HughesNet Internet Definitive Buyers Guide

Rosslyn Elliott

Written by Rosslyn Elliott - Pub. Jul. 27, 2023 / Updated Jan. 17, 2024






















Experience






















Service






















Pricing






















Speed






















Pricing






















Reliability & Performance






















Equipment, Installation & Features






















Customer Experience & Support























Overall Rating






















Staff Overall Review

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HughesNet Staff Review

3.3

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. Youā€™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 speed youā€™re getting per dollar. HughesNet speeds only go to 25 Mbps download, while Viasatā€™s go up to 100 Mbps and sometimes even 150 Mbps in selected areas. HughesNet has also had issues with low customer satisfaction ratings in national surveys, so overall, we recommend Viasat instead for satellite internet. But letā€™s break it down and see why.
PROS
Satellite internet provides coverage in hard-to-reach areas Can be more resilient to disasters than wired internet HughesNet Fusion claims to offer lower latency with hybrid technology
CONS
Soft data caps may increase monthly pricing and affect performance Much slower speeds than cable or fiber Two-year contracts and higher prices than cable or fiber
$49.99
Lowest price package
100 Mbps
Highest Speed
Elite 200GB
Most Popular Package
3.25
Customer Rating
3.3
Staff Rating
Call today & find the best HughesNet internet deals
1-833-926-2709

Pricing

3.5

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 $49.99/month. But there are two catches. The first is that $49.99/month is a promotional rate, and after the first six months, your prices will increase significantly for all plans. The second issue is that with HughesNet, you are paying for a consistent internet speed of 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload. This is high-speed internet by the FCCā€™s definition [2]. But it is clearly not as fast as the 100-300 Mbps you get for $50/month from a cable or fiber internet plan. And that speed also canā€™t keep up with the 100 Mbps or more that Viasat can offer many customers.

HughesNet uses soft data caps that may affect your internet speed

Another factor for HughesNet (and all satellite internet providers) is the use of soft data caps. When you order HughesNet service, you donā€™t choose a speed level as you do with other internet types. Instead, you choose your data limit for the month, ranging from 15 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. Thatā€™s why itā€™s significant that HughesNetā€™s maximum high-speed data allowance is 200 GB, while Viasatā€™s maximum is 500 GB. 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.

HughesNet requires two-year contracts

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.
Plan
Service Type
Download Speed
Monthly Price
Fusion Satellite Internet Up to 100 Mbps Only $79.99

/mo. for 12mos. w/ 2yr. Agmt

*Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
1-833-926-2709
Elite 200GB Satellite Internet Up to 100 Mbps Only $64.99

/mo. for 12mos. w/ 2yr. Agmt

*Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
1-833-926-2709
Select 100GB Satellite Internet Up to 50 Mbps Only $49.99

/mo. for 12mos. w/ 2yr. Agmt

*Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
1-833-926-2709
Call today & find the best HughesNet internet deals
1-833-926-2709

Enter a zip code or address to unlock the best Internet deals near you!

Reliability and Performance

3.0

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: HughesNetā€™s maximum speed right now (25 Mbps/3 Mbps) is much slower than speeds for fiber and cable internet that can often reach Gigabit speeds (1000 Mbps and up). HughesNetā€™s maximum speed is also slower than other satellite internet providers Viasat and Starlink. 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 todayā€™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. We will track the performance of HughesNet Fusion in the next year or two to see if it lives up to its promise.
Call today & find the best HughesNet internet deals
1-833-926-2709

Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features

3.5

HughesNet equipment requires initial investment or monthly rental fee

HughesNet equipment fees

Buying satellite equipment can be expensive. The dish and gateway for the regular HughesNet Gen 5 plans runs around $450, while HughesNet Fusion is $550. If you donā€™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 plans include free installation

HughesNetā€™s installation is free. 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.
Call today & find the best HughesNet internet deals
1-833-926-2709

Customer Experience & Support

3.0

HughesNet customer satisfaction rates lowest in national survey

HughesNet has sometimes received low customer satisfaction ratings. Itā€™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. In the J.D. Power 2021 Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction study, HughesNet ranked at the very bottom of the provider list for the South region [3]. (If youā€™re wondering why HughesNet did not receive a mention in other regions, itā€™s likely that the South has the most rural customers using HughesNet, and an ISP must serve a minimum percentage of a regionā€™s customers to receive a rating.) So how much of this customer dissatisfaction is related to the innate limitations of satellite internet? And will HughesNet solve some of these issues by updating its technology? The J.D. Power organization believes that customer satisfaction depends on price, as they say any prices above $70 correlate to a strong decline in customer satisfaction [4]. Weā€™ll soon see whether technology gains can help, as the next two years unfold and HughesNet deploys a new satellite. 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.
Call today & find the best HughesNet internet deals
1-833-926-2709

FAQ's

Call today & find the best HughesNet internet deals
1-833-926-2709
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HughesNet Customers Reviews






















Pricing






















Reliability & Performance






















Equipment, Installation & Features






















Customer Experience & Support























Overall Rating

Great service
Mildred W from Keithville, LA
February 2024
It's ok
Jacoby Barnes from Mount Olive, MS
September 2023
What I'm going through wasn't what I was told should be happening. The price channels service all wrong.
Carla B from Anderson, SC
August 2023
The internet is really slow
James H from Twin Lake, MI
August 2023
Service is okay, but customer service could be worked on.
Holly P from Linton, IN
August 2023
Muy accesible
Jose B from Hagerstown, MD
August 2023
great service
Keith M from Winston Salem, NC
July 2023
Itā€™s fair for the price!
Courtney R from Port Wentworth, GA
July 2023
Works great!
Steven E from Florence, AZ
July 2023
I like my service
Brenda L from Jeanerette, LA
July 2023
n/a
Amanda C
July 2023
n/a
Amanda C from Crawfordville, FL
July 2023
Love my internet service
Jamie Lott from East Saint Louis, IL
July 2023
I've had a lot of problems with this internet. Whether it's been availability or speed, frustration is a nice way to put it. I have been promised better service going forward so we'll see.
Mike R from Farmerville, LA
July 2023
NO SERVICE AT ALL WAS WEEKS WITHOUT SERVICE AND HAD TO WAIT A WHOLE WEEK AND A DAY FOR SERVICE EACH TIME. INTERNET DID NOT WORK HALF TIME AND WHEN IT DID IT WAS LIKE A DIAL UP NETWORK. SIGN CONTRACT AND NOW I AM STUCK WI TH THREE YEARS SERVICE IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT LET ME BREAK
JANICE F from Stoystown, PA
July 2023
none
Stephen Gresko
July 2023
THIS SERVICE BEYOND WORDS!!!! I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLU DOING THE WORK P;ULLING THIS WIE WITH IT AND HAVE NO SERVICE AS LONG AS A WEEK AT A TIME. WHEN YOU CALL TO REPORT IT THEY HAVE YOU PULLING THIS WIRE AND AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL SEND SOME ONE OUT TO CHECK SYSTEM IN A WEEK. THEY ONLY COME IN THIS AREA ONCE A WEEK. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE WITH HEART AND LUNG ISSUES LIVING HERE WITH NO PHONE. STAY AWAY FROM THIS SERVICE
JANICE H
July 2023
Hughesnet sucks
Darian S from Gold Hill, NC
July 2023
Hughesnet sucks
Darian S from Gold Hill, NC
July 2023
Hughesnet isn't good service
Darian S from Gold Hill, NC
July 2023
Internet sucks
Darian S from Gold Hill, NC
July 2023
Great service
Camisha W from Holly Springs, MS
July 2023
n/a
Amanda Caldwell from Crawfordville, FL
July 2023
l
patti from Chambersburg, PA
July 2023
Installer was polite Professional. I'm disappointed in the internet speeds. Significantly slower than previous provider. The price isn't that much better
Dale K from Salem, OR
June 2023
This is great
Shelton C from Salem, WV
June 2023
Technician was awesome
Randall F from Crewe, VA
June 2023
Customers service is weak. Called in with some questions and person I was talking to wasnā€™t knowledgable.
Robert W from Sun City West, AZ
June 2023
Great service
Camisha W from Holly Springs, MS
June 2023
Great install
Larry C from Henryville, IN
June 2023
none
Stephen Gresko from Bloomsburg, PA
June 2023
Ruby Griffin from Kansas City, MO
March 2023
Addison Hamilton from Richwood, WV
December 2022
Joseph Hall from Unknown, NC
December 2022
Ivy Hoffman from Felton, DE
October 2022
Ella Jenkins from Unknown, WV
July 2022
Alice Howard from Unknown, AR
March 2022
Josephine Jackson from Unknown, TN
January 2022
Lily Johnson from Unknown, GA
September 2021
It's only worse for Netflix and YouTube. No other channels will stream. And the price is outrageous and of course your stuck in a contract.
April from Pelahatchie, MS
July 2021
Albert Turner from Drums, PA
June 2021
Scarlett James from Albuquerque, NM
June 2021
Kenneth Harris from Unknown, TX
December 2020
Everly Hayes from Unknown, NC
October 2020
Amazing! now I have internet not fast not slow! now i'm connected to the world
Manny A from Fort Lauderdale, FL
July 2020
great reviews
Adam Hines from Loganville, GA
May 2020
great
Kinsley Snyder from Des Moines, IA
May 2020
They are awful over priced bad signal and slow. The data cap was set a merely 10gb. That ran out in the first day. After that was gone the speed was unbelievably slow
Aniya Wall from Charlotte, NC
May 2020
great
claudia villa from Dallas, TX
April 2020
It works really well but itā€™s a little expensive
Taylor Crawford from Wilmington, NC
April 2020
Mia Jones from Memphis, TN
November 2019