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

Anine Sus

Last updated: March 5, 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.

Advertising Disclosure

View satellite internet plans available near you

Allconnect strives to connect customers to the right internet services for their homes. While we may earn a commission from our partners, our provider reviews are our own and partners do not direct our editorial policy or coverage. Read our advertiser policy and learn how Allconnect works, including how we make money.

Advertising Disclosure

Key takeaways

Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink are the three main satellite internet providers in the U.S.
Prices start at $39.99/mo. for speeds of 25 – 100 Mbps
Satellite internet is widely available but can be pricey for slower speeds

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 Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink, 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.

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

*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 03/05/26.

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 are available at your address, they’re almost always better options than satellite internet. These connection types are typically cheaper, faster and more reliable, making satellite best 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

Allconnect Rating

2.30 / 5

Hughesnet: Best overall

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.

Equipment and installation fees:

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. Service plan availability varies based on geographical area. 24-month commitment required. **Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Updated as of 03/05/26.

Allconnect Rating

2.01 / 5

Viasat: Best for data

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.

Equipment and installation fees:

Installation: $0 to $500
Lease option:$15.00/mo.
Purchase option: up to $300

Viasat internet plans

Plan name	Starting price	Download speed
Viasat Unleashed	$99.99 – $199.99/mo.	25 – 150 Mbps*

*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 03/05/26.

Check with Viasat

Or call us today: (844) 451-2720 (844) 451-2720

Allconnect Rating

2.70 / 5

Starlink: Best for fastest speed

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.

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

Check with Starlink

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.