Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2024: Starlink and Beyond

Our take: Starlink takes an old technology and makes it new again. The company boasts 1,500 to 2,000 times more satellites than its competitors, and those satellites fly in a lower orbit. All of that makes Starlink fast and reliable—or at least faster and more reliable than a typical satellite connection. Starlink has lower latency than other satellite internet providers, and it’s also incredibly flexible. You can use it at home, but you can also use Starlink Roam in a car or boat and Starlink Mini in your backpack.

It’s worth noting that Starlink is intrinsically linked to SpaceX’s founder, Elon Musk. That’s a plus for some potential customers but a massive drawback for others. But while Musk remains a decisive figure, that doesn’t change the fact that Starlink delivers the best satellite service around. Read our Starlink review.

Starlink’s prices are mostly par for the course for satellite internet. Its residential plans cost about the same as Viasat and Hughesnet but with faster speeds. However, the equipment is quite pricey (starting at $349), and the Roam plans can cost as much as a semester at some colleges.

No, Starlink is actually slower than the 5G internet services we recommend.

Starlink sometimes goes out in bad weather, according to customer Jonas Zook Jr. in Pennsylvania. He experiences “occasional service interruptions during severe weather.”

Our take: With Viasat, customers pay less for equipment: $15 a month or a flat fee of $250. Customers also cut through the annoying fees associated with old-school internet, as Viasat doesn't have data overage fees (because it provides unlimited data) or cancellation fees (because there's no contact). And customers with the Viasat Unleashed plan don't pay for installation, either.

It's a good thing Viasat customers save money on fees because the plans are the most expensive in the satellite realm. Still, when you add up what you save with Viasat, you get a pretty good deal. Read our Viasat review.

Viasat Unleashed is the best deal by far. You get 150Mbps for $120 a month, compared to other Viasat plans, which cost between $70 and $150 each month but provide only 12Mbps download speeds.

Viasat Unleashed is fast enough for Netflix as long as you aren’t overloading your network with other devices that consume a lot of internet data, like home security cameras. And the other Viasat plans may not be fast enough for most users.

Viasat is likely slower at night because the network is overloaded with users. Many internet services slow down during peak use periods in the evening hours, when most people are home watching television or playing video games. 

Our take: Hughesnet knows satellite internet is stupidly expensive, and it's here to help. Hughesnet plans start at just $50, and although those prices increase over time, they stay pretty low for a satellite internet provider. The plans also include unlimited data and a monthly “soft cap.” Customers’ speeds get throttled once they've used a certain amount of high-speed data, but they don’t get their internet cut off or have to pay an overage fee.

Our Reviews.org speed test shows that although Hughesnet's advertised speeds are similar to Viasat's, its actual upload and download speeds are the slowest of all three internet providers. But that doesn't mean you should count Hughesnet out—satellite internet is slow in general. Read our Hughesnet review.

Hughesnet plans start at $49.99 a month and go up to $94.99 a month. However, these are introductory prices—they increase after 12 months. You also pay $14.99 each month or a flat fee of $299.99 for the equipment.

Hughesnet's biggest disadvantage is that it's slow, even for a satellite provider. But at least the slower speeds are accompanied by lower prices.

Hughesnet's speeds are sufficient for streaming at 50–100Mbps. "Good" might be a stretch, though, as we typically recommend 300–500Mbps for avid streamers.

How do these three satellite options compare to one another?

True to its name, Starlink shines against the other two satellite internet providers. Its speed range starts where Viasat's and Hughesnet's end, and it's the only provider that doesn't have an automatic price hike after signing up. Starlink is also one of the only internet providers worldwide that offers truly reliable and consistent portable internet services for vehicles, travelers, and others on the go. It’s not common to get portable internet with the generous data allotments and high speeds that Starlink gives.

Meanwhile, Viasat has the advantage of fewer fees and lower equipment costs. And 93% of customers are eligible for Viasat Unleashed, its considerably better (though more expensive) plan.

As for Hughesnet, it’s a true moneysaver. Even when you add in equipment costs and price hikes, most of its plans cost much less in the long run compared to Starlink and Viasat. It’s the only satellite internet provider that still requires a two-year contract when you sign up. So if you don’t intend to stick with it long term, try Starlink or Viasat instead.

You should have the option to sign up with at least one of these satellite internet providers. They're all available practically anywhere—a definite benefit of a service that relies on a signal beamed down from space.

If you live somewhere with additional, non-satellite internet options, a satellite ISP may not be your best bet, even if one's available. Satellite service is best for people who live in remote places and don't have other choices. If you have multiple providers available, consider something else before going with a satellite provider.

Not sure what internet service providers are present where you live? You can run a search with your zip code below to see what internet options are available in your area.

Satellite internet is … not great compared to other internet options. It's slow, often unreliable, and expensive, considering that the average internet cost for Americans is $81 a month. So, if you're looking for fiber speeds or cable prices, you don't get that from satellite internet—no way, no how.

But satellite internet has its place. In 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture estimated that 14% of Americans live in rural areas (in other words, non-metropolitan places). Those living in these rural areas usually have alternative internet options, like satellite or 5G, instead of traditional physical connections such as cable and fiber. And that's where satellite internet comes in: It's pretty much for people who have literally no other options.

With that in mind, picking a satellite internet provider is sometimes more about finding the least terrible option than the best—although satellite internet is improving.

"New technologies and new satellites have allowed satellite providers to offer faster connections with lower latency, giving satellite customers better value for their monthly cost," says internet expert Peter Christiansen from HighSpeedInternet.com.

So what should you look at to know you’re getting the right satellite internet provider for you? Try this.

Affordable pricing. Look at the monthly price and equipment fees to make sure you can afford the cost.

Adequate speeds. Satellite internet speeds tend to be slow in general, so you typically want the fastest satellite plan you can afford.

Latency. Not to be confused with other, similar-sounding words (like latex or lactation), latency is essentially how quickly pages load. (High latency can contribute to your internet running more slowly, but it is a separate measurement from speed.) Satellite providers tend to have generally high latency, although Starlink’s tends to be lower.

Reasonable data limits. Unlimited data is ideal, but not all satellite internet providers give you completely unlimited data with no soft limits. Look into the provider’s data policy to see how much you get per month.

Contracts that are month to month. Only Hughesnet still requires a long-term contract agreement, and if you go that route, you can’t switch without paying a cancellation fee. Starlink and Viasat are much better options in this regard because they don’t require annual or two-year commitments.

Portability. Are you living in an RV or camping a lot? Then consider signing up for Starlink Mini or another portable internet option because it gives you steady and reliable internet service while you’re on the road or even on a mountaintop.

Starlink should be your first choice for satellite internet since it's cost effective and versatile. But getting something other than satellite—like fiber or cable service—would be better.