Best Satellite Internet Providers USA – Viasat, HughesNet, etc

Best Satellite internet service provider

The top satellite Internet providers across the United States in 2024 involve Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink, each providing exceptional packages and components. 

  • Viasat – Per month costs between $69.99 to $149.99 with speeds up to 150 Mbps and no contracts needed. 
  • Hughesnet – Hughesnet package begins at $49.99 and moves up to $79.99. This provides speeds up to 100 Mbps but costs exceed after the first year. 
  • Starlink – Cost begins at $120 with speeds approaching 150 Mbps but it can move as big as $5000 for specific establishments.

Such providers service different necessities, especially in remote regions where conventional Internet service may be not present.

The Best Satellite Internet Providers

The list is surely not big, with only two providers out there with Satellite Internet Service. Satellite Internet is also more expensive than land-based Internet. Although Satellite Internet has gotten a bit better in recent years, Satellite Internet now has a bandwidth that almost matches DSL (Direct Subscriber line). Although DSL is also a thing of the past, hybrid DSL & Fiber connections are the only thing that matters now! Let’s compare satellite internet providers so you can make an educated decision.

Viasat

In 2018, ViaSat made new headlines by achieving download speeds up to 100 Mbps. The speed itself isn’t that impressive but in terms of satellite internet, it’s twice as fast as any other satellite connection. If you are going by speed, Viasat offers the best high-speed satellite internet.

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It also costs almost double when compared to DSL connections. Viasat may have cranked up the bandwidth up a little but the biggest issue remains, the data travels to space and back to land so the latency and lag are prone to happen.

The best part about Viasat is speed. Viasat only has 5 plans out of which 4 offer unlimited internet but that statement isn’t entirely true. You’ll run out of data somewhere after 200 GB. Also When you choose Viasat, you have to sign a 2-year contract and they’ll bump the price after 3 months. The price range for all plans is between $69.99-$149.99/month.

Still, Viasat is as good a deal as you will get in the satellite internet world.

ProsCons
High Speed & Data AllowancesConstant price hikes
Low cost ComparativelyLimited “Unlimited Plan”

Viasat Internet Plans and Pricing

Unlimited Bronze 12Unlimited Silver 25Unlimited Gold 50
Speed up to 12 MbpsSpeed up to 25 MbpsSpeed up to 50 Mbps
35 GB Data limit45 GB Data limit65 GB Data limit
$69.99 per month$99.99 per month$149.99 per month

HughesNet

The second and the only other provider of Satellite Internet is Hughesnet. The only thing that HughesNet holds over Viasat is transparency, the plans are simple and pricing is clear and easy to understand. Hughesnet’s price range varies according to data allowance, not data speed that’s because HughesNet only has four plans and it offers the same speed across all four, 25 Mbps. If you go over your set data limit in a month, then your speed will be bumped down to 1 to 3 Mbps. Which is pretty much equal to torture?

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The best part about Hughesnet is that you don’t have to deal with any surprises after signing the contract. Unlike Viasat, Hughesnet is upfront about its plans and policies. Read them carefully before signing up. You can either choose speed and get a price hike every few months, or you can choose low speed, and pay the same amount as long as you’re with them.

HughesNet also has an upcoming 5G plan for its users. HughesNet 5G plan comes with a built-in Wi-Fi option. You can easily connect all the devices in your house at once.

ProsCons
Simple, clear pricingSlow download speed
Transparency with customersLittle data allowance

Hughesnet Internet Plans and Pricing

PlanMonthly PriceConnection TypeSpeedData CapFeatures
Select$49.99/monthSatellite50 Mbps100 GBBrowse, Shop, Social Media.
Stream Music/Podcasts.HD Streaming.
Elite$64.99/monthSatellite100 Mbps200 GBBrowse, Shop, Social Media. 
Stream Music/Podcasts.  
Video-Conferencing.           
HD Streaming. 
Strategy/role-playing games.
Fusion$79.99/monthSatellite + Wireless100 Mbps200 GBBrowse, Shop, Social Media.
Stream Music/Podcasts.  
Video-Conferencing.
HD Streaming.
Multi-Player, Real-Time Gaming.
Satellite Internet Plans: Viasat & HughesNet

There are only two best Satellite Internet service providers, the competition level is always high. You can always be sure to find the best satellite internet plan between the two service providers. The best part about limited providers is that you can keep a check on all the latest plans. Here’s a list of the best plans offered by Viasat & HughesNet.

Viasat Satellite Internet Plans

Unlimited Bronze 12 Unlimited Silver 25Unlimited Gold 50
Speed up to 12 MbpsSpeed up to 25 MbpsSpeed up to 50 Mbps
35 GB Data limit45 GB Data limit65 GB Data limit
$69.99 per month$99.99 per month$149.99 per month

HughesNet Satellite Internet Plans

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SelectEliteFusion
100 GB Data limit200 GB Data Limit200 GB data Limit
Speed up to 50 MbpsSpeed up to 100 Mbps Speed up to 100 Mbps
$49.99 per month$64.99 per month $79.99 per month

HughesNet plans may seem more expensive, but they are better for saving money. Most of the plans offer great discounts to consumers, maybe to ease the pain of slow internet. Right now, you can save up to $100 on every new plan you purchase from HughesNet.

Final Take:

We have to give Viasat a win over HughesNet because of speed and data limit, If you are a casual internet user, then HughesNet is probably a better option for you. Choose carefully based on your needs, and yes you will need to brush the snow off the dish every single internet season, so be prepared for that as well. We hope we helped you find the best high-speed satellite internet option.

About Kevin Hemingway

Kevin is a professional writer who has been in the field of Internet technology since ten years. He is particularly interested in explaining different ideas for Internet plans, costs, data caps, Internet types, terms and contracts to millions. His primary concern are cloud, fiber-optic, cable, satellite Internet, TV, AI, cyber security, IoT, and other associated technologies.

View all posts by Kevin Hemingway →

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