Starlink vs other satellite internet: latency, cost and data

I'm a Starlink customer, and Starlink gives me a referral credit when someone who qualifies orders through my link at the top of this page. I have no deal with HughesNet or Viasat.

Latency: a geostationary round trip takes at least about 480 ms

NASA's Earth Observatory puts a geostationary satellite "about 36,000 kilometers from Earth’s surface" (checked October 2026), so a round trip through one covers at least four times that distance, which takes at least about 480 ms at the speed of light.

A round trip through a geostationary satellite has four legs: up from you to the satellite, down to a ground station, and the same two legs back for the answer. NIST gives the speed of light in vacuum as "299 792 458 m s-1", an exact value (CODATA 2022, checked October 2026), which is 299,792.458 km/s. Four times the 36,000 km in NASA's catalog is 144,000 km, and 144,000 km at 299,792.458 km/s takes 0.4803 s, so about 480 ms at least. Each leg is at least the satellite's height above the surface, the distance straight down to the point below it, and the figure counts nothing for the ground stations or the internet path past them, so setting it beside a label's typical figure, as this page does, favors the geostationary side.

Starlink's Residential label file, read in October 2026, gives a typical latency of 25 to 50 ms in the continental US and 60 to 90 ms outside it. That is Starlink's own typical figure; this page didn't measure it. Starlink's document Improving Starlink's Latency puts the speed-of-light part, "from the user to the satellite and back to the ground", at "usually under 10ms for the round-trip"; the PDF has no date in its text, and the file was created in March 2024 (checked October 2026).

Neither HughesNet nor Viasat gives a latency figure on the pages read in November 2026. Viasat's FAQ says "Although satellite latency is greater than cable or DSL latency, it’s not enough to make a big difference in most uses of the internet (exceptions can be certain video games and virtual private network (VPN) services)." HughesNet's FAQ says "With satellite internet, requests travel a long distance from your device to a satellite and back." and "Satellite plans are not recommended for time-sensitive applications due to a small degree of latency." (both checked November 2026).

A Starlink round trip also changes from second to second: on one home Starlink connection in October 2026, the latency guide found that in one of two one-hour sittings, round trips over IPv4 changed most, and spiked, at 12, 27, 42 and 57 seconds past the minute. It gives relative figures only, never the round trip itself.

Gaming on satellite internet, and a game server at home on Starlink

In October 2026, a Minecraft Java server at home on a Starlink connection answered 30 of 30 server-list pings through a TCP relay on a free-tier cloud VM, sent over the public internet from the same home connection. The relay leg, from the VM to the server and back, was a median of about 20 ms (the three sittings' medians ran from 17.9 to 23.6 ms), estimated as the round trip through the relay less the round trip to the VM and the server's answer time; a round trip through a geostationary satellite takes at least about 480 ms. The test covered status pings, not play, in three short sittings on one connection, and one UDP packet sent to the relay's game port got no answer, so a game that uses UDP needs a relay that carries UDP (the game-server guide).

On satellite latency, Viasat's FAQ says "Where it can show limitations is with activities like fast-paced multiplayer games that require very low latency, as well as VPNs.", and HughesNet's buyer's guide says "Multiplayer games requiring rapid response are only supported with Hughesnet Fusion plans." (both checked November 2026). None of HughesNet's pages read gives a latency figure for its Fusion plans, and Fusion's own terms weren't read. Neither provider's service was tested for this page.

Which to choose, on these figures

On these figures, choose Starlink for fast-paced online games: its label gives 25 to 50 ms typical latency in the continental US (October 2026), a geostationary round trip takes at least about 480 ms, and Viasat's FAQ says satellite "can show limitations" with fast-paced multiplayer games, while HughesNet's buyer's guide says multiplayer games requiring rapid response "are only supported with Hughesnet Fusion plans" (both checked November 2026). Choose Viasat Essentials or Unleashed if the monthly price matters more to you than latency: with Viasat's $15 lease and $3.49 monthly fee they start at $58.48 and $88.48 a month for the first 12 months, against $120 on Starlink's Residential label (below); after those 12 months Essentials comes to $88.48 and Unleashed to $118.48, $1.52 under it, and Essentials "requires a 24-month minimum service term commitment". Starlink doesn't suit a server that others reach on a public IPv4 address from a Residential plan: its help page says the default CGNAT "does not allow inbound traffic", and a public IPv4 address is a Local and Global Priority option (October 2026); the hosting section has the tested way around.

I'm a Starlink customer, and Starlink gives me a referral credit when someone who qualifies orders through my link at the top of this page. I have no deal with HughesNet or Viasat.

Where HughesNet and Viasat win

Viasat's Essentials and Unleashed plans cost less a month than the $120 on Starlink's Residential label, even with the $15 equipment lease Viasat adds to every plan and the $3.49 monthly fee it charges every subscriber: at the prices Viasat lists, Essentials comes to $58.48 a month for the first 12 months and $88.48 after, and Unleashed to $88.48 and then $118.48, $1.52 under $120. Those totals add the lease and the fee to the prices on Viasat's plans page, "The Essentials plan start at $39.99/mo. for the first 12 months, $69.99/mo. thereafter." and "The Unleashed plan starts at $69.99/mo. for the first 12 months, $99.99/mo. thereafter.", where it also says "A $15/mo. equipment lease fee applies to every plan, which is in addition to the monthly service plan price shown above."; Viasat's help page on invoice fees says "The Administrative Cost Recovery Fee is a monthly $3.49 surcharge imposed on all Viasat subscribers. This surcharge is not a tax or government charge." (all checked November 2026). They leave out taxes and a one-time activation fee that, Viasat says, "may be charged at the time of sale", with no amount given, and Viasat adds that "Service is not available in all areas." Unleashed Max comes to more than $120 in both periods: $128.48, then $198.48, with the lease and the fee.

Starlink's $120 is its label's price for Residential, one of the plans its help pages say "have been renamed in the US", and they say US Residential pricing "varies by region" (October 2026), so neither side's figure is the price at any one address; the plans and prices page has every price on Starlink's labels. HughesNet's plans page says "Plans starting at $39.99/mo." for 12 months (checked November 2026); none of HughesNet's pages read gives the price after those 12 months or a lease price without an address, so this page sets no HughesNet monthly total beside $120.

Both offer their equipment on a lease with free standard professional installation, so neither requires buying a kit up front: Viasat's plans page lists "Free professional standard installation (a $335 value)", and HughesNet's says "Free standard professional installation applies to new Lease subscribers only. Not valid with Purchase option. Limited-time offer." (both checked November 2026). Starlink's Residential label lists an Equipment Cost of $349 and shipping and handling that "Varies By Location" (October 2026), and its Terms make you "responsible for the installation of the Starlink Kit"; Starlink's own professional installation, and what it costs, is on the installation page. Starlink's help page Additional FAQs - Service Plans says the "$0 Starlink Kit with 12-Month Commitment" option "is only available to new customers in select locations at this time", while its help page on the 12-month option says "This service plan is discontinued for new activations." (both checked October 2026). Its Terms say "You will receive a free Kit in connection with the Service Commitment." (version published August 2026), and that commitment's minimum term and change fee are in contracts. Starlink also charges a one-time activation charge, with no figure on its help page and refunded on a return within 30 days, and a demand surcharge "may apply" where demand is high (the activation fee page). By this page's arithmetic, Viasat's $15 lease adds up to $345 after 23 months and $360 after 24, so it passes $349 in its 24th month, and Viasat's FAQ says its equipment "will need to be returned at the end of your contract" (November 2026).

Data: unlimited, and what limits it

Starlink's Residential label says "Unlimited" (October 2026), and its Service Plan Descriptions add, for Residential, "If bandwidth patterns consistently exceed what is allocated to a typical residential user, Starlink may take network management measures, such as reducing a customer's speeds, to prevent or mitigate congestion of the Services."

That sentence is section 1.4 of Starlink's Service Plan Descriptions, in the version published October 2026, and the data caps page sets each Starlink plan's data term beside its clause.

Viasat's plans page says "The Viasat Essentials plan comes with 150 GB of High-Speed Data and Unlimited Standard Data. After you use 150 GB of High-Speed Data, you will continue to receive unlimited data (referred to as Standard Data); however, Viasat may prioritize Standard Data behind other customers during network congestion, which will result in slower speeds." For Unleashed and Unleashed Max, the same page says "Viasat Unleashed and Viasat Unleashed Max plans each come with unlimited data." and that a customer whose usage is trending to exceed the "typical usage" of those plans' customers "may have reduced priority during times of network congestion resulting in slower speeds", where "Typical usage represents the data usage of 70% of Viasat Unleashed or Viasat Unleashed Max customers on our network." (checked November 2026).

HughesNet's buyer's guide says "Your service plan comes with a set amount of Priority Data each month, which is always prioritized ahead of Standard Data on the network.", and its FAQ says "Subscribers who exceed their Priority Data amount automatically receive unlimited Standard Data until their next billing cycle. During high-traffic periods, subscribers using Standard Data may experience a temporary reduction of speed." (both checked November 2026). None of HughesNet's pages read gives a plan's Priority Data amount. The buyer's guide also says "Hughesnet is not recommended as a full-time video streaming replacement for TV service or console-based gaming activities because they quickly consume your Priority Data."

Contracts, early termination and the first 30 days

Starlink's Residential label says no contract and a $0 early termination fee (October 2026), and its Terms of Service describe a Service Commitment that applies if you select one at checkout, with "a $249 or $325, as applicable, change fee" if you change the service during it (version published August 2026).

Under a Service Commitment, "you agree to continuously subscribe to the Services specified in your Order for a minimum of 12 or 24 months, as applicable" (section 1.2, in the version published August 2026), and the contract page has the rest of its terms.

Viasat's FAQ says "The Viasat Unleashed and Viasat Unleashed Max service plans do not require an annual contract, which means there is no minimum service term commitment. You will have a month-to-month service term, which you may cancel at any time without an early termination fee." It also says "The Viasat Essentials service plan requires a 24-month minimum service term commitment." and "As an example for a service plan that requires a 24-month service term commitment: You may be charged an early termination fee of $15 for every month remaining on the contract." (checked November 2026).

HughesNet's pages read in November 2026 give no contract term or early termination fee. Its buyer's guide says "All plans are subject to the Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement.", and that agreement wasn't read.

Section 6.3 of Starlink's Terms of Service, in the same version, says "You may return an undamaged, untampered and unmodified Starlink Kit and any accessories purchased on starlink.com within 30 days of the Payment Due Date for a full refund for any reason, including the inability to receive Services due to field-of-view issues", and the terms' Shipping & Handling clause says "Shipping and handling charges will apply and are non-refundable." Starlink's help page Where should I install my Starlink? says "Starlink works best with a clear view of the sky. A partial view is often enough." (checked November 2026). What a return within those 30 days costs and refunds is on the 30-day trial page.

Hosting a server: CGNAT and public IPv4

Starlink's help page says its default IPv4 configuration uses carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) and "does not allow inbound traffic", and that "The Starlink public IPv4 policy is an optional configuration available to Local and Global Priority customers." (October 2026).

That help page is What IP address does Starlink provide?, and where "IPv4 inbound traffic is needed", it points to "a Starlink service plan with the public IPv4 option" (checked October 2026).

From a VPS in October 2026, none of 8 TCP ports answered within 6 seconds on a home Starlink connection's public IPv4 address, and a trace from a computer on the home network passed a private address inside Starlink's network before any public one, which fits CGNAT without proving it (the guide to self-hosting without a public IPv4 address). The tested way around it is a relay: the game-server guide reached a Minecraft Java server at home through a TCP relay on a free-tier cloud VM, the test in the gaming section. What Starlink says its public IPv4 option changes, and the other ways in, are on the leaving page. None of these tests tried inbound IPv6.

HughesNet's FAQ says "With the new Hughesnet, Static IP is not available." (checked November 2026), and none of HughesNet's pages read says whether a residential plan's IPv4 address is public or behind CGNAT.

HughesNet and Viasat, one by one

Nothing on this page tests HughesNet or Viasat service: each line below is the provider's own words from its US pages, read in November 2026, and both providers' label pages ask for a service address before they show a broadband label.

Viasat's plans page names three plans, Essentials, Unleashed and Unleashed Max; the first two plans' prices are above, and for the third it says "The Unleashed Max plan starts at $109.99/mo. for the first 12 months, $179.99/mo. thereafter." Its Unleashed FAQs say "The monthly lease fee is $15 per month or if you purchased the Lifetime Lease fee, you will not have a monthly charge.", and neither those FAQs nor the plans page gives the Lifetime Lease's price. On speed, the plans page says "Viasat optimizes its network with the goal that most customers experience a Baseline Speed of up to 80 Mbps most of the time. Speeds are “up to”, not guaranteed and will vary." It lists "Burst Speeds of up to 150 Mbps", "Burst Speeds of up to 180 Mbps" and "Burst Speeds of up to 200 Mbps" for Essentials, Unleashed and Unleashed Max, and says "Burst Speed is the maximum temporary spike in network speed beyond the Baseline Speed that is achievable under ideal conditions." On terms, it says "Depending on the plan you choose, you will have no contract or a 24-month minimum service term". The FAQ says "Viasat offer satellite internet service to the majority of the U.S., including in rural and remote locations where cable and fiber aren't available." and "No, Viasat customers cannot install their own equipment.", and its broadband label page starts with "Input your service address" (all checked November 2026). The Viasat comparison sets Viasat's fees, data terms and contracts beside Starlink's.

HughesNet's plans page says "Plans starting at $39.99/mo." for 12 months and "Offer and plan availability may vary by geographic area.", and names no plan with a price. On speed it says "Speed up to 100 Mbps", with a note that "speeds and uninterrupted use are not guaranteed and may vary based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to the number of concurrent network users". It also says "Hughesnet offers satellite internet everywhere in the contiguous United States, including rural areas.", and its label page says "Find labels for plans available where you live:" above a form for an address, and "Please note that service plan availability is geographically dependent. Not all service plans are available to all consumers." (all checked November 2026). The HughesNet comparison sets HughesNet's term, fees and equipment terms beside Starlink's.

Starlink's help page How do I reactivate service? says "there are currently no sold-out regions in the United States" (checked November 2026). None of the three statements comes with a figure, so this page doesn't rank them.

Of the pages read, only Starlink's label gives an upload figure: 5 to 25 Mbps typical (October 2026). Download speeds are published in different terms, so this page ranks none of them: a typical 50 to 150 Mbps on Starlink's label (October 2026), and Viasat's Baseline and Burst speeds and HughesNet's "up to" speed (November 2026).

What this page doesn't cover

Tests of HughesNet or Viasat service: none were run, and every figure for either is the provider's own.

Prices and availability at a particular address, and the taxes and fees that depend on one.

A regulator's figure for satellite latency. The FCC's page for its Thirteenth Measuring Broadband America fixed report, which it lists as the "Current Fixed MBA Report", is dated August 2024 and groups its ISPs' results "by the access technology used to offer the broadband Internet access service (DSL, cable, or fiber)"; the page has no satellite results (checked November 2026).

HughesNet Fusion plans and their terms.

Viasat's policy documents, among them its data policy and its Customer Agreement (PDFs, not read).

HughesNet's Fair Access Policy and its Subscriber Agreement, which weren't read.

Other satellite services, business plans and other countries.

Starlink is a trademark of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. HughesNet and Viasat are trademarks of their owners. The names identify the services only; none of these companies endorses this site.