Starlink vs Hughesnet

If you’re looking for the best satellite internet deals, you’ve surely stumbled upon Starlink and Hughesnet in your search. Both are ranked very high on our list of the best internet providers, thanks to benefits like convenient pricing plans and high internet speed.

In this guide, I wanted to go beyond the surface and give you more specific comparison details on behalf of the expert team at Cybernews. I’ve checked companies’ reputations primarily based on user reviews and customer feedback.

Moreover, together with the rest of the Cybernews team, I’ve also compiled key details such as pricing, connection types, data caps, and limitations. Let's see which side of the Starlink vs Hughesnet coin gives you the biggest bang for your buck.

Starlink vs Hughesnet: comparison

Starlink and Hughesnet are the two key satellite internet providers with the best deals and connectivity rates, even in rural areas.

Their backgrounds, however, can be considered polar opposites. Namely, Hughesnet started its mission to provide the fastest satellite internet back in 1996 with its DirecPC satellite network.

On the other hand, Starlink launched its satellites in 2019, gaining the trust of millions of users across the US. That begs the question – is Starlink better than Hughesnet? I’ll discuss the main comparison points shortly, but I can say that Starlink employs innovative Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to provide low-latency, high-speed internet.

The satellites were first deployed in 2019, and the company launches new batches every year. That means you just need a clear sky to get high internet speeds of up to 220Mbps with a 25-60ms latency. Conversely, Hughesnet uses geostationary-orbit (GEO) satellites with extensive coverage.

While a higher orbit ensures broader coverage, Starlink still addresses that issue by frequently orbiting hundreds of small, low-coverage satellites above different US areas. To put this into perspective, Hughesnet records satellite internet speeds of up to 100Mbps, meaning Starlink is faster at 220Mbps (depending on location and satellite coverage).

Starlink and Hughesnet: at a glance

As I already explained, Hughesnet and Starlink provide distinct satellite internet delivery methods. Hughesnet primarily focuses on accessibility, offering stable download speeds of up to 100Mbps across the US. The provider’s Fusion plan combines satellite and wireless internet for faster connections and reduced latency, depending on your location.

On the other hand, the matter of Starlink vs satellite internet of other providers is clear merely from the fact that Starlink simply tops everyone else with the highest satellite internet speeds. Your connectivity might depend on satellite location, but the company frequently launches new batches of satellite constellations, nearly matching Hughesnet’s coverage.

Starlink

Starlink is a company developed by SpaceX, giving it an instant headstart in the satellite internet space. SpaceX launches small low-orbit satellites across the US for high-speed connectivity. As for the numbers, I’d say that the 25-220Mbps download speed stands out the most, outperforming all other satellite internet providers.

In terms of Starlink vs Hughesnet comparison, Hughesnet is only able to achieve download speeds of 100Mbps. As for upload performance, Starlinks guarantees 5-20Mbps, while latency is also at an impressively low end, from 25ms to 60ms. Another great benefit of Starlink is that it offers a stable connection for high-speed internet while on the move.

It is also important to consider pricing, as Starlink plans range from $50 to $250 for land mobility and maritime. If you just need a reliable connection for working on the go, RVs, or camping, the $50 Roam plan should suffice.

Hughesnet

Hughesnet is a local American company that worked with satellite communication long before satellite internet was even a thing. It pioneered this form of broadband through GEO satellites, like the current network running through the latest JUPITER™ 3 satellite.

When compared to Starlink, I have to say that Hughesnet latency is usually higher, ranging from 100ms to 650ms, according to user reviews. Also, the internet download speed is slower, and it maxes out at 100Mbps. However, HughesNet also has a lot of benefits, starting with its Fusion plan, which combines satellite and wireless internet connection.

You can also use the internet even after using all your priority data, although at a lower speed. Most contracts last 24 months, and you have to either buy or lease the equipment.

Starlink vs HughesNet: plans and pricing

A key aspect of the Hughesnet vs Starlink debate is the pricing, as both offer a variety of plans suitable for different needs. Starlink boasts more flexibility with no-contract plans and unlimited data, while Hughesnet features cheaper internet plans, especially with deals and discounts.

Starlink plans and pricing

Starlink’s internet plans are perfect for those who enjoy RVing, camping, or simply working remotely. The company has some of the most flexible plans without any contract obligations, so you can cancel anytime without massive fees. What’s more, all of the packages include unlimited connection after spending priority data.

Mobility plans are the best in the business, giving you mobility connections through Boats, Land Mobility, and Maritime options. You can enjoy stable internet at speeds of up to 220Mbps while on the road. However, the hardware cost of $349 is not included.

Starlink plan	Monthly price	Speed range
Residential	$120/month	30-150Mbps
Roam	$50 for 50GB, $165 unlimited	30-100Mbps
Boats	$250 for 50GB, $1,000 for 1TB	40-220Mbps
Fixed site (business)	$140 for 40GB, $250 for 1TB, $500 for 2TB	40-220Mbps
Land mobility (business)	$250 for 50 GB, $1,000 for 1TB, $5,000 for 5TB	40-220Mbps
Maritime (business)	$250 for 50GB, $1,000 for 1TB, $5,000 for 5TB	40-220Mbps

Hughesnet plans and pricing

Hughesnet plans are more affordable than Starlink’s, and you can get decent first-year discounts. For example, they have some great internet plans for seniors, like the Select subscription, which costs $79.99/month. Plus, it can be purchased for just $54.99 monthly for the first 12 months of subscription.

You also get an extra $5 deduction for using ACH as a payment method on all plans. Besides affordability, you also get some flexibility with Hughesnet, particularly with their Fusion plan. It offers a combined Wi-Fi 6 and satellite connectivity for achieving peak speed based on your location.

Hughesnet plan	Monthly price	Speed range
Select	$54.99/monthor $79.99/month after 12 months	5-50Mbps
Elite	$69.99/monthor $94.99/month after 12 months	5-100Mbps
Fusion	$99.99/monthor $124.99/month after 12 months	5-100Mbps

HughesNet vs Starlink: internet speed

One of the most important factors to consider in a Hughes vs Starlink comparison is speed, which might heavily influence your decision. I’d say that Starlink is a better option for gaming and those who need the fastest remote connection possible, while Hughes offers a stable and affordable solution.

Hughesnet: reliable speeds, but high latency

Most Hughesnet plans offer an upload speed of 5Mbps and a download speed of up to 50Mbps. You can bump the downtime up to 100Mbps with Elite or Fusion plans, but the latter does not rely on satellite connection alone.

Because of the GEO satellite connection, Hughesnet’s network is more stable than Starlink's, considering that Starlink's connection largely depends on satellite location. However, with around 7,000 satellites in low orbit at the beginning of 2025, that shouldn’t be a major factor anymore.

Hughesnet allows you to surf the internet at lower speeds after using all your priority data, but it doesn’t specify the connection speed in that case. Users report an average latency of 100ms to 650ms, so it may not be the best option for demanding activities like gaming or high-resolution streaming.

Starlink: faster speeds and low latency

With a download speed of up to 220Mbps, Starlink is superior to Hughesnet and every other satellite internet provider, for that matter. With more satellites being launched recently, I expect the connection speed to be closer to that 220Mbps limit versus the lower range of 40Mbps.

Of course, connectivity still depends on your unobstructed view of the sky and the LEO satellites’ location. Meanwhile, Starlink’s latency is superb, and it’s significantly lower than that of Hughesnet. I even tested it against a few other providers, and the Starlink vs ViaSat comparison left me with a similar result – Starlink’s ping is unbeatable.

On average, you can count on 25-60ms, which is not that far behind what some 5G home internet providers offer. In other words, gaming and streaming are way easier with Starlink since a latency of 20-60ms is optimal for this activity.

Hughesnet vs Starlink: data caps

Another major factor you’ll need to consider when weighing in on the Starlink vs Hughesnet decision is the data cap policy. From what I’ve seen, Starlink is a much more favorable option here since it offers unlimited data plans with fast internet connections as opposed to Hughes’ plans, which come with 100GB or 200GB caps on high-speed internet.

Hughesnet: limited data with flexibility

Hughesnet plans are very flexible in terms of data charges. You won’t be penalized for using all your plan data, and you won’t be cut off. However, you’ll have to use the limited data for HD streaming or similar activities.

The reason is simple – Hughesnet plans come with high-speed internet with a limited amount of data, and breaching that limit would leave you with slower connections. Thus, the data caps for Select plans are 100GB and 200GB for Elite and Fusion. The difference between Hughesnet Fusion vs Starlink is obvious here – the former has very limited use of high internet speed.

For the sake of comparison, streaming an HD Netflix movie requires around 1GB of data per hour. Once you’ve used up your priority data, you’ll be left with a much slower internet speed, often unsuitable for lag-free gaming or streaming.

Starlink: unlimited data with high-speed options

Unlike Hughesnet, Starlink tries to ensure a fast internet connection even after using your priority data. In fact, no Starlink alternative comes close to its data caps and internet speed policy. However, you may experience some speed throttling due to network congestion. So, peak hours could lead to slower internet on your end, but that can be avoided if you go with one of the priority plans.

You can opt-in for one of its best unlimited data internet plans ranging from 40GB to 5TB, in which case network congestion won’t be much of a problem. Instead, you’ll revert to standard speeds once you’ve used up your priority connection. Either way, both priority and standard plans include unlimited data.

Starlink vs Hughesnet: customer reviews

The most important factor I considered in my Hughesnet vs Starlink comparison is customer feedback. I’ve started on TrustPilot, where Hughesnet was rated pretty decently – 4.4 out of 5 from more than 86k reviews. Nearly 35% of the reviews were 5-star ones, but there’s also a significant chunk of 29% when it comes to 1-star reviews.

From what I could tell, customers either adored or hated it, considering that 2-star, 3-star, and 4-star reviews take a chunk of just 36% of the reviews. On the other hand, Starlink was rated 2.6 out of 5 stars, but only by slightly more than 200 users. Again, it’s mostly a matter of 5-star reviews (31%) or 1-star reviews (50% this time), but I mainly found 1-star opinions to be subjective.

I’ve continued my search on Reddit, where the majority of users preferred Starlink to Hughesnet, primarily due to its unlimited data and excellent ping. I’ve observed the same on other forums like Quora, while YouTube communities expressed concern over the spotty service of Hughesnet’s remote plans.

Common praises

Common Starlink praises:

• Immense up/down speeds for satellite internet
• Extremely low latency suitable for 4K streaming and gaming
• Fast internet speed even after using up priority data
• No contract obligations with 30-day trials
• No installation costs and easy self-installation

Common Hughesnet praises:

• Very competitive pricing
• Low hardware leasing costs of $14.99 per month
• Excellent rural coverage for browsing and lighter internet activities
• Mostly stable connection with few areas of spottiness

Common complaints

Common Starlink complaints:

• Higher equipment cost of $349
• Slower connection in areas with restricted sky view or obstructions
• Slower internet speed due to network congestion

Common Hughesnet complaints:

• High latency of up to 650ms, not suitable for gaming or streaming
• Slow internet after using up priority data
• Higher risk of speed throttling

Starlink vs Hughesnet: our verdict

Overall, I have to say that both Starlink and Hughesnet check a lot of boxes when it comes to satellite internet connection. Hughesnet is highly appraised for its stability, stable nationwide coverage, and more convenient pricing plans.

On the other hand, Starlink excels in providing superb connectivity. In fact, even when comparing satellite internet providers like Starlink vs Hughesnet vs ViaSat, Starlink steals the show. That said, you might have a tough time finding a good connection point in a spotty area, depending on the location of the nearest satellite constellation.

So, it mainly boils down to one question – are you looking for an instant, stable solution right now, or is getting the fastest connection speed worth the wait for you? In any case, I would recommend Starlink for gaming and streaming, while Hughesnet will do a great job for lighter tasks at a fraction of the cost.

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