HughesNet vs. Internet Providers Compared

Hughesnet delivers solid satellite internet, but performance lags behind the competition

Hughesnet is the largest of three major satellite internet providers in the United States [1]. The other two are Viasat and Starlink. Satellite internet service is known for its coast-to-coast coverage and wide availability. For decades, people have relied on satellite internet as a necessity in rural areas without wired internet. You can get Hughesnet in most households in the United States and in many locations in South America. All you need to get coverage is an unobstructed view of the southern sky. Satellite internet does offer slower speeds than most other internet technologies. You’ll also have to deal with a monthly data allowance that may restrict how much HD streaming or large file transfer you can do. And satellite internet service is more expensive than cable or fiber internet. Hughesnet initially seems to offer lower prices than its main rival, Viasat. But a closer look reveals that Viasat prices are better, based on the performance you’re getting per dollar. Hughesnet speeds only go to 100 Mbps download, while Viasat’s speeds go up to 150 Mbps. In addition, Viasat offers unlimited high-speed data, while Hughesnet has soft data caps. Hughesnet has also had issues with low customer satisfaction ratings in national surveys, so overall, we recommend Viasat instead for satellite internet. But let’s break it down and see why.

Hughesnet offers prices similar to Viasat, but often for slower speeds

Hughesnet offers its plans at rates that at first seem comparable to cable or fiber prices. The Hughesnet first-tier satellite internet plan starts at $39.99/month. But there are two catches. First, your initial rate is a promotional rate, and after the first six months, your prices will increase significantly for all plans. Second, you may only get an internet speed up to 50 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload, depending on your service area. This is not high-speed internet by the FCC’s definition [2]. And it is clearly not as fast as the 200-300 Mbps download speed you often get for $50-60/month from a cable or fiber internet plan.

Hughesnet uses soft data caps that may affect your internet speed

A drawback to Hughesnet plans is the use of soft data caps. When you order Hughesnet service, you don’t choose a speed level as you do with other internet types. Instead, you choose your data limit for the month, ranging from 100 GB to 200 GB. If you only surf the internet lightly and use email, you can stay within a 100 GB data limit pretty easily. But if you plan large file uploads, video streaming, or online gaming, the data usage can add up fast. Hughesnet does offer some solutions to help you work with their soft data caps. Their data tokens allow you to purchase extra data at the end of each month if you need more. Nonetheless, having soft data caps will affect how you use the internet. If you consistently need more data tokens, those extra charges may affect your monthly budget. Consider carefully whether you are likely to need more or less data than Hughesnet will allow you under each of their plans. Finally, Hughesnet requires a two-year contract. If you cancel your subscription early, you will pay an early termination fee prorated by the time still left in your contract.

Competitive satellite pricing with premium equipment costs Starlink keeps plans straightforward with three main residential tiers. The Residential plan (best suited for households) offers unlimited data at speeds of up to 300 Mbps for $80 (the Lite plan) to $120 per month. Residential Lite is recommended for low usage, smaller households due to the fact that their plan is prioritized behind Residential users, so they will see slower speeds during peak hours. The standard equipment fee runs $349 for the Standard kit. The second “personal” plan offered is Roam, which offers countrywide coverage, in-motion use, international travel, coastal coverage, and the ability to pause service. This is recommended for RVs, nomads, campers, and anyone working on the go. For 50GB of data, you can expect around $50/month, and for unlimited data it will cost about $165/month. Businesses have access to eight different plans, categorized by Local Priority and Global Priority. Local Priority is for fixed and mobile businesses on land, offering single country land use and regional travel, network priority, reliable fixed and in-motion use, and a public IP and dashboard. These plans range from 50 GB for $65 per month to 2 TB for $540 per month. Global priority plans are ideal for businesses seeking global connectivity, as well as maritime businesses. Key features include ocean and global land use, network priority, reliable fixed and in-motion use, and public IP and dashboard. These plans range from 50 GB for $250 per month to 2 TB for $2,150 per month. All business plans can be customized with additional blocks of data if extra data is required. Unfortunately, Starlink has one of the highest equipment costs among all satellite providers, with no option to lease. Additionally, in comparison to competitors, it falls on the higher end of the monthly service charge spectrum. *Equipment fees apply. Pricing is subject to change by location.

A Hughesnet internet connection is slower than most other ISPs

The nature of satellite internet technology means that satellite internet has always been different from wired internet in three ways. 1) Slower speeds: Hughesnet’s maximum download speed right now (100 Mbps) is much slower than speeds for fiber and cable internet that can often reach Gigabit speeds (1000 Mbps and up). 2) Weather interference: Bad weather can sometimes cause temporary slowing or outage in a satellite signal. 3) Latency: The distance of a satellite from Earth causes latency, which is a slight delay in data transmission. Despite these drawbacks, satellite service can still give you a solid connection if you live in a rural or underserved area. In today’s digital world, high-speed internet may be your ticket to education, a job, and even medical care. Satellite internet can support high enough speeds to provide you with access to these opportunities. Hughesnet has attempted to address latency with their new Hughesnet Fusion plans, which launched in 2022. This hybrid technology uses a satellite connection but can also route signals through wireless towers when necessary. Hughesnet has not released data to prove lower latency yet. They claim that the latency is 100 ms on their FCC Broadband label. Customers online report higher latency for their Fusion service [3].

LEO satellites deliver fiber-like speeds with satellite resilience Starlink's secret weapon lies in its low-Earth orbit satellites, which circle the planet every 90 minutes. Download speeds range from 20 to 220 Mbps, with recent data showing median speeds of 104.7 Mbps in 2025, nearly double the 53.9 Mbps recorded in 2022 [2]. Upload speeds typically reach 14.8 Mbps, which is sufficient for video calls and cloud backups. Unlike traditional satellite internet, which takes 600 milliseconds or more to reach space and back, Starlink's closer satellites respond almost as quickly as terrestrial broadband. Weather resistance comes built-in, with dishes designed to melt snow and withstand sleet, heavy rain, and harsh winds [1]. Service interruptions during severe storms typically last 15-60 minutes rather than hours. Network congestion can slow speeds during peak evening hours as more subscribers join the service. In busy areas, speeds can drop from around 200 Mbps to approximately 100 Mbps during peak times.

Hughesnet equipment requires initial investment or monthly rental fee

Buying satellite equipment can be expensive. The dish and gateway for Hughesnet Gen 5 plans costs around $350, while Hughesnet Fusion equipment is $450. If you don’t want to invest and would rather try out service first, you can rent the equipment for $15-20 a month. Buying the equipment outright will save you money if you end up using your service for more than 2 years. Hughesnet’s installation is often free, depending on your plan and current promotions. This is a nice bonus and ensures that a technician can get the best angle for your satellite dish. The technician will connect two of your devices in addition to setting up the antenna and modem/router.

Self-installation eliminates technician visits and surprise fees Starlink ships everything needed for installation in one box. The Standard kit includes standard Starlink, a kickstand, a Gen 3 router, Gen 3 Starlink Cable, AC power cable, and a power supply unit. Setup takes minutes: plug it in and point the dish at the sky. The dish automatically adjusts its position to track satellites overhead. The Starlink Standard kit currently costs $349. Priority plans require the High Performance dish, priced at $2,500, which is designed for business use and extreme weather conditions. The included router handles multiple devices simultaneously. Two hidden Ethernet ports accommodate wired connections for gaming consoles or work computers. The Starlink app guides installation and monitors performance. Proper cable routing is critical — avoid kinks or tight bends that can reduce speeds or cause failures. The dish needs an unobstructed sky view; trees, buildings, or other obstacles degrade performance. A downside to self-installation is that many customers have reported difficulty installing the satellite dish themselves and have been forced to hire third-party companies to set it up, leading to frustration and additional expenses.

Hughesnet customer satisfaction below average

Hughesnet has sometimes received low customer satisfaction ratings both in national surveys and in online reviews. It’s hard to know how much of that response is related to unrealistic customer expectations about satellite internet performance. Certainly, when Hughesnet gets online comments from unsatisfied customers, they tend to focus on internet performance. Meanwhile, remember that while satellite internet service has limitations, it can still provide high-speed internet access when your only alternative is slower DSL or no internet at all.

Mixed reviews highlight strong performance but weak customer service Customer satisfaction is high overall, with users praising the reliability of speeds and ease of installation. Rural customers consistently report life-changing improvements over previous satellite or cellular options. Common complaints center on customer service, with users reporting lengthy wait times and slow response to issues. Reviews on Trustpilot and other platforms frequently cite poor responsiveness and difficulty reaching human representatives [3]. Weather-related outages generate the most service calls, although most disruptions are resolved within an hour. The 30-day money-back guarantee lets new customers test the service without a long-term commitment [1]. Technical support relies heavily on the Starlink app and automated systems. Many users report never needing to contact support after the initial setup, suggesting that the service runs reliably once it is properly installed.