Satellite communications are an important source for receiving Internet services in rural areas. Other service providers have limited or no coverage in rural areas due to higher construction costs and lower profitability than in cities. The further one moves away from rural areas, the more difficult it becomes to get a wired Internet connection, such as ADSL or coaxial cable.
While you can’t claim that satellite internet is the best internet connection out there, it’s good to have internet services and stay connected remotely.
There is little competition for satellite Internet services. Only two major service providers offer nationwide services via satellite connection and offer customers good speeds. These two service providers are HughesNet and Viasat.
These service providers offer different added values to their customers. In general, they lead to strong competition when customers cannot easily decide which one to choose.
If you are in a similar situation, this guide will help you make a decision. We compare factors such as rates, prices, availability and a few others and see which provider beats the other.
Viasat VS HughesNet
1. plan.
As for service plans, HughesNet offers four different service plans based on the data provided. All of these plans offer the same download speeds up to 25 Mbps. So the choice of plan depends on whether you want uninterrupted connection or reduced rates at the end of the month.
HughesNet offers 10GB, 20GB, 30GB and 50GB plans from which customers can choose the best plan based on their needs at the time of registration.
In addition, if you wish to make changes after registration, you may call Hughesnet Customer Service at 1-855-771-3154 to do so.
On the other hand, Viasat offers different tariffs with options for different speeds and data. Download speeds start at 12 Mbps and go up to 100 Mbps, while data limits start at 12 GB and go up to 300 GB per month.
However, not all plans are available in all regions. This means that with Viasat you may pay more for a lower speed or service, while another may get double the rate with more data for the same price.
2nd prize
Since HughesNet offers four data plans with the same data rates, the pricing is not complicated. Customers can buy a 10 gigabyte subscription for $49.99, a 20 gigabyte subscription for $59.99, a 30 gigabyte subscription for $99.99 and a 50 gigabyte subscription for $149.99.
These are the usual HughesNet Internet prices. However, you can also get a $10 discount for the first six months if there is a promotion in your area.
At Viasat, prices start at $30 per month for the Liberty 12 plan, which offers download speeds of 12 Mbps with 12 GB of data. After that, different rates are available with the same speed and more data or faster speeds.
The Platinum 100 plan offers download speeds up to 100 Mbps, and the data limit of 300 GB costs $150 per month. Note, however, that these are promotional prices for the first three months, after which the same plan costs $200 per month.
3. Availability .
By service availability, HughesNet offers services in all 50 states in the U.S. with greater coverage of rural areas. Viasat also covers all states and has 98% availability throughout the United States.
Thus, both service providers have greater coverage and serve almost all US states as long as the dish can receive a clear signal.
4. equipment and installation costs
Because satellite Internet equipment is expensive, both providers charge a significant fee if someone wants to buy the equipment. At HughesNet, the purchase of a satellite dish and modem costs $249.99, a one-time fee.
Viasat also charges $299.99 for the purchase of the device. Note that the installation fee is the maximum.
However, it is possible to rent equipment on a monthly basis. If you rent equipment from HughesNet, it costs $14.99 per month, and installation is also free.
Viasat, on the other hand, charges $10 per month for equipment rental. Therefore, it is better to rent equipment than to buy it in advance.
Final verdict Viasat VS Hughesnet
HughesNet and Viasat are the right service providers. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, HughesNet’s basic rates are affordable but do not offer enough data, while Viasat’s rates, which do offer enough data, are not cheap.
Before choosing a provider, it is best to find out what you need. Then you can decide which service provider to go to.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better than HughesNet or Viasat?
HughesNet Plans * Effective date: 14.01.2021 . With HughesNet, you may end up saving money because their plans are generally cheaper, but they offer less data. With Viasat, for example, the plans are more expensive, but you actually pay less per gigabyte of data than with HughesNet.
What is the best satellite internet service provider?
The Best Satellite Internet Providers | 2021 ISP Guide | US News.
Is Viasat worth it?
I recommend switching to a faster plan, and it is expensive, so be prepared to adjust your budget. But if you live in a place where internet access is limited, Viasat is worth it. My only complaint is the slow download speed.
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