The Best Satellite Internet Providers in the US
Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat, ranked by their customers’ ratings
Search for internet service providers near you by zip code, city, address, or provider name below.
Three companies sell satellite internet in the US: Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat. Satellite reaches almost every home, and for 1.8 million homes (1.6%) it is the only way to get online. Below, the three compared by what their customers rate them, what each one costs, every plan we list and where each one reaches. Enter your address, ZIP code or city to see what else serves you.
Satellite Internet at a Glance
Starlink, HughesNet and Viasat Compared
Ranked by what their customers rate them on ISP Reports. Homes it reaches is the share of US homes each one files service for with the FCC; speeds and prices are the plans we list.
| Provider | Homes it reaches | Download up to | Upload up to | Plans from | Rating of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Starlink | 99.7% | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $55 | 3.9 (62 reviews) |
| 2. HughesNet | 99.7% | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $39.99 | 2.3 (25 reviews) |
| 3. Viasat | 98.5% | 200 Mbps | 3 Mbps | $39.99 | 1.7 (12 reviews) |
What Each One Costs Beyond the Monthly Price
Contracts, equipment, installation and data limits, as each provider states them (November 2026).
| Provider | Contract | Equipment | Installation | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink | Month to month, with a 30-day trial and a full refund if you are not satisfied | A rental kit at the addresses we checked: nothing to pay up front, no monthly kit fee, returned if you cancel | Made to set up yourself; professional installation is free with the 200 Mbps and Max plans ($99 with 100 Mbps where we checked) | Unlimited on every residential plan |
| HughesNet | A 24-month term (12 months on Lite), with fees for leaving early; the standard rate is set for two years | Leased for a monthly fee, or bought | Free standard professional installation when you lease | Unlimited: a set amount of priority data each month, then standard data that can be slower at busy times |
| Viasat | None on the Unleashed and Unleashed Max plans; a 24-month term on Essentials | Leased for $15 a month on every plan | Free standard professional installation advertised; a one-time fee can apply | Unleashed and Unleashed Max: unlimited high-speed data, slowed at busy times above typical use (about 850 GB in 30 days). Essentials: 150 GB of high-speed data, then unlimited standard data |
1. Starlink: Best Rated and Fastest
Starlink's customers rate it 3.9 of 5 from 62 reviews on ISP Reports, the highest of the three. We list three plans: 100, 200 and 400 Mbps downloads with uploads up to 40 Mbps, from $55 a month up to $130. It files service for 99.7% of US homes.
Starlink is run by SpaceX. Its satellites fly in low Earth orbit, far closer than the other two providers’ satellites, so every request has a shorter trip and the delay (latency) is lower. That makes video calls, streaming and online games feel closer to a wired connection. Every residential plan has unlimited data. The Max plan gets the fastest speeds available and priority on the network; the 100 and 200 Mbps plans are sold in select areas.
Does Starlink Charge Extra for Equipment?
Not at the addresses we checked in November 2026 (in Montana, West Virginia and Utah): the home kit was a rental with nothing to pay up front and no monthly kit fee, and it has to be returned if you cancel. Starlink shows the terms for your address when you order. The kit is made to set up yourself; professional installation is free with the 200 Mbps and Max plans and was $99 with the 100 Mbps plan. Service is month to month, with a 30-day trial: if you are not satisfied, Starlink refunds you in full.
Starlink for RVs, Boats and Businesses
Starlink is the only one of the three with plans made for travel. Its Roam plans work on the road and can be paused between trips: 100 GB for $55 a month, 300 GB for $80, or unlimited data for $175. Business plans start at $55 a month plus hardware and get priority on the network.
Starlink plans and availability
2. HughesNet: The Most Plans
HughesNet's customers rate it 2.3 of 5 from 25 reviews on ISP Reports. We list four plans: 25, 50 and 100 Mbps downloads with uploads up to 5 Mbps, from $39.99 a month for the first year ($54.99 after) up to $124.99. It files service for 99.7% of US homes (none in Hawaii).
HughesNet works more like a traditional internet provider. Its prices are discounted for the first 12 months and then return to the standard rate, which HughesNet says will not change for two years. A minimum term applies, with fees for leaving early. You can lease the dish and Wi-Fi modem for a monthly fee or buy them, and standard professional installation is free when you lease. Every plan has unlimited data: a set amount of priority data each month, then standard data that can be slower at busy times. HughesNet serves the contiguous US, Alaska and Puerto Rico, at fixed addresses only.
What Is HughesNet Fusion?
Fusion is HughesNet’s top plan. It combines the satellite with a wireless connection, which HughesNet says gives a more responsive, lower-latency connection than satellite alone. It is sold in select areas.
Does HughesNet Offer Add-On Services?
Yes. HughesNet Voice adds a home phone line ($29.95 a month after an introductory period). Up to three mesh Wi-Fi nodes extend coverage in larger homes (not on the Lite plan). You can also buy tokens for more priority data, Norton 360 security for 5 or 10 devices, and an Express Repair plan for service visits.
Is HughesNet Good for Online Gaming?
For slower-paced games, yes. For fast multiplayer games, HughesNet itself says its satellite plans are not recommended for time-sensitive uses because of latency, and that games needing a rapid response are supported only on the Fusion plan. See our guide to the best satellite internet for gaming.
HughesNet plans and availability
3. Viasat: Unlimited Data Without a Contract
Viasat's customers rate it 1.7 of 5 from 12 reviews on ISP Reports. We list three plans: 150, 180 and 200 Mbps downloads with uploads up to 3 Mbps, from $39.99 a month for the first year ($69.99 after) up to $179.99. It files service for 98.5% of US homes (none in Puerto Rico; 59% of Alaska's homes; 66% of North Dakota's homes).
Viasat’s Unleashed and Unleashed Max plans have no contract, so you can cancel at any time without an early termination fee; the Essentials plan has a 24-month term. The equipment leases for $15 a month on every plan, and Viasat advertises free standard professional installation.
Does Viasat Offer Unlimited High-Speed Internet?
On the Unleashed and Unleashed Max plans, yes: there is no data cap. If your use runs above what is typical (about 850 GB in 30 days), Viasat may slow your connection while the network is busy. The Essentials plan includes 150 GB of high-speed data a month, then unlimited standard data that can be slower at busy times.
What Does Viasat Offer in My Area?
Viasat’s plans and prices depend on your address, and it does not reach everywhere: it files no service in Puerto Rico; it reaches 59% of Alaska's homes and 66% of North Dakota's homes. Enter your address in the search at the top of this page to see what serves you.
Other Viasat Features Worth Noting
Viasat Voice adds a home phone line. EasyCare is a service plan for $9.99 a month that includes dish relocation at a discount, and CyberProtect adds device security for $6.99 a month.
Every Satellite Internet Plan We List
10 residential plans from the three providers, with their download and upload speeds and monthly prices as we list them (where we list a first-year price, the regular price follows it). All three sell unlimited data. A provider’s price at your address can differ.
| Provider | Plan | Download | Upload | Price a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink | Residential 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $55 |
| Starlink | Residential 200 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $85 |
| Starlink | Residential MAX | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $130 |
| HughesNet | Lite | 25 Mbps | 3 Mbps | $39.99then $54.99 |
| HughesNet | Select | 50 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $49.99then $79.99 |
| HughesNet | Elite | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $64.99then $94.99 |
| HughesNet | Fusion | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $94.99then $124.99 |
| Viasat | Viasat Essentials | 150 Mbps | 3 Mbps | $39.99then $69.99 |
| Viasat | Viasat Unleashed | 180 Mbps | 3 Mbps | $69.99then $99.99 |
| Viasat | Viasat Unleashed Max | 200 Mbps | Not listed | $109.99then $179.99 |
How Satellite Compares
Satellite reaches more homes than any other kind of internet: the satellite companies file service for more than 99.9% of US homes, against 88.8% for fixed wireless, the next most available. Customers rate it 3.4 of 5 from 133 reviews, behind fiber and fixed wireless and ahead of cable and DSL.
What Is Satellite Internet?
Satellite internet comes from a dish at your home that talks to satellites in orbit; they relay the connection to the provider’s ground stations. Because every request travels to space and back, it has more delay (latency) than service over a cable. HughesNet’s and Viasat’s satellites sit far above the Earth; Starlink’s fly much lower, so its delay is shorter.
When Should I Get Satellite Internet?
Mostly when nothing else reaches you: cable, fiber and DSL are usually faster and steadier, and so is fixed wireless where it reaches (88.8% of homes), because its signal stays on the ground. 1.8 million US homes (1.6%) can get only satellite; 4.4% of rural homes. To see what serves your home, search internet providers by address or see every internet provider.
Where Satellite Is the Only Option
The share of homes in each state that no land-based provider files service for, so satellite is the only way online. Every state links to its own page; the table adds the homes, the change in a year, the share with no fiber, cable or DSL, and which satellite companies file there (with a company’s share of the state’s homes where it is under 95%). The highest shares: West Virginia 9.9%, Alaska 8.7% and Louisiana 4.8%; the most homes: California (138,474), Texas (123,770) and New York (102,558).
Map of the states by the share of homes that can get only satellite
Hover over or tap a state for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Every state
| State | Only satellite | Homes | Change in a year | No wired option | Satellite providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 9.9% | 88,682 | -2.7 | 15.9% | All three |
| Alaska | 8.7% | 24,426 | -0.6 | 20.6% | All three (Viasat 59%) |
| Louisiana | 4.8% | 89,997 | -2.4 | 8.9% | All three |
| Montana | 4.7% | 23,142 | -0.3 | 10.5% | All three (Viasat 94%) |
| Alabama | 3.9% | 85,861 | -2.4 | 6.8% | All three |
| Wyoming | 3.6% | 9,443 | 0.0 | 15.3% | All three |
| Maine | 3.4% | 21,766 | +0.4 | 5.9% | All three |
| Arkansas | 3.3% | 44,991 | -1.2 | 7.9% | All three |
| Hawaii | 3.3% | 10,444 | -1.0 | 3.5% | Starlink and Viasat |
| Mississippi | 2.7% | 35,810 | -4.8 | 9.3% | All three |
| Virginia | 2.7% | 78,794 | -1.8 | 6.6% | All three |
| Oregon | 2.2% | 33,334 | -0.1 | 5.5% | All three |
| New York | 2.2% | 102,558 | -0.5 | 3.4% | All three |
| Kentucky | 2.2% | 39,672 | -1.0 | 5.4% | All three |
| Washington | 2.1% | 52,781 | 0.0 | 6.5% | All three |
| Michigan | 2.0% | 81,847 | -1.1 | 6.8% | All three |
| Idaho | 2.0% | 15,388 | -0.2 | 14.2% | All three |
| Wisconsin | 1.8% | 42,549 | -1.0 | 7.0% | All three |
| New Mexico | 1.7% | 14,866 | +0.1 | 8.2% | All three |
| North Carolina | 1.6% | 70,984 | -1.3 | 3.4% | All three |
| Rhode Island | 1.6% | 5,414 | -0.5 | 3.0% | All three |
| Pennsylvania | 1.5% | 75,185 | -0.6 | 3.7% | All three |
| Colorado | 1.5% | 29,403 | +0.1 | 5.6% | All three |
| California | 1.4% | 138,474 | -0.4 | 5.3% | All three |
| Ohio | 1.3% | 60,731 | -0.8 | 5.3% | All three |
| Texas | 1.2% | 123,770 | -0.8 | 7.8% | All three |
| New Hampshire | 1.2% | 6,112 | -0.6 | 1.9% | All three |
| Oklahoma | 1.1% | 19,511 | -0.8 | 11.2% | All three |
| Georgia | 1.1% | 42,332 | -1.0 | 2.2% | All three |
| Vermont | 1.1% | 3,086 | -0.3 | 5.0% | All three |
| Florida | 1.1% | 83,341 | -0.7 | 2.5% | All three |
| Arizona | 1.1% | 29,482 | 0.0 | 7.4% | All three |
| South Dakota | 1.1% | 4,194 | -0.4 | 2.3% | All three |
| Minnesota | 1.0% | 21,918 | -0.2 | 3.5% | All three |
| Nebraska | 1.0% | 7,908 | -0.4 | 6.0% | All three |
| Missouri | 1.0% | 24,835 | -0.5 | 8.4% | All three |
| Tennessee | 1.0% | 27,419 | -1.0 | 2.1% | All three |
| Utah | 1.0% | 10,042 | -0.1 | 3.6% | All three |
| Illinois | 0.9% | 35,822 | -0.4 | 6.5% | All three |
| Indiana | 0.9% | 23,623 | -0.6 | 5.3% | All three |
| Iowa | 0.9% | 11,743 | -0.2 | 5.2% | All three |
| Kansas | 0.9% | 10,181 | -0.4 | 6.7% | All three |
| South Carolina | 0.8% | 18,619 | -0.9 | 1.7% | All three |
| New Jersey | 0.6% | 16,457 | -0.3 | 1.3% | All three |
| Connecticut | 0.6% | 6,654 | -0.7 | 1.3% | All three |
| Maryland | 0.5% | 9,352 | -0.2 | 2.1% | All three |
| Massachusetts | 0.4% | 8,557 | -0.4 | 0.7% | All three |
| Nevada | 0.4% | 4,045 | 0.0 | 4.0% | All three |
| Delaware | 0.1% | 526 | -0.1 | 2.1% | All three |
| Puerto Rico | 0.1% | 1,441 | +0.1 | 0.5% | Starlink and HughesNet |
| District of Columbia | 0.1% | 137 | 0.0 | 0.2% | All three |
| North Dakota | 0.1% | 322 | -0.2 | 0.4% | All three (Viasat 66%) |
Satellite-Only Homes Over Time
The share of US homes that can get only satellite at each FCC release since June 2022: 1.8% then, 2.8% at its highest (June 2023), 1.6% in December 2025, as land-based networks reach more homes. Beside it, the homes with no fiber, cable or DSL, from 7.6% to 5.3%.
Which Satellite Internet Provider Should I Choose?
If Starlink reaches you and its price fits, it is the one customers rate highest and the fastest we list. It is also the one for internet that travels: RVs, boats and remote businesses. HughesNet and Viasat cost the least to start ($39.99 a month), which suits lighter use, but check what the price becomes after the first year. HughesNet has the most plans to choose from, and Viasat Unleashed gives unlimited high-speed data without a contract. Whichever you pick, check first what else serves your address: a land-based provider is usually faster for the price.
Satellite Internet Questions
Which satellite internet provider is the best?
Starlink, by its customers' ratings on ISP Reports: 3.9 of 5 from 62 reviews, ahead of HughesNet (2.3, 25 reviews) and Viasat (1.7, 12 reviews). It is also the fastest we list, up to 400 Mbps.
What is the fastest satellite internet?
Starlink: its Residential MAX plan downloads at up to 400 Mbps, ahead of Viasat (200 Mbps) and HughesNet (100 Mbps). It also has the least delay, because its satellites orbit much closer to the Earth.
What is the cheapest satellite internet?
By the lowest price we list for each: HughesNet Lite at $39.99 a month for the first year ($54.99 after), Viasat Essentials at $39.99 a month for the first year ($69.99 after) and Starlink Residential 100 Mbps at $55 a month. Equipment and installation can add to that; the costs table on this page compares them.
Which satellite internet has no contract?
Starlink is month to month, with a 30-day trial. Viasat's Unleashed and Unleashed Max plans have no contract; its Essentials plan has a 24-month term. HughesNet requires a 24-month term (12 months on its Lite plan), with fees for leaving early.
Are there data caps with satellite internet?
No hard caps: all three sell unlimited data. Starlink's residential plans have no data limit. Viasat Unleashed has unlimited high-speed data, and its Essentials plan can slow after 150 GB in a month. HughesNet plans come with a set amount of priority data, then unlimited standard data that can be slower at busy times.
What is satellite internet, and how does it work?
A dish at your home sends and receives signals from satellites in orbit, which relay them to the provider's ground stations and on to the internet. It works almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky, which makes it the fallback where cable, fiber and wireless networks do not reach.
How fast is satellite internet?
The fastest plans we list download at 400 Mbps on Starlink, 100 Mbps on HughesNet and 200 Mbps on Viasat. Uploads are slower: up to 40 Mbps on Starlink, 5 Mbps on HughesNet and 3 Mbps on Viasat. Speeds can drop when the network is busy and in heavy rain or snow.
How many homes can get only satellite internet?
1.8 million US homes (1.6%) have no land-based provider (December 2025), down from 2.1 million in June 2022; 4.4% of rural homes. The highest shares: West Virginia (9.9%), Alaska (8.7%) and Louisiana (4.8%).
What are the advantages of satellite internet?
Coverage: it reaches almost every home, including places no cable, fiber or wireless network does. Mobility: Starlink sells plans for RVs, boats and temporary setups. Quick setup: it needs no line to the house, only a dish with a view of the sky.
What are the potential downsides of satellite internet?
Latency: signals travel to orbit and back, so there is more delay than on wired service (least on Starlink). Weather: heavy rain or snow can interrupt the signal. Cost: it usually costs more for the speed than cable or fiber, and uploads are slower.
Can I use satellite internet for streaming?
Yes. The slowest plan we list downloads at 25 Mbps, enough for HD video. For 4K or several screens at once choose a faster plan, and on HughesNet or Viasat Essentials watch the monthly high-speed data.
Is satellite internet good for gaming?
It depends on the game and the provider. Starlink's low-orbit satellites keep the delay low enough for most online games. HughesNet and Viasat have a longer delay: fine for turn-based games, not for fast multiplayer ones, which HughesNet says only its Fusion plan supports.
Is satellite internet a good option for remote work?
It can be, most of all on Starlink, whose lower delay suits video calls. On HughesNet and Viasat the longer delay makes calls and remote desktops feel slower, and heavy use can run through the month's high-speed data.
How do I choose the best satellite internet provider?
Check five things: whether it reaches your address, the speed and data you need, what installation and equipment cost, the contract, and what its customers say. The tables on this page compare the three on each.
How do I find satellite internet at my address?
Enter your address, ZIP code or city in the search at the top of this page: it lists every provider that serves it, satellite and land-based, with their speeds, prices and customer ratings.