but this is not really a deal-breaker considering what it offers.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is widely considered an all-in-one VPN service thanks to its huge list of features. The VPN provides excellent privacy as it is registered in Panama, keeps zero logs, runs a private DNS, and uses RAM-based servers. Its security is also exceptional as the VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, which is supplemented by features such as a kill switch, ad & malware blocker, DNS & IP leak protection, and onion over VPN.

NordVPN also has a huge server network that consists of 5200+ servers spread across 60 countries worldwide. Among the servers are specialized servers such as obfuscated servers, double VPN servers, Onion over VPN, and Dedicated IP servers. All the servers can be used on the various supported devices, which include Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Fire TV, and Linux. There are also browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

In terms of streaming, NordVPN will let you access anything you'd like, thanks to its Smart Play technology. The VPN can stream pretty much on any server, and it manages to bypass all restrictions. One account can connect 6 devices simultaneously, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee to let you try the VPN risk-free.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost’s offers a huge server network as one of its stand-out features, and this earns it a place among the best VPNs for Virgin Media. It is also security-conscious, courtesy of its range of security features that include an automatic kill switch, IP & DNS leak protection, no logs policy, and AES 256-bit encryption.

The VPN delivers fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth to ensure your streaming is buffer and lag-free. The provider also throws in ad and malware blockers for extra online protection. As a top VPN, CyberGhost works on several devices & systems, including Amazon Fire Stick, Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, and Windows. There is also an option to set it up on routers manually. Navigation on its apps is straightforward, even for novice users.

CyberGhost can unblock streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, and ESPN, which comes in handy when you need to take a break from Virgin Media’s TV offering. With support for up to 7 devices, you can avoid restrictions on all your devices and access any desired streaming content. The VPN has a 1-day free trial, and it is also very generous as you can get it for just $2.25 a month, with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

How to Bypass Virgin Media VPN Blocking

If you are using the newer Super Hub 3 or 4 routers, you may have noticed that they don’t work well with VPNs like Super Hub 2 did. This is because Virgin Media intentionally blocks the use of VPNs with some firewall settings.

However, you can enable VPN use by altering several settings on the router. To do, login to your router dashboard.

1. Connect your router to your computer using a LAN cable.
2. Go to the router dashboard by typing 192.168.0.1 on your browser.
3. Enter your login credentials and press OK. Note that if you haven’t changed the password (which you should), you need to use the default one. It’s on the bottom side of your router.
4. Now, open Advanced Settings.
5. Select Firewall.
6. You will see several firewall settings under ‘IPV4 Firewall’. Disable ‘Block fragmented IP packets‘ (SuperHub 3). If you are using the older versions of the router, check the boxes to let IPSec, PPTP, and Multicast pass through Firewall.

   

7. Click ‘Apply Changes’ and restart your router.

Alternatively, you can set Super Hub to work as a modem and connect your own router. That should sort everything for you.

Can I use a free VPN for Virgin Media?

Sure, but there is no guarantee that a free VPN will protect you, let alone provide access to the restricted sites or services.

Virgin Media is aware of loopholes being exploited, including VPNs. To that end, the platform has blocked several VPNs and set measures to prevent subscribers on VPN connections from getting through. Most, if not all, free VPNs lack the advanced features to remain operational on the platform.

Apart from that, free VPNs generally deliver poor performance. They are also likely to introduce malware to your system in form of adware, log your data, or even worse, sell this data to advertisers who will spam you with ads. This is precisely why you need a top-tier premium VPN to get the job done.

Wrap Up

Though we expect Internet Service Providers to be fair in their service provision, that isn’t always the case. There are only two conceivable ways to go about it in cases where the ISP limits you. The first is terminating your contract before it expires, which attracts a huge fine, and the second is using a VPN service. The latter is the easiest way to get bang for your buck, and the guide above should help you eliminate your frustrations using the best VPN for Virgin Media.