With speeds up to 400 Mbps and wide availability, Starlink has earned its reputation as one of the most popular satellite internet providers on the market today.
Unfortunately, Starlink also has a high price tag and huge equipment fees of up to $350 depending on your home internet plan. If you’re looking for satellite internet on a budget, we have found some plans that are budget-friendly with similar speeds and no equipment fees.
Check out these alternative remote internet plans below!
T-Mobile AWAY
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
- 5-Year Price Guarantee
- Zero equipment fees
- Have to upgrade for unlimited data
- No carryover data
Living life on the go? T-Mobile AWAY may be the right internet for you. With AWAY—which has options for 200 GB or unlimited monthly data for $110 or $160 a month, respectively—you can get T-Mobile internet while living in an RV or camper. AWAY can connect up to 64 devices simultaneously and keeps passengers connected to the internet, even on the road. It’s perfect for road trippers or van lifers: you can pause your T-Mobile AWAY service for up to 90 days twice a year for $10 per month.
T-Mobile is also one of our favorite remote satellite internet services thanks to its flexible and generous service structure. Unlike Starlink Roam, you’ll get a larger monthly base plan data cap on T-Mobile AWAY. Plus, T-Mobile won’t require you to pay expensive portable satellite equipment in order to get online—you’ll only need to pay a one-time $35 activation fee, and you’ll have far fewer upfront costs and can quickly get online when you’re on the road.
Viasat
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
- High-speed rural internet
- Simpler pricing
- High latency
- Expensive equipment fees
With Viasat, you’ll have access to the internet, home of the sum of human knowledge (and our friendly website). Viasat is the one of the better satellite internet service providers right now, as it has faster speeds and no hard data caps compared to Hughesnet. Viasat also has flexible hardware costs—you can either lease equipment for $15 monthly or buy it outright for around $300 depending on your plan.
But Viasat comes with high base pricing, and the soft data cap (150 GB or 850 GB) means you’ll experience slower speeds after you hit your limits. So if you’re thinking of getting Viasat for your weekend getaway cabin rather than a primary residence, consider if the cost is worth it. (Maybe you should forfeit streaming capabilities for more time listening to the birds sing?)
Why you should trust us
Our RV and satellite internet coverage is powered by a rabid team of data specialists so that you get the most accurate information possible. We also put our editorial know-how to the test by comparing the deals and top packages from nationwide providers so you don’t have to. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.