Why choose satellite internet
If you live in a rural area, you may be considering satellite internet service as a way to stay connected to the world. Although satellite internet isn’t as fast or affordable as landline internet connections, it’s better than no internet at all.
The best satellite internet provider is Viasat because it’s widely available and gives you the best bang for your buck. But if you’re interested in long-time competitor HughesNet or the up-and-coming Starlink internet, we can help you determine if they’re the best services for you.
What to look for in satellite internet packages and deals
While satellite internet is different from your average DSL, cable, and fiber internet, price and download speeds are still the most important features to consider when you’re looking for a satellite internet package. You’ll also want to think about how much data you need each month.
Price
Satellite internet costs an average of about $85 per month—more expensive than most land-based internet services, which usually run about $50 per month.
In the case of satellite internet, your costs will often go up based on both the internet speeds and the data allowance you select. So when considering satellite internet coverage, factor in your budget along with what type of tasks (answering emails, watching movies) you’ll need internet access for.
Download speeds
Download speeds, or bandwidth, affect how quickly you can download online content. The listed download speed for an internet package gets split among every user in your home, so make sure to invest in a bigger package if multiple people use your internet. A 25 Mbps connection will be fast for one person but slow for a five-person house.
No matter how much bandwidth you pay for, satellite internet is usually slower than land-based internet services because of latency. Bandwidth is how much information your internet transfers at once, while latency is how long that info takes to travel from a server to your computer.
Since data sent over satellite information has to go to space and back, satellite internet always comes with a lot of latency. High latency is why satellite internet isn’t an ideal choice for online gaming—the data packets just can’t travel fast enough to stay competitive in real-time.
Data allowances
Data allowances are how much data you can use per month before the carrier slows down your internet. While regular internet browsing requires little data, you can quickly hit a low cap with activities like regularly streaming movies.
You might be able to get away with a small data package if you use your internet only to check your email. But even scrolling through Instagram takes a bunch of data, so with satellite internet, you browse at your own risk.
Best satellite internet providers
- Viasat—Best overall
- HughesNet—Cheapest
- Starlink—Best data allowance
If you want fast download speeds at relatively affordable rates, Viasat will take care of you. Its plans come with more significant data allowances than Hughesnet, and it’s more readily available than Starlink.
But if you want the internet only for emergencies, Hughesnet can get you connected for less money. And if you live in an area where Starlink currently offers service, you might be able to snag satellite internet with no data throttling.
Compare the best satellite internet providers plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Download speeds | Data allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat | $69.99–$129.99/mo. | Up to 150 Mbps | Unlimited |
| HughesNet | $39.99–$94.99/mo.* | 25–100 Mbps | 100–200 GB |
| Starlink | $110.00/mo. | 50–250 Mbps | Unlimited |
*For 12 mos.
Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.
While satellite technology can readily provide internet service to rural areas, it comes with higher prices, slower internet speeds, and stricter data allowances than you’ll see with most land-based services.
Every HughesNet plan comes with a data allowance. Once you reach that cap, you may notice your internet speeds drop as your provider prioritizes other customers’ internet usage over yours. Viasat’s plan has unlimited data, but once you hit a certain speed your internet could slow down.
However, Starlink doesn’t throttle data (for now—this writer would be surprised if it stays that way forever). If you can snatch up Starlink service in your area, you won’t have to worry about your internet slowing down even if you use it a bunch. But you will have to worry about your internet service dropping as Starlink sorts out the bugs in its service.
We’re here to help you get the best bang for your buck. Our experts agree that Viasat is still the best choice for reliable, high-speed internet.
But whether it’s satellite, DSL, cable, or fiber internet, our comparison database can help you find a cheaper, faster plan. View plans in your area.
