Satellite Internet vs. DSL: Which is Better?

Satellite internet is made possible by constellations of orbiting satellites and ground stations connected to the rest of the internet. While most other types of internet, including DSL, require physical infrastructure that connects to your home, satellite internet requires only a dish receiver and a clear view of the sky. That’s why you can still get satellite internet services in areas where no other internet service is available.

There are three major residential satellite internet providers in the US: Hughesnet, Starlink, and Viasat.

Viasat offers unlimited data, Starlink has the fastest speeds, and Hughesnet offers better budget packages with no price hikes. 

Satellite internet speeds tend to be slower compared to other types of broadband. Satellite internet also suffers from higher latency than other types of internet connections, mainly because it has to travel such a long distance through the atmosphere rather than through a high-speed cable. This will be annoying but survivable with most internet activities, but it makes fast-paced activities like online gaming pretty much impossible.

Viasat, the faster satellite Internet Service Provider (ISP), offers a top speed of 150 Mbps and unlimited data. This is a great amount of speed for satellite internet, though it still suffers from high latency. Viasat doesn't offer 150 Mbps everywhere, so you might find yourself in an area with only a lower speed range.

Hughesnet plans all have speeds of up to 100 Mbps. This is enough for browsing, emailing, and streaming, but it may come up short if multiple people are trying to stream at once. However, the restricted data caps can make it frustrating. 100GB is good, but 4K streaming can still wipe it out pretty quickly.

Starlink offers the best download speeds plus lower latency thanks to its low-earth orbit satellites. However, it's by far the most expensive when considering the pricy upfront cost of the equipment.

The other shortcoming of satellite internet is pricing. At equal speeds, satellite internet will almost always be more expensive than any other internet service.

Most of this price disparity comes from the cost of operating the satellite networks that power these providers. What you get in return is something that no other ISP can truly offer: nationwide availability. Starlink, Viasat, and Hughesnet are available everywhere in the US.

Satellite internet is generally best for those who live in rural areas without better land-based alternatives.

In rural areas, it’s often the case that satellite internet might be the only broadband connection available. Many places in the rural US don’t have access to DSL, cable, or fiber connections, and some areas are still stuck on dial-up (if you can believe it).

Your town may even have broadband access, but your property is too remote for cables to run to it. In these situations, paying the premium for satellite internet to get a more usable speed may be worth it.

DSL stands for digital subscriber line. This is a fairly old internet technology that was meant to replace dial-up. While DSL still uses phone lines to connect, it doesn’t tie up the line while online, and it’s capable of much faster speeds.

DSL has since been edged out by cable and fiber as the fastest internet option, but it’s still widespread in many parts of the country and relied on by millions to get internet service.

There are many DSL providers. Nearly every major national ISP and many local providers offer some DSL service. That said, the biggest DSL providers are Windstream and CenturyLink.

In some areas, DSL speeds can reach up to 500 Mbps, but this is hard to find. Depending on where you live, you’re more likely to see speeds capping out between 15–50 Mbps in areas where DSL is available.

Starting speeds for DSL are pretty low: they can be as little as 6 Mbps. While 6 Mbps may not be anything to write home about, anywhere from 15 Mbps to 30 Mbps is enough for most common household uses. It’s also as fast (or faster) than most of the satellite plans available, and it’s a lot cheaper with higher data caps to boot.

One thing to note is DSL connections tend to have pretty slow upload speeds. This can make gaming or sharing content slower than it would be on cable or fiber, but it’s the same, if not better, than what you’ll get on satellite internet.

The best part about DSL internet is probably the price. It tends to be very affordable, especially for the speed and data you get. Depending on your location and the providers available to you, you can get internet service for as little as $19.99 per month.

DSL makes a great option for people who need a reliable internet plan with solid speeds. The affordable pricing is just icing on the cake. However, if you need faster speeds, we recommend looking at cable or fiber providers in your area, like Comcast Xfinity. But if your choice is between satellite internet and DSL, go with DSL.

Satellite internet requires professional installation because you need a dish. Luckily, Hughesnet offers pro installation at no additional charge, so you don’t need to worry about big installation fees. If you go with Viasat, you might have to pay an installation fee but you can usually get it waived through a promotional deal.

Installation for DSL is simpler: typically, you can request a self-install kit and do it yourself. These kits come with clear instructions and everything you need to get going. If you’d rather let a pro handle it, that’s an option, too, though there will probably be more fees involved.

If it’s available in your area, DSL is the better option for high-speed internet simply because getting a good speed is so much cheaper. But if you need internet in a hard-to-connect spot, satellite’s nationwide availability will serve you well.

DSL is a type of internet service that runs through phone lines. But unlike dial-up, it won’t tie up your phone when you’re online. DSL offers better speeds than satellite internet, and it’s more affordable. DSL and satellite internet are usually the two types of internet available to rural areas.

DSL is better for online gaming by a long shot. Satellite internet connections have higher latency than other types of internet, which can cause significant input delays when playing games like Fortnite or Overwatch. Online turn-based games might be okay on a satellite internet connection, but first-person shooters are virtually unplayable.

The choice between Starlink, Viasat, or Hughesnet depends on what you need. For the fastest possible speeds, Starlink is the way to go. For unlimited data, go with Viasat. Just be sure to check that its fastest plans are actually available in your area before you commit. If cost is your main concern, Hughesnet has better budget packages with faster speeds.