Viasat vs. Hughesnet: Comparing Satellite Internet Providers for the Best Connectivity

If you live in a rural area, need the internet for simple applications, and want to save money, we recommend Hughesnet.

Hughesnet offers the best price for just the right amount of speed for your everyday needs. It is perfect for people who live out of the way and still need internet access.

If you use it for more data-intensive tasks like working from home and streaming, Viasat might be more your speed. This is especially true if you don’t like being locked into a multi-year contract.

To see how the service stacks up against Hughesnet and Viasat, read our Starlink review.

Hughesnet keeps its download speeds a bit more straightforward than Viasat. Hughesnet satellite internet plans offer 50Mbps and 100Mbps of download speed. All three of Hughesnet’s plans offer unlimited standard data after your priority data allotment, which comes in 100GB or 200GB per month. You’ll never be cut off from service, but your speeds will be much slower than on priority data.

The highest-tiered plan, Fusion, is a low-latency option that combines satellite internet with a fixed wireless connection, similar to 5G. This reduces low latency, which is an inherent problem with satellite internet.

With Hughesnet’s two-year contract, at least you’ll know your price won’t jump during that duration. Since Viasat is month-to-month, they can’t make that same promise.

Overall, you could end up saving money with Hughesnet because its plans are cheaper overall, but only if you don’t end up buying tons of data to compensate. So keep an eye on your data needs and decide what you most need from your satellite internet service: prices that treat you right or high data caps.

For more specifics on Hughesnet’s internet service, check out our Hughesnet Review.

Viasat plans start at $119.99 a month and offer unlimited data with speeds between 25Mbps and 150Mbps. However, your speeds and final pricing are determined by your address since they cannot guarantee their top speeds everywhere. There is no introductory discount, and the plan is paid month to month. Since there is no contract, you can cancel at any time, but there is no price lock guarantee.

Despite being more expensive than Hughesnet’s two main plans (especially in the first year), Viasat’s unlimited data and lack of contract or high upfront costs may make the extra charge worth it. Remember, Hughesnet caps its data at 200GB, and after you hit that, your speed will drop significantly, especially during peak hours. Viasat does have a soft data cap of 850GB, so it's possible you'll be throttled if you exceed that within a month. However, we've found this is plenty of data for most households.

For more specifics on Viasat internet service, check out our entire Viasat Internet Review.

Viasat claims a faster max speed of 150Mbps, 50Mbps more than than Hughesnet's top speed of 100Mbps. However, Viasat's top speed is not available in all locations. In fact, depending on your location, you may not be able to get 100Mbps. So, if you’re judging on speed alone, you’ll need to check with both providers to find out which residential satellite internet provider offers the fastest service in your area.

Also, don’t forget the impact that data allowances have on your internet speed. Once you hit your monthly data threshold, your speed may be slowed to 3 Mbps or less. When it comes down to it, having a plan with a higher data allowance may have a bigger impact on your internet speed than bumping up to a faster speed plan.

Latency also plays a big factor in performance, even more so than download speed. Latency is affected by satellites’ distance from the Earth, and Hughesnet and Viasat both use geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites. High latency can make your connection feel even slower than it is. Satellite internet latency averages 594–624 milliseconds (ms). Compare this with cable internet’s average latency of 15–35 ms, and you’ll understand why gaming can be difficult on satellite internet.

You can stream 4K with Hughesnet and Viasat (we don't recommend trying to stream 4K with less than 50Mbps). With Viasat's unlimited data plan, it makes it ideal for streaming since you don’t have to worry about it gobbling up your data. On Hughesnet, we recommend streaming in standard or HD, since 4K requires plenty of bandwidth, and you still run the risk of hitting your data threshold if you stream a lot.

For more advice, check out our what speed you need guide to get the most out of your internet.

Both Viasat and Hughesnet advertise that they offer unlimited data--but only one has true high-speed unlimited data.

Hughesnet (the latest Hughesnet technology) offers between 100GB and 200GB of data with its satellite plans, and Viasat Unleashed provides unlimited data (albeit with the exception of 850GB in a month). After you exceed your monthly data cap, you won’t be cut off from your internet connection entirely. Instead, your internet speeds will be throttled, so you’ll experience slower speeds. Whatever your plan is, you’ll go from that speed down to probably average around 1 Mbps to 3 Mbps instead of your usual download speed. Let’s not even look at the upload speed.

This throttled data is called standard data, whereas the faster data you’ll experience within your data cap is high-speed data. Fixed wireless providers and cellphone providers also tend to use this model and these terms. That all said, Viasat’s lack of a hard data cap is the lead here. However, on the off chance that you exceed 850GB and your data is slowed down, you’re unable to buy additional data.

Once you reach your priority data limit, your service will slow down. You can buy additional data if you still need full-speed data after that, and unused Hughesnet data you purchase will carry over into the next month. Hughesnet plans also try to make up for their lower data allowances with Bonus Zone data that you can access between 2:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. Learn how to manage your data.

Both Hughesnet and Viasat require professional installation from a technician. You cannot install your dish and router yourself. Also, when leasing your equipment, both providers will require you to ship back the equipment undamaged. Otherwise, you'll be charged a sizable fee.

You can lease your Viasat equipment for $15 per month or opt for the lifetime lease for a one-time fee of $250. The lifetime lease is good for as long as you keep the same model of equipment.

Installation with Viasat is the most in-demand expense and could even be a deal breaker. Your final price will depend entirely on your location and the result of a soft credit check. Although the installation could be free, circumstances can result in charges—the worst-case scenario is a $300 installation.

Hughesnet gives you multiple equipment leasing options, plus an option to buy. The monthly leasing option costs $14.99 for satellite plans and $19.99 for the Fusion plan, though some areas may get a $5 per month discount, and the purchase options cost $299.99 or $449.99.

Unless you plan to be with Hughesnet for a long time (55 months or more), leasing is the more cost-effective option. Also, new customers may get free installation, so you could save even more.

As mentioned before, satellite internet is more susceptible to lag (also known as latency or ping) than other types of internet service. The lag occurs because a signal transmitted via satellite has to travel much farther than it would with other internet types. That extra distance also leaves the signal more vulnerable to interference.

Viasat and Hughesnet are both satellite internet providers, so they face similar limitations. If you’re concerned about going over your data limit, go with Viasat. Viasat delivers more data than Hughesnet plans do. If cost is the biggest factor, go with Hughesnet because their prices are slightly lower and don’t increase after three months.

And if superior speeds and performance are top priority, and you don’t mind the high sign-up cost, check into Starlink, which offers the most data and fastest speeds of any satellite internet provider.

Because both these ISPs operate by satellite, they’re both available almost anywhere in America. However, the packages available will vary by area because the beam from the orbiting satellite will hit different locations at different angles. A more direct beam can deliver a stronger signal and a better service.

Neither Hughesnet nor Viasat bundle with television, but you can get DISH or DIRECTV alongside either service. The perks of satellite TV? You won’t use up data when you’re watching live TV.

DISH offers high-quality satellite television on all its packages. In addition to delivering the entertainment you want, DISH also features the Hopper 3 DVR. With 2TB of space and 4K HD picture quality, you can record hours of your favorite shows with the Hopper 3, and you’ll know they’ll look great.

DIRECTV satellite TV service also delivers great entertainment, especially for sports fans. The DIRECTV Genie® DVR supports 4K HD for a stunningly clear picture and has a huge storage capacity for virtually endless entertainment.

Your choice between Viasat and Hughesnet will come down to several factors. First, you need to determine what's available to you at your location. Both Viasat's 150Mbps plans and Hughesnet's reliable Fusion plan aren't available to everyone.

Once you're aware of what you're working with (likely 100Mbps from both providers), you need to determine how much of a data user you are. We typically recommend Hughesnet for its affordable pricing. However, if you anticipate using lots of data—for instance, you have a big family that likes to stay connected—Viasat's significantly larger priority data caps may be a selling point for you.

Methodology

Our SatelliteInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on research, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. We dig deep to get hard-to-find information on internet plans, fees, and upcoming brand developments. We make this information easy for you to find in one place via our in-depth reviews, and we use our satellite internet industry expertise to analyze the options to help you make the most informed decision for your household.

To learn more about our process, check out our Methodology page.

Viasat vs. Hughesnet FAQ

Is Starlink and Viasat the same company?

Starlink and Viasat are not owned by the same company. SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, owns Starlink internet services. Viasat Inc., on the other hand, is a public company, so it has majority shareholders and investors.

Is Viasat and Hughesnet the same?

Is Hughesnet better than Viasat?