Hughesnet Internet Review 2025: Plans, Pricing, and More
Hughesnet isn’t the fastest satellite internet, but it is the cheapest. For light internet users, that might be enough.
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.
Compare Hughesnet internet to other providers
Prices starting at
$39.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to*
100 Mbps
Service Type
Satellite
* Satellite internet provider customer ratings from HighSpeedInternet.com
Prices starting at
$84.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to
100 Mbps
Service Type
Satellite
Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.
Hughesnet internet plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Download speeds up to | Upload speeds up to | Full-speed data cap | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $39.99/mo. | 25 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 100 GB | View plans |
| Select | $49.99/mo. | 50 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 100 GB | View plans |
| Elite | $64.99/mo. | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 200 GB | View plans |
| Fusion | $94.99/mo. | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 200 GB | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer for details.
Hughesnet internet speeds
Hughesnet’s internet speed options only run from 25–100 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.
Hughesnet’s Fusion plan is a newer offering that combines the ISP’s satellite network with local wireless towers to improve your internet connection’s latency and reliability. Fusion is an improvement over standard satellite internet speeds, but it has limited availability.
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 plans will give you a little more headroom on data—but still less than standard cable or 5G ISPs. For larger, more internet-hungry households who are limited to satellite internet, we’d recommend looking into Viasat.
How reliable is Hughesnet internet?
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Average latency | 49.4 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability approval rating | 47% approval |
| Internet speed approval rating | 49% approval |
Every year, we survey hundreds of real-life Hughesnet Internet customers as part of our Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey and analyze speed test data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com to see how Hughesnet Internet performs in action. Satellite internet providers tend to struggle among customers who are used to traditional internet service because of its technical limitations—everything from the time of day to forestation may cause connectivity problems—and Hughesnet isn’t any different.
Hughesnet’s 49.4 latency time will make it a poor fit if you’re interested in online gaming or regularly taking video calls. Similarly, fewer than 50% of respondents were fully satisfied with Hughesnet’s speeds and reliability. Additionally, around 20% of respondents felt somewhat satisfied with Hughesnet’s performance, which typifies the performance you can expect from satellite internet and Hughesnet. It’ll work well enough, but it’s designed to be an alternate solution for homes that aren’t in the footprint of a major cable or fiber ISP.
Hughesnet features decent deals, phone service
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. Two of its four plans can handle basic internet tasks and light streaming and gaming without much satellite strain.
Hughesnet also comes with a few other things besides internet service. Let’s break down everything else you need to know about Hughesnet.
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 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.
Satellite TV providers
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.
Hughesnet FAQ
Does Hughesnet offer unlimited data plans?
Hughesnet doesn’t have any internet plans with truly unlimited data; its highest data allowance is 200 GB a month. You can stay on top of what you do get with the Hughesnet app, which tracks your data usage, as well as buy extra data tokens (in 3, 5, 10, or 25 MB increments). Night owls can also enjoy the free 50 GB Bonus Zone between 2–5 a.m.
Which is better: Viasat or Hughesnet?
Viasat beats out Hughesnet plans and pricing—Viasat is faster and gives you more bang for your buck. But if you’re not worried about going over your data cap, and you want to save a few bucks, Hughesnet has cheaper plans that may work for you. To learn more about how Viasat and Hughesnet compare, check out our take on the best satellite internet providers.
Is Hughesnet fast enough for Netflix?
With 25–100 Mbps download speeds, Hughesnet is fast enough for Netflix and other streaming services, but you’ll burn through your Hughesnet data allowance quickly.
Is Hughesnet good for streaming TV?
Any of Hughesnet’s plans will support streaming TV, but only so much of it. If you want to stream on your satellite internet, Viasat is the better option. Check out our guide to streaming on satellite internet for details on how many hours of SD streaming you can enjoy with each Viasat plan.
Is Hughesnet good for gaming?
Due to latency—the time it takes the data to travel into space to a satellite and back—competitive online games over satellite internet with multiple players are usually a laggy nightmare. Check out our guide to online gaming to learn more.
Is Hughesnet owned by DISH?
No, Hughesnet is not owned by DISH, but since Hughesnet doesn’t offer TV service, its customers will often add DISH on the side.
Disclaimer:
Lite plan: 12-month commitment and early termination fees apply. Monthly fee reflects a $10 per month promotion for 12 months, and the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Enroll before the 2nd billing cycle for continued ACH savings. Certain geographic areas are not eligible to receive offer. New residential subscribers only. Limited-time offer. Other terms may apply.
Select, Elite, Fusion plans: 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.
