Hughesnet Internet Review: Plans, Pricing, and More

Is Hughesnet satellite internet good?

Satellite internet isn’t very good in comparison to fiber, cable, or even DSL internet. But for customers living in rural areas of the United States, satellite internet is often the only option. Between the main three satellite providers, Viasat, Hughesnet, and Starlink, Hughesnet is the cheapest. For customers seeking high speeds or generous data caps, this isn’t a great option.

Hughesnet is good enough if you’re looking for minimal internet usage—emailing, Instagramming, and the occasional YouTube dive—at a cheap price. Unfortunately, its data caps aren’t much more forgiving than your phone’s wireless data plan.

Hughesnet pros and cons

Jump to:

• Internet plans and packages
• Deals and promotions
• Equipment
• Satellite TV

Hughesnet internet plans and pricing

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
*Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.

Hughesnet internet speeds

Hughesnet’s internet speed options only run from 50–100 Mbps. These speeds aren’t totally unusable, as you’ll still be able to scroll TikTok or watch Netflix videos. But you’ll run into slow internet problems if more than a few people want to watch YouTube videos and download files at the same time.

Check out our internet speeds guide to learn how internet speeds relate to your internet needs.

Hughesnet data limits

Hughesnet’s download speeds remain low as the prices and data allowances rise—one more exponentially than the other, unfortunately. Why the high price? Well, with satellite internet, data is king. You’ll either pay for more of it or be slowed down in speed (down to 1–3 Mbps) for going over the limit on a cheaper plan.

You won’t be cut off or charged an overage fee, however—it’s a “soft data limit.” Sounds nicer than “throttled internet,” doesn’t it?

To get around that limit on any Hughesnet plan, you can take advantage of Hughesnet’s Bonus Zone, which is essentially 50 extra GB of data free between the hours of 2–5 a.m. A good time to get your graveyard shift gaming in.

If you feel like splurging, Hughesnet’s 200 GB plan will give you a little more headroom on data—but still less than Viasat’s fattest option, which allows up to 300 GB (and 100 Mbps of download speed). For larger, more internet-hungry households, we’d recommend looking into Viasat.

Hughesnet deals and promotions

Hughesnet regularly offers great internet deals for new customers (see full disclaimer):

• New customers get up to $25.00 off their plan for the first twelve months
• Get a $100 free prepaid gift card
• Free professional installation for new Lease subscribers
• Discounts on Hughesnet Voice

Hughesnet customers also receive $5 in monthly savings if they change their automatic payment method from a credit card to ACH (bank account) enrollment.

If you’re interested in current deals from major internet providers, check out our monthly deals roundup.

Hughesnet internet plus phone plans and prices

*Offer for 12 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Equipment Lease or Purchase fees extra.

Hughesnet Voice offers unlimited local and long-distance calling in the US and Canada, as well as the usual digital landline phone features like caller ID and voicemail. It’s not exactly a bargain at an additional $29.95 a month on top of your internet bill—and even less so if you add international calling, which runs an extra $9.95 a month. But, phone calls don’t count against your data allowance, so there’s that.

Hughesnet satellite TV

Hughesnet doesn’t offer satellite TV, so you won’t be able to find a deal by bundling. But if you’re looking for TV service on the side, try DISH. Are you a major sports fan? DIRECTV might be more your speed. For more information, head over to our Best Satellite TV review.

Hughesnet internet equipment

Hughesnet internet service comes with a satellite dish and a gateway (a fancy term for a basic combo modem and Wi-Fi router) which require pro installation. Sorry, DIYers.

A Hughesnet installer will first mount a satellite dish onto the roof or side of your house. Then, the installer will run a cable from the dish to the gateway inside your home.

You have the option to lease the gear at $14.99–$19.99 a month for the duration of your two-year contract, as long as you pass a credit check. If you’d rather, you can buy your Hughesnet equipment outright for $299.99–$449.99. There’s a $99 activation fee if you go the lease route; if you purchase the equipment, the activation fee is waived.

Neither option saves you much money, but if you’re planning on sticking with Hughesnet for longer than the two-year contract, you might as well buy the equipment.

Is Hughesnet worth it?

Truth bomb: satellite internet isn’t great. Fiber, cable, and DSL are far better options where you can get them; in performance, satellite bests only dial-up (which still exists, BTW).

That said, casual internet users could easily get by with Hughesnet’s low download speeds and data caps. Three of its four plans can handle basic internet tasks and light streaming and gaming without much satellite strain.

If you’re anticipating heavier satellite internet usage, however, check out the more expensive Viasat.

Hughesnet FAQ

Why you should trust us

Our experts compared Hughesnet plans and pricing to satellite internet competitors and other internet technologies on the market.

Our editorial ratings focus on the bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction of internet services. We also keep an eye on equipment add-on prices and any deals you might find. To learn more, check out How We Rank.