Hughesnet’s coverage map spreads across the country, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
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Hughesnet ranked bottom in 2023 for customer satisfaction in the South.
Satellite internet is faster than phone-line-based DSL, but it can’t compete with the speeds you get with cable or fiber connections. That said, ground-laid cable and fiber aren’t readily available to people outside densely populated areas. Even with speeds that fall well short of cable or fiber, established satellite providers such as Hughesnet, which can genuinely claim to offer service everywhere, are more relevant than ever.
With wide availability across all 50 states, Hughesnet is an excellent connection option for rural residents. Compared to its competitor Viasat, Hughesnet now matches up to its max speed of 100Mbps and 200GB of priority data available. Viasat, however, has a better track record with outages on Downdetector.com. If you need speed, Hughesnet’s new plans could be the one for you, and might even fit the bill if you’re in an area where you can’t get cable or fiber. Let’s dig in and take a look at the details.
Plan
Max speeds
Monthly promo cost
Monthly cost (after 12 months)
Contract terms
Monthly equipment costs
Data allowance
Select Plan
50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload
$50
$75
Two years
$15 a month or $300 one-time purchase
100GB
Elite Plan
100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload
$65
$90
Two years
$15 a month or $300 one-time purchase
200GB
Fusion Plan
100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload
$80
$110
Two years
$20 a month or $450 one-time purchase
200GB
Prior to these upgrades, Hughesnet’s Gen5 plans offered customers the same max download speeds. It was known for the simplicity and consistency of their plans. But the 2023 Ookla report on Starlink LEO satellite performance in the US showed that Hughesnet and Viasat were behind most of the market. Hughesnet recorded median download speeds of 15.87Mbps in the third quarter of 2023. That said, it will be a while until we see how Hughesnet’s upgraded plans affect the nationwide report.
As for value, Hughesnet is slightly cheaper than its main rival, Viasat. With Viasat, you’ll need to pay $85 per month to match Hughesnet’s 50Mbps download speed, and that monthly price will go up to $120 after just three months. However, both Viasat and Hughesnet have unlimited data. On top of that, Hughesnet now offers download speeds of up to 100Mbps for $80 per month for the first year, making its cost cheaper than Viasat’s at $250 per month for the first three months.
No data cap, but data is far from unlimited
While Hughesnet touts its “unlimited data,” that’s a bit of a misnomer. Yes, there are no hard data limits, so you won’t be cut off or charged more if you go over your monthly data allowance. That’s a huge relief as you try to plot out your monthly budget.
However, you can expect severe slowdowns once you hit that monthly data cap. Hughesnet will cut your download speeds from 50Mbps down to 1 to 3Mbps for the remainder of the month. Keep that in mind as you consider which data plan to select.
For example, you might be tempted to go with the cheapest plan, which Hughesnet recommends as perfect for smaller households. But that plan comes with 100GB of data, which is considered close to being unlimited data. Yet still, it’s also fair to consider how much data your household consumes. Netflix estimates it takes approximately 1GB to stream an hour-long show in standard definition and 3GB to stream an hour in high definition. If you use Netflix at its lowest data setting (0.3GB per hour) you can view approximately 600 hours of streaming.
This is where the Hughesnet Bonus Zone, available as part of all plans, comes into play. During the off-peak hours of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., customers receive an additional 50GB of data per month. Depending on your chosen plan, this could more than double your data allotment, and it might help you bridge the gap between your typical usage and your plan’s ceiling. Granted, it’s not the most convenient time, but with some planning, you could schedule a movie download or some other activity to take advantage of the extra data.
Additional details to know about Hughesnet
Hughesnet’s satellite internet service is relatively straightforward, but you’ll want to understand everything that’ll show up on your bill before signing up. Here’s a quick rundown.
One-time installation fee
Hughesnet charges $99 for standard installation, though this fee is waived if you decide to plunk down $450 to buy your modem instead of renting it, for its Fusion plan. There is no self-installation option like you might find with other internet connection types. A standard installation includes a technician visit, Hughesnet satellite dish, and Wi-Fi modem setup. As a limited-time offer, Hughesnet is offering free standard installation if you order online.
Additional monthly equipment fee
You will not be able to use your own modem with Hughesnet’s new plans. To lease the Hughesnet Wi-Fi Modem, which doubles as a Wi-Fi router, you will need to add $5 a month to your bill. While this is the most popular option for customers, you can avoid this monthly charge altogether by buying the equipment for a one-time fee of $99, including the standard installation charge.
That’s still a very hefty price, but it might be worth considering if you plan on sticking with Hughesnet for the long term. Compared with paying $15 per month in perpetuity, you’ll break even in under two years by paying that one-time, upfront expense of $450 (remember, the $450 figure includes installation, which typically costs an extra $99). If you plan on keeping your Hughesnet connection any longer, paying upfront is the less expensive proposition.
Potential early termination fee
That two-year break-even rate on the modem purchase probably isn’t an accident, as all Hughesnet plans require a two-year contract. Cancel before the contract is up, and you’ll incur an early termination fee as high as $400 if you’re still within the first 90 days of service. The amount decreases by $15 a month after that, which means you’d still need to pay a fee of $100 if you cancel during the last month of your contract.
Affordable Connectivity Program availability
Hughesnet participates in the ACP, a Federal Communications Commissions program to assist low-income families. Eligible households will receive a discount of up to $30 per month (up to $75 per month for qualifying tribal lands) toward internet service. This program is available to both new and existing customers facing financial hardships.
The Hughesnet Bonus Zone describes the window of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. each day when customers can access an additional 50GB of data per month. While these off-peak hours might not seem convenient, they present a great time to schedule a movie download, set up system updates for your devices or maybe even do some early-morning online shopping.
Hughesnet’s new upgraded plans meet the FCC’s definition of broadband speed — 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload. While you can make the case that this baseline qualification as broadband speed doesn’t qualify as “fast,” it is undoubtedly faster than the DSL plans that might also be available to rural customers.
Yes. The Fusion plan, a combination of satellite and wireless technologies, allows for lower latency and supports online gaming. That said, customers can also experience faster speeds of up to 100Mbps, allowing you to do more with your internet such as connecting to more devices or streaming TV in a higher picture quality.
Yes, but it’s not automatic. The Hughesnet service automatically streams videos at 480p to help you save your data, but you can change this setting pretty easily via the Hughesnet mobile app.
Since the company’s Jupiter 3 satellite launch in 2023, consumers can now see new offerings available after that satellite made it into orbit, including plans that support download speeds from 50Mbps to 100Mbps.
“This will be one of the largest satellites to be launched and will basically double the size of our network,” Wymer said. “The satellite industry continues to innovate and move forward, so it’s an exciting time.”
