{"id":324972,"date":"2025-11-11T17:47:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T22:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?page_id=94373"},"modified":"2025-11-12T15:26:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T20:26:59","slug":"best-satellite","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-satellite\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reviews Report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-blog-list\">\n<li>The U.S. satellite market now includes three major consumer options \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a> (LEO), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a> (GEO), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a> (GEO). LEO systems typically deliver much lower latency (often ~25\u201360 ms) than GEO (~600+ ms), which matters for video calls, cloud apps, and some gaming (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">independent testing<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HughesNet expanded capacity with JUPITER 3 and now advertises higher-speed plans (often up to about 100 Mbps in many areas) while retaining GEO\u2011typical latency; Viasat\u2019s residential plan availability and speeds vary by spot\u2011beam capacity, with GEO\u2011typical latency. LEO\u2019s lower latency and higher typical median speeds in 2024 testing have made it a strong choice where available (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">Ookla<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If fiber or cable aren\u2019t options, also check fixed wireless home internet: Verizon and T\u2011Mobile offer 5G home internet with unlimited data around $50\u2013$60\/mo in many areas and typical speeds often around 100\u2013300 Mbps (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/home\/internet\/5g\/\">Verizon 5G Home<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-mobile.com\/home-internet\">T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a>). Satellite remains valuable for near\u2011universal coverage, mobility, and remote locations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Satellite internet is not being phased out; it\u2019s expanding in capability. LEO constellations have normalized tens\u2011of\u2011milliseconds latency and broadband\u2011class speeds, while new GEO capacity (e.g., HughesNet\u2019s JUPITER 3) raised plan tiers. Policy and standards advances \u2014 including the FCC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">Supplemental Coverage from Space<\/a> framework and 3GPP\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3gpp.org\">Non\u2011Terrestrial Networks<\/a> \u2014 are enabling satellite\u2011to\u2011phone services. Amazon\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Project Kuiper<\/a> is progressing toward service, further increasing competition.<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"the-best-satellite-internet-provider\" title=\"The Best Satellite Internet Providers\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<p>There are now three major satellite internet providers serving U.S. homes \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>. Pay attention to latency and plan availability: LEO (Starlink) typically runs ~25\u201360 ms with higher median speeds in recent testing (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">Ookla<\/a>), while GEO (HughesNet, Viasat) commonly has ~600+ ms latency but near\u2011universal availability. If <a class=\"achor-toggles\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best\/\">cable, DSL, or fiber-optic<\/a> are not available, these satellite options \u2014 plus 5G fixed wireless \u2014 are the main ways to get connected.<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"picks\" title=\"Our Picks\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Best Satellite Internet Providers<\/strong> in 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-satellite\/#hughesnet\">HughesNet<\/a>: Best GEO availability with upgraded speed tiers (post\u2011JUPITER 3); latency remains GEO\u2011typical. If you need low latency for video calls or gaming, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a> (LEO).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-satellite\/#viasat\">Viasat<\/a>: Best where local GEO capacity supports higher tiers; plan availability varies by beam. For lower latency, many households opt for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a> where available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Compare the Best Satellite Internet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table><tbody><tr><td><br><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allconnect.com\/providers\/hughesnet\/?utm_mcid=3576915&amp;subid=r13982\">HughesNet<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allconnect.com\/providers\/viasat\/?utm_mcid=3570450&amp;subid=r13983\">Viasat<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><br><\/td><td>GEO nationwide availability; higher-speed plans in many areas<\/td><td>GEO service; plan availability varies by beam\/capacity<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reviews.com Score<\/td><td>Under review<\/td><td>Under review<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>FCC reliability<\/td><td>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a>; GEO-typical latency ~600+ ms<\/td><td>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a>; GEO-typical latency ~600+ ms<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score<\/td><td>ACSI ISP industry avg ~68 (0\u2013100); provider-specific scores not published (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acsi.org\">ACSI<\/a>)<\/td><td>ACSI ISP industry avg ~68 (0\u2013100); provider-specific scores not published (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acsi.org\">ACSI<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Speed options<\/td><td>Plan tiers up to about 100 Mbps in many areas (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">source<\/a>)<\/td><td>Location-dependent; up to ~100\u2013150 Mbps in some markets (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">source<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Data Caps<\/td><td>Priority data with soft caps; managed speeds\/deprioritization after allowance (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">source<\/a>)<\/td><td>Data thresholds with throttling\/deprioritization after allowance (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">source<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-anchor\" id=\"hughesnet\" > <\/span>\n    \n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"best-overall\" title=\"Best Overall\"><\/span>\n    \n\n                                                \n\n\n<section id=\"hughesnet\" class=\"block b-mini-review\">\n    <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-content\">\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__logo-wrapper\">\n                            <span class=\"b-mini-review__logo-wrapper-title\">HughesNet<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info\">\n            <h3 class=\"b-mini-review__top-info-title\"> Best Satellite Internet Overall<\/h3>\n                        <p class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle b-mini-review__top-info-subtitle\"> Why we chose it<\/p>\n                                    <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info-desc\">\n                HughesNet offers nationwide GEO coverage and, following JUPITER 3, updated plan tiers that often reach about 100 Mbps in many areas \u2014 a substantial improvement over prior generations. Latency remains GEO\u2011typical (~600+ ms), but the breadth of availability and modernized data policies make it a dependable fallback where wired or 5G fixed wireless aren\u2019t viable (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a>).\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__ratings-bar\">\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__ratings-bar-button-wrapper\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allconnect.com\/providers\/hughesnet\/?utm_mcid=3576915&#038;subid=\" class=\"reviews-btn--primary\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored\">View plans<\/a>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__ratings\">\n            <ul class=\"b-mini-review__ratings-list\">\n                                            <li class=\"b-mini-review__rating\">\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-higtlight\">3<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-desc tooltip\">\n                        Reviews Score\n                                                    <span class=\"tooltip-content\">Score is based on company&#8217;s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.<\/span>\n                                            <\/span>\n                <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"b-mini-review__rating\">\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-higtlight\">Varies by location; see provider and broadband label<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-desc tooltip\">\n                        Starting Price\n                                            <\/span>\n                <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"b-mini-review__rating\">\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-higtlight\">Up to about 100 Mbps (area-dependent)<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-desc tooltip\">\n                        Download Speed\n                                                    <span class=\"tooltip-content\">Measured in megabits per second (Mbps), this is the speed at which users will be able to download files from the internet.<\/span>\n                                            <\/span>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info_mobile\">\n            <p class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle b-mini-review__top-info-subtitle\">Why we chose it<\/p>\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info-desc\">\n                HughesNet offers nationwide GEO coverage and, following JUPITER 3, updated plan tiers that often reach about 100 Mbps in many areas \u2014 a substantial improvement over prior generations. Latency remains GEO\u2011typical (~600+ ms), but the breadth of availability and modernized data policies make it a dependable fallback where wired or 5G fixed wireless aren\u2019t viable (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a>).\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"b-mini-review__bottom-content\">\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__pros-cons-list-wrapper\">\n            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Pros<\/h4>\n            <ul class=\"b-mini-review__pros-cons-list b-mini-review__pros-cons-list_pros\">\n                            <li>Nationwide availability (GEO)<\/li>\n                            <li>Higher-speed plans post\u2011JUPITER 3 in many areas<\/li>\n                            <li>Evolved data policies; usage tools and labels for transparency<\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n\n                            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Cons<\/h4>\n                <ul class=\"b-mini-review__pros-cons-list b-mini-review__pros-cons-list_cons\">\n                                        <li>High GEO latency (~600+ ms)<\/li>\n                                        <li>Priority data with managed speeds after allowance<\/li>\n                                        <li>Performance can vary by spot\u2011beam load<\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__desc-wrapper \">\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__accordion-header\">\n                <span class=\"b-mini-review__accordion-text\">Read More<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__accordion-content\">\n                            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Plans &#038; Pricing<\/h4>\n                <div> <ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan tiers in many areas now advertise speeds up to about 100 Mbps; availability varies by location and beam. Check offers at your address.<\/span> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data policies use \u201cpriority data\u201d with soft caps; after you use your monthly allotment, speeds may be reduced or traffic deprioritized during congestion.<\/span> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">source<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review the provider\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Label<\/a> for typical speeds, latency, and any data thresholds before you order.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n                            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Features<\/h4>\n                <div> <ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GEO network with near\u2011universal U.S. availability; latency typically ~600+ ms (physics-limited).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optional hybrid \u201cFusion\u201d in select markets can improve responsiveness for interactive traffic.<\/span> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">source<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provider usage meters and alerts help manage data; transparency via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n                        <div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-anchor\" id=\"viasat\" > <\/span>\n    \n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"best-for-high-speeds\" title=\"Best for High Speeds\"><\/span>\n    \n\n                                                \n\n\n<section id=\"viasat\" class=\"block b-mini-review\">\n    <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-content\">\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__logo-wrapper\">\n                            <span class=\"b-mini-review__logo-wrapper-title\">Viasat<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info\">\n            <h3 class=\"b-mini-review__top-info-title\"> Best for High Speeds<\/h3>\n                        <p class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle b-mini-review__top-info-subtitle\"> Why we chose it<\/p>\n                                    <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info-desc\">\n                Viasat offers GEO residential internet with plan availability and performance that vary by location and beam capacity. Where capacity supports it, some markets have higher advertised tiers, but latency remains GEO\u2011typical (~600+ ms). Near\u2011term residential capacity growth in the Americas is constrained after a ViaSat\u20113 F1 reflector issue, though the company remains strong in mobility\/enterprise and continues to serve consumers where capacity allows (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>).\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__ratings-bar\">\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__ratings-bar-button-wrapper\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allconnect.com\/providers\/viasat\/?utm_mcid=3570450&#038;subid=\" class=\"reviews-btn--primary\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored\">View plans<\/a>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__ratings\">\n            <ul class=\"b-mini-review__ratings-list\">\n                                            <li class=\"b-mini-review__rating\">\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-higtlight\">3.25<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-desc tooltip\">\n                        Reviews Score\n                                                    <span class=\"tooltip-content\">Score is based on company&#8217;s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.<\/span>\n                                            <\/span>\n                <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"b-mini-review__rating\">\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-higtlight\">Varies by location; see provider and broadband label<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-desc tooltip\">\n                        Starting Price\n                                            <\/span>\n                <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"b-mini-review__rating\">\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-higtlight\">Location dependent; up to ~100\u2013150 Mbps in some markets<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"b-mini-review__rating-desc tooltip\">\n                        Download Speed\n                                                    <span class=\"tooltip-content\">Measured in megabits per second (Mbps), this is the speed at which users will be able to download files from the internet.<\/span>\n                                            <\/span>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info_mobile\">\n            <p class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle b-mini-review__top-info-subtitle\">Why we chose it<\/p>\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__top-info-desc\">\n                Viasat offers GEO residential internet with plan availability and performance that vary by location and beam capacity. Where capacity supports it, some markets have higher advertised tiers, but latency remains GEO\u2011typical (~600+ ms). Near\u2011term residential capacity growth in the Americas is constrained after a ViaSat\u20113 F1 reflector issue, though the company remains strong in mobility\/enterprise and continues to serve consumers where capacity allows (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>).\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"b-mini-review__bottom-content\">\n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__pros-cons-list-wrapper\">\n            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Pros<\/h4>\n            <ul class=\"b-mini-review__pros-cons-list b-mini-review__pros-cons-list_pros\">\n                            <li>Higher download tiers in some beams\/locations<\/li>\n                            <li>Available where wired options are limited<\/li>\n                            <li>Strong mobility\/aviation footprint<\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n\n                            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Cons<\/h4>\n                <ul class=\"b-mini-review__pros-cons-list b-mini-review__pros-cons-list_cons\">\n                                        <li>High GEO latency (~600+ ms)<\/li>\n                                        <li>Capacity constraints in parts of U.S.; plan availability varies by beam<\/li>\n                                        <li>Data thresholds with throttling\/deprioritization after allowance<\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"b-mini-review__desc-wrapper \">\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__accordion-header\">\n                <span class=\"b-mini-review__accordion-text\">Read More<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"b-mini-review__accordion-content\">\n                            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Plans &#038; Pricing<\/h4>\n                <div> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan speeds and availability are highly location\u2011dependent due to spot\u2011beam capacity. Check your address for current offers and disclosures on typical speeds, latency, and data policies.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/viasat-review\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viasat<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">| <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Official site<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n                            <h4 class=\"b-mini-review__subtitle\">Features<\/h4>\n                <div> <ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GEO network with nationwide footprint; latency typically ~600+ ms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data thresholds with throttling\/deprioritization after allowance; video may be rate\u2011managed on some plans.<\/span> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">source<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the provider\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Label<\/a> for typical speeds, latency, and data policies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n                        <div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"guide-to-satellite-internet\" title=\"Guide to Satellite Internet\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Choose the Best Satellite Internet for Your Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Determine how much speed you need<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with the applications you care about. Real\u2011time activities (video calls, cloud collaboration, some gaming) benefit more from low latency than raw download speed. LEO satellite like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a> typically runs ~25\u201360 ms latency with broadband\u2011class speeds, while GEO providers (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>) often advertise plan speeds up to roughly 25\u2013100+ Mbps but have ~600+ ms latency. Where available, 5G fixed wireless can deliver unlimited data and typical 100\u2013300 Mbps speeds (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/home\/internet\/5g\/\">Verizon 5G Home<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-mobile.com\/home-internet\">T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a>). Always review the provider\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Label<\/a> for typical speeds and latency at the point of sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More Mbps doesn\u2019t 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\u2011way, time\u2011sensitive tasks than a lower\u2011speed LEO or wired connection. Use the table below to align household activities with rough speed tiers, and factor latency into work\u2011from\u2011home or gaming needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top\"><table><tbody><tr><td><br><\/td><td>12 Mbps<\/td><td>25 Mbps<\/td><td>100 Mbps<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Use amount<\/td><td>Light<\/td><td>Moderate<\/td><td>Heavy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Web activity*<\/td><td>Email, basic browsing, single\u2011stream SD video<\/td><td>Email, browsing, SD\/HD streaming on a few devices, cloud sync<\/td><td>Multiple HD\/4K streams, large game\/OS downloads, frequent video calls<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Estimates assume 4\u20138 connected devices. For interactive tasks, latency matters: LEO often ~25\u201360 ms vs. GEO ~600+ ms (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">independent testing<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Figure out how much data you use<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Satellite plans typically use monthly \u201cpriority data\u201d 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a> make these policies and typical speeds\/latency more transparent at checkout. As household usage grows every year, caps\/thresholds can bind more often \u2014 independent panels consistently show rising shares of 1\u20132 TB \u201cpower users\u201d across fixed broadband (<a href=\"https:\/\/openvault.com\">OpenVault<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sandvine.com\/phenomena\">Sandvine<\/a>). Some cable markets are even reintroducing caps (<a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/tech-policy\/2024\/05\/comcast-will-bring-back-data-caps-in-northeast-us-in-2025\/\">Comcast Northeast update<\/a>), highlighting the value of clear policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To give you some perspective, here are common video data needs according to <a href=\"https:\/\/help.netflix.com\/en\/node\/87\" target=\"_blank\">Netflix<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li>About 1 GB per hour for SD streaming<\/li>\n<li>About 3 GB per hour for HD streaming<\/li>\n<li>About 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD\/4K streaming<\/li>\n<li>Cloud backups and system\/game updates can consume many GB; schedule large downloads during off\u2011peak times when possible<\/li>\n<li>Use in\u2011app data saver modes and Wi\u2011Fi offload to stretch priority data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>If you stream video regularly, expect priority data to go quickly. Monitor your usage meter, enable data\u2011saver 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 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"questions\" title=\"FAQs\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Satellite Internet FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_603766abfce23\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What is satellite internet?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Satellite internet delivers connectivity via spacecraft and ground gateways to a dish or terminal at your location. Two main architectures exist: low-Earth orbit (LEO), which typically achieves tens of milliseconds of latency (~25\u201360 ms), and geostationary orbit (GEO), which is physics-limited to roughly ~600+ ms latency due to distance. LEO helps real-time applications feel more responsive, while GEO offers near-universal availability across the U.S.<\/span> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">independent testing<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_6914ed7ba3e50\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\"><\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_603766e4fce25\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">In what case is satellite internet preferable over other options?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If fiber or modern cable are available, they usually deliver the best consistency and lowest latency. But satellite is often preferable when wired buildouts aren\u2019t available or 5G fixed wireless doesn\u2019t cover your address. LEO satellite is a strong choice for real-time use where available; GEO satellite remains a reliable fallback for broad coverage and streaming where nothing else reaches. Rural alternatives continue to improve via publicly funded fiber builds (NTIA\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetforall.gov\/program\/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BEAD program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Treasury\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/policy-issues\/coronavirus\/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments\/capital-projects-fund\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capital Projects Fund<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, USDA <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rd.usda.gov\/programs-services\/telecommunications-programs\/reconnect-loan-and-grant-program\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ReConnect<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and the rapid expansion of 5G fixed wireless (a major driver of broadband net adds in 2024, per <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leichtmanresearch.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LRG<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_60376701fce26\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">How is satellite internet customer service?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industry-wide, internet service satisfaction tends to lag other sectors, with the ISP category averaging around the high 60s on ACSI\u2019s 0\u2013100 scale (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acsi.org\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACSI Telecommunications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Provider-specific satellite ISP satisfaction scores are not consistently published across current studies. Transparency is improving via the FCC\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broadband Labels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which require clear disclosures of typical speeds, latency, and data policies to help set expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"other\" title=\"Our Other Internet Reviews\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Other Internet Reviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Satellite internet companies not meeting your needs? Check our other reviews of internet types:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li><a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best\/\">The Best Internet Service Providers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best-cable\/\">The Best Cable Internet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best-dsl\/\">The Best DSL Internet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best-cheap\/\">The Best Cheap Internet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/utilities\/internet\/best-business\/\">The Best Business Internet<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Methodology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We evaluate satellite internet providers using current plan disclosures and independent measurements: typical speeds, latency, and data policies from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a>; plan details from provider sites (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>); independent performance insights such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">Ookla Speedtest Intelligence<\/a>; availability and alternatives (including 5G fixed wireless) from official pages (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/home\/internet\/5g\/\">Verizon<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-mobile.com\/home-internet\">T\u2011Mobile<\/a>); and customer satisfaction context from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acsi.org\">ACSI Telecommunications<\/a> benchmarks. We weight availability, typical performance, data management transparency, and total cost of ownership to inform our picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Customer satisfaction context: ACSI\u2019s ISP category averages around the high 60s on a 0\u2013100 scale; we use this for benchmarking (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acsi.org\">ACSI<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typical speeds and latency: Verified via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\">FCC Broadband Labels<\/a> and provider disclosures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Independent performance data: Consideration of regional\/market results from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\">Ookla Speedtest Intelligence<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plans and data policies: Evaluation of speed tiers, priority data allowances, and network management on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hughesnet.com\/\">HughesNet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viasat.com\/internet\/\">Viasat<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlink.com\/service-plans\">Starlink<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Availability and alternatives: We note address-level availability and the rise of 5G fixed wireless as a non\u2011satellite alternative (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/home\/internet\/5g\/\">Verizon 5G Home<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-mobile.com\/home-internet\">T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reviews Report Satellite internet is not being phased out; it\u2019s expanding in capability. LEO constellations have normalized tens\u2011of\u2011milliseconds latency and broadband\u2011class speeds, while new GEO capacity (e.g., HughesNet\u2019s JUPITER 3) raised plan tiers. Policy and standards advances \u2014 including the FCC\u2019s Supplemental Coverage from Space framework and 3GPP\u2019s Non\u2011Terrestrial Networks \u2014 are enabling satellite\u2011to\u2011phone services. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":359642,"parent":2266,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-refresh.php","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"post_author":[16970],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025 - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We have reviewed The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-satellite\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025 - Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We have reviewed The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-satellite\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Reviewscom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-12T20:26:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/satellite-internet-1297399535.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Reviews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/best-satellite\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Utilities\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Internet\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\",\"name\":\"Reviews.com\",\"description\":\"Your Guide to the Best Services\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2025 - 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