Best Satellite Internet Providers will be discussed in this article. With satellite internet, you may receive a home internet connection no matter where you live in the United States. Satellite internet is frequently the only option available to people who reside in remote locations without a dependable connection if they want to use the internet for additional purposes, such as working remotely, playing games online, or streaming Netflix.
Best Satellite Internet Providers In 2024
In this article, you can know about Satellite Internet Providers here are the details below;
Don’t anticipate luxurious service when you get satellite internet. If you choose Viasat, Hughesnet, or Starlink, be prepared to pay more for slower speeds. Depending on your plan, you could also have to accept a stringent data cap.
However, maintaining a connection is crucial, and you still have choices regarding desired speeds, data restrictions, and cost. To learn more about the top satellite internet providers, continue reading.
Use the zip code search below to find alternative internet options available in your area before committing to a satellite internet package.
Best satellite internet: A tale of three providers
Starlink, Hughesnet, and Viasat are the three satellite internet providers available in the US. While practically everywhere in the US can access all three of these providers, their benefits differ. Consider the download speeds you require, the amount of data you desire, and the price you are willing to pay for each as you decide which option to choose.
Before you buy, look for other options
Satellite internet is all about sacrifice for many customers. When compared to other fixed broadband internet solutions, satellite internet is typically far more expensive and requires much slower speeds and less data. Purchasing a satellite internet plan is only worthwhile if you have no other choices.
Download speeds: Get as you can afford
A satellite internet connection can’t match the gigabit speeds offered by fiber and cable internet companies because it literally goes from space to your home device. Generally speaking, a satellite subscription will provide speeds between 12 and 500 Mbps.
Data caps: Bear with Limits unless you have Starlink
Additionally, a lot of satellite internet users are forced to accept very stringent bandwidth limitations. When the link originates from a satellite in orbit, data is a highly sought-after resource. When using a satellite internet service, you can anticipate having less freedom to download files, post to social media, make video calls stream videos.
With Starlink, you don’t have to worry about that because all data caps have been removed and customers may use unlimited data with any package. But at the moment, Hughesnet and Viasat are lagging behind the curve, putting stringent data limitations on the majority of internet services. However, you can purchase a high enough data cap so that you might not have to worry about going over your allotted amount.
Equipment and installation fees: Expect costly fees
The equipment required for satellite internet is typically more expensive than that required for DSL, cable, or fiber internet plans. This is due to the fact that a satellite dish, also known as a receiver, is required in addition to a modem.
The cost of renting satellite equipment on a monthly basis isn’t too bad, but if you’d prefer buy it altogether, the cost might be as little as $300 to $500 for a one-time purchase, depending on the provider.
In addition, should you choose Hughesnet or Viasat, you will require a qualified installation to set up your dish. However, Starlink requires you to purchase a $599 self-installation kit, after which you must configure everything manually using an app.
How we chose the best satellite internet providers
When evaluating satellite internet providers, our primary considerations are cost, data limitations, and download speeds.
Because consumers may download all the major games for their video game consoles and stream as much stuff as they like without worrying about going over some artificial limit, we highly value limitless data caps. Of course, if you can’t get good enough download rates to use your internet, data limitations are meaningless. The download speeds that each satellite internet provider offers also have a significant influence on the plans that we suggest to customers. To ascertain the total value from each provider, we consider price in addition to data limitations and download speeds.
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Starlink: Best overall performance
Starlink launched thousands of small satellites in low orbit around the Earth in instead of one large satellite, as did Viasat and Hughesnet. Your internet connection doesn’t have to go nearly as far because the satellites orbit closer to Earth’s surface, which results in a more responsive internet connection.
For the majority of satellite-powered homes, the Starlink Standard package, which offers download speeds between 20 and 100 Mbps, performs admirably. You should have no trouble playing games and streaming content as long as your actual download speeds are in the middle of the two ranges.
For heavy users who require priority high-speed data for purposes like competitive online gaming or 4K streaming, there are the Priority 40GB and 1TB plans available. You can get by with the Starlink Standard plan if none of those things seem like they would be involved in your regular internet usage. It’s also important to note that the equipment for the Priority internet services costs a whopping $2,500. Also check devops consulting service
NBA games can be streamed using the Starlink Standard plan without any problems, according to Miles Wray, a Starlink user from rural Oregon. Wray tells Reviews.org that “Starlink beats what I was getting with the DSL internet provider I was using.” “My wife can stream a movie on her phone at the same time that I watch Jazz games on my TV, but sometimes the connection gets a little spotty.”
For those who wish to live off of their RV or boat and bring an internet connection with them, Starlink also provides an additional internet plan.
All things considered, Starlink provides the most advanced satellite internet technology along with a fast internet connection at an affordable monthly rate.
Hughesnet: Cheapest satellite internet provider
Although Hughesnet’s satellite internet service is less expensive than that of Starlink or Viasat, it is rather lacking in download speed. The lowest Hughesnet package can provide 50Mbps in the best-case scenario, but you might only get half that fast. With a satellite home internet connection, you can still play some games and stream some basic content, even if your download speeds are closer to 25 Mbps than 50 Mbps.
Note that the Select and Elite internet plans have a $25 monthly price increase after the first year of service, so let’s not get too enthusiastic about it just yet. Additionally, you will need to pay for the satellite and antenna equipment, which may be rented for $14.99 to $19.99 per month or purchased for between $299.99 and $449.99. Although Hughesnet’s pricing is more expensive than Starlink’s, even with price increases and additional equipment, it is still a better deal than Starlink.
You will receive 100GB of prioritized data if you choose to go with the Select package. That’s not a lot of data at all, so use caution when using the internet during the month. A seasoned Hughesnet user comments on Reddit, “The speed was close to the advertised speed, except during rain storms and peak hours when everyone was online.” “After a day or two, I exceeded the ridiculously low data cap, at which point my speed was reduced to less than 1Mbps.” Also check Dynamic DNS
Although it’s good that you can still use the internet even after you’ve used up your limitation, Hughesnet isn’t as good as Starlink, which has genuinely unlimited data caps, because it doesn’t offer guaranteed, limitless high-speed data. In conclusion, Hughesnet offers decent value for the money and a reliable internet experience, provided you can keep under the soft data cap.
Viasat: Most plan options
Compared to Starlink and Hughesnet, Viasat offers you a lot more alternatives, which could help you select the ideal internet service, but the value isn’t that fantastic overall. Examine the extensive selection of Viasat internet plans.
Similar to Hughesnet, Viasat purports to provide limitless data caps, but in actuality, there is a soft data cap. Your speeds dramatically decrease after you use up that monthly data allocation. The Choice 75Mbps/150GB plan offers the best value out of all the alternatives. If you keep streaming, downloading, and video calls to a minimal, you should be able to stretch a 150GB data cap over the course of a month. However, you might be surprised at how quickly you reach the maximum. You receive enough internet speeds for the average family of two to three people.
“Viasat is the best of the old-guard satellite systems,” according to a Viasat contract installation engineer on Reddit, but the satellite internet technology just can’t match what Starlink currently delivers. However, Viasat can make sense for you if you’re a light internet user who won’t even come close to exceeding any data restrictions.
How does satellite internet work?
Signals are sent from your home to a real satellite in orbit via satellite internet. The good news is that you can access the internet from almost anywhere if it originates from a satellite; the bad news is that your signal must travel thousands of kilometers to get to a satellite. That was the way it used to operate, anyway. When Starlink launched thousands of smaller satellites in lower orbit—hundreds of miles instead of thousands—it altered the rules of the game by lowering the required data transfer distance. Your internet connection feels faster and more dependable the shorter the distance that your data must travel.
Still using satellites thousands of kilometers distant are the two antiquated satellite internet providers, Hughesnet and Viasat. Slower download speeds and smaller data caps are the outcome. However, consumers may have a far smoother experience with Starlink.
Recap: The Best satellite internet providers
In the United States, there are currently three major satellite internet providers, although one of them seems to be far ahead of the others. Starlink employs a wide network of thousands of satellites in lower orbit to deliver a better internet experience than Viasat and Hughesnet, which rely on a small number of massive satellites to power their whole system.
- Starlink: Starlink employs more recent technology to provide consumers with an unlimited data cap and a faster, reduced latency internet connection.
- Hughesnet: With reasonable speeds and a lower cost than both Starlink and Viasat, Hughesnet is a good option, but its soft data caps make it less valuable.
- Viasat: There is a soft data cap on each of the many internet plans that Viasat offers. If you want to increase the data cap, you have to pay a ridiculous monthly fee.
