Reviews Report
- The U.S. satellite market now includes three major consumer options — Starlink (LEO), HughesNet (GEO), and Viasat (GEO). LEO systems typically deliver much lower latency (often ~25–60 ms) than GEO (~600+ ms), which matters for video calls, cloud apps, and some gaming (independent testing).
- HughesNet expanded capacity with JUPITER 3 and now advertises higher-speed plans (often up to about 100 Mbps in many areas) while retaining GEO‑typical latency; Viasat’s residential plan availability and speeds vary by spot‑beam capacity, with GEO‑typical latency. LEO’s lower latency and higher typical median speeds in 2024 testing have made it a strong choice where available (HughesNet, Viasat, Ookla).
- If fiber or cable aren’t options, also check fixed wireless home internet: Verizon and T‑Mobile offer 5G home internet with unlimited data around $50–$60/mo in many areas and typical speeds often around 100–300 Mbps (Verizon 5G Home, T‑Mobile Home Internet). Satellite remains valuable for near‑universal coverage, mobility, and remote locations.
Satellite internet is not being phased out; it’s expanding in capability. LEO constellations have normalized tens‑of‑milliseconds latency and broadband‑class speeds, while new GEO capacity (e.g., HughesNet’s JUPITER 3) raised plan tiers. Policy and standards advances — including the FCC’s Supplemental Coverage from Space framework and 3GPP’s Non‑Terrestrial Networks — are enabling satellite‑to‑phone services. Amazon’s Project Kuiper is progressing toward service, further increasing competition.
There are now three major satellite internet providers serving U.S. homes — Starlink, HughesNet, and Viasat. Pay attention to latency and plan availability: LEO (Starlink) typically runs ~25–60 ms with higher median speeds in recent testing (Ookla), while GEO (HughesNet, Viasat) commonly has ~600+ ms latency but near‑universal availability. If cable, DSL, or fiber-optic are not available, these satellite options — plus 5G fixed wireless — are the main ways to get connected.
The Best Satellite Internet Providers in 2025
- HughesNet: Best GEO availability with upgraded speed tiers (post‑JUPITER 3); latency remains GEO‑typical. If you need low latency for video calls or gaming, consider Starlink (LEO).
- Viasat: Best where local GEO capacity supports higher tiers; plan availability varies by beam. For lower latency, many households opt for Starlink where available.
Compare the Best Satellite Internet
| HughesNet | Viasat | |
| GEO nationwide availability; higher-speed plans in many areas | GEO service; plan availability varies by beam/capacity | |
| Reviews.com Score | Under review | Under review |
| FCC reliability | See FCC Broadband Labels; GEO-typical latency ~600+ ms | See FCC Broadband Labels; GEO-typical latency ~600+ ms |
| J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score | ACSI ISP industry avg ~68 (0–100); provider-specific scores not published (ACSI) | ACSI ISP industry avg ~68 (0–100); provider-specific scores not published (ACSI) |
| Speed options | Plan tiers up to about 100 Mbps in many areas (source) | Location-dependent; up to ~100–150 Mbps in some markets (source) |
| Data Caps | Priority data with soft caps; managed speeds/deprioritization after allowance (source) | Data thresholds with throttling/deprioritization after allowance (source) |
Best Satellite Internet Overall
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Nationwide availability (GEO)
- Higher-speed plans post‑JUPITER 3 in many areas
- Evolved data policies; usage tools and labels for transparency
Cons
- High GEO latency (~600+ ms)
- Priority data with managed speeds after allowance
- Performance can vary by spot‑beam load
Plans & Pricing
- Plan tiers in many areas now advertise speeds up to about 100 Mbps; availability varies by location and beam. Check offers at your address. (HughesNet)
- Data policies use “priority data” with soft caps; after you use your monthly allotment, speeds may be reduced or traffic deprioritized during congestion. (source)
- Review the provider’s FCC Broadband Label for typical speeds, latency, and any data thresholds before you order.
Features
- GEO network with near‑universal U.S. availability; latency typically ~600+ ms (physics-limited).
- Optional hybrid “Fusion” in select markets can improve responsiveness for interactive traffic. (source)
- Provider usage meters and alerts help manage data; transparency via FCC Broadband Labels.
Best for High Speeds
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Higher download tiers in some beams/locations
- Available where wired options are limited
- Strong mobility/aviation footprint
Cons
- High GEO latency (~600+ ms)
- Capacity constraints in parts of U.S.; plan availability varies by beam
- Data thresholds with throttling/deprioritization after allowance
Plans & Pricing
Plan speeds and availability are highly location‑dependent due to spot‑beam capacity. Check your address for current offers and disclosures on typical speeds, latency, and data policies. Viasat | Official site
Features
- GEO network with nationwide footprint; latency typically ~600+ ms.
- Data thresholds with throttling/deprioritization after allowance; video may be rate‑managed on some plans. (source)
- Check the provider’s FCC Broadband Label for typical speeds, latency, and data policies.
How to Choose the Best Satellite Internet for Your Home
Determine how much speed you need
Start with the applications you care about. Real‑time activities (video calls, cloud collaboration, some gaming) benefit more from low latency than raw download speed. LEO satellite like Starlink typically runs ~25–60 ms latency with broadband‑class speeds, while GEO providers (HughesNet, Viasat) often advertise plan speeds up to roughly 25–100+ Mbps but have ~600+ ms latency. Where available, 5G fixed wireless can deliver unlimited data and typical 100–300 Mbps speeds (Verizon 5G Home, T‑Mobile Home Internet). Always review the provider’s FCC Broadband Label for typical speeds and latency at the point of sale.
More Mbps doesn’t automatically mean a better experience if latency is high. For example, a GEO connection at 100 Mbps will load large files quickly but still feel less responsive for two‑way, time‑sensitive tasks than a lower‑speed LEO or wired connection. Use the table below to align household activities with rough speed tiers, and factor latency into work‑from‑home or gaming needs.
| 12 Mbps | 25 Mbps | 100 Mbps | |
| Use amount | Light | Moderate | Heavy |
| Web activity* | Email, basic browsing, single‑stream SD video | Email, browsing, SD/HD streaming on a few devices, cloud sync | Multiple HD/4K streams, large game/OS downloads, frequent video calls |
*Estimates assume 4–8 connected devices. For interactive tasks, latency matters: LEO often ~25–60 ms vs. GEO ~600+ ms (independent testing).
Figure out how much data you use
Satellite plans typically use monthly “priority data” allowances with soft caps. After you use your allowance, speeds may be reduced or traffic may be deprioritized during congestion rather than cutting off service. This approach manages limited satellite capacity while keeping essential access. New FCC Broadband Labels make these policies and typical speeds/latency more transparent at checkout. As household usage grows every year, caps/thresholds can bind more often — independent panels consistently show rising shares of 1–2 TB “power users” across fixed broadband (OpenVault; Sandvine). Some cable markets are even reintroducing caps (Comcast Northeast update), highlighting the value of clear policies.
To give you some perspective, here are common video data needs according to Netflix:
- About 1 GB per hour for SD streaming
- About 3 GB per hour for HD streaming
- About 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD/4K streaming
- Cloud backups and system/game updates can consume many GB; schedule large downloads during off‑peak times when possible
- Use in‑app data saver modes and Wi‑Fi offload to stretch priority data
If you stream video regularly, expect priority data to go quickly. Monitor your usage meter, enable data‑saver settings, and consider plans with larger priority data or technologies with unlimited data (e.g., 5G fixed wireless) if available. HughesNet and Viasat both provide tools to track data and explain management policies on their plan pages (HughesNet; Viasat).
Satellite Internet FAQ
Our Other Internet Reviews
Satellite internet companies not meeting your needs? Check our other reviews of internet types:
- The Best Internet Service Providers
- The Best Cable Internet
- The Best DSL Internet
- The Best Cheap Internet
- The Best Business Internet
Methodology
We evaluate satellite internet providers using current plan disclosures and independent measurements: typical speeds, latency, and data policies from FCC Broadband Labels; plan details from provider sites (Starlink, HughesNet, Viasat); independent performance insights such as Ookla Speedtest Intelligence; availability and alternatives (including 5G fixed wireless) from official pages (Verizon, T‑Mobile); and customer satisfaction context from the ACSI Telecommunications benchmarks. We weight availability, typical performance, data management transparency, and total cost of ownership to inform our picks.
- Customer satisfaction context: ACSI’s ISP category averages around the high 60s on a 0–100 scale; we use this for benchmarking (ACSI).
- Typical speeds and latency: Verified via FCC Broadband Labels and provider disclosures.
- Independent performance data: Consideration of regional/market results from Ookla Speedtest Intelligence.
- Plans and data policies: Evaluation of speed tiers, priority data allowances, and network management on HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink.
- Availability and alternatives: We note address-level availability and the rise of 5G fixed wireless as a non‑satellite alternative (Verizon 5G Home, T‑Mobile Home Internet).
