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Best satellite internet providers of 2023

By Ari Howard Last updated: June 7, 2023

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Top 3 satellite internet providers

Best for speed consistency

HughesNet has plans starting at $64.99/mo., speeds up to 200 Mbps.

Read our HughesNet internet review 

Check with HughesNet
Or call us today: (844) 451-2720

Best for higher data limits

Viasat has plans starting at $64.99/mo., speeds up to 100 Mbps.

Read our Viasat internet review 

Check with Viasat
Or call us today: (844) 451-2720

Best overall

Starlink has plans up to $120/mo. with speeds of between 100 and 200 Mbps and no data caps

Read our Starlink internet review 

Check with Starlink
Or call us today: (844) 451-2720

When comparing Viasat, Hughesnet and Starlink to one another, we considered cost, speeds, latency, contracts and data caps. Below is a breakdown of the three providers.

What satellite internet providers are available to you?

When shopping for satellite internet, you’ll likely find one of these three options near you because satellite internet is available nearly everywhere: HughesNet, Viasat and Starlink.

Although all three satellite providers do offer high-speed internet options, satellite internet is not known for being as efficient as other connection types, such as fiber or cable internet. This is due to its high latency.

Its biggest selling point, however, is that satellite internet is available nearly everywhere in the U.S. Hence, areas of the country that do not have other internet options can still connect to the internet.

HughesNet: Best for speed consistency

HughesNet internet plans

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. **Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. As of 03/30/23.

HughesNet introduced Fusion in late 2022, with the 100 and 200 GB plans providing the same broadband speeds (25/3 Mbps) as other HughesNet plans. Although Fusion plans have lower latency, keep in mind the speed you need for certain internet activities with multiple devices connected at once. 

What we like

  • Plan price and speed consistency – HughesNet speeds (up to 25 Mbps) are standard, as is plan pricing at $64.99/mo.

  • Low equipment fees – HughesNet equipment lease starts around $14/mo.

  • Actual vs. advertised speeds – HughesNet is one of the few ISPs that actually provides faster speeds than what is advertised. The FCC reported that HughesNet’s median download speed is 31.27 Mbps for its advertised 25 Mbps plan.

Things to consider

  • Two-year contract – HughesNet requires a two-year service agreement, and changing or canceling service before it’s up can result in early termination fees.

  • High latency with regular plans – Satellite internet has high latency, which makes online gaming impractical. HughesNet does offer Fusion plans, which have less latency.

Check with HughesNet
Or call us today: (844) 451-2720

Viasat: High data limits

Viasat internet plans

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/09/23.

What we like

  • Speeds up to 100 Mbps – Viasat offers four times the speed of HughesNet, but only in select areas. In some locations, available speeds may top out at 50, 30 or 12 Mbps.

  • Higher data allowances – With data plans ranging from 40-150GB, Viasat plans give you a lot of data for the price.

  • Actual vs. advertised speeds – Expect Viasat’s service to be slightly slower than what is advertised. The FCC reported that the median download speed for Viasat’s advertised 12 Mbps plan is 10.75 Mbps (89.6% of the advertised speed). 

Things to consider

  • Two-year contract – Viasat plans require a two-year contract lock, but your price will be guaranteed for the length of it once the three-month introductory pricing ends. HughesNet customers may see a price increase after six months of service.

  • Data reprioritization after limit – Once you exceed your plan’s data threshold, Viasat will slow your internet speeds down until your next billing cycle begins.

Viasat offers faster speeds than HughesNet, but only in select areas. Regardless of available speeds, customers will appreciate higher data allowances than what’s available with most HughesNet plans, plus a two-year price guarantee.

Check with Viasat
Or call us today: (844) 451-2720

Starlink internet plans

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/09/23.

Starlink internet is a game-changer for satellite internet. With faster speeds, lower latency and unlimited data, Starlink will allow residents of rural households who currently are unable to work and learn remotely, to finally be able to do so. Starlink’s only downside is that it is pricier than HughesNet or Viasat, with prices starting at $120/mo., with $599 down for the equipment.

Although not available everywhere yet, Starlink has introduced a new business-sized plan tier with more range and speed that offers, according to CNET, “a scan array that’s twice as big as the standard plan and with download speeds ranging from 150-500 Mbps. That tier costs $500 per month, plus an initial payment of $2,500 for the equipment. Starlink is taking orders for that tier now, and plans to launch the service later in 2022.”

What we like

  • Speeds up to 200 Mbps – Starlink’s residential speeds currently range between 100 and 200 Mbps.

  • Low latency – The greatest difference between Starlink and other satellite companies has to do with latency. Starlink’s latency is significantly lower than HughesNet or Viasat, which means it will be easier for users to work or learn from home using Starlink. 

  • Unlimited data – Although Starlink is currently not imposing data caps, it is unclear whether this will remain true after its beta phase. Starlink has only stated that there are no data caps “at this time.”

Things to consider

  • High setup costs – Pricey starting costs at $599 to set up, with $50 in shipping added.

  • Limited availability – Although available in many countries, there are many spots within the U.S. still waiting for coverage. You can order from Starlink at any time and you will receive updates for when you can expect your equipment to ship.

Check with Starlink

Satellite internet tech

You can use a satellite internet connection for downloading, on-demand video streaming, uploading and some gaming (turn-based strategy games are best for satellite internet), but gaming can be difficult with a satellite connection due to the high latency of satellite internet

What to know about satellite internet data caps

Since access to data is shared by potentially thousands of consumers, satellite ISPs use data caps to ensure everyone can get what they’re paying for.  Whether you’re an everyday user or gamer, you’ll want the ability to manage your data usage so you can avoid paying extra in overage fees. Data usage management apps can help you do this by setting data limits and reminding you of billing cycles.

HughesNet and Viasat both offer “unlimited” data

Fortunately, both HughesNet and Viasat plans come with no hard data limits. Once you reach your data limit, you will experience reduced or throttled internet speeds, but not an interruption in service or fees for going over your data limit. Your regular speeds will resume after the billing period in which you’ve gone over your limit ends.

Both providers also give you the option to purchase additional data “tokens” if you don’t want the speed reductions. Price and data amount for data tokens varies by satellite internet provider and plans. However, if you do not want to go over your data allowance, you can read about how to beat low data caps.

How much data do I need?

To give you an idea of how much data you’ll need with your satellite internet plan, here is an estimate of data consumption for various online activities.

  • Browsing the web/social media for 200 hours – 3GB
  • Streaming 200 hours of music – 0.8GB
  • Streaming 50 hours of SD video – 35GB
  • Streaming 20 hours of HD video – 50GB
  • Downloading a full-length SD movie – 4GB
  • Downloading a full-length HD movie – 10GB
  • Downloading a video game – 40+GB

If you’re worried about running over your monthly data cap, you can take advantage of HughesNet’s “Bonus Zone,” which gives you 50GB of extra data per month between 2am-8am local time. If you want to download games or movies without using all of the month’s data allowance, this is a great workaround. Closing background apps on your computer and phone is also an effective way to avoid excess data consumption.

Source: AT&T data calculator, Forbes.com

Final take on satellite internet

If you’re looking for reliable satellite internet in a rural area, Viasat or HughesNet (and in some areas, Starlink) are your best, if not only, satellite options.

However, a preferred choice is HughesNet due to its new Fusion plans that ease the latency issue inherent in most satellite options.

If your address is eligible for Starlink and you can handle the expensive start-up costs and monthly fee, we’d recommend trying it out to experience faster speeds and lower latency.

Satellite internet FAQs

Can you stream TV with satellite internet?

The speeds available with satellite internet (12-100 Mbps) are good for streaming on-demand video, but the high latency makes it difficult to stream live TV. Keep in mind that streaming video can consume a lot of data, which may quickly use up the relatively low data allowances that come with satellite internet plans.

Bad weather and extensive cloud coverage can interfere with your satellite signal, but if that doesn’t seem to be an issue, check out our tips to boost your satellite Wi-Fi signal.

Due to high latency, playing real-time multiplayer online games with any satellite internet provider is impractical. Turn-based online games should work fine.

Where available, Viasat offers the fastest satellite internet speeds with download speeds up to 100 Mbps. These speeds are not available in all Viasat service areas, however. In some areas, Viasat only offers speeds up to 12 Mbps, which would make HughesNet the fastest satellite internet provider in that area with speeds up to 25 Mbps.

To ease the latency, or the time it takes for your data to travel, try using a wired connection versus running on the Wi-Fi. You can also pause any background tasks and close out apps like Netflix. Restarting your router will also give you a boost.

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Ari Howard

Written by:

Ari Howard

Associate Writer, Broadband & Wireless Content

Ari is an Associate Writer for the Allconnect team. She primarily writes about broadband news and studies, particularly relating to internet access, digital safety, broadband-related technology and the digital d… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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