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In the meantime, satellite internet is the one broadband connection type currently available to people in the rural areas of all 50 states. It doesn't match the internet speed capabilities of fiber or cable connections. Still, satellite broadband can play a key role when internet access is vital (and the pandemic has shed light on just how critical it is). But which of the satellite internet providers is best?
HughesNet scores strong points for its download speed consistency. Whereas other satellite internet providers' speeds might vary from location to location, HughesNet's max download speed -- though not as fast on the top end as others -- is available to all customers in all remote areas. What's more, a Federal Communications Commission report on broadband (the last time HughesNet participated in the FCC study) noted that HughesNet fared best among all participating providers for delivering actual median download speed at 150% or higher of the advertised speed.
Viasat satellite internet lets you choose an internet plan that best fits your needs. Those internet service plans include some slower than what you'll find with HughesNet and several faster. Packages also come with more data -- up to 500GB -- though, similar to HughesNet, you may find your data "deprioritized" if you go over your monthly data allowance.
When eccentric billionaire Elon Musk isn't garnering headlines for his tumultuous Twitter antics, he's making noteworthy progress with his company SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet project. Granted, this satellite provider is still in the early stages -- there's a waiting list at present and currently just over 500,000 active users across the globe -- but the early results, as shared by CNET's own John Kim, are promising.
Second, Starlink keeps things simple by going with only two satellite internet plans -- Starlink and Starlink Premium. The Premium tier offers a different satellite dish and equipment for higher download speeds but comes at a heftier price.
Lastly, while the equipment fee of $599 -- and a whopping $2,500 for Starlink Premium -- are steeper than those charged by either HughesNet or Viasat, Starlink does not require a two-year contract. It did institute a still-generous 1TB cap in December, after which users' speeds will be throttled until the end of the billing cycle. Once you consider the decent upload speed, these are considerable upgrades for anyone stuck with satellite internet. Those facts could undoubtedly change as Starlink grows, but they're intriguing aspects of the pitch that could help set it apart from the competition.
According to Ookla speed test data from Q3 of 2022, Starlink was a clear winner as the fastest satellite provider on average. Its median download speed in the US was 53Mbps, while Viasat was a distant second place with 28Mbps download speeds. HughesNet brought up the rear at 21Mbps download speed. It's safe to say that Starlink is beginning to change expectations of how satellite internet can perform.
Innovations from low Earth orbit satellites will be just one piece of the puzzle of better delivering the internet to the millions of households still unable to find a reliable broadband source. We'll keep this post updated as your options (hopefully) improve.
Potentially, yes. If you are a current user of Starlink internet service, then you're experiencing a broadband connection with higher maximum download and upload speeds than Viasat (250Mbps/20Mbps compared to 150Mbps/3Mbps). Starlink also has lower latency than Viasat (25-50ms vs. 450-700ms), making gaming and other online activities that require fast response times much more feasible on Starlink than Viasat.
So, where Viasat wins is its availability to over 120 million households in the US right now. Suppose you're in a rural or underserved area with few options for internet connectivity. In that case, Viasat can get you connected, whereas Starlink may be an option down the road, but it's not an immediate solution.
HughesNet, which relies on satellites in a much higher orbit than that Starlink uses -- which means data takes a little longer to travel back and forth -- offers plans with maximum download speeds of 25Mbps. That's faster than some of the plans available with Viasat but no match for Starlink.
HughesNet, Starlink, and Viasat are the best satellite internet providers. Satellite internet is a good option if you live in a rural area where cable, fiber, or DSL internet providers aren't available. The best satellite internet services offer up to 300 Mbps download speeds, and you can get unlimited data from all three internet service provider, although all three throttle speeds if you exceed your plan's data cap.
Internet from satellite providers is more expensive and usually comes with a smaller data cap than cable and fiber options you'll find in cities. Satellite internet data caps range from 15 GB to 1 TB, the former from HughesNet's cheapest plan and the latter from Starlink's residential internet plan. No one likes data caps, but satellite internet service is available nationwide, which makes satellite internet a popular option in rural areas.
Choosing the best internet from satellite providers comes down to what you need most in a satellite internet plan. For example, how much are you willing to pay for broadband internet access each month? What activities do you need internet for? How much internet data do you need to match?
The best satellite internet provider for you also depends on what's available where you live. All satellite WiFi providers are available nationwide (except Starlink isn't quite yet), but you'll have access to different internet speeds and data depending on your location.
If you're unsure how your satellite internet service is performing, try our satellite internet speed test. It will work with any provider, so whether you need a HughesNet internet speed test, Viasat speed test, or so on, give it a try and see where your latency, download speed, etc., numbers are landing.
HughesNet tops out at 25 Mbps download speeds, which still qualifies it as broadband speed (according to the Federal Communications Commission). That's not a ton of speed, but its what you need for all basic internet tasks like paying bills online, surfing the web, and even streaming TV. It's also available everywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. HughesNet doesn't coverall of South America, but it does offer satellite connectivity in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, and Brazil.
Unfortunately, HughesNet satellite service does offers smaller max monthly data caps than either Viasat or Starlink, but it tries to make up for it with cheaper prices and the Bonus Zone, which allows you to use data with no limits during off-peak hours.
If you're interested in satellite internet on the go or on the road internet, HughesNet isn't a great choice for a portable satellite internet option. Its residential satellite internet needs a stable, unmoving location, but Starlink does offer portable satellite connectivity. Read on for more.
HughesNet also offers new low-latency Fusion plans that combine a satellite internet connection with a terrestrial wireless connection. HughesNet Fusion mitigates the high latency that comes from sending your data into space and back by automatically connects to nearby wireless networks when doing latency-sensitive activities like playing games or using video chat, greatly reducing lag.
With a download speed up to 100 Mbps, Viasat (run by Viasat Inc.) is the best satellite internet provider if you're looking for faster speeds and higher data caps than HughesNet offers but don't have Starlink availability. Unfortunately, those juicy data caps come at a hefty price.
Viasat has the widest pricing range of the three satellite internet providers. Its fastest plans are the most expensive traditional satellite residential internet plans available, and its prices go up significantly after the three-month promotional period: $80 more a month, to be exact. Plus, with both Viasat and HughesNet, you have to sign a 2-year contract, so it's costly to jump ship if you don't want to pay the higher prices that kick in for the majority of your contract.
That all said, Viasat has greater availability than Starlink, so if you need those fast speeds, Viasat's prices are likely worth it. Viasat also offers great extra features, like its special Viasat browser that's designed to get the most out of your satellite internet, and nice optional services to bolster your experience, like Viasat Shield and Viasat Easycare.
You can also bundle your Viasat internet plan with Viasat Voice, its VoIP phone service. Its our favorite VoIP plan from any of the satellite internet providers because it doesn't use up any of your internet data when in use.
Starlink also offers other specific internet offerings besides its residential and business plans, like Starlink RV, Starlink Maritime, and Starlink Aviation. All of these come with varying levels of expense, with up to $150,000 in equipment fees for Aviation. Flat High Performance Starlink (Starlink's extra special satellite equipment) is probably one of the most expensive offerings for the day-to-day person.
Of course, some of the higher prices could be worth it for faster internet (not Starlink Aviation, though--that's for flight businesses). And that's because, unlike the geostationary satellite networks Viasat and HughesNet use, Starlink employs low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which are closer to the Earth and allow for lower latency (as low as 20 ms) and faster speeds.
The fact that Starlink Business boasts satellite internet speeds up to 500 Mbps is truly astounding and a testament to the capabilities of low Earth orbit satellites. However, Starlink availability is still highly limited, internet connection and speeds are spotty, and the hefty installation fees makes its lower monthly price point less enticing.
We recommend internet from satellite providers when you don't have cable or fiber options available in your area. Use our zip code tool at the top of the page to see all internet providers available near you, including the best satellite internet plans. 781b155fdc