Viasat home internet review: A good option for rural homeowners

Viasat at a glance

Viasat is a communications company based in Carlsbad, California. It specializes in the commercial and military markets but mostly markets its services to rural residents.

In the past, most people used cable for internet service because it was the only option. But things have changed now. New technology means you can get internet without cable TV or a phone line.

Fast facts

What we like

Viasat’s satellite internet reaches some of the most rural and remote areas of the United States. If fiber, cable or DSL internet connections are not available in your area, satellite might be your only choice. What we like about Viasat is that it provides faster max speeds than competitor HughesNet (Viasat runs at 100 Mbps nationwide and can reach 150 Mbps in some areas, while HughesNet caps out at 100 Mbps) and higher monthly high-speed data allowances.

In the competitive landscape of satellite internet, Elon Musk’s service, Starlink, captures much of the spotlight. However, Viasat’s new monthly home internet plan, introduced in early 2024, eliminates contracts and strict high-speed data limits, offering speeds up to 150 Mbps and surpasses what HughesNet offers.

What we don’t like

Even though Viasat’s newest plan, Viasat Unleashed, is appealing, it is not available everywhere. In fact, the availability of Viasat’s plans and those plan prices and speeds vary widely by location. In some areas, speeds may fall as low as 12 Mbps, which is only sufficient for one person’s basic tasks like email and web browsing.

Despite the FCC raising minimum broadband speeds from 25 Mbps to 100 Mbps in March 2024, many rural areas still lack adequate speeds and have limited options. According to the FCC’s most recent data from December 2022, “45 million Americans lack access to both 100/20 Mbps fixed service and 35/3Mbps mobile 5G-NR service.”

Also, Viasat’s prices are expensive for the speeds offered compared to other ISPs, and those prices rise after three months. While Viasat doesn’t impose data overage fees, it enforces high-speed data usage limitations based on the chosen plan.

We don’t recommend Viasat plans for high-use internet needs, such as streaming or gaming.

Viasat pros and cons

The tradeoff with Viasat is faster speed vs. high prices, although it is considered a service provider of choice for people who live in remote parts of the country. The company is also working through issues with nationwide consistency of service.

Pros

Cons

How much does Viasat cost?

Viasat’s service plan prices range from $49.99 to $199.99 a month, depending on the plan you can find in your area. You can determine which plan is available by entering your address on the Viasat website or contacting a customer service representative.

Viasat Unleashed is the most straightforward plan, delivering speeds up to 150 Mbps and starting at $99.99 per month. However, it is not available everywhere.

If Viasat Unleashed is not available to you, how much you’ll pay for a plan depends on how much high-speed data you want. The Unlimited Bronze 12 plan, with speeds up to 12 Mbps, starts at $69.99 a month (rising to $99.99 per month after the first three months) for 35 GB of high-speed data.

Unlimited Silver 12 costs $99.99 per month ($149.99 after the first three months) for 45 GB of high-speed data.

The Unlimited Gold 12 plan costs $149.99 a month ($199.99/mo after the first three months) for 65 GB of high-speed data.

Compared to the other providers in our best satellite internet guide, Viasat’s prices — especially after the three-month increase — are much higher.

Savings and discounts

Three Viasat plans (all except Viasat Unleashed) offer introductory pricing for the first three months, followed by a guaranteed 24-month price lock.

According to the Viasat customer service representative I talked to, new customers who sign up for an internet plan receive a $100 gift card.

What plans and services does Viasat offer?

The plans that Viasat offers depend on your location. Some areas don’t yet have the Viasat Unleashed plan, which has the fastest speeds (up to 150 Mbps), doesn’t require annual contracts and doesn’t impose data caps.

If you don’t have access to Viasat Unleashed with your address, your other options are the Choice plan, the Unlimited Silver, Gold or Platinum plans, or the Viasat Liberty plan.

Choice is the second-best option after Unleashed. It offers speeds up to 25 Mbps. If you can’t get Choice, you can choose from one of the Unlimited Plans, which offer speeds up to 12 Mbps only.

The difference between the four Unlimited Plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) is the high-speed data they provide (35 GB, 45 GB, 65 GB and 300 GB, respectively). The higher the data allowance, the higher the monthly price.

Viasat Liberty plans with speeds up to 12 Mbps are the least expensive option but offer the lowest high-speed data allowance (12 GB, 25 GB or 50 GB). However, Liberty plans have free, unlimited data from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. You can schedule downloads during these early morning hours, although you may be limited in the file sizes you can download even then.

Except for Viasat Unleashed, all plans have a 24-month minimum service term contract; canceling incurs a charge of $15 for each remaining month on the contract.

Viasat services

*Content in the table is based on a customer service call in June 2024.

Viasat add-ons and optional features

Viasat offers a handful of optional features to add to your chosen internet plan.

Viasat Shield premium

Viasat Shield is a service that protects residential internet customers from common online security threats. It provides basic security features for free and premium features for $8.99 a month. Premium services are not available everywhere.

Viasat Voice

Viasat Voice is the company’s home phone service. It costs $25 per month initially and then increases to $35 per month.

EasyCare

For $9.99 per month, EasyCare provides customer service support, including no charge for service calls (which usually cost $95 each) and an annual dish relocation service (which usually costs $200). You can move your Viasat dish within the same service address once a year for $95, all while ensuring priority customer support for calls.

Viasat Stream

Viasat Stream allows you to watch movies and shows anytime without consuming your plan data. The service, which the company is beta testing, is compatible with existing Disney+ accounts. You can add Viasat Stream to your internet service plan for free.

Viasat customer service and experience

If you’re not an existing Viasat customer, you can reach a live customer service representative by calling anytime between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET, Monday through Sunday. If you are an existing customer, you can also contact a customer care agent by logging into your account online or using the Viasat mobile app from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, Monday through Sunday.

I recently called Viasat to inquire about service plans, prices, speeds, optional features and available promotions on a Tuesday around 8 p.m. It took about a minute to connect with a representative, who was patient, knowledgeable and friendly and provided detailed explanations of all available plans. The call lasted 26 minutes, and I understood Viasat’s offerings better as a result. Overall, the customer service experience was smooth compared to other providers, although I wish all this information was readily available online.

Here are some reviews from Viasat customers:

Other considerations about Viasat

Before signing up for a Viasat internet plan, be aware of the following.

Additional monthly fees

Viasat service entails a few added fees. Standard professional installation is free for new qualifying Viasat Internet customers, subject to credit qualification. Installation fees apply to those with lower credit ratings or if a customer needs a non-standard installation. Fees range from $50 to $500.

Viasat plans include a $15 monthly equipment fee or the option to pay $250 for a lifetime lease.

Data caps

Viasat’s Unleashed plan has no data caps. All other plans include a limited amount of high-speed data, with the amount varying depending on the plan. The more high-speed data the plan includes, the higher the monthly price. After you exceed your monthly high-speed data allowance, you still have unlimited standard data, but at slower speeds.

However, Viasat says in its contract fine print that if you exceed the “typical usage” of a residential user on their network, “you may have reduced priority during times of network congestion resulting in slower speeds.” “Typical usage” means not exceeding 850 GBs in a 30-day period. In contrast, the average internet user consumes 641 GB per month on a home internet plan, according to a recent report from OpenVault.

How does Viasat compare with competitors?

Viasat stands out when compared to competitors. While HughesNet’s prices are lower (ranging from $49.00 to $119.99), HughesNet’s speeds max out at 100 Mbps. Viasat offers speeds up to 150 Mbps.

Viasat also provides higher monthly high-speed data allowances, with a maximum of 200 GB for HughesNet vs. 300 GB for Viasat. Viasat surpasses HughesNet with its Viasat Unleashed plan, which eliminates contracts and strict high-speed data limits while offering speeds up to 150 Mbps.

Viasat’s speeds are mostly comparable to those offered by Starlink, which can top out at 220 Mbps. While Starlink doesn’t have annual contracts, it also offers no professional installation and provides no live customer care support. Starlink is also more expensive: $120 for most residential uses and $150 for more people in more remote areas.

Viasat, Hughesnet and Starlink will rarely be your only internet options unless you live in a remote location. Fixed wireless and DSL internet are also popular options in these areas. If you have access to fixed wireless internet, you might consider a cellular company as an ISP option. You may get speeds at lower prices.

Verizon 5G, for instance, offers some of the best internet speeds for rural areas. Speeds start at 70 Mbps and can reach up to 1,000 Mbps, with prices ranging from $35 to $80. T-Mobile Home Internet, which leverages 4G and 5G networks, is available in 50 states wherever a T-Mobile cellular signal reaches, offering speeds from 33 Mbps to 245 Mbps at prices ranging from $40 to $60. If you live near a Verizon or T-Mobile cellular tower, these alternatives could offer superior performance and value compared to Viasat.

Viasat vs. competitors

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.

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

Bottom line

While Viasat has internet plans that can be pricey and have inconsistent speeds, it remains a top choice for people who live in rural areas. Viasat may suffice for basic tasks like web browsing or email checking, but we advise against it for households with high internet usage demands like streaming or gaming. If you have access to a fixed wireless service provider like Verizon 5G or T-Mobile Home Internet in your area, they might better cater to your household’s needs.

To better understand your options, you can review our guide on the best internet providers of 2024.

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