Head-to-Head Comparison
HughesNet vs Viasat
Side-by-side comparison of speeds, latency, pricing, coverage, and hardware - updated 2026-03-28.
Data sourced from FCC filings, official specs, and independent speed tests.
The Verdict
Viasat wins for most users with 25-150 Mbps vs 25-100 Mbps and lower latency (500-700ms vs 600-650ms). HughesNet counters with more affordable pricing (from $40-$95/mo).
Winner for most users
Viasat
Affordable satellite internet for rural America
Max Speed
100 Mbps
Latency
600-650ms
From
$40-$95/mo
Satellites
3
Satellite internet for home and business
Max Speed
150 Mbps
Latency
500-700ms
From
$69.99-$99.99/mo
Satellites
4
HughesNet vs Viasat - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | HughesNet | Viasat |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 25-100 Mbps | 25-150 Mbps Winner |
| Upload Speed | 3-5 Mbps | 3-10 Mbps Winner |
| Latency Lower is better | 600-650ms | 500-700ms Winner |
| Starting Price Lower is better | $40-$95/mo Winner | $69.99-$99.99/mo |
| Data Caps | Some plans capped | Unlimited Winner |
| Equipment Cost Lower is better | TBD | TBD |
| Installation | Professional required | Professional required |
| Portable | No | No |
| Orbit Type | GEO | GEO |
| Constellation | 3 in orbit / 3 planned | 4 in orbit / 4 planned Winner |
| Countries Available | 1 country | 1 country |
| Status | Available now | Available now |
Speed Comparison - HughesNet vs Viasat
Viasat offers faster download speeds at 25-150 Mbps compared to HughesNet's 25-100 Mbps. That is up to 1.5x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: HughesNet 3-5 Mbps vs Viasat 3-10 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - HughesNet vs Viasat
Viasat has significantly lower latency at 500-700ms vs HughesNet's 600-650ms - roughly 1x lower. This is primarily due to GEO vs GEO orbit differences. HughesNet's high latency makes real-time activities like gaming and video calls noticeably laggy.
Lower latency is better. Under 80ms is good for gaming. Under 300ms works for video calls. GEO satellites (35,786 km) have 600ms+ latency due to signal travel time. LEO satellites (550 km) achieve 20-60ms.
Pricing Comparison - HughesNet vs Viasat
HughesNet is more affordable, starting at $40/mo vs Viasat's $69.99/mo - a $29.989999999999995/mo difference. Over a year, that is $359.87999999999994 in savings.
HughesNet Plans
Lease $14.99-$19.99/mo or purchase $100-$450; 2-year contract required
Viasat Plans
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
Coverage & Availability - HughesNet vs Viasat
Both providers are available in 1 country. US-only service via 3 GEO satellites. Parent EchoStar has formally disclosed going-concern doubt (KPMG warning, Aug 2026 debt maturity, $119M cash vs $1.5B debt). EchoStar sold spectrum to SpaceX ($17B) and AT&T ($22.65B) and is contractually obligated to refer existing HughesNet customers to Starlink. Primarily US residential. ViaSat-3 F1 launched April 2023 (reduced capacity); F2 launched Nov 2025, entering service May 2026; F3 launch scheduled April 30, 2026. Fleet includes ~23 satellites total via Inmarsat acquisition.
Both available (1)
Hardware & Installation - HughesNet vs Viasat
Both providers require professional installation.
HughesNet
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Parabolic dish antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Lease $14.99-$19.99/mo or purchase $100-$450; 2-year contract required
Viasat
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Parabolic dish antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
Pros & Cons
HughesNet
Advantages
- + Lowest starting price ($40/mo Lite plan)
- + 99% US coverage - serves extremely remote areas
- + Fusion plan has no hard data cap
- + Long operational track record (since 2012)
Limitations
- - High latency (600ms+) - unsuitable for gaming or real-time video calls
- - Data caps on Lite, Select, and Elite plans
- - 2-year contract with early termination fee; equipment lease fees on top
- - US-only - no international availability
- - Professional installation required
Viasat
Advantages
- + No hard data caps on Unleashed plan
- + No long-term contract on Unleashed plan
- + ViaSat-3 F2 entering service May 2026 - expected to more than double bandwidth
- + Large fleet including Inmarsat for aviation/maritime
Limitations
- - High latency (500ms+) - GEO orbit limitation
- - Speeds throttled during peak congestion
- - ViaSat-3 F1 operating at reduced capacity due to antenna issue
- - Equipment lease fee ($15/mo) on top of service price
- - Professional installation required
Which Should You Choose? HughesNet vs Viasat
Gaming
NeitherBoth providers have latency above 100ms (600-650ms vs 500-700ms), which is too high for competitive gaming.
Streaming
ViasatViasat's higher max speeds (25-150 Mbps) support more simultaneous streams, though HughesNet (25-100 Mbps) also handles 4K fine.
Budget
HughesNetHughesNet starts at $40/mo vs Viasat's $69.99/mo - 43% less per month.
Rural / Remote
HughesNetHughesNet covers 99% of the US vs Viasat's 98%. Professional installation may be harder in remote areas.
Business
ViasatViasat's higher max speeds (150 Mbps vs 100 Mbps) and 500-700ms latency make it better for business use.
Mobile / RV
NeitherNeither HughesNet nor Viasat supports portable use. Both require fixed installations.