Viasat vs HughesNet Internet

Viasat Internet vs. HughesNet Internet Service

Rural internet used to be slow and unaffordable. If you lived outside of an area covered by DSL, fiber, and cable internet, there were no reliable internet options. In 2020, satellite internet technology has made satellite internet service faster and more affordable than ever. Satellite internet delivers speeds that may be faster than DSL depending on how far you live from the ISP hub. Compare Viasat vs. HughesNet, two of the top satellite internet providers, to see which has the biggest data plan and the best price for your lifestyle.

How Is Viasat vs. HughesNet?

Trying to decide which provider to choose? Compare Viasat vs. HughesNet internet service to see which offers the right satellite internet for your usage habits. What type of internet service you need depends on how many users and devices will be using the internet.

Viasat internet is one of the top internet providers for satellite internet. Viasat (formerly Exede) internet service is used on many airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi. In select areas, Viasat internet plans offer unlimited internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps, the fastest satellite internet available. The latest Viasat plans are powered by the Viasat-2 satellite, which is capable of delivering faster speeds with unlimited satellite internet data.

HughesNet satellite internet is powered by the EchoStar XIX satellite. This satellite is the world's highest capacity broadband satellite and increases HughesNet coverage. TheHughesNet Gen5 plans deliver 25 Mbps download speeds on every plan. The Gen5 also offers a wide range of data options per month, and if customers go over their data allowance for the month, there are no overages or hard data limits, speeds are just reduced until the next data cycle. HughesNet internet customers also have the option of purchasing a Data Token to use their internet at full speeds again.

Viasat vs. HughesNet Internet Plans

When comparing Viasat vs. HughesNet internet plans, it's important to check and see what plans are available in your area. Viasat offers two different plans, the Unlimited and the Liberty. The Unlimited plans are powered by the Viasat-2 satellite and offer unmetered data. The plans are priced by download speeds. The lightest internet plan is the Bronze 25, which has download speeds up to 25 Mbps for $70 per month. The fastest internet plan has download speeds up to 100 Mbps for $150 per month.

The Viasat Liberty plans all have 12 Mbps download speeds and are priced by priority data. Viasat internet prices start at $50 per month for 12 GB of data while the biggest data plan has 50 GB of priority data each month for $100 per month. Customers are also given additional data during the Free Zone from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. each day. The data used during this time does not count towards your monthly data allowance. Even if you've exceeded your monthly data, you can still use the internet at regular speeds during the Free Zone.

HughesNet only offers one type of plan, priced by data threshold. Each plan has 25 Mbps download speeds. HughesNet internet prices start at $59.99 per month for the highest data plan of 10 GB. The biggest data plan has 50 GB of data for $149.99. Customers are given an extra 50 GB of data per month to use during the Bonus Zone from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. every day.

Top Features of Viasat vs. HughesNet

When deciding on a satellite internet provider, it's important to see which ISP has the top features. Compare Viasat vs. HughesNet to see who offers the best bundles and features for you.

Viasat internet offers bundling with DIRECTV and Viasat Voice for additional savings each month. Viasat satellite internet includes the Viasat Browser for customers to use for the fastest browsing possible with this internet service. It has data saver mode and blocks ads, so Viasat customers use less data. HughesNet also includes data-saving features that compress and optimize web content. It has built-in SmartTechnologies that help the web pages to load faster while using less data.

HughesNet offers bundling with HughesNet voice to save more each month. Customers can also automatically adjust data streaming rates to deliver DVD quality video to save your data.

Installation of Viasat vs. HughesNet

The installation process for Viasat vs. HughesNet is very similar. Viasat requires installation by a Viasat technician, while HughesNet requires a HughesNet technician to install the hardware. Both Viasat and HughesNet are offering free standard installation for new customers. Certified technicians are needed for the installation process to make sure the satellite dishes are properly placed outside of the home for the fastest service and reliability. After the satellite dish is installed, the technician will connect the router and any devices included with the set-up.

In order to install HughesNet, customers must contact HughesNet customer service and schedule a time for the technician to install the satellite dish and connect the internet service. Most customers have their service installed within five days of their order. Customers have the option of using their own equipment and can lease HughesNet equipment for $9.99 per month or purchase for $349.00.

Customers choosing Viasat will need to schedule installation with Viasat customer service. You have the option to use your own modem and lease the satellite hardware from Viasat. Monthly leasing is $9.99 per month or $299.99 for a lifetime lease fee.