Hughesnet internet review: Cost, coverage and customer experience guide

Hughesnet at a glance

Based in Germantown, Maryland, Hughesnet claims to be the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite services, products and managed network solutions for businesses, individuals and governments. It serves residential consumers, small businesses, enterprises, government agencies, in-flight and mobile users across the United States, most of Canada and significant parts of Central and South America.

Fast facts

What we like

I like that Hughesnet has three straightforward plans and prices that are cheaper than those of its competitors. The starting plan, Select, with speeds up to 50 Mbps, is $49.99 monthly, and it has a price-lock guarantee for a year. Hughesnet offers internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps, and its satellite internet is available in 50 states.

What we don’t like

I don’t like that Hughesnet has slower maximum speeds than its competitors, with speeds up to 100 Mbps. That is slower than Viasat (up to 150 Mbps) and Starlink (up to 220 Mbps). Hughesnet also offers less priority data — a maximum of 200 GB vs. Viasat’s 300 GB for the Unlimited Platinum plan and no limit for the Unleashed plan. Also, Hughesnet requires a 24-month contract, while Viasat’s Unleashed plan and Starlink’s plans do not require a contract.

*BBB ratings are accurate as of October 2024.

Hughesnet pros and cons

Hughesnet’s most significant advantage is its lower prices compared to competitors, with only a $25 increase after the promotional period. It also offers a Bonus Zone that provides 50 GB of extra data during off-peak hours from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. local time, ideal for downloading large files without using priority data. The Bonus Zone is available even after you reach your monthly high-speed data limit.

However, while Hughesnet plans don’t have hard data caps, this can be misleading because each plan comes with priority data, and significant speed reductions occur once that data is exhausted. Also, despite attractive introductory pricing for a year, a 24-month contract is required, and early termination will incur a fee. Equipment costs are also relatively high, though leasing options are available.

Pros

Cons

How much does Hughesnet cost?

Hughesnet’s prices depend on speed and the set amount of priority data. The company’s most expensive plan, Fusion, stands out because it combines satellite and wireless technologies for a low-latency, more responsive internet experience suitable for online gaming, video conferencing and HD streaming.

Customers must also consider other fees. If you lease any equipment (subject to a soft credit check) for Select and Elite plans, it costs $14.99 monthly plus a lease setup fee of $99. (Standard professional installation is free.) Any unreturned leased equipment fee costs $300. You also have an option to purchase equipment for $299 with standard professional installation for $199.99.

The Fusion plan’s fees are slightly higher: $19.99 per month for equipment, with a lease setup fee of $99 and free standard professional installation. The unreturned leased equipment fee is $500. The equipment purchase option is $449.99, with $199.99 for standard professional installation.

Be aware that all Hughesnet plans have a 24-month agreement. If you terminate the agreement early, you will get hit with a $400 fee.

Savings and discounts

Hughesnet has a one-year price lock guarantee with a $25 discount off the standard rate and an additional $5 discount for enrolling in ACH payments.

What plans and services does Hughesnet offer?

Hughesnet sells three satellite connection plans with speeds up to 100 Mbps — Select, Elite and Fusion. Fusion is the newest plan and is not yet widely available. However, according to a customer service representative I chatted with, it should be available across the United States by the end of 2024.

In delivering speeds up to 100 Mbps and 200 GB priority data like the Elite plan, Fusion’s highlights are:

A customer service representative says typical speeds for the Select plan range from 30 to 50 Mbps, while the Elite and Fusion plans range from 80 to 100 Mbps.

Hughesnet services

Hughesnet add-ons and optional features

Hughesnet Voice

Hughesnet lets you bundle your internet with a home phone. It offers voice-over-IP (VoIP) home phone service with a satellite connection. Free premium features include:

Hughesnet says its phone service won’t interfere with your internet connection. The standard cost runs $29.95 per month, but the company often has startup promotions, such as $9.95 per month for the first three months.

You can add 200 minutes of international calling to 60 countries for an extra $9.95 monthly or unlimited international calling for $22.95 per month. Your order also provides you with free Hughesnet voice equipment (a $75 value).

Express Repair

Express Repair is an optional feature to add. If you experience a service interruption, a certified technician will come to your home if you can’t restore service with a phone call. The first month of this feature is free, and then you can choose between the Basic or Premium plans. The Basic plan costs $8.99 per month for second-business-day service, available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Premium plan is $12.99 per month for next-business-day service. There’s an additional fee of $24.99 per on-site repair.

Norton 360 Deluxe

Norton 360 Deluxe antivirus security software that blocks hackers from accessing your devices online. It also comes with parental control, cloud backup, a password manager, SafeCam and dark web monitoring. The first month is free, and then it costs $5.99 monthly for five devices or $6.99 per month for 10 devices.

Hughesnet customer experience

If you’re an existing customer, tech support is available 24/7 via phone, app and live chat.

I contacted customer service via a live chat and then by phone around 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. The chat took about two minutes to connect me with an agent, but their responses were slow. They weren’t able to help me, as the chat only supports existing residential customers, and I was inquiring about plans. So, they offered to connect me with a sales representative by phone.

I called, and a representative answered within half a minute. The rep was friendly and knowledgeable. They checked which plans were available for the remote address in Virginia I provided and informed me that only two plans, Select and Elite, were available at that location. They reviewed the pricing and details of each plan. The call lasted 12 minutes, and I was satisfied with the experience overall.

Hughesnet has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, higher than Viasat’s 1.3 and Starlink’s 2.8.

Here’s what Hughesnet customers have to say about the service:

Other considerations about Hughesnet

Additional monthly fees

Hughesnet has no hidden monthly fees, but you’ll pay a monthly charge if you lease the equipment. The equipment lease for Select and Elite plans is $14.99 per month with a $99 setup fee. The Fusion plan is $19.99 per month and has a $99 setup fee.

Installation fees

Standard professional installation is included at no extra cost if you lease any equipment. If you buy the equipment, installation costs $199.99.

Data caps

While Hughesnet has no data caps (unlimited data), each plan includes a set amount of priority data. The Select plan comes with 100 GB of priority data, and the Elite and Fusion plans each have 200 GB of priority data. There are no overage fees, but the standard data will be much slower once you exhaust your priority data.

Hughesnet notes that the more connected devices you have, the sooner you consume your priority data. It recommends not using the internet as a full-time video streaming replacement for TV service or console-based gaming. Both consume priority data quickly.

Multiplayer games

Multiplayer games that require rapid response are only supported with the Fusion Plan.

VPN

Hughesnet warns that VPNs will “significantly reduce service speeds.”

Hughesnet vs. competitors?

As a satellite internet service provider, Hughesnet competes mainly against Viasat and newcomer Starlink.

On paper, Viasat has higher internet speeds, up to 150 Mbps, with its Unleashed plan compared to Hughesnet’s maximum of 100 Mbps. However, Hughesnet’s basic plan, Select, provides up to 50 Mbps, faster than most Viasat plans. Viasat’s plans, like Choice, offer only up to 25 Mbps, and its Unlimited Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum plans have speeds as low as 12 Mbps in remote areas. Keep in mind that 12 Mbps is significantly below the FCC’s recommended minimum of 100 Mbps. So, Hughesnet’s Select (up to 50 Mbps) and Elite (up to 100 Mbps), available in all locations, are better choices than Viasat’s slower plans.

While Starlink has faster speeds — up to 220 Mbps with its priority plan — it’s considerably more expensive and comes with hefty equipment fees. The company’s standard plan, with speeds ranging from 25 to 100 Mbps, starts at $120 per month with a one-time equipment fee of $599. The Priority plan, offering speeds between 40 and 220 Mbps, ranges in price from $140 to $500 with unlimited standard data from 40 GB to 2 TB. However, this tier requires a $500 refundable deposit and a $2,500 fee for an antenna and router.

Compared to its rivals, Hughesnet has lower prices with no hidden fees and a promotional price for a full year. In contrast, Viasat’s promotional prices last only for the first three months before they increase. For example, Viasat’s Unlimited Silver 12 costs $99.99 per month and rises to $149.99 after the first three months for 45 GB of high-speed data. Unleashed’s newest plan delivers speeds up to 150 Mbps and ranges from $99.99 to $199.99 per month without promotional pricing. Plus, it’s only available in some places.

A downside to Hughesnet is its required 24-month contract commitment, which includes a steep penalty for canceling the service early. Starlink does not require contracts and neither does Viasat’s Unleashed plan.

If you can access a fixed wireless service provider like Verizon 5G or T-Mobile Home Internet, either might work better for your internet needs.

Hughesnet competitor comparison

Methodology

We evaluated 22 companies based on plan features, connection speeds, availability, customer service reputation, data privacy offerings and other areas to help you find the best internet service provider. We weighed several factors in each category to create an impartial star rating system. Companies that offered the most options, convenience and best speeds at the lowest prices scored the highest. Details of our analysis include:

All our reviews are impartial and independently verified. We conducted extensive research, including in-depth analysis, comprehensive studies and interviews with industry experts about numerous broadband and internet companies.

Bottom line

If you live in a remote area without fiber or cable internet access, a satellite internet provider might be your only option. If Viasat’s Unleashed plan is available at your address, it might be the best option because of its set price, speeds up to 150 Mbps and no contracts. However, it’s not ideal for online gamers or cord-cutters who want to replace their TV service with full-time video streaming.

FAQs