The satellite internet providers selling home service across the U.S. today are Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat. Our FCC data lists all three in nearly every town.[1] Starlink uses low-orbit satellites; Hughesnet and Viasat use geostationary satellites much farther away.[2][3][4] Amazon Leo is not yet selling home service.[5]

The best satellite internet for you depends on what you do online, how much data you use and how long a contract you will accept. ZIP results below are area-level; each provider confirms your exact address.

Low orbit vs geostationary: the difference that matters

Starlink says its satellites orbit at about 550 km, compared with 35,786 km for geostationary satellites.[2] Viasat describes its ViaSat-3 satellites as geostationary, about 22,236 miles up, and Hughes calls its JUPITER 3 satellite geostationary.[3][4]

The distance shows up most in real-time use: video calls, online games and some work VPNs. Each provider publishes its own caveats. Hughesnet says rapid-response multiplayer games are supported only on its Fusion plans.[6] Do not assume a single latency figure for "satellite"; ask for the Broadband Facts label of the exact plan you are quoted.

Satellite internet providers compared

Prices below were published on October 27, 2026; Starlink's come from carts at three sample addresses, and Hughesnet's require an address.[7][8][6]

ProviderOrbit and priceData and contract
StarlinkLow orbit; Residential $55, $85 or $130 a month; $0 rental kitUnlimited data, slower in congestion; no term on the carts we saw
ViasatGeostationary; Essentials $39.99 for 12 months then $69.99; Unleashed $69.99 then $99.99; Unleashed Max $109.99 then $179.99Essentials: 150 GB high-speed data, 24 months; Unleashed plans: no contract, lower priority above typical use
HughesnetGeostationary, plus Fusion plans; price by address, equipment extraPriority Data, then unlimited Standard Data; 12- or 24-month term
Amazon LeoLow orbit; not yet sold for homesJoin-the-list only

Starlink data rules come from its plan terms; Viasat's from its plans page and Essentials label; Hughesnet's from its pricing page and legal terms.[9][10][11] Viasat's promotional prices exclude its equipment lease, add-ons and taxes, and its Essentials label lists a $15 monthly lease.[8][10]

Who each provider fits

These are editorial fits based on the published terms above, not hands-on test rankings.

Starlink fits households that work from home, take video calls or game, and have open sky. Its Residential tiers are sold with unlimited data, but Starlink says speeds slow during congestion and peak hours.[9] For a full price breakdown, see our Starlink cost guide.

Viasat fits light users who want a low first-year bill and accept a geostationary connection. Essentials costs $39.99 a month for the first 12 months, then rises to $69.99, on a 24-month term.[10] Unleashed plans have no contract, though Viasat may lower priority during congestion for customers whose usage trends above what it calls typical use.[8]

Hughesnet fits addresses where Starlink is sold out or over budget and you can accept a term. Its terms list service in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico, with Fusion plans limited to the contiguous U.S.[11] Hughesnet itself says it is not recommended as a full-time replacement for TV streaming.[6]

Amazon Leo, formerly Project Kuiper, began full-scale satellite deployment in April 2025.[12] Its consumer site is a join-the-list page and says its devices have not yet been authorized by the FCC for sale or lease.[5] Do not delay a needed order waiting for it.

Five questions to ask any satellite provider

Before you sign, get written answers to these:

  1. What is the monthly price after any promotion ends, and when does it end?
  2. What equipment fee applies, lease or purchase, and what happens to it if I cancel?
  3. Is there a minimum term, and how is the early termination fee calculated?
  4. How much high-speed or priority data is included, and what happens after it runs out?
  5. Is installation included at my address, and what counts as non-standard?

The exit costs differ widely. Viasat Essentials charges $15 for each month left on the term, while Hughesnet charges up to $400, decreasing after the first 90 days.[10][11] Starlink's Residential carts showed a rental kit that you return when you cancel.[7]

When satellite is not the answer

Satellite internet is for addresses without a better wired or cellular option. If cable, fiber or a 5G home plan reaches your address, compare those first in our rural internet options guide. If your phone gets a strong signal at home, LTE home internet may cost less. Hughesnet also says its service is not available for RVs or boats; for travel, see our RV internet guide.[6]

Want to compare the satellite and non-satellite plans listed near you? The call option below is an independent comparison line for new service, not support for any provider.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best satellite internet?

It depends on use. Starlink's low orbit suits calls and games; Viasat's promotional Essentials price suits light, budget-focused use; Hughesnet may be the option where others are limited.[2][10][11]

Is there satellite internet without a contract?

Yes. Viasat Unleashed plans have no contract, and Starlink's Residential carts showed no minimum term.[8][7]

Is Amazon Leo available yet?

Not for U.S. homes as of October 27, 2026; its consumer page is a waiting list.[5]

Sources

  1. FCC National Broadband Map, Broadband Data Collection. FCC Broadband Data Collection, D25 filing as of December 30, 2025, via our place-level provider data, accessed October 27, 2026. Area-level listings, not address eligibility. ↩
  2. Starlink Technology. Starlink, Technology, accessed October 27, 2026. Orbit altitudes. ↩
  3. Viasat: ViaSat-3 satellites. Viasat, ViaSat-3 satellites, accessed October 27, 2026. Geostationary orbit. ↩
  4. Hughes: JUPITER 3. Hughes, JUPITER 3, accessed October 27, 2026. Geostationary satellite supporting Hughesnet. ↩
  5. Amazon Leo. Amazon Leo, home page, accessed October 27, 2026. Waiting list and FCC authorization notice. ↩
  6. Hughesnet Consumer Plans & Pricing. Hughesnet, Consumer Plans & Pricing, accessed October 27, 2026 via text reader after direct 403. Pricing structure, data and use caveats. ↩
  7. Starlink Residential address check and order page (U.S.). Starlink, Residential address check and order page (U.S.), accessed October 27, 2026. Prices, rental kit and term at three sample addresses. ↩
  8. Viasat Satellite Internet Plans. Viasat, Satellite Internet Plans, accessed October 27, 2026. Plan prices, promotion conditions and usage rules. ↩
  9. Starlink Service Plan Descriptions. Starlink, Service Plan Descriptions, accessed October 27, 2026. Unlimited data and congestion terms. ↩
  10. Viasat Essentials Broadband Facts label. Viasat, Essentials Broadband Facts label, accessed October 27, 2026. Term, fees and data. ↩
  11. Hughesnet Early Termination Fees and Other Important Terms (July 8, 2025). Hughesnet, Early Termination Fees and Other Important Terms, accessed October 27, 2026. Service areas, terms and fees. ↩
  12. About Amazon: Amazon Leo. About Amazon, Amazon Leo, accessed October 27, 2026. Former name and deployment start. ↩

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed; our data from FCC/Census as dated. FCC data as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024. Editorial policy