Virgin Media vs Vodafone:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Virgin Media had more branded searches than Vodafone among broadband providers in the United Kingdom. Virgin Media had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Vodafone had 90,500. Virgin Media made up 50.1% of all broadband provider searches we track, and Vodafone accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about broadband providers, Vodafone appeared in four of the five answers and Virgin Media in three. Vodafone was mentioned before Virgin Media in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Virgin Media, about 13 searches for every 1 for Vodafone
Who does AI mention more?
Vodafone, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Virgin Media in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Vodafone, named ahead of Virgin Media in 4 of 5 answers
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Top broadband providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Vodafone was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Virgin Media was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Vodafone was listed before Virgin Media in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Zen1st
EE2nd- Vodafone3rd
Plusnet4th- Virgin Media5th
Hyperoptic6th
Community Fibre7th
YouFibre8th
BT9th
TalkTalk10th- +1 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- EE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Zen5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Plusnet4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Vodafone4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Virgin Media3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Hyperoptic3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- TalkTalk2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- BT2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Community Fibre2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Sky1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about broadband providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which broadband provider should I switch to in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best broadband providers in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best full fibre broadband provider in the UK for working from home?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“broadband deals”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best broadband provider”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is Virgin Media or Vodafone more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Virgin Media and Vodafone by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 broadband providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Virgin Media, Vodafone. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Virgin Media | TalkTalk | EE | Hyperoptic | Sky | BT | Plusnet | Community Fibre | Vodafone | YouFibre | Zen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 50.2% | 12.3% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 6.7% | 2.5% | 0.91% |
| Nov 2025 | 47.9% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 54.6% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 4.9% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.99% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.6% | 14.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 51.3% | 12.7% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 53.5% | 13.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.5% | 12.5% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 52.3% | 10.6% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 51.5% | 10.4% | 7% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.2% | 10.5% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.8% | 10.4% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.1% | 12.4% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 1.4% |
How has the Virgin Media and Vodafone comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Virgin Media was ahead of Vodafone in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgin Media’s share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom moved from 50.2% to 50.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vodafone’s share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom moved from 6.7% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 90.5K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom broadband providers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Virgin Media lost share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom, from 51.8% to 50.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Vodafone in the United Kingdom fell 55% over 12 measured months, from 201K to 90.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Virgin Media’s and Vodafone’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Virgin Media
1 branded search term
- virgin media
Vodafone
1 branded search term
- vodafone broadband
Other head-to-heads among broadband providers
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