Last Updated: June 30, 2026
In a rush? Virgin Media pays £50 cash when you refer a friend for broadband. toob runs a referral rewards scheme for full-fibre customers. Starlink offers service credits for referrals. Virgin Media is the best option for most UK homes. toob wins on price for full-fibre coverage areas. Starlink is the pick if you live somewhere rural with no decent fibre option.
Broadband referral deals are one of the more overlooked ways to cut your internet bill. Most people just accept the renewal price or switch without checking whether sending a friend a link could knock money off both your bills. The deals are simple: you refer someone, they sign up, you both get money off or credit on your account.
This guide covers the three UK broadband providers where the referral bonus is worth claiming in 2026. Each link on this page routes through a real referral offer. No expired deals. No providers that pulled their referral scheme last year.
Quick verdict
Virgin Media offers the most valuable and reliable broadband referral bonus at £50 cash for both parties. toob is the best value full-fibre option if it covers your area. Starlink solves a different problem entirely and is the only viable referral deal for rural homes with no fibre access.
Virgin Media , £50 cash each
Virgin Media runs the most established broadband referral scheme in the UK. The deal is simple: share your referral link with a friend. They sign up for a Virgin Media broadband package. You both get £50 credited to your accounts.
How it works: Use the Virgin Media route here to open a new broadband account. Once you are a customer, Virgin gives you a referral link to share. When someone signs up through your link, you both receive £50.
Coverage: Virgin Media covers most UK towns and cities through its own cable network. It is the most widely available referral-eligible broadband outside of Openreach-based providers.
Catch: You need to be a Virgin Media customer to refer someone. The bonus comes as account credit, not cash in your bank. Read the full Virgin Media referral guide.
toob , full-fibre referral rewards
toob is a full-fibre broadband provider focused on the south of England. It offers symmetrical speeds at a flat price with no mid-contract price rises. The referral scheme rewards both the referrer and the new customer with account credit or a similar reward.
How it works: Use the toob route here to check if your postcode is covered and open an account. Share your referral link from your toob account dashboard.
Coverage: Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, and expanding across Hampshire, Dorset, and surrounding areas. Smaller footprint than Virgin Media. Check your postcode before getting excited about the deal.
Catch: Limited coverage area. If you live outside the south of England, toob probably does not cover your address yet. The referral reward comes as account credit.
Starlink , satellite broadband with referral credits
Starlink is the only referral-eligible broadband option for rural homes with no fibre access. It uses a satellite dish to deliver broadband speeds that beat traditional rural copper lines by a wide margin. The referral programme offers service credits to both the referrer and the new customer.
How it works: Use the Starlink route here to check availability and order. Starlink ships the dish to your address. You set it up yourself. The service credit gets applied to your account after activation.
Coverage: Available across the entire UK. The real question is not coverage but whether you have a clear view of the sky for the dish. Trees, tall buildings, and deep valleys can cause issues.
Catch: Starlink costs more than fibre broadband. The standard plan is around £25 to £35 per month plus an upfront hardware cost for the dish. The referral credit helps offset the initial outlay but Starlink only makes financial sense if fibre is not available at your address. Read the full Starlink UK guide.
Which to pick: Virgin Media for most homes. toob if you are in the south and want full-fibre at a flat price. Starlink if fibre does not reach your address.
Quick comparison
| Provider | Referral bonus | Type | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | £50 each | Cable / fibre | Most UK towns and cities | Most homes |
| toob | Account credit | Full-fibre | South of England | Price-conscious full-fibre |
| Starlink | Service credits | Satellite | UK-wide | Rural, no fibre |
Other broadband providers with referral schemes
Sky, BT, Three, and Vodafone all run referral or recommend-a-friend programmes at various times. The deals change frequently. Sky typically offers account credit or a prepaid card. BT runs periodic referral incentives through its BT Rewards programme. These are worth checking directly through each provider's website. The three deals on this page are the ones where the referral link is stable and the bonus is worth the effort.
My take
I use Starlink at home in rural Cornwall. The fastest Openreach line I can get here is 70Mbps. Starlink gives me 300 to 350Mbps down and 30 to 40Mbps up with zero downtime since installation. I signed up through a referral link and got a free month of service credit. If you have fibre available at your address, pick Virgin Media or toob and take the referral bonus. If fibre does not reach you, Starlink and its referral credit are the best deal available by a long way.
Steven | Starlink customer | Rural Cornwall
Frequently asked questions
Which broadband provider has the best referral deal?
Virgin Media offers the most valuable referral bonus at £50 cash for both parties. toob and Starlink offer account credits that reduce your bill rather than cash in your bank. Virgin Media also has the widest coverage of the three.
Can I refer more than one person for broadband?
Most providers allow multiple referrals. Virgin Media lets you refer multiple friends and claim £50 for each one. Check the current terms on the provider's website for any caps.
Do I need to be an existing customer to refer someone?
Yes. All three referral schemes on this page require you to be a current customer before you can refer someone else. The person you refer needs to sign up as a new customer.
Is Starlink worth it for the referral bonus alone?
No. Starlink costs more than fibre and involves buying a satellite dish upfront. The referral credit helps offset that cost but does not make Starlink cheaper than fibre. Starlink is worth it if fibre is not available at your address. The referral bonus is a bonus, not a reason to choose satellite over a cable.
Why are there only three broadband referral deals on this page?
These are the three providers where the referral link is stable and the bonus is worth claiming. Sky, BT, and others run referral schemes at times but the deals change frequently and the links expire. The deals on this page are the ones worth your time.
I’m Steven, founder of MoneyAppReviews. I test money apps, referral programs, and EV tools in real life before I write about them. I drive a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, use Octopus Intelligent Go for home charging, and regularly track costs, savings, and app performance over time. I focus on practical, evidence-based reviews that help people decide what is actually worth using, not just what pays the highest commission.