Best Off-Grid Internet Options

Satellite internet offers you a reliable way to access the internet from totally remote areas. With it, you can enjoy the freedom of being off the beaten path and unplugging from the world, but still be able to plug in and watch some YouTube when you’re tired of talking to the critters in the woods.

Keep in mind: Satellite internet needs a power source; this could be an issue if you’re so off the grid that your setup runs on solar power and you don’t have much voltage to spare.

Starlink has quickly solidified itself as one of our top three recommendations. It is now available in almost every corner of the USA, remote or not. We’ve tested the service ourselves, and there’s a reason people are talking about it.

Starlink's standard residential plan will get you everything you need if you just need to set up internet for your off-grid home base. Its base monthly subscription is more expensive than the others, and there's a significant startup cost for buying the hardware. On top of that, installation of your Starlink equipment is ultimately left up to you, but as an off-grid homesteader, you might prefer that.

We've found that Starlink provides speeds that rival many city-based internet providers and is the fastest to set up out of the box. 

Read our full Starlink review.

We recommend Viasat as a viable, middle-of-the-road satellite internet provider. A bit more expensive than Hughesnet and not as fast as Starlink, it offers surprisingly decent speeds with unlimited high-speed data and no mandatory contract. It's an easy choice if you're a heavy data user. 

One drawback is that the average download speed is going to depend on your location, as the max of 150Mbps is not guaranteed. That's why it's important that there is no contract; that way, you can cancel if the service you get is sub-par.

The average speeds we've seen were enough to stream videos and take Zoom meetings. Where you're likely to see the most lag or slowdown is when there are multiple devices using the Wi-Fi at the same time. 

Read our full Viasat review.

Satellite internet uses satellites that are orbiting the Earth to transmit and receive data. There are two main types: GEO (geostationary) and LEO (low Earth orbit) satellites.

GEO satellites remain in one position high above the Earth—more than 22,236 miles, to be exact—and provide a stable connection. However, due to their distance, there’s usually a slight delay in data transmission—like how it might take you a moment to understand what someone’s saying when they yell from a distance.

LEO satellites orbit much closer to Earth (only 111–1,242 miles), resulting in faster internet speeds. They move fast, and much like how a volleyball team works together to keep the ball in the air, a network of multiple satellites works together to maintain continuous coverage.

So, GEO satellites offer time-tested stability but have some delay (high latency), while LEO satellites provide faster internet (low latency) at the cost of requiring a new and still expanding network.

Below, we’re going to cover the major LEO and GEO satellite internet providers so you can make your off-grid internet choice with confidence.

Living off-grid usually means you’re far from traditional internet infrastructure and probably don’t have access to fiber or cable options. If the satellite options we covered didn’t pique your interest or aren’t offered in your area, cellular home internet (also called wireless home internet) is another practical option that we definitely recommend.

Here are the options we’ll cover in this section, ranked at a glance, in order of which we recommend the most to the least:

1. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
2. Verizon 5G Home Internet
3. AT&T Internet Air

For your off-grid internet needs, we recommend T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service above all other cellular home internet options. Most customers report they don’t struggle to connect and rarely deal with any buffering. T-Mobile’s widespread availability also makes it ideal (and a more likely option) for your rural environment.

If your address isn’t eligible for T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet, you can sign up for its waitlist, which will basically serve as a request to expand to your area. In the meantime, while you wait for 5G in your area, T-Mobile provides a 4G LTE plan that might be a good option for you.

Verizon’s 5G home internet isn’t available in quite as many areas as T-Mobile’s, but they still rank second on our recommended list for plenty of other reasons. Open Signal’s 2023 5G Experience Report shows that Verizon offers faster upload speeds than T-Mobile, and it actually beats T-Mobile in a few other categories, like best video and live-streaming experience. 

If we’re being honest, we ranked this service really low because AT&T’s Internet Air isn’t likely to work for your off-grid lifestyle. Its coverage area is minimal right now, so the chances of it servicing your area are slim to none. Still, if you’d like to take a peak, you can check out your location’s availability on AT&T’s website.

There are plenty of local wireless internet providers that might be available in your area. Find out which providers service your neck of the woods:

If there are no 5G home internet options available in your area, fear not; you can still get internet access on your property using cellular network signal. 

A cellular hotspot uses your cellular data to create a Wi-Fi access point by connecting to the internet through a mobile network (the same way your phone does). Once connected, it broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal, which allows you to connect other devices like your laptop to the newly created Wi-Fi network.

Yes and no; this depends on your definition of remote. Cellular hotspots will only work in areas where your cell phone gets a signal.

If your off-grid cabin is surrounded by tall mountains, dense forest, and is miles from your nearest eligible cell tower, chances are you won’t pick up enough of a cellular signal to create a viable hotspot. A better option for you, in that case, would be satellite internet.

But, if your definition of remote means living on the outskirts of your small town, and you still get a couple of bars on your cell phone, a hotspot is definitely a viable option to get you a Wi-Fi connection.

Your proximity to a cell tower that’s compatible with your mobile hotspot is what typically decides how well your hotspot will perform. The more distance and obstructions (tall buildings, trees, and mountains) between your hotspot and its paired cell tower, the worse your connection could be. So keep that in mind when deciding on your off-grid internet option.      

After plenty of testing and customer feedback, we’ve narrowed it down to our top three favorite cellular hotspot plans.

Even in the middle of nowhere, a cell booster can make your signal stronger and more reliable. Cell boosters are a great accessory for your off-grid cellular hotspot, or even if you’d just like to improve your cell phone’s signal out in the boonies.

MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. These service providers operate like a middleman between you and network providers. Instead of building their own cell phone towers, MVNOs use the existing towers of big carriers to give you a cellular connection.

MVNOs don’t have to invest the upfront cost for cell tower infrastructure, so they usually offer cheaper cell phone plans while still having the same coverage as major carriers. So, MVNOs are a great option for staying in touch off the grid while also saving you money. This is how providers like Mint Mobile manage to give you such a great deal

Since MVNOs share cell towers with major carriers, you’ll have lower priority on the network compared to direct customers. If the network gets congested—which isn’t likely, considering your off-grid location—you’ll experience slower speeds than both urban MVNO and direct carrier customers.

Let’s look at the best MVNO plans below:

Your mobile phone can be the source of your home internet if you have the right combination of flexibility and expectations. It may not be the conventional option, but neither is living off-grid. You can choose to gear yourself up with a more expensive big cell carrier, or a cheaper MVNO.

Some things that are important to note if you’re planning to use your mobile phone as your off-grid home’s internet:

1. You’ll probably find yourself a victim of deprioritization (speed throttling) at least some of the time; users of MVNO plans will always take the backseat to big carrier customers in times of network congestion.
2. If network congestion isn’t likely to happen in your area (see: the middle of nowhere), MVNOs will likely save you a seriously pretty penny on your internet cost. 
3. If you plan to use your internet more often than not, get ready to charge your cell constantly. Running a hotspot from your phone will drain your battery at warp speed.
4. Make sure your internet habits match with the data plan and provider you choose. Data overage fees can add up to scary amounts if your carrier charges them.

LEO satellite constellations are groups of satellites that orbit much lower in Earth’s atmosphere than well-known GEO satellite technology. Because of LEO satellites’s low orbit, they can send and receive data much faster than was once the norm.  

Right now, we use LEO satellites for communication, military aid, and broadband internet services like SpaceX’s Starlink.

The new and emerging Project Kuiper is Amazon’s answer to the LEO satellite boom; it promises to deliver commercial beta-testers a new constellation of broadband internet satellites to try out by the year in 2024.

Another big internet development in recent years is Eutelsat’s OneWeb; it combines both GEO and LEO satellite constellations to provide broadband internet in the UK.

In the future, we’re likely to see a lot more companies get involved with the LEO space race. We can expect expanded global internet access, improved speeds, and steady connectivity for all those living in the remote areas of the world–your local off-grid homestead and international consumers alike.

Fifth-generation wireless technology is becoming more widespread every year. 5G offers faster data speeds and lower latency. It provides us with better mobile internet performance, improved communication in densely populated areas, and reinforced support for emerging and advancing smart devices (known as the Internet of Things or IoT).

Government entities, venture capitalists, and regular consumers like you have a common interest in prioritizing 5G as the future of the internet: more internet accessibility for all corners of the world.     

TV White Space (TVWS) is the unused part of the broadcast television spectrum. Imagine it like the gaps between TV channels on your television. These “white spaces” show up in less-populated areas where not every TV channel is used.

Now, people are exploring how to use these empty "white spaces" to make internet accessible in underserved, remote areas, like your off-grid home. TVWS is like a brand new road that has the potential to be the supply highway for the internet to reach new destinations.

TVWS technology is just beginning to bloom, so we probably won’t see its applications to your real life for at least ten years, when Future Market Insights estimate the TVWS market is projected to reach a value of $1.9 billion.  

We rely on highly reputable sources and real customer reviews when we write these articles for you. Our team dedicates their time (so far, about four entire days) to extensive hands-on research, ensuring we provide you with the most current and true-to-life information available. We also collect the data from our proprietary speed tests and engage in customer interviews to empower you with the insights needed to make informed decisions that align with your lifestyle.

You know when you’re facetiming your mom, and she freezes mid-sentence? That’s due to high latency. In simple terms, latency is the delay or lag between your data sending a command and receiving a response. In most cases, you want your latency to be low. You especially want it to be low if your online activities include gaming and video conferencing.

Once you exceed the amount of data offered on your cellular data plan, cellular companies will slow—or throttle—your speeds. It’s how your provider manages network traffic and makes sure all its customers are getting their fair share.   

Yes, there are many off-grid internet solutions available for boaters. The cheapest way to get service on a boat is with cellular data by using a hotspot or LTE home internet plan—although this won’t work if you venture more than 10 miles from the shoreline. Satellite internet and phone are the only options if you’re traveling far from the shoreline or through international waters. For more tips on getting off-grid Wi-Fi on the water, check out our best internet options for boats.

If you’re going to rely on cellular data—either for phone service or for a home internet connection—you’ll discover that signal strength varies widely based on your exact location. In general, T-Mobile has the widest coverage right now, but in some areas, Verizon or another carrier might work the best for you. You can study coverage maps, but the easiest way to find out which carrier has the best service is to use an app like Opensignal.