Best Satellite Internet Providers for 2023

Starlink - Best potential among satellite internet providers

• Prices: $20 - $80 per month
• Speeds: 20 - 250Mbp
• Key Info: 1TB data limit, no term contract, low latency

Check with Starlink

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (855) 874-8909

HughesNet - Best satellite internet provider for reliable speeds

• Prices: $50 - $150 per month
• Speeds: 25Mbps
• Key Info: No hard data cap, nationwide availability

Check with HughesNet

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 707-2043

Viasat - Best satellite internet provider for versatility of plans

• Prices: $70 - $300 per month
• Speeds: 12 - 150Mbps
• Key Info: No hard data cap, nationwide availability

Check with Viasat

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (833) 312-9572

Satellite internet is the one broadband connection type currently available to people in the rural areas of all 50 states. Serving as a solid alternative for those without access to DSL, cable or fiber internet, satellite internet involves linking a home internet modem to a satellite in space.

No, it doesn't match the internet speed capabilities of fiber or cable connections. Still, satellite broadband can play a key role when internet access is vital (and the pandemic shed light on just how critical it is). But which of the satellite internet providers is best?

What is the best satellite internet overall?

Frankly, there aren't a lot of choices out there for satellite internet. However, based on our analysis, we've deemed that HughesNet features the most reliable speeds, Viasat has the most versatile plans and Starlink boasts the greatest potential.

We know that many people in rural America lack adequate internet access. To ensure you’re getting the best broadband experience possible, we’ve carefully examined the available options, considering speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to put together your top internet options. Here’s a quick look at how the best satellite internet providers compare.

Read more: Could 5G Home Internet Be the Answer to Your Broadband Needs?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Let's dig a little deeper to see what each satellite internet provider brings to the table.

Best satellite internet service providers of 2023

Starlink

Best potential among satellite internet providers

Check availability

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (855) 874-8909

Product details

Price range $20 - $80 per month Speed range 20 - 250Mbp Connection Satellite Key Info 1TB data limit, no term contract, low latency

When eccentric billionaire Elon Musk isn't garnering headlines for his tumultuous Twitter antics, he's making noteworthy progress with his company SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet project. Granted, this satellite provider is still in its early stages -- there's a waiting list at present and currently just over 500,000 active users across the globe -- but the early results, as shared by CNET's own John Kim, are promising.

First, at 25 to 220Mbps, the max download speeds are higher than HughesNet and Viasat's. It also features a latency of between 25 and 50 milliseconds, compared to HughesNet and Viasat's more typical range of 450 to 700ms.

Second, Starlink keeps things simple by going with only two satellite internet plans -- Starlink Standard and Starlink Priority. The Priority tier offers a different satellite dish and equipment for higher download speeds but comes at a heftier price. However, Starlink recently released a new tier on their Priority plan: 40GB of data for $140 per month.

Lastly, while the equipment fee of $599 -- and a whopping $2,500 for Starlink's more expensive Priority plan-- are steeper than those charged by HughesNet or Viasat, Starlink does not require a two-year contract. Though standard users get unlimited data, it did institute a still-generous 1TB cap in April (up to 6TB if you spend $1,500 monthly) for priority users, after which their speeds will be throttled until the end of the billing cycle. Once you consider the decent upload speed, these are considerable upgrades for anyone stuck with satellite internet. Those facts could undoubtedly change as Starlink grows, but they're intriguing aspects of the pitch that could help set it apart from the competition.

Read our Starlink explainer.

Check Starlink availability

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (855) 874-8909

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

HughesNet

Best satellite internet provider for reliable speeds

Check availability

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 707-2043

Product details

Price range $50 - $150 per month Speed range 25Mbps Connection Satellite Key Info No hard data cap, nationwide availability

HughesNet scores strong points for its download speed consistency. Whereas other satellite internet providers' speeds might vary from location to location, HughesNet's max download speed -- though not as fast on the top end as others -- is available to all customers in all remote areas. Moreover, a Federal Communications Commission report on broadband (the last time HughesNet participated in the FCC study) noted that HughesNet fared best among all participating providers for delivering actual median download speed at 150% or higher of the advertised speed.

Things to consider? While HughesNet has no hard data limits, you'll find its speeds reduced to 1 to 3 megabits per second once you hit your monthly data allowance. HughesNet also came up short in J.D. Power's US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, landing in last place in the South region for overall customer satisfaction.

Read our HughesNet review.

Check HughesNet availability

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (877) 707-2043

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Viasat

Best satellite internet provider for versatility of plans

Check availability

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (833) 312-9572

Product details

Price range $70 - $300 per month Speed range 12 - 150Mbps Connection Satellite Key Info No hard data cap, nationwide availability

Viasat satellite internet lets you choose an internet plan that best fits your needs. Those internet service plans include some slower than you'll find with HughesNet and several faster. Packages also come with more data -- up to 500GB -- though, similar to HughesNet, you may find your data "deprioritized" if you exceed your monthly data allowance.

Viasat swerved in 2022 when it came to equipment. It used to be the case that Viasat didn't allow you to buy equipment. That might have seemed like a bonus when you consider that HughesNet charges $350 if you want to buy your gear (which includes installation costs), and Starlink devices cost $599. But that also meant you couldn't avoid the additional monthly equipment rental fee of $15. But now, you can buy your Viasat equipment for a one-time purchase of $300, cheaper than its rivals.

Read our Viasat review.

Check Viasat availability

. . . Or call to order: Call to Learn More (833) 312-9572

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Watch this: Testing Out SpaceX Starlink Satellite Internet

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How we test satellite internet providers

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
• Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
• Are customers happy with their service?

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

How to choose a satellite internet provider

Finding the right ISP for your household is not easy. This is especially true if you live in a rural or underserved portion of the US. We recommend carefully considering your household's activities so you can better determine the download and upload speeds necessary to meet your needs. With that knowledge, you can better tackle plan pricing that will fit your budget and broadband demands. 

For more thorough tips on finding the top internet plan for your household, check out CNET's 10 tips to help you get the most out of your internet service.

What's next for satellite internet providers?

Stay tuned to CNET for the latest developments with Starlink as it presses further into its plans and aims to expand its coverage. 

According to Ookla speed test data from Q1 of 2023, the latest available, Starlink's median download speed in the US was 65.29Mbps, which was a 13Mbps increase from Q4 2022 to Q1 2023. Viasat was a distant second place with 36.47Mbps download speeds and HughesNet brought up the rear at 16.32Mbps. Ookla's report mentions that Starlink users highly recommend the service and are happy with its internet connectivity -- it’s safe to say that it's beginning to change expectations of how satellite internet can perform.

It should also be mentioned that further disruption may come from another multibillionaire, Jeff Bezos, as Amazon's Project Kuiper also aims to enter the field. While nowhere near the stage that Starlink has achieved thus far, Project Kuiper did turn some heads when its prototype delivered speeds up to 400Mbps in some iterations.

Innovations from low Earth orbit satellites will be just one piece of the puzzle of better delivering the internet to the millions of households still unable to find a reliable broadband source. We'll keep this post updated as your options (hopefully) improve.

Are there any alternative connection types besides satellite internet?

Yes! There are many broadband connection options that may offer faster (and possibly cheaper) service than satellite internet.

Cable

Cable internet provides connection through the same cables (often a hybrid fiber and copper line) that providers use to provide TV services. It's more reliable than satellite internet and offers faster download speeds, too. Most of the time, cable internet is bundled with TV to lure consumers into buying higher-priced packages. Companies like Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity offer cable internet.

DSL

DSL, or digital subscriber line, uses telephone lines to provide connectivity to users. Companies like AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier offer DSL Internet. The good news is those copper lines are prevalent across the country. The not-so-good news is that download speeds typically fall short of what cable internet offers. In some cases, your speeds might even be slower than satellite internet.

Fixed wireless/5G home internet

5G home internet and fixed wireless go hand-in-hand: 5G home internet services are fixed wireless internet services. But not all fixed wireless services are 5G home internet offerings. Are you confused yet? Fixed wireless service means the connection between your provider and home is not wired. However, that fixed wireless connection can come via cellular networks (including 3G, 4G, 4G LTE and 5G) as well as by satellite. Fixed wireless networks tend to be slower and more laggy than wired connections. But the promise of 5G home internet -- from companies like Starry, T-Mobile and Verizon -- is speeds that compare favorably to cable connections.

Fiber

Fiber internet is the gold standard of the broadband world. Often referred to as "future proof," fiber internet offers some of the fastest plans available and features symmetrical download and upload speeds. It's more reliable than cable and is less prone to being affected by peak usage times or congestion. Companies like AT&T, Google and Verizon offer fiber-optic internet.

Mobile hotspots

While mobile hotspots also use cellular networks, similar to fixed wireless internet, they are not "fixed." You can use a hotspot at multiple locations and they aren't dependent on your home address.

Despite the wide range of options available, each connection type varies in terms of availability, pricing and speeds. Make sure to research and compare the different options to ensure you choose the one that best meets your needs and budget.

Satellite internet FAQs