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Satellite internet is a type of broadband internet service that sends data from your home up to satellites in orbit and back down to the internet provider hub on the ground. Because it doesn’t rely on cables and only needs a clear view of the southern sky, it’s available in most places, making it one of the few rural internet options.
It depends on where you live and what other types of internet connections are available in your area. In some cases, satellite internet may be the only option for those living in rural areas. It offers connectivity where other types of internet connections can’t reach, keeping you online for working from home, gaming online, and streaming video. Satellite internet can also provide connectivity if you’re a frequent traveler or live a mobile lifestyle.
But if you live in an area where other options, like fiber, cable, or 5G home internet, are available, they may offer faster speeds at a lower cost. If you’re considering satellite internet, it’s a good idea to run an internet speed test before switching to compare it to satellite internet speeds.
| Provider | Starting Price* | Download / Upload (up to)** | Latency | Data Policy | Additional Fees | Find Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink (Satellite) | $60/mo | Up to 100 / 3 Mbps | 600+ ms (GEO) | Capped plans (e.g., 100–300 GB); slowed after cap | Equipment rental, setup, activation fees | Check Availability |
| Viasat | $40/mo | Up to 150 / 3 Mbps | 600–700 ms | “Unlimited” with soft caps; deprioritized after heavy use | Equipment lease, potential install, early-termination fees | Check Availability |
| HughesNet | $40/mo | Up to 100 / 5 Mbps | 600–700 ms | Unlimited with priority data (e.g., 100–200 GB), then slower | Modem rental, 24-mo contract, early-termination fees | Check Availability |
| Starlink | $40/mo | 50–220 / 10–25 Mbps | 25–60 ms (LEO) | Unlimited with Fair Use; slowedat very high usage | Upfront hardware or financing; shipping, taxes | Check Availability |
| Provider | EarthLink (Satellite) |
|---|---|
| Starting Price* | $60/mo |
| Download / Upload (up to)** | Up to 100 / 3 Mbps |
| Latency | 600+ ms (GEO) |
| Data Policy | Capped plans (e.g., 100â300 GB); slowed after cap |
| Additional Fees | Equipment rental, setup, activation fees |
| Find Plan | Check Availability |
| Provider | Viasat |
| Starting Price* | $40/mo |
| Download / Upload (up to)** | Up to 150 / 3 Mbps |
| Latency | 600â700 ms |
| Data Policy | âUnlimitedâ with soft caps; deprioritized after heavy use |
| Additional Fees | Equipment lease, potential install, early-termination fees |
| Find Plan | Check Availability |
| Provider | HughesNet |
| Starting Price* | $40/mo |
| Download / Upload (up to)** | Up to 100 / 5 Mbps |
| Latency | 600â700 ms |
| Data Policy | Unlimited with priority data (e.g., 100â200 GB), then slower |
| Additional Fees | Modem rental, 24-mo contract, early-termination fees |
| Find Plan | Check Availability |
| Provider | Starlink |
| Starting Price* | $40/mo |
| Download / Upload (up to)** | 50â220 / 10â25 Mbps |
| Latency | 25â60 ms (LEO) |
| Data Policy | Unlimited with Fair Use; slowedat very high usage |
| Additional Fees | Upfront hardware or financing; shipping, taxes |
| Find Plan | Check Availability |
Better Options and Add-Ons
$49.95/mo. – $59.95/mo.
5 Gbps
5 Gbps
No
EarthLink offers satellite internet in 48 states. With speeds up to 100 Mbps, EarthLink internet is a great option for rural customers who need reliable and affordable internet service. EarthLink also offers a variety of bundling options, so you can get the internet, TV, and phone service you need all in one place.
Best Satellite Value
$64.99/mo. – $169.99/mo.
25 Mbps – 150 Mbps
3 Mbps
No
Viasat satellite internet offers high-speed internet to rural and remote areas across the United States. With speeds up to 100 Mbps, Viasat internet is a great option for customers who need reliable and affordable internet service in areas where fiber and cable internet are not available.
Best Overall Reliability
$44.99/mo.
25 Mbps
3 Mbps
No
HughesNet satellite internet offers reliable internet solutions for residential customers in all 50 states. With speeds up to 25 Mbps, built-in WiFi for greater home coverage, and no hard data caps, HughesNet internet is a great option for customers who need fast and affordable internet service.
Best Satellite Speeds
$120/mo.*
200 Mbps
20 Mbps
No
Starlink satellite internet is currently the fastest satellite service available. Using an array of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, download speeds up to 200 Mbps and latency as low as 25 ms make it an ideal choice for rural internet customers needing faster, more responsive connectivity. Performance comes at a cost; Starlink is the most expensive consumer satellite internet service to date.
The availability of satellite internet makes it an ideal option for those that live in rural areas, travel frequently, or live the mobile lifestyle. It provides broadband speeds and a reliable connection where other types of internet cannot.
Satellite internet differs from ground-based internet connection, such as cable and fiber internet. Since it doesn’t rely on wireline but rather satellites orbiting the earth, it is available anywhere with a clear view of the southern sky. This makes it ideal for rural residents, but where it excels in availability, it lacks in speed and low internet latency. It also can be disrupted by severe weather conditions. Due to the high operating costs of satellite internet, it is one of the most expensive types of internet.
| Connection Type | Best For | Download / Upload (Mbps) | Latency | Starter Price* | Data Policy | Equipment / Install | Contract |
| Satellite | Rural/remote with no wired options | 25–200 / 3–25 | 40–60 ms (LEO); 500 ms (GEO) | $60/mo | “Unlimited” with soft caps; speeds slowed after high-speed cap | Roof dish, modem; self or pro install | Often no-term; some 1–2-yr |
| Fiber | Heavy use, WFH, creators, gamers | 300–2,000 / 300–2,000 | 5–15 ms | $40/mo | Usually truly unlimited | ONT, Wi-Fi gateway; pro or self | Mostly no-term; promo price locks |
| Cable | Most households where available | 100–1,000 / 10–35 | 10–25 ms | $30/mo | Unlimited or ~1.2 TB caps | Cable modem, router; easy self-install | Often no-term; promo rates 12 mos |
| DSL | Basic use where only phone lines exist | 5–100 / 1–10 | 20–50 ms | $40/mo | Usually unlimited | DSL modem, router over phone jack | Frequently month-to-month / price-for-life |
| 5G Home | Renters, cord-cutters in strong 5G areas | 100–300 / 10–50 | 20–40 ms (varies) | $35/mo | Unlimited with possible deprioritization | 5G gateway; plug-and-play self-install | No-term; price guarantees common |
| Connection Type | Satellite |
| Best For | Rural/remote with no wired options |
| Download / Upload (Mbps) | 25â200 / 3â25 |
| Latency | 40â60 ms (LEO); 500 ms (GEO) |
| Starter Price* | $60/mo |
| Data Policy | âUnlimitedâ with soft caps; speeds slowed after high-speed cap |
| Equipment / Install | Roof dish, modem; self or pro install |
| Contract | Often no-term; some 1â2-yr |
| Connection Type | Fiber |
| Best For | Heavy use, WFH, creators, gamers |
| Download / Upload (Mbps) | 300â2,000 / 300â2,000 |
| Latency | 5â15 ms |
| Starter Price* | $40/mo |
| Data Policy | Usually truly unlimited |
| Equipment / Install | ONT, Wi-Fi gateway; pro or self |
| Contract | Mostly no-term; promo price locks |
| Connection Type | Cable |
| Best For | Most households where available |
| Download / Upload (Mbps) | 100â1,000 / 10â35 |
| Latency | 10â25 ms |
| Starter Price* | $30/mo |
| Data Policy | Unlimited or ~1.2 TB caps |
| Equipment / Install | Cable modem, router; easy self-install |
| Contract | Often no-term; promo rates 12 mos |
| Connection Type | DSL |
| Best For | Basic use where only phone lines exist |
| Download / Upload (Mbps) | 5â100 / 1â10 |
| Latency | 20â50 ms |
| Starter Price* | $40/mo |
| Data Policy | Usually unlimited |
| Equipment / Install | DSL modem, router over phone jack |
| Contract | Frequently month-to-month / price-for-life |
| Connection Type | 5G Home |
| Best For | Renters, cord-cutters in strong 5G areas |
| Download / Upload (Mbps) | 100â300 / 10â50 |
| Latency | 20â40 ms (varies) |
| Starter Price* | $35/mo |
| Data Policy | Unlimited with possible deprioritization |
| Equipment / Install | 5G gateway; plug-and-play self-install |
| Contract | No-term; price guarantees common |
Between hidden fees and price hikes, finding the right internet plan can feel overwhelming. To help with your search, our team of internet experts evaluates ISPs on categories including performance, affordability, and customer satisfaction to provide you with the best options near you.
DSL internet and satellite internet deliver comparable speeds. Both can offer speeds up to 100 Mbps, however, DSL is usually more reliable than satellite for its grounded wire technology. Satellite internet is susceptible to service interruptions due to bad weather or faulty equipment, while DSL runs along grounded telephone lines that are protected from the elements.
If you decide to go with satellite internet, you may be able to get speeds from 25 Mbps to 150 Mbps in speeds. These speeds can support low to moderate internet usage like web browsing and occasional streaming. However, everyone’s needs are unique. The internet speed you need will depend on your lifestyle.
If Viasat internet is available in your area, you can enjoy some of the fastest speeds on the market, with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 3 Mbps. However, in some areas, Viasat only offers speeds up to 12 Mbps.
Starklink deploys satellite technology that uses low-Earth-orbit satellites to deliver faster internet speeds to residential customers than traditional satellite technology can.
Right now, customers are able to receive anywhere from 50-150 Mbps depending on how far they are from satellites in the sky. However, once fully deployed, Starlink internet is anticipated to offer equal download and upload speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps. That’s unheard of for satellite internet like HughesNet and Viasat. Starlink is currently taking reservations, but the equipment may not ship until 2025.
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