Head-to-Head Comparison
Viasat vs Amazon Leo
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. Upcoming provider specs are based on announced projections.
The Verdict
Viasat is available now with proven real-world performance (25-150 Mbps download, 500-700ms latency), while Amazon Leo has not yet launched consumer service. Viasat is the clear choice today if you need satellite internet now. Amazon Leo promises up to 1000 Mbps but will need time to build out its constellation and prove reliability.
Winner for most users
Amazon Leo
Satellite internet for home and business
Max Speed
150 Mbps
Latency
500-700ms
From
$69.99-$99.99/mo
Satellites
4
Amazon's LEO broadband - launching 2026
Max Speed
1000 Mbps
Latency
20-40ms
From
TBD
Satellites
212
Viasat vs Amazon Leo - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | Viasat | Amazon Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 25-150 Mbps | 100-1000 Mbps Winner |
| Upload Speed | 3-10 Mbps | 10-40 Mbps Winner |
| Latency Lower is better | 500-700ms | 20-40ms Winner |
| Starting Price Lower is better | $69.99-$99.99/mo Winner | TBD |
| Data Caps | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Equipment Cost Lower is better | TBD | TBD |
| Installation | Professional required | Self-install Winner |
| Portable | No | Yes Winner |
| Orbit Type | GEO | LEO |
| Constellation | 4 in orbit / 4 planned | 212 in orbit / 7,736 planned Winner |
| Countries Available | 1 country | 5 countries Winner |
| Status | Available now Winner | Upcoming |
Speed Comparison - Viasat vs Amazon Leo
Amazon Leo offers faster download speeds at 100-1000 Mbps compared to Viasat's 25-150 Mbps. That is up to 6.7x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: Viasat 3-10 Mbps vs Amazon Leo 10-40 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - Viasat vs Amazon Leo
Amazon Leo has significantly lower latency at 20-40ms vs Viasat's 500-700ms - roughly 20x lower. This is primarily due to LEO vs GEO orbit differences. Viasat'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 - Viasat vs Amazon Leo
Viasat starts at $69.99/mo. Amazon Leo has not announced consumer pricing - it may be enterprise-only or is still in development.
Viasat Plans
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
Amazon Leo Plans
Amazon targeting $400 consumer terminal; Leo Nano even cheaper
Coverage & Availability - Viasat vs Amazon Leo
Amazon Leo has broader availability with service in 5 countries vs Viasat's 1. ~212 satellites in orbit (Mar 2026). Consumer beta targeting Q1 2026 launch in US, UK, France, Germany, Canada. Target: ~700 by mid-2026, 26 countries by end-2026. FCC expanded authorization to 4,500 additional satellites (Feb 2026). FCC half-constellation deadline: 1,616 by July 2026 - Amazon requested 24-month extension (Jan 30, 2026).
Both available (1)
Amazon Leo only (4)
Hardware & Installation - Viasat vs Amazon Leo
Amazon Leo offers self-installation while Viasat requires a professional installer.
Viasat
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Parabolic dish antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
Amazon Leo
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Phased-array (compact form factor)
- Installation
- Self-install
- Portable
- Yes
Amazon targeting $400 consumer terminal; Leo Nano even cheaper
Pros & Cons
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
Amazon Leo
Advantages
- + Amazon's $10B+ investment ensures long-term commitment
- + Three terminal tiers up to 1 Gbps (Leo Ultra)
- + Potential Prime subscription bundle
- + FCC expanded authorization to 7,736 satellites (Jan 2026)
- + Enterprise preview already running
Limitations
- - No confirmed consumer pricing yet
- - Only ~212 of 7,736 satellites in orbit so far; FCC deadline extension pending
- - Years behind Starlink in operational experience
Which Should You Choose? Viasat vs Amazon Leo
Gaming
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo's 20-40ms latency supports gaming. Viasat's 500-700ms is too high for real-time games.
Streaming
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo's higher max speeds (100-1000 Mbps) support more simultaneous streams, though Viasat (25-150 Mbps) also handles 4K fine.
Budget
ViasatViasat starts at $69.99/mo. Amazon Leo has not announced pricing.
Rural / Remote
ViasatViasat covers 98% of the US vs Amazon Leo's 0%. Professional installation may be harder in remote areas.
Business
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo's higher max speeds (1000 Mbps vs 150 Mbps) and 20-40ms latency make it better for business use.
Mobile / RV
Amazon LeoAmazon Leo supports portable use - great for RVs, boats, and travel. Viasat requires a fixed installation.