Best Satellite Internet Providers | 2020 ISP Guide

Angelena Iglesia

(Viasat) Everyone wants fast, reliable internet access to post social media updates, take online classes, even play stump the virtual assistant. But when you live on a farm with thousands of acres, on the fringe of suburbia, or somewhere in between, your options can be limited. Nearly a quarter (24%) […]

(Viasat)

Everyone wants fast, reliable internet access to post social media updates, take online classes, even play stump the virtual assistant. But when you live on a farm with thousands of acres, on the fringe of suburbia, or somewhere in between, your options can be limited.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of rural Americans say not having access to high-speed internet is a major problem in their local community, reported the Pew Research Center in a 2018 study.

That’s where a satellite internet connection comes into play. This is the most widely available internet connection in the U.S., as reported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To learn how it works, what it costs, and the speeds you can expect, read our guide.

This review of the best satellite internet providers contains the following sections:

Satellite internet uses satellites in space to transmit data over the internet. It does not use wires or cables that run to your home from outside networks like other types of internet connections.

This is how it works: You click on a website while surfing the internet. Your request travels through a modem to a satellite dish on your property. The dish beams your request up to a geostationary communication satellite. The satellite sends your request to a gateway station on the ground, which relays your request to the website. The reverse happens to get a response, or to receive data.

Because the request and response travel about 44,500 miles there and back, the latency or delay you experience can be notable at times, especially if you’ve maxed out your data limit or if many people are on the network at the same time.

Still, satellite internet access can be a much faster solution than dial-up, 4G/LTE mobile internet, and some DSL internet plans. It also may stay operational when disasters like fires and hurricanes interrupt land-based internet providers.

Though there are currently only a few satellite internet providers to choose from, more satellite internet options are coming. SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb, and Telestat have announced they are developing satellite broadband services. Instead of using geostationary satellites, these services will rely on a constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites.

Viasat Internet

3.8 out of 5

Monthly Cost Starting at $50
Connection Type Satellite
Download Speed (Mbps) 12 Mbps – 100 Mbps
View Plans »

Company

Monthly Cost

Connection Type

Download Speed (Mbps)

Learn More

Viasat Internet

3.8 out of 5

Starting at $50 Satellite 12 Mbps – 100 Mbps View Plans »

Viasat: “Live where the cable internet line stops? That’s where we start,” says Viasat. Its four service plans cost $50 to $150 per month with download speeds ranging from 12 to 100 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of 3 Mbps. Plans don’t have data caps but do require a two-year contract. A no-contract option may be available in your zip code. You can get service in eight out of 10 locations in the U.S., says the company. Viasat Internet placed seventh in our Best Internet Service rating with an overall score of 3.76 on a 5-point scale, with 5 the highest possible score. Read more in our review of Viasat.

Viasat is the only company to make our Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2020 ranking. Other satellite internet service providers (ISPs) did not meet the criteria defined in our methodology to be included in this rating.

Viasat Internet

Best Satellite Internet Service Providers in 2020

Monthly Cost
Starting at $50
Download Speed
12 Mbps – 100 Mbps

Available in

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District Of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

See all

Satellite internet service is available nationwide, even in rural areas, as you can see on our map. You can also enter your home address on the FCC’s Fixed Broadband Deployment locator to see which internet providers are available to you. According to the FCC, 98.4% of Americans have access to at least two satellite broadband service providers.

Satellite internet is one of the few options for people living in rural areas and in regions that are hard to reach with fixed-line services like cable, fiber, or DSL internet. “As you go further and further into rural America where there’s lower density it is not economically justifiable for companies to wire those areas and that’s why we see a limited availability in those areas,” says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority.

Viasat, the only company making our Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2020 list, says it provides satellite internet service in all 50 states, covering 98% of the U.S. population.

Internet Speed of Fiber vs DSL vs Cable vs Satellite

Features Fiber DSL Cable Satellite
Download Speed 0.2 Mbps – 2,000 Mbps 0.20 Mbps – 940 Mbps 10 Mbps – 2,000 Mbps 12 Mbps – 100 Mbps
Upload Speed 0.128 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps 0.128 Mbps – 940 Mbps 1 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps 3 Mbps
Latency 12 ms – 33 ms 19.5 ms – 51 ms 22 ms – 28 ms 610 ms
Consistency 64% – 99% 60% – 80% 90% – 105% 20%

*Speed usage data from FCC website.

Satellite internet is not as fast as fiber optic and cable internet, but it may be faster than your other options.

“While it’s possible for satellites to deliver broadband service, its latency issues – (the) time it takes a signal to go from your home to provider and back — can be frustrating for consumers who use real-time applications like gaming, streaming and chat-type applications like FaceTime,” says Mark Lubow, a veteran cable and telecommunications expert who heads the Cloud11 consultancy in Atlanta. Latency causes delays, such as when audio and video are out of sync.

You’ll experience slower speed and lower audio/video quality if you exceed your plan’s data allowance, if the weather is bad, or if the network is congested. An FCC report from December 2018 stated that “while most ISPs show only a slight degradation from off-peak to peak hour performance, satellite ISPs show a markedly larger degradation.” We found satellite internet consistently delivered promised speed 20% of the time on average.

The cost of satellite internet varies by internet service provider and plan. Plans with faster download speeds cost more.

Consumers in the U.S. say they spend about $67 a month for internet service, including satellite internet, says Bruce Leichtman, a broadband industry authority who heads Leichtman Research Group in Durham, New Hampshire. Plans from our best satellite internet providers cost $50 to $150 per month and don’t include taxes, surcharges, or fees.

Satellite internet providers typically don’t charge for excessive data use. Instead, if you surpass the monthly data threshold they will slow down — or throttle — your speed.

Bundling or buying multiple services like internet, satellite TV, and home phone from the same provider can reduce your monthly internet bill.

Viasat service plans start at $50, $70, $100, and $150 per month (as of the date of this review) for respective download speeds of 12, 25, 50, and 100 Mbps. Plans have unlimited data. Monthly equipment rental, which is required, starts at $9.99 per month. The cost of installation, also required, varies by where the satellite dish is mounted on your property. A two-year contract is required, and Viasat guarantees the price of service for that term. Early termination fees for breaking a contract start at $15.

  1. Select an ISP: Because some satellite internet providers merged in recent years, your choices are fewer. See our Which Satellite Internet Service is Near Me? section above for more information.
  2. Choose a Plan: Pick a plan that meets your need for speed and budget. Explore bundled services, which can reduce your monthly bill.
  3. Schedule Installation: The FCC requires professional installation. Learn more in our How Do I Install Equipment for Satellite Internet Service? section below.
  4. Connect Devices: After the technician gets your internet service and Wi-Fi up and running, you can connect your wired and wireless devices.

What Do I Need for Satellite Internet Service?

  • Satellite Dish Antenna: The dish sends and receives internet data to a geostationary satellite in space. It’s about the same size as a satellite TV dish. The service provider supplies the dish, which works only with that service.
  • Southern Exposure: Geostationary satellites orbit above the earth’s equator, which is south of the continental U.S. For the dish antenna to communicate with the satellite, it needs an unobstructed view of the southern sky.
  • Cable: A RG6 coaxial cable connects the dish to the modem.
  • Modem: The modem communicates with the internet. It may come equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi router. A gateway device combines both modem and router.
  • Wi-Fi Router: This device uses radio frequency to create a wireless home network so you can connect devices like smartphones and tablets.
  • Amplifier (Optional): An amplifier can help boost the satellite signal between the dish and modem and reduce latency.
  • Web Browser: To surf the internet, you need a web browser. All major web browsers work with satellite internet, but some browsers are designed specifically for satellite internet, and load pages faster and save data.

Should I Buy or Rent Equipment for Satellite Internet Service?

Buying Equipment – Satellite Internet Service

Renting Equipment – Satellite Internet Service

  • You can choose a more powerful Wi-Fi router

  • You can create a more powerful wireless network

  • You can switch internet providers easier

  • Renting the modem is required

  • You’re guaranteed compatibility

  • You get technical support

  • What you can buy is limited

  • You’re on your own if it breaks or becomes outdated

  • It adds to your monthly bill

  • Rental fees could increase

  • You’ll be charged a fee for not returning equipment

Buying Equipment – Satellite Internet Service

  • You can choose a more powerful Wi-Fi router

  • You can create a more powerful wireless network

  • You can switch internet providers easier

  • What you can buy is limited

  • You’re on your own if it breaks or becomes outdated


Renting Equipment – Satellite Internet Service

  • Renting the modem is required

  • You’re guaranteed compatibility

  • You get technical support

  • It adds to your monthly bill

  • Rental fees could increase

  • You’ll be charged a fee for not returning equipment

You should rent equipment for satellite internet service. In fact, it’s required by the ISP. The dish antenna and modem are configured specifically to work with your internet provider’s system. You cannot buy a modem off the shelf and make it work; nor can you buy and install your own dish antenna. Because the dish antenna both sends and receives data, the FCC requires that it be installed by a certified technician.

The ISP-supplied modem may have a built-in Wi-Fi router (this combo device is called a gateway). You’re not obligated to use the router. You can turn it off and purchase a better one to create a more powerful wireless home network. You won’t save money, however, because you still have to pay the monthly rental fee for the other equipment.

Renting equipment gets you technical support and a router that is guaranteed to be compatible. If you terminate service and don’t return equipment, you’ll be charged a fee. Monthly rental fees could increase, as well.

It may be possible to buy a long-term lease for equipment. You’ll pay more upfront, but over time you can recoup that money and save on future bills. Contact the satellite internet provider to learn if this is available and who is responsible should equipment break or need upgrading.

Self-installing satellite internet equipment:

  • Is possible only with your own Wi-Fi router

Hiring a professional to install satellite internet equipment:

  • Keeps the equipment warranty intact

  • Ensures the satellite dish is aligned and operating properly

The FCC requires that a certified technician install your satellite internet system. The dish antenna typically is installed on the side of your house, the roof, or a pole near the house where it has a clear line-of-sight to the southern sky. You’ll have input on where it is placed.

The technician then routes cable from the dish to the gateway device (a combination modem-router) inside the home, configures your primary computer, and enables home Wi-Fi. Connecting your mobile devices to the Wi-Fi network may cost extra, though this step is generally easy enough for most people to manage on their own. Installation typically takes a few hours and is free, although non-standard or complex installations may incur fees.

The technician may be employed by a third-party contractor. If you perform any part of the installation, the equipment warranty will be voided.

The exception is with the Wi-Fi router. You can install your own Wi-Fi router instead of using the one built into the gateway device to have a stronger Wi-Fi signal on your property. Turn off the built-in router and follow installation instructions provided by the router manufacturer.

Satellite internet is good for:

  • People who don’t have access to cable

  • Connecting five or fewer devices

  • Moderate internet activities (streaming lower definition video, checking email, web browsing)

Cable internet is good for:

  • Heavy-data internet activities (online gaming, high-definition video streaming, uploading large files)

  • Households with six or more connected devices

  • Getting affordable high-speed internet in select areas

Satellite is the best choice when the only broadband option is a slower DSL or mobile (cellular) connection. It supports moderate internet use: streaming video and performing basic online activities. Data limits make it unsuitable for binge-watching high-definition video, and its high latency (delays) impedes fast-paced multiplayer gameplay.

Cable is faster and has lower latency. It’s best for households with multiple people who use the internet simultaneously for online gaming, video streaming, and sharing large files. It’s also best if you have lots of devices connected to the internet at once. In many areas, starting prices for cable internet plans are less than what you’ll pay for satellite internet. Cable, however, is not available everywhere. Just over half of rural areas have the option to choose cable broadband, according to the FCC.

Satellite internet is good for:

  • People who don’t have access to DSL

  • When available DSL internet plans are slow

DSL internet is good for:

  • Households that can’t get a strong enough satellite signal

  • Gamers who want less lag during gameplay

  • Faster uploads for cloud backups and sharing videos

Satellite internet is available nearly everywhere, including places where DSL isn’t a choice or for households far from the central hub that experience super slow DSL service. It lets you get internet now, instead of waiting for an internet provider to run wires or cables to your neighborhood.

In general, however, DSL is faster than satellite. Its speed is more consistent, and the latency is significantly lower. For gamers, this means less lag time for real-time first-person gameplay. Because DSL transmits data through a home’s telephone line, you don’t need a satellite dish installed. You also can buy equipment to run DSL, whereas you must rent equipment from satellite ISP.

We explain what matters when it comes to internet service by sourcing experts and professional reviewers. Then we provide an unbiased evaluation of internet service providers. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. More information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating internet service providers is available here.

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Find the best internet service provider using our complete set of buying guides:

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

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