Battle of the Satellite Internet Titans: Viasat vs. Starlink vs. HughesNet

As a tech geek living off the grid on a rural homestead, having speedy and reliable internet is a must for me. After years struggling with pokey satellite internet speeds, I was eager to check out the new generation of high-powered satellite internet services.

I put the big 3 satellite internet providers—Viasat, Starlink, and HughesNet—to the test to see how they compare on critical factors like speed, data caps, and latency. If you’re looking to upgrade your satellite internet, this comprehensive battle guide will help you pick the right provider.

How Satellite Internet Beams to Remote Areas

Before we pit the satellite internet giants against each other, let’s first explain how satellite internet works for those unfamiliar.

Satellite internet provides broadband access using satellites orbiting in space about 22,000 miles above us. It’s the ideal way to get internet in remote rural areas where cable and fiber internet isn’t available.

A satellite internet provider launches satellites into orbit around Earth. Each satellite has powerful antennas that relay signals to and from a ground station connected to terrestrial internet infrastructure.

Here’s how the process works when you load a webpage at home:

1. Your computer sends the webpage request wirelessly to a satellite dish installed outside your home.

2. The satellite dish beams the signal to a satellite floating in space above Earth.

3. The satellite relays your signal to a ground station with fiber optic links to internet backbone servers.

4. The request is processed by the internet servers and the webpage content is sent back through the ground station up to the satellite.

5. The satellite transmits the webpage data back to the dish at your home.

6. Your router receives the signal from the satellite dish and delivers the webpage to your computer.

This process happens in the blink of an eye, with typical latency around 500 to 700 ms. That’s much slower than cable internet (20 to 40 ms) but a huge upgrade from the latency of early satellite internet services.

Now let’s see how the satellite internet big shots stack up.

Starlink Brings Satellite Internet Into the Future

The new kid on the block is Starlink, which leverages a constellation of thousands of advanced low orbit satellites launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

After being stuck with sluggish 5 Mbps satellite internet for years, I was stunned when I tested Starlink for the first time and got blazing download speeds over 150 Mbps!

According to Ookla Speedtest, the average Starlink download speed is 145 Mbps globally, versus 63 Mbps for Viasat and just 19 Mbps for HughesNet.

Besides fast speeds, Starlink has blown legacy satellite internet providers out of the water when it comes to latency. While Viasat and HughesNet latency hovers around 600 ms, Starlink gets latency down to 20 – 40 ms for most users.

I can confirm Starlink’s low latency has been a game-changer. I’ve had flawless performance streaming 4K video and no lag when playing intense online multiplayer games—a first for satellite internet.

Unlimited Data and No Contracts

Two other Starlink differentiators are offering unlimited data and no contracts.

Viasat and HughesNet satellite plans come with restrictive data caps, typically 100 GB or less. Go over your cap and your internet slows to a crawl.

With Starlink, I can binge Netflix and download games on Steam to my heart’s content without worrying about surprise overage charges. It’s wonderful having uncapped internet like cable again.

And because there’s no annual contract, I can cancel anytime if I move or decide to switch providers. Viasat and HughesNet lock you into 2-year contracts, which is risky if you end up hating the service.

Availability Is Starlink’s Main Limitation

The only downside is that Starlink is still expanding coverage as it launches more satellites. It’s currently available across the northern U.S., Canada, parts of Europe, Australia and growing.

Unfortunately satellite internet availability gets spottier the farther south you live. Since I’m pretty far north, I had no issue getting Starlink at my homestead. Those in southern regions may need to stick with Viasat or HughesNet, or wait for Starlink coverage.

Starlink also sometimes experiences short periods of downtime when satellites pass overhead or are repositioning. For folks working remotely like me, the quick outages usually aren’t more than a minor nuisance.

Starlink Is King Despite Higher Upfront Cost

At $110 per month plus a $599 one-time equipment fee, Starlink is more costly upfront than competitors. But you make up for it over time with no data caps, no rental fees, and performance that blows away Viasat and HughesNet.

For rural folks without access to cable or fiber internet, Starlink is absolutely worth the premium in my experience. The game-changing speed and low latency opens up so many high-bandwidth activities that are painful on legacy satellite internet.

If you can get Starlink where you live, it’s by far the best satellite internet provider available today. The initial hardware investment pays for itself over time when you consider the value of unlimited high-speed internet.

Viasat Stands Out With Broad Availability

Viasat is America’s second most popular residential satellite internet provider with over 1 million subscribers. HughesNet edges them out with around 1.5 million subscribers.

Viasat offers solid satellite internet performance across the entire continental U.S. HughesNet matches Viasat’s nationwide availability, while Starlink is still expanding.

I tested Viasat several years ago when I was frustrated by my previous satellite provider’s turtle speeds. At the time, Viasat’s 25 Mbps plan felt blazing fast compared to what I was used to.

Today, Viasat offers speed tiers up to 100 Mbps in select areas. That’s still slower than Starlink’s 150 Mbps and up, but much zippier than pokey HughesNet with max speeds of just 25 Mbps.

Data Caps Are Restrictive

While Viasat service was a welcome upgrade, the restrictive data caps were a constant headache for me as a power user. Viasat’s entry-level plan comes with just 40GB, their mid-tier plan offers 120GB, and highest plan gets you 150GB.

I had to vigilantly monitor my usage and time my large downloads to avoid exceeding my limit and getting throttled. Starlink is a breath of fresh air with unrestricted uncapped data.

Latency was another pain point, averaging 600 ms across Viasat plans. That high delay made online gaming and video calls pretty unusable. I also ran into buffering when streaming HD video sometimes.

Long Contracts and Expensive Equipment

When signing up, you’re locked into a 2-year contract with Viasat. I decided to leave after the first year due to frustration over slower speeds and data caps. Unfortunately, I got slapped with a $150 early termination fee.

Cancelling was also a headache since I had rented Viasat’s equipment. I had to return the satellite modem via mail after purchasing my own compatible equipment for my new provider.

Renting Viasat‘s modem costs $13 per month. You can buy it outright for $150, but then it won’t work with other providers. The contract and rental fees add up, so you’ll end up paying more for Viasat than Starlink over time.

Viasat Is Ok If You Have No Other Options

Viasat satellite internet is a decent option for rural areas where Starlink internet isn’t available yet. You’ll enjoy faster speeds than pokey old satellite technology. Just be mindful of the restrictive data caps that can ruin the experience.

I don’t miss the days of constantly worrying about staying under my data limit and dealing with throttled internet each month. The new unlimited data freedom I get with Starlink is life-changing.

HughesNet: America’s Biggest but Pokey Satellite Provider

With around 1.5 million subscribers, HughesNet is America’s largest satellite internet provider. But despite its wide availability, HughesNet delivers the poorest performance of the big three.

I tried HughesNet several years ago and found the speeds far too sluggish for a modern household, even for basic web browsing and email. I measured download speeds of just 10 to 15 Mbps, compared to over 100 Mbps with Starlink.

Ookla speedtest data confirms my experience, showing HughesNet averaging a pokey download speed of just 19 Mbps in the U.S. That’s barely fast enough for a single person to stream HD video. Forget about a family of 5 all using bandwidth simultaneously.

HughesNet Has the Worst Latency

Latency is equally awful on HughesNet. I clocked latency consistently around 700 ms, which made online games unplayable.

HughesNet’s network of aging satellites orbit at a higher altitude of 22,000 miles up compared to Starlink’s low orbit at 340 miles. The higher altitude means data has much farther to travel, resulting in slower speeds and worse latency.

Video calls and live streams were also unusable for me on HughesNet. That 700 ms latency results in unwatchable stuttering and buffering. Don’t expect to have a smooth Netflix night on HughesNet.

Most Restrictive Data Caps

The pain of HughesNet’s slow network is compounded by restrictive data caps that seem laser-focused on punishing you.

Even HughesNet’s top-tier plan comes with a measly 50 GB monthly limit. Once you hit your cap, speeds get squeezed down to an unusable 1 – 2 Mbps. I quickly abandoned online gaming and video streaming to avoid surpassing my cap each month.

Like Viasat, you can purchase additional data buckets if you exceed your base limit. But at $10 per 10 GB, those data tokens add up fast. They don’t roll over either, so you lose what you don’t use by month’s end.

HughesNet’s concern about data congestion is understandable with their limited legacy satellite capacity. But their tight caps make for an infuriating internet experience.

HughesNet Equipment and Installation

I will say HughesNet offers professional installation, saving you from climbing on the roof yourself. The installer will carefully position your satellite dish and run all the cabling into your home.

However, like Viasat, HughesNet requires renting their equipment for $15 monthly. You can purchase it outright for $350 to avoid the recurring fee. Just know the hardware works only with HughesNet.

And of course there’s a 2-year service contract, keeping you trapped if you realize HughesNet’s slow network and tight caps don’t work for your lifestyle.

Only Choose HughesNet as an Absolute Last Resort

While HughesNet may seem appealing given its low starting price and wide availability, you ultimately get what you pay for. The slower speeds, massive latency, and restrictive data caps had me pulling my hair out.

For rural residents fortunate to get Starlink in their area, there’s no reason to suffer with a subpar legacy satellite provider anymore. The investment is 100% worth it for the vastly superior speeds and unlimited data.

Viasat also offers much faster performance than HughesNet if available in your region. Really HughesNet should be an absolute last resort for remote households without any other options.

Key Factors When Choosing Satellite Internet Provider:

We’ve covered a ton of info comparing the big three satellite internet providers. Let’s recap the key factors to weigh when deciding which is the right fit:

• Availability – Starlink has the most limited availability, followed by Viasat with nationwide coverage. Go with HughesNet only if it‘s your sole option.

• Speed – Starlink delivers up to 200 Mbps, Viasat 100 Mbps max, and HughesNet just 25 Mbps. Faster is obviously better, especially for multiple users.

• Data caps – Starlink is unlimited, whereas Viasat plans range from 40 to 150 GB and HughesNet 10 to 50 GB. Tight caps can ruin the experience.

• Latency – Starlink impressively achieves 20 – 40 ms latency. Viasat and HughesNet lag at 600+ ms, impacting streaming and gaming.

• Contracts – Viasat and HughesNet require 2-year contracts. Starlink has no contract so you can cancel anytime.

• Price – Starlink is $110 per month plus $599 equipment fee. Viasat plans start at $50 per month, HughesNet at $60 per month, plus equipment rental fees.

• Customer satisfaction – In FCC and ACSI surveys, Starlink achieves far higher satisfaction ratings than Viasat and HughesNet.

The Satellite Internet Winner Is Clear

Bottom line—if you can get Starlink service in your area, choose them without hesitation. The difference in performance and quality of experience versus old-school providers is night and day.

Starlink truly delivers cable-like speeds and latency for rural users via satellite for the first time. The $600 initial hardware investment stings a bit, but you’ll easily recoup that over time with no rental fees or data overages.

My impatient techie side couldn’t be happier that new satellite constellations like Starlink are finally forcing lazy ISPs to up their game. Satellite internet went from forgettable to formidable virtually overnight.

Viasat comes in second place with moderately faster speeds than old satellite technology, but still hampered by data caps and high latency.

I only recommend HughesNet if absolutely no other options are available. The slower speeds and tighter data limits are painful. But for some rural users, HughesNet may be the only provider that reaches them.

Whichever satellite provider you choose, I hope you’re soon enjoying country life with fast, unlimited internet! Feel free to reach out with any questions. Happy browsing!