Satellite Internet

Best satellite internet providers

Q: How do I reduce latency in my satellite internet?

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.

Camryn Smith

Edited By

Robin Layton

Last updated: March 23, 2026

Satellite internet offers nationwide coverage and is a great option for rural households with limited access to other connection types. Our broadband experts compare top satellite providers, including Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat, so you can choose the best plan for your home.

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Best satellite option

Starlink Internet

(98) 98 customer reviews

Plans starting at

$50

00/mo.*

Speeds up to

400

Mbps

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Starlink

(844) 451-2720 Check plans with Starlink

Best satellite option

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Starlink

*Users on Residential 100 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps will be limited to download speeds of 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps respectively. Residential 100 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps plans are only available in select areas. Residential Max users will experience maximum available speeds and top Residential network priority.

Key takeaways

Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat are the three main satellite internet providers in the U.S.
Starlink satellite internet is the best residential option starting at $50.00/mo. for speeds up to 100 Mbps
Satellite internet is widely available but can be pricey for slower speeds

Allconnect’s choice: Starlink

Our broadband experts pick Starlink as the best satellite internet option. With residential speeds available up to 400 Mbps, it is hands-down the fastest satellite provider.

Satellite internet provider comparison

Satellite internet is ideal for rural areas, with Starlink being the fastest, but also the most expensive provider

How do satellite internet plans work? Satellite internet technology uses satellites in space to deliver internet to your home. Satellite broadband is the best option for rural areas where fiber, cable or 5G cell tower infrastructure isn’t available.

How we ranked the best satellite internet: When comparing Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat, we considered cost, speeds, latency, contracts and data caps. However, if you’re looking for cheap satellite internet, this might be difficult as plans start at around $50.00/mo. Starlink is the most expensive of the three satellite providers, but also the fastest.

Starlink

Best for: Travelers, remote workers and rural homes

Not ideal for: Homes with several large trees, or one built in a deep valley, without clear visibility to the sky

Hughesnet and Viasat

Best for: Rural customers who need to check and send emails or do a small amount of single-device shopping or streaming

Not idea for: Heavy gamers, multiple device users or remote workers due to high latency and low speeds

Provider	Starting price*	Download speed range	Plan term	Data allowance	Filters
Starlink	$50.00 – $2,150.00/mo.	100 – 400 Mbps	None	Unlimited	Fastest speeds
Hughesnet	$39.99 – $94.99/mo.	25 – 100 Mbps	One- or two-year agreement	No hard data limits	Cheapest option
Viasat	$99.99 – $199.99/mo.	25 – 150 Mbps	None	No hard data limits	Best for data

Benefits and issues with satellite internet

Pros

99% availability
Best option for rural areas
Mobility with some Starlink options

Cons

Slow speeds
Data caps
Weather can affect performance

Satellite internet availability

Viasat and Hughesnet are available to 100% of the U.S., while Starlink is available to about 99%. In 2026, some spots in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and West Virginia remain unserviceable.

Alternatives to satellite internet

If cable, fiber or 5G home internet is available at your address, it’s almost always a better option than satellite internet. These connection types are typically cheaper, faster and more reliable, making satellite the best choice for areas with no other choices available.

If you’re in a rural area, 5G internet is a great alternative to satellite, but you must be within range of a cell tower to get the fastest speeds.

Best satellite internet providers

Starlink Internet

(98) 98 customer reviews

Call to learn more:

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Starlink

Fastest satellite speeds

Plans starting at

$50.00 /mo.

Speeds up to

400 Mbps

Fastest satellite speeds

Overview

Starlink internet is a game-changer for satellite internet. With faster speeds, lower latency of 30 – 40 ms and unlimited data, Starlink allows residents of rural households unable to work and learn remotely to finally do so. However, Starlink is pricier than Hughesnet or Viasat, starting at $50.00/mo. and up to $175 for the equipment.

Additional Information

Learn more about Starlink internet

Starlink internet plans

Plan name	Type	Starting price*	Download speed
Residential 100 Mbps**	Best for smaller households	$50.00/mo.	Up to 100 Mbps
Residential 200 Mbps**	Best for smaller households	$80.00/mo.	Up to 200 Mbps
Residential Max**	Best for midsize households	$120.00/mo.	Up to 400 Mbps
Local Priority	Best for businesses, high-demand users	$65.00 – $540.00/mo.	Varies depending on location
Global Priority	Best for maritime, emergency response and mobile businesses	$250.00 – $2,150.00/mo.	Varies depending on location
Roam 100 GB	Best for travelers or backup home internet	$50.00/mo.	Varies depending on location
Roam Unlimited	Best for frequent travelers and those working on the road	$165.00/mo.	Varies depending on location

*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. Updated as of 03/23/26.
**Users on Residential 100 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps will be limited to download speeds of 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps respectively. Residential 100 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps plans are only available in select areas. Residential Max users will experience maximum available speeds and top Residential network priority.

Enter your ZIP code to view Starlink internet plans available near you

Hughesnet Internet

(318) 318 customer reviews

Call to learn more:

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Hughesnet

Cheapest satellite provider

Plans starting at

$39.99 /mo.

Speeds up to

100 Mbps

Cheapest satellite provider

Overview

Hughesnet introduced Fusion in late 2022, a combination of satellite and wireless technology that delivers internet with lower latency than Hughesnet’s other plans. Hughesnet standard plans have latency of 650 ms, compared to Fusion’s 100 ms, so multiplayer games that require quick responses are only possible with Fusion plans. Although Fusion plans have lower latency, keep in mind the speed you need for certain internet activities with multiple devices connected at once.

Additional Information

Equipment and installation fees with Hughesnet:
– Lease option: $19.99/mo. plus $99 Lease Setup fee
– Purchase option: $449.99 one-time fee plus $199.99 installation

Hughesnet internet plans

Plan name	Best for	Starting price*	Prices after 12 mos.	Download speeds
Lite**	Budget-conscious households who need basic connectivity	$39.99/mo.	$49.99/mo.	Up to 25 Mbps
Select***	Small households that shop online, stream music and use social media	$49.99/mo.	$74.99/mo.	Up to 50 Mbps
Elite***	Large households who work and learn from home	$64.99/mo.	$89.99/mo.	Up to 100 Mbps
Fusion***	Large households who work and learn from home	$94.99/mo.	$119.99/mo.	Up to 100 Mbps

*Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Enroll before the 2nd billing cycle for continued savings. Updated as of 03/23/26.
**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.
***Select, Elite and Fusion plans: 24-month commitment and early service termination fees apply. Monthly Fee reflects a $25 per month promotion for 12 months and the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Enroll before the 2nd billing cycle for continued savings.

Viasat Internet

Call to learn more:

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Viasat

Best for data

Plans starting at

$99.99 /mo.

Speeds up to

150 Mbps

Best for data

Overview

Viasat offers faster speeds than Hughesnet, but only in select areas. Like Hughesnet, Viasat plans have latency of over 600 ms, which will render certain gaming or video call apps unusable. However, Viasat offers fixed wireless in select areas with a typical ping rate of under 100 ms, making it a more suitable option for those real-time online activities. Regardless of available speeds, customers will appreciate higher data allowances than what’s available with most Hughesnet plans, plus a two-year price guarantee.

Additional Information

Equipment and installation fees with Viasat:
– Installation: $0 to $500
– Lease option: $15.00/mo.
– Purchase option: Up to $300

Viasat internet plans

Plan	Starting price*	Download speed	Monthly data amount
Essentials	$39.99/mo.	Up to 25 – 150 Mbps	150 GB
Unleashed	$69.99/mo.	Up to 25 – 150 Mbps	Unlimited**
Fixed wireless	$59.99/mo.	Up to 8 – 75 Mbps	800 GB

*Only available in select areas. Visit buy.viasat.com to check plans available in your area. If your data usage is trending to exceed the “typical usage” of a residential user on our network, you may have reduced priority during times of network congestion resulting in slower speeds. Typical usage currently means usage trending to not exceed 850 GBs in any 30-day period. The typical usage amount will vary based on network demands. Please visit www.viasat.com/legal for more details. Speeds are “up to,” are not guaranteed and will vary. Viasat Unleashed does not require an annual contract, which means there is no minimum service term commitment You will have a month-to-month service term, which you may cancel at any time without an early termination fee. Updated as of 03/23/26.

How to choose a satellite internet provider

1. Determine how much speed and data you need

Choose the Starlink Residential plan if you’re looking for the fastest satellite home internet speeds available, up to 250 Mbps. If you’re looking for internet you can take on the road, Starlink is also the best choice. Choose Hughesnet or Viasat if the internet usage in your household is low and you can handle top speeds of 100 – 150 Mbps. If you’re looking for data limits that won’t significantly slow your speeds, choose Hughesnet over Viasat or Starlink.

2. Check your address for availability

Once you’ve made your provider choice based on speed and data, always check your address with the satellite provider to find the most accurate availability. Satellite internet providers have nearly 100% availability, but some states might have spots that aren’t covered.

3. Find your best provider match

If the provider you chose for its speed is available at your address, congrats! You’ve found your best provider match, and you’re ready to sign up for satellite internet service. If your chosen provider doesn’t have availability at your location, go with your second-best option.

Enter your ZIP code to view satellite internet plans available near you

Satellite internet data caps

Since access to data is shared by potentially thousands of consumers, some satellite internet service providers (ISPs) use data caps to ensure everyone can get what they’re paying for. If you stream often or work from home, plans with low data thresholds or slowdowns after you exceed your limit can severely impact performance — especially during peak usage times.

What happens if you go over your data limit? Exceeding your satellite internet data cap typically won’t disconnect your service, but it will reduce your speeds. This can make streaming difficult, causing buffering, and video calls can experience lag. Some work-from-home tasks that require more download speed will be frustrating to complete
Which satellite internet provider is most forgiving? Hughesnet is the most forgiving option. They don’t have hard data caps; if you exceed your plan’s data, they won’t cut you off or charge you more. However, during high-traffic periods, you may experience reduced or throttled speeds
Which plans are risky for streaming or working from home? Viasat advertises unlimited data, but speeds slow significantly after you hit your plan’s data threshold (40, 60, 100 or 150 GB). Heavy streaming or frequent video calls while you work from home can quickly push you past these limits. Starlink Priority plans are the riskiest for power users. Once you exceed your monthly data allotment, speeds drop to 1 Mbps, which is barely usable for streaming and unreliable for work-from-home needs.

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: 3 GB
Streaming 20 hours of HD video: 50 GB
Downloading a full-length HD movie: 10 GB
Downloading a video game: 40+ GB

Source: AT&T data calculator

Satellite internet installation

Installing satellite internet is a bit different than other technologies since it requires a technician to come to your home to install a satellite dish in most cases. You should prepare for this one-time cost before signing up. We’ll break down the installation costs by provider:

Hughesnet: $199.99 professional installation fee
Starlink: $185.00 roof installation fee; cost of hardware for self-installation
Viasat: $50.00 – $500.00 professional installation

Other tech types — like cable, fiber and 5G — generally allow for self-installation, which is often free. While Starlink does allow for self-installation, you may still need to hire a local installer if you aren’t confident in your tech skills, or want to avoid going on the roof.

Satellite internet FAQs

How reliable is satellite internet?

Satellite is far from the best internet type out there, but it’s often the only option for those living in rural areas. In this case, expect slower speeds but a generally reliable connection considering satellite’s speed and latency limitations.

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.

How can I boost my satellite internet?

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.

Is satellite good for online gaming?

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

What is the cheapest satellite internet?

Out of the main satellite internet providers, Hughesnet offers the lowest starting price. But satellite internet is generally expensive across the board with slower speeds than other internet technologies.

What is the fastest satellite internet service?

Where available, Starlink offers the fastest satellite internet speeds with download speeds up to 400 Mbps with certain plans.

How do I reduce latency in my satellite internet?

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.