Starlink vs. Hughesnet vs. Viasat: Compare satellite internet

Lauren Hannula Managing Editor

Updated 28 January 2026

Starlink vs. Standard Satellite Internet

In this Guide

Starlink vs. Hughesnet
Starlink vs. Viasat Exede
Starlink vs. Traditional satellite: Other differences
Which satellite internet is best?
What is Starlink internet?
Compare satellite internet plans

Satellite internet is nothing new and has offered service to rural customers for years. However, there have been recent advancements in the technology that powers satellite internet and new service providers entering the industry.

Starlink internet eventually projects speeds that are 10-40 times faster than traditional satellite internet. With residential plans priced $50-$120/month, it currently offers some of the fastest speeds and most consistent service of any satellite provider. Starlink's low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation provides high reliability with less worry of signal dropouts.

Starlink is currently one of the best satellite internet providers in the U.S. But how does Starlink measure up to its other satellite broadband internet brethren? We put Starlink satellite internet up against its two U.S. competitors, Hughesnet and Viasat Exede, to look at their speeds, data, prices, and network performances. Here's how they compare.

Satellite providers at a glance

	Hughesnet	Viasat	Starlink
Maximum speeds	100Mbps	150Mbps	400Mbps
Average speeds	14Mbps	30-35Mbps	25-220Mbps
High-speed data cap	100-200GB	850GB	None
Price	$70-120/month	$99-119/month	$50-$120/month
Reliability	Average	Average	Superior
	View plans	Shop plan	Shop plan

Starlink vs. Hughesnet

Starlink has asserted itself as the dominant satellite internet provider. Hughesnet struggles to compete with average speeds, data caps, and service reliability.

Hughesnet technically falls within the scope of high-speed broadband internet, which specifies download speeds of 25Mbps. But that's where Hughesnet maxes out—its average speeds hover closer to 14-15Mbps, hardly fast enough for a multi-device household in an increasingly streaming-happy society. Starlink, on the other hand, offers average speeds of up to 400Mbps, thanks to its low-Earth orbit satellite placement. Starlink's projected speeds actually put it in the league of top fiber internet providers for the fastest internet speeds around, with projected speeds not too far off of that target at 900Mbps.

Starlink is on the more expensive side in terms of cost with prices starting around $80/month but with huge equipment costs. As of right now, there are no data caps on the service. That said, the company had initially announced a 1TB data cap to start in 2023, but later nixed those plans. So, it's possible a data cap could eventually be put in place. Compared to Hughesnet's $120/month for just 50GB of monthly data and 100Mbps max speeds, though, it's quite clear which service will give you more bang for your buck. (Hint: it's Starlink.)

WINNER: Starlink

Starlink wins by a mile.

Hughesnet	Hughesnet Lite Satellite 25/3 Mbps 100GB Data Contract (12 mths) $49.98/mo ($39.99 plan + $9.99 modem) for 12 months. Service plan availability varies based on geographic area. All plans are subject to the Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement. + $99 Upfront for 12 months. Service plan availability varies based on geographic area. All plans are subject to the Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement. View Plan	$49.98/mo ($39.99 plan + $9.99 modem) for 12 months. Service plan availability varies based on geographic area. All plans are subject to the Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement. + $99 Upfront for 12 months. Service plan availability varies based on geographic area. All plans are subject to the Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement.	View Plan
Starlink	Starlink Residential 100 Mbps Satellite 100/35 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations + $369 Upfront Available in select locations View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations + $369 Upfront Available in select locations	View Plan

Starlink vs. Viasat Exede

Viasat offers stiffer competition to Starlink, providing a much higher range of speeds, high-speed data, and higher prices than Hughesnet. Viasat's flagship offering is the Unleashed plan starting at $99.99/month depending on your location.

Still, Viasat's top speeds are no match for Starlink's, especially for such a steep price. At $120/month for a standard plan, Starlink offers much faster average speeds and no high-speed data cap.

Viasat satellite internet plan offers unlimited monthly data, but there's a catch: if you exceed a typical customer's average use per month (currently set at 850GB) your speeds can slow down during peak hours.

WINNER: Starlink

Starlink wins again, though Viasat is a better alternative than Hughesnet.

Starlink	Starlink Residential 100 Mbps Satellite 100/35 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations + $369 Upfront Available in select locations View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations + $369 Upfront Available in select locations	View Plan
Viasat	Viasat Viasat Essentials Satellite 50/5 Mbps Unlimited Data Contract (12 mths) Deal: New customers get a $300 Mastercard Reward Card $71.22/mo for 12 months. Contract required. for 12 months. Contract required. View Plan	$71.22/mo for 12 months. Contract required. for 12 months. Contract required.	View Plan

Starlink vs. traditional satellite: Other differences

In addition to its superior speeds and reliability, Starlink is also set up to be far more reliable and user-friendly than its other satellite internet competitors. Its dense LEO network allows satellites to pass one another often, at much higher speeds than standard telecom satellites (which don't pass one another at all). The result? Starlink satellites can pass signals back and forth to one another, creating a tight communication web that lowers chances of service dropouts—something that traditional satellite internet service is notorious for.

Installation of Starlink internet is also much easier than that of standard satellite service. Instead of massive, unwieldy dishes attached to a roof or taking up a backyard, Starlink's receivers are small—just under 20 inches in diameter. There's no need for expensive professional installation; customers can self-install the hardware, point it at the sky, and get online in a jiffy. There is, however, one drawback to Starlink's equipment: You must pay the full price of your dish upfront.

Which satellite internet is best?

OVERALL WINNER

Starlink Internet:

Starlink is poised to absolutely dominate the satellite internet market in terms of performance, price, and reliability. In fact, Starlink may eventually put up major competition to the current pack leaders, cable and fiber internet—the first time a satellite internet provider has been able to do so.

Offering fast data speeds, excellent connectivity, and easy installation, Starlink has placed itself at the front of the pack in terms of satellite internet providers.

Residential 100 Mbps

Satellite 100/35 Mbps
Unlimited Data

$55/mo

Available in select locations

+ $369 Upfront

View Plan

$55/mo

Available in select locations

+ $369 Upfront

View Plan

What is Starlink internet?

Starlink is a satellite internet service offered through space and rocket technology company SpaceX. Unlike traditional telecom satellites, however, Starlink's satellite network is being built in low-Earth orbit (LEO). What's the difference? LEO is located around 300 miles above the Earth's surface… while standard satellites orbit a whopping 22,000 miles above the planet.

This closer distance means that internet signals can communicate with Starlink satellites at an exponentially faster rate, resulting in super-fast internet speeds with extremely low lag time (called "latency"). And Starlink's satellite network will be huge—upwards of 30,000 satellites upon conclusion of its buildout, compared to just 2,000 total satellites that are currently stationed in space. More satellites contribute to higher reliability, as they can pass signals off to one another in the event of an interruption.

There's a lot more to Starlink's game-changing plans for rebuilding the internet in space. We've got further details on this new out-of-this-world internet service over at our Starlink Internet guide.

Compare Satellite Internet Plans

Looking for a cheaper satellite internet plan? Use WhistleOut's comparison engine to find plans specific to your neighborhood, budget, and usage needs! Just pop in your address, pick your preferred speed, and you're on your way.

To get you started, here are some the most popular satellite plans on the market.

#1	Starlink	Starlink Satellite Speed 100 Mbps $55/mo	100%	View Plan
#2	Starlink	Starlink Satellite Speed 200 Mbps $85/mo	25%	View Plan
#3	Starlink	Starlink Satellite Speed 400 Mbps $130/mo	25%	View Plan
#4	Viasat	Viasat Satellite Speed 50 Mbps $71.22/mo Deal: New customers get a $300 Mastercard Reward Card	12%	View Plan
#5	Hughesnet	Hughesnet Satellite Speed 100 Mbps $79.98/mo	3%	View Plan

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Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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