Hughesnet vs. Viasat: Clash of Two Satellite Internet Titans

For Americans living in rural or less densely populated parts of the US, satellite internet might be the only option for getting online. That's unfortunate because satellite internet is notoriously much slower, less reliable and less affordable than ground-laid cable or fiber internet. Even outdated technologies like DSL might offer faster speeds at a better value, in some cases.

Still, established satellite providers can offer service pretty much anywhere (a big positive for rural customers struggling to get an internet connection of more than 10Mbps), and if nothing else is available, your choice boils down to Starlink,Hughesnet and Viasat.

Although Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet has grown in popularity over the years, its monthly prices are higher than Hughesnet and Viasat's. Additionally, Viasat offers coverage to over 99% of Americans and offers a new all-in-one plan with speeds up to 150 megabits per second. Hughesnet was the first satellite internet service to offer broadband speeds of up to 25Mbps, and now, with its new plans, customers can expect download speeds of up to 100Mbps. Sure, it might not match the flashiness of introducing a multi-gigabit plan but it's not to be underestimated for satellite internet.

So, picking between Hughesnet and Viasat might feel like choosing between Coke and Pepsi -- a matter of taste between two largely identical products -- but there are some distinct differences you'll want to be well aware of before deciding. Let's have a look.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Our take - Hughesnet's new plans offer faster speeds at a lower cost. Hughesnet's maximum download speed isn't that far off from its main competitor, Viasat, at 100Mbps for $50 to $95 a month, depending on your chosen plan. On top of that, Hughesnet is available to all customers in all remote areas. Hughesnet offers three new plan tiers, with its fusion plan being a combination of both satellite and wireless technologies.

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Our take - Viasat introduced an all-in-one plan in March of 2024. The Viasat Unleashed plan costs a bit more than Hughesnet, but it's also likely to come with more data and, in some locations, faster speeds. Viasat Unleashed has a data cap of 850GB, and speed options of 25Mbps to 150Mbps may be available. 

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Hughesnet vs. Viasat: Availability is similar

Hughesnet and Viasat are both available across all 50 states, though Hughesnet covers more of Alaska than Viasat. They're the only major ISPs with coverage that extensive. That's because satellite internet doesn't depend on ground-laid cable or fiber deployments or the need for a cellular tower. All that's needed is a dish at your home -- to be installed by your provider -- which connects you to satellites orbiting approximately 20,000 miles above the Earth. You should be eligible for Viasat or Hughesnet internet service if you've got a clear view of the southern sky.

Viasat vs. Hughesnet: Plans and pricing comparison

At first glance, it would appear that Hughesnet and Viasat offer similar plans. This is not the case. Hughesnet's new plans are slightly cheaper and nearly match up to Viasat's maximum speeds. Still, Viasat's top plan is faster than the best selection from Hughesnet and has a much higher ceiling on priority data. Let's dive into the details a bit more.

Hughesnet plans and pricing

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Viasat plans and pricing

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

One of the first things you'll notice is that Viasat does not increase its prices after a year, which would typically occur with most cable and fiber providers. Hughesnet, on the other hand, does bump its price up by $25 after a year.

Viasat gives customers more speed options

When it comes to the fastest speed available, Viasat tops Hughesnet. The Viasat Unleashed plan has a maximum download speed of 150Mbps for $100 monthly. Hughesnet falls just behind in speed, with its fastest speed being 100Mbps, falling short of Viasat's top end. 

Viasat's faster plans aren't available everywhere. Although it boasts a 150Mbps plan, the maximum speed is 25Mbps in some areas. Meanwhile, the 50Mbps you get from Hughesnet is available across all serviceable areas, allowing Hughesnet to boast that it can provide potentially better speeds to all customers in its regions. 

Keep in mind that the Federal Communications Commission raised its qualifications for "broadband" from 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload to 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload. That means not all Hughesnet and Viasat customers will receive broadband speeds, as the FCC defines.

Viasat and Hughesnet share a sketchy idea of unlimited data

Hughesnet touts its "unlimited data'' and Viasat even puts "unlimited" in the plan names -- but neither provider offers truly unlimited data.

Additional fees are steep, but Viasat's are slightly cheaper

One of the necessary evils of satellite internet service is a higher equipment fee than you'll see with cable, DSL or fiber. For example, most cable providers will allow you to skirt the monthly modem/router fee by using your own equipment, but neither Hughesnet nor Viasat gives you that option. Let's take a closer look at what you can expect. 

One-time installation fee 

Self-installation isn't an option with either of the major satellite internet providers. With Viasat and Hughesnet, it's professional installation only, requiring a technician visit and setup of the satellite dish and equipment. Viasat offers professional installation at no cost for new customers. Hughesnet, on the other hand, is a bit tricky. Hughesnet offers free installation if you choose to lease your equipment, which comes at $15 to $20 monthly. If you choose to purchase your equipment, standard installation will cost you $200.

Additional monthly equipment fee 

As I mentioned above, you won't be able to use your own modem with either Hughesnet or Viasat. Instead, you'll need to rent or pay for your equipment upfront. With Hughesnet, that means another $15 to $20 per month to lease the Hughesnet Wi-Fi Modem, although you can also buy the equipment for a one-time fee. Depending on your chosen plan, it'll cost you $400 or $550, which includes the installation fee.

Viasat takes a similar approach but charges customers $15 monthly to rent its Wi-Fi equipment. If you want to go the route of buying the equipment upfront, you'll be charged a one-time fee of $300. That isn't chump change.

Contracts and early termination fees

Viasat has forgone its two-year contract requirement, a major plus in its favor. It seems to have taken after Starlink and the 5G home internet providers, all of whom require no term agreements. But that isn't the case for Hughesnet. Hughesnet still requires customers to commit to a two-year contract. If you cancel within the first 90 days of service, you'll need to pay an early termination fee as steep as $400.

Hughesnet vs. Viasat: Customer satisfaction is a mixed bag

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The 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index for ISPs didn't include separate scores for satellite providers like Viasat and Hughesnet. While the ACSI confirmed to CNET that scores for both providers were included in the overall rankings, it's impossible to pull out their individual numbers. As an industry, the numbers weren't pretty this year, so it seems likely to guess that the numbers for both of our satellite providers weren't pretty either.

Unfortunately for Hughesnet, the 2023 J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study did highlight it in the study's South region. The company earned a disappointing score of 577 on a 1,000-point scale, dead last among all ISPs listed in that same region. This isn't necessarily surprising given satellite internet's reputation for spotty service. The technology is known to be finicky in bad weather, sluggish in performance and expensive compared with other modes of internet.

It's one of the main reasons billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have invested in low-earth orbit satellites, which are approximately 60 times closer to the ground than those in use by Viasat and Hughesnet. With closer satellites, the signal from your dish won't need to travel as far, which can potentially reduce latency and boost speeds.

What's the bottom line on Hughesnet vs. Viasat?

So, did you choose Coke or Pepsi? If you reside in a remote stretch of rural America, your only choices for internet service may be Hughesnet and Viasat. While Hughesnet's consistency across all corners of the coverage map makes for a decent pitch, the chance for higher download speeds and greater data allowances tilts the scales toward Viasat. Be sure to check with both to see which one is the better fit at your address -- and if anything else is available, be sure to consider that as well.