The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025

Hughesnet offers plans with speeds and reliability for minimal internet usage. Although speeds and latency lag behind competitors, Hughesnet will save you money in the long run. In our customer surveys, Hughesnet users have remarked that they’ve seen improvements in speeds, although reliability and customer service remain frustrating. 

As we interviewed satellite internet customers as part of our provider review process, it was tough finding Hughesnet customers with positive feelings about the service. Discourse online and in our customer survey indicated there was satisfaction with the price but extreme disappointment with the mandatory two-year commitment and measly priority data caps. However, for many with a rural lifestyle, it’s enough to keep them in contact with the rest of the world for safety and basic communication.

When it comes to speed and convenience, SpaceX’s Starlink has been winning over people all over the world. Its unique technology and internet packages set it apart from Hughesnet and Viasat, making it the fastest and most versatile satellite internet service. The plans aren’t cheap, and the upfront equipment fees are high. Plus, Starlink's customer service leaves a lot to be desired. 

The Starlink customers we spoke with had many more good things to say than bad. For them, the difference in latency compared to competitors they tried was day and night. Streaming high-quality video or playing video games online, all without lag or running into data caps, was finally possible for them.

Viasat is a direct competitor to Hughesnet, featuring similar technology and internet packages. However, Viasat features unlimited high-speed data and no contract, allowing you to cancel anytime. With unlimited data at a competitive price, it lends itself to being a solution for people who are heavy data users. The main downside is that Viasat’s speeds and final pricing depend entirely on your location, so the service’s ideal package may not be available.

We spoke to several Viasat customers, and their frustrations regarding reliability and latency were similar to Hughesnet's—however, Viasat's removal of a hard data limit and contract positions it to remain more competitive. 

All three providers can keep you in communication with the web, allowing you to email, use chat clients like Slack and Discord, and make phone calls—to an extent. Hughesnet and Viasat’s high latency means there will be minor delays in sending text messages, making instant chat less instant. Customers using VoiP apps like Skype have experienced noticeable delays in conversations, but they’re still usable. Starlink’s low latency clears those problems up but is an expensive solution for essential communication. 

• Read more about the best VoIP plans for satellite internet.

Using satellite internet to stream your favorite movies and shows is complicated. It’s not recommended you stream using Hughesnet due to the limited data allotment, which will quickly get eaten up. Many Hughesnet customers opt to download movies during the nighttime hours when bonus data is available or subscribe to a satellite TV provider. Viasat offers nearly unlimited data, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that. However, the high latency will result in long buffering times. Streaming in the lowest quality or downloading the HD version is recommended to avoid buffering. Starlink’s high speeds and low latency will make for a better streaming experience overall.  

• Read more about streaming over satellite internet.

Gaming online is a challenge for satellite internet customers. The three big providers feature adequate download speeds, but latency and data consumption are more important for online gaming. Hughesnet and Viasat’s latency is too high to be effective at online gaming, especially for fast-paced action games where responsive input is essential. Plus, with Hughesnet’s priority data cap, you’ll quickly run through your monthly allotment.

Starlink is the only viable solution for gaming over satellite internet. With unlimited data and much lower latency, it’s better to stay competitive with little to no lag. We’ve spoken to Satellite customers who say gaming online wasn’t possible until they switched to Starlink.

• Read more about what to expect when gaming over satellite internet.

Options are limited, but getting high-speed internet through satellite is possible whether you’re traveling with a tent, van, or RV. Currently, Starlink is the only satellite provider that allows you to take in on the go if you’re on a Roam plan. Roam will enable you to connect from any Starlink-approved country for $165 per month. Speeds are slower than the standard residential plan but still strong enough to suit any of your internet needs on the go. Besides Starlink, there are more ways to get online while traveling, including mobile hotspot plans and 5G fixed-wireless internet.  

• Read more about getting Wi-Fi for your RV.

Like RVs, Starlink is the only satellite internet service with plans specifically for boats. Starlink Mobile will work on any schooner, yacht, or dinghy—as long as you’re stationary. However, the whole point of having a boat is to sail into the distance, so if you need to stay connected while moving, you’ll need the Flat High-Performance Starlink, which costs $2,500. Mobile Priority gives you the highest speeds available from anywhere, making it helpful in navigating any body of water while the family can stream movies and music. 

• Read more about the best internet options for boats.

All three providers work with enterprises for commercial service but offer internet solutions aimed at small businesses in rural settings, albeit with the same speeds, data, and terms as their home plans. Hughesnet and Viasat’s plans provide 24/7 support and priority bandwidth for business customers. Video chat is doable, but it is usually in the lowest definition, and you’ll probably appear laggy to everyone else on the call. Starlink is the exception, where you’ll see improved voice and video quality, but it’s an expensive solution.

Hughesnet and Viasat also offer affordable backup internet plans for businesses that can’t afford to be offline when their primary provider has an outage. These plans provide minimal but stable business continuity. 

Starlink doesn’t offer a specific small business plan but recommends using its Priority plans for businesses. These plans provide top speeds and give customers priority in its support ticket system.

• Read more about satellite internet options for small businesses.

Satellite internet’s greatest strength is its availability, which benefits people in rural settings. If you have a clear view of the sky, you can likely get satellite internet when no other options are available. However, fixed-wireless options are faster internet solutions for rural customers, but they are not as widely available as satellites. It’s worth investigating whether these solutions are available before committing to a satellite provider.

Use our location tool to see what internet providers are available in your area.