Best for: Everyday use
Starting price
$39.99/mo. (for 12 months‡)
- Max speeds of up to 100 Mbps1
- Equipment fee: $14.99/mo.
- Up to 200 GB Priority data
- Unlimited standard data2
- GEO satellites
- Typical latency of 650 ms
Best for: high-speed reliability
Starting price
$39.99/mo. (for 3 months)
- Max speeds of up to 150 Mbps
- Equipment fee: $15/mo.
- 150 – 850 GB Priority data
- No hard data caps
- GEO satellites
- Typical latency of 600 ms to 750 ms
*Offers vary by location and are subject to change.
‡$39.99 per month represents a $10 per month savings for 12 months on the Lite plan and reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. $5 savings apply as long as ACH enrollment is maintained. Monthly Lease Fee may be additional. Certain geographic areas are not eligible to receive offer. New residential subscribers only. Limited-time offer. Other terms may apply.
1. Each Hughesnet service plan is designed to deliver the download/upload speeds assigned to that specific plan, however, speeds and uninterrupted use are not guaranteed and may vary based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to the number of concurrent network users. Your Hughesnet experience will vary based on your proximity to the Wi-Fi source.
2. Standard Data may be slower than other traffic during high-traffic periods
Hughesnet delivers reliable connectivity for basic household needs at affordable starting prices for the first year. At the same time, Viasat offers speeds of up to 150 Mbps and a built-in WiFi for seamless in-home connectivity!
Which provider would work better for you ultimately comes down to your usage, family size, and number of active users. So, let’s get a complete breakdown of both providers to understand which among Hughesnet vs. Viasat is best for your home!
Here’s what you can expect to read:
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Speeds & Pricing
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Data Limits Explained
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Contracts and Equipment
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Coverage and Availability
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Customer Service
- Should You Consider Starlink Instead?
- Verdict: Which Provider Is Right for You?
Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Speeds & Pricing
Hughesnet offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps while Viasat has a maximum download speed of 150 Mbps, making Viasat a faster internet option. Here is what both providers’ speeds look like at a glance:
| Max. Download Speeds | Typical Upload Speeds | Latency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hughesnet | Up to 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 650 ms |
| Viasat | Up to 150 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 600 ms to 750 ms |
However, according to their median speeds recorded by Ookla speed test results, Hughesnet delivered an average speed of 47.79 Mbps and Viasat 49.12 Mbps in Q1 2025. This means that their real-world speeds are nearly the same.
As for pricing, both Hughesnet and Viasat start at $39.99/mo. However, Hughesnet keeps the price for the first 12 months, while Viasat offers this discounted price for the first 3 months if you choose a 24-month commitment.
Latency Comparison
Both Hughesnet and Viasat share the same GEO satellite internet technology, and one of the biggest limitations that comes with it is a higher of around 600 to 750 milliseconds. Since geostationary satellites are at a much farther distance from the ground, it takes longer for signals to reach back and forth, delivering a higher ping rate. This makes online activities like live gaming a little compromised.
Hughesnet Price After Introductory Period Ends
Hughesnet gives you a $25 discount on internet prices if you take the 24-month contract, and prices increase after the first 12 months. This means you will be charged an early termination fee if you choose to cancel service within the contract period.
Here’s what the prices look like once the promotional discount ends:
| Plan | Speed | Introductory price | Price after 12 mos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite* | Up to 25 Mbps | $39.99/mo. | $49.99/mo. |
| Select** | Up to 50 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | $74.99/mo. |
| Elite*** | Up to 100 Mbps | $64.99/mo. | $89.99/mo. |
*Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Enroll before the 2nd billing cycle for continued savings. Updated as of 06/09/26.
**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 Price After Introductory Period Ends
Viasat has a 3-month promotional period where you can avail a discounted internet price of $39.99/mo. Once the promotional period is over, your bill will revert to standard pricing depending on your area.
| Plan | Speed | Introductory price | Price after 12 mos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat Essentials | Up to 25 – 150 Mbps | $39.99/mo.* | $69.99 to $89.99/mo. |
| Viasat Unleashed | Up to 25 – 150 Mbps | $74.99/mo.** | $99.99 to $119.99/mo. |
*For 3 months
**Select areas only. Price varies by location
Our Verdict: Hughesnet offers better value for money with 1-year promotional pricing and real-world speeds that match Viasat’s performance.
Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Data limits Explained
Hughesnet and Viasat both offer unlimited data; however, it may be a little different than what you’d expect. While there are no hard data caps, there is a soft cap on priority data. This means you will have priority speeds for a set amount of data, after which your speeds may temporarily slow down till your billing cycle ends.
Priority data aims at fairly distributing speeds among all users without charging any extra amount for exceeding a limit. You will not be charged any data overage fee, just a temporary slow speed if you exceed the priority data limit.
Hughesnet offers a priority data of up to 200 GB, while Viasat offers up to 800 GB, depending on your internet plan.
Our Verdict: Viasat offers a greater amount of priority data, which is more suitable for heavy internet users, larger families, and remote workers.
Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Contracts and Equipment
Hughesnet allows you to either purchase equipment upfront for $299 or lease the equipment at $14.99/mo. and get installation for free. However, if you purchase the equipment, you also have to pay $199.99 for professional installation, which increases your first internet bill !
Since Hughesnet internet plans come with a 24-month contract, the provider also charges an early termination fee of up to $400.
internet price for the promotional period or get rid of the early termination fee by choosing a flexible no-contract option.
Moreover, Viasat allows you to lease the equipment at $15/mo. or pay a one-time fee for a lifetime lease of $250, if applicable in your area.
Our Verdict: Viasat offers more flexibility for users as compared to Hughesnet contract-only plans, and both providers have a similar equipment lease fee.
Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Coverage and Availability
Hughesnet and Viasat deliver reliable coverage across all 50 states due to the employment of their satellite technology. However, the exact speeds, prices, and offers available to you may vary based on your location. You can enter your ZIP code to check which Hughesnet and Viasat offers are available at your address:
Hughesnet vs. Viasat - Customer Service
Hughesnet and Viasat both offer convenient and efficient customer service via phone, live chat, or through their online portals. You can easily get in touch with a customer support agent through a channel of your choice. Here’s how to reach out to their customer service:
| Number | Portal | |
|---|---|---|
| Hughesnet | 866-482-1777 | Online Help Center |
| Viasat | 855-463-9333 | Online Help Center |
Should You Consider Starlink Instead?
While Hughesnet and Viasat are both reliable satellite internet providers that offer services all across rural America, their speeds and latency may not be compatible for all household types. This is one of the major reasons why both of these providers are losing customers to Starlink.
If you need the internet for intensive online activity like live gaming, HD 4K streaming, remote work, and more, for multiple users in the house, you might not be satisfied with the speeds and performance, as both Hughesnet and Viasat run their network on GEO satellites.
This is where Starlink’s LEO satellites make the real difference. With download speeds of up to 400 Mbps, higher upload speeds compared to other satellite providers, and latency as low as 25 ms, you can enjoy smooth and seamless online activity with minimal lags.
However, that decision entirely depends on your household usage, number of users, and speed requirements. So, it's best to evaluate your needs before you decide on a provider for your home.
Verdict: Which Provider Is Right for You?
Hughesnet demands commitment but offers budget-friendly plans, while Viasat provides flexibility and more priority data but is more expensive compared to Hughesnet. However, both providers have similar speeds, latency, performance, and customer satisfaction rates.
Here’s our verdict for which provider may be a better fit for you:
Choose Hughesnet if you want:
- Long-term service at a permanent address
- Internet for basic connectivity
- Whole-home connectivity
Insights: Hughesnet users in Maryland and Nebraska enjoy the fastest download speeds of around 98.03 Mbps and 77.11 Mbps, respectively.
Choose Viasat if you want:
- Flexibility to switch anytime
- More priority data for heavy internet usage
- Temporary affordable low-commitment plan
FAQs
Is Viasat better than Hughesnet?
Viasat is generally considered better than Hughesnet because it offers a higher download speed of 150 Mbps and priority data of up to 800 GB, whereas Hughesnet has a limited priority data cap of 150 GB and download speeds of up to 100 Mbps only. However, real-world speed tests carried out by Ookla Speed Tests reflect somewhat similar performance by both providers in terms of speeds.
Is Starlink killing Hughesnet and Viasat customers?
Yes, according to a study by Ookla, both Hughesnet and Viasat are losing customers to Starlink, which provides faster speeds and lower latency to rural internet users.
Is Hughesnet cheaper than Viasat?
While Hughesnet and Viasat have the same starting prices, Viasat prices change after the 3-month promotional period, while Hughesnet gives a price guarantee of 12 months. Considering this, Hughesnet is the cheaper option.