Best Business Satellite Internet

You can get internet for your small business, whatever its needs. But you want to go in knowing your data, equipment, customer service, price, and contractual needs. All business satellite internet companies tend to 

Viasat has our vote as the best satellite internet for small businesses, thanks to its fast speeds. Speeding past any other satellite provider, Viasat offers download speeds up to 35 Mbps in most locations and up to 100 Mbps in select areas.

Viasat Business internet plans support a wide variety of businesses that are located off the beaten track—including furniture businesses, horse ranches, vineyards, guest lodges and hotels, and smart farms.

You can choose from metered or unmetered satellite plans. We recommend Viasat Business Unlimited 35 for most businesses, since this plan gives you access to unmetered data (although it will slow way down if you reach your priority data cap before the end of the billing cycle).

One of the things we like about Viasat is that it offers Unlimited plans, which don’t have a hard data cap. Unlimited data doesn’t mean you can get as much full-speed data as you want every month. What it means is that if you reach your data allotment before the end of the month, you can keep using data at reduced speeds and at no additional cost. 

There are several Viasat plans that do have hard data limits, however. If you have a Viasat 10 GB, 20 GB, or 50 GB plan that is not unlimited, you’ll be charged for extra data you use during a month-long billing cycle.

HughesNet Business internet is a straightforward satellite provider with the most affordable starter internet plans. All HughesNet plans offer 25 Mbps upload speeds and unlimited data. The only difference between plans is how much full-speed data you get before you’re slowed down after you hit the data cap.

HughesNet small-business plans are good for people who run businesses in small towns or remote locations. HughesNet can deliver a dependable internet connection if you need daily access to email, online research, VoIP, fax, video conferencing, and other common business activities but lack access to DSL, cable, or fiber internet providers. More information can be found in our HughesNet Satellite Internet for Business Review. 

Although HughesNet speeds aren’t as fast as Viasat, HughesNet does offer unlimited data on all its plans. That means that after you reach your monthly allotment of priority data, you’ll be able to continue using the internet at reduced speeds—usually 1 to 3 Mbps—at no additional charge. So although sending emails might take a few seconds longer by the end of the month, you won’t ever run out of data or be stuck with a hefty bill for extra data charges.

Starlink Business offers robust 350 Mbps speeds to small businesses in rural areas with low latency and high data caps that are hard to resist. But you're definitely paying for the higher data cap and faster speeds. The $500 a month price tag, plus $2,500 up-front equipment fee, are big expenses to consider.

Plus, Starlink isn't available nearly as widely as Viasat and HughesNet. Check to see if it's available in your area, and if it is, and you can afford it, we'd definitely recommend jumping on that high-speed internet opportunity for your business.  

Skycasters offers customized satellite internet services for remote or mobile businesses. Although pricey, Skycasters offers solutions for internet cafés and businesses in the oil, gas, and mining industries. Utilizing a combination of VSAT (very small aperture terminal) satellite internet and 3G fixed-wireless data, Skycasters delivers dependable internet to companies all over the US.

In addition to traditional satellite service received through equipment mounted on a building, it also offers fully mobile solutions that are used by mining companies and emergency services.

The cost for a Skycasters internet plan is prohibitive for most small businesses though—VSAT satellite dish equipment prices start around $1,400 with an $800 pole-mount installation fee.

Data cost is also quite high when compared to Viasat or HughesNet. You’ll pay $799 for 10 GB of data per month. (Gulp!) So, Skycasters definitely isn’t the solution for everybody. But if you are looking for reliable satellite internet for an oil mining operation, Skycasters might be just what you need.

Satellite internet service from Broad Sky Networks is widely available throughout the United States, including extremely remote areas. It’s often used in areas that have challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions.

Similar to Skycasters, Broad Sky offers satellite and wireless internet via VSAT technology (very small aperture terminal). Often utilized by scientists, explorers, sports teams, sailors, and vacationers, VSAT satellite dishes can be stationary or mobile.

The Broad Sky Networks satellite dish can be mounted on buildings, busses, vans, and boats. It’s expensive, though, requiring a big initial investment for custom VSAT equipment (starting at around $2,000). But, if you need a fully mobile and independent satellite internet system for a mobile laboratory or office, it could be just the ticket.

Viasat Internet is our top choice for most rural or small-town businesses. With speeds up to 100 Mbps available in some areas, Viasat has the fastest satellite internet speeds in the industry, beating out HughesNet by a hefty 75 Mbps. Plus, Viasat has lower equipment costs than VSAT providers like Skycasters or Broad Sky Networks.

If you need satellite internet on a budget, we recommend HughesNet’s low data plans. We like the attractive price point of the Business 35—where else can you get business satellite internet for $69.99 per month? (Answer: nowhere.) You won't get much full-speed data with HughesNet's budget plan, but that's one way to prevent your employees from watching YouTube videos all day. ;-)

If you have a startup business in a rural area, you can get reliable, cheap internet from HughesNet Business 35, which gives you 35 GB of monthly data at speeds up to 25 Mbps for $69.99 per month. If you have a higher budget or heavier data needs, opt for Viasat Business Unlimited 200, which gives you 200 GB of data at speeds up to 35 Mbps for $400 per month.

Using a VPN (virtual private network) with satellite internet can make your connection slower, and it isn’t usually recommended. Broad Sky recommends 4G LTE service for customers who need to use a VPN. Some providers, such as Viasat, offer specific recommendations for using a VPN, such as using SSL-based VPNs. If you must use a VPN, get a satellite plan with the fastest available speed.

Yes, data caps meter all data usage that's uploaded or downloaded on your satellite internet connection. So while streaming movies and downloading video games eats up a lot of data, so can uploading photos or videos to social media.

In mid to late 2020, Starlink (SpaceX) will be launching satellite internet service in parts of the US and Canada. Thanks to LEO (low-Earth orbit) satellites, Starlink has promised faster, better, and cheaper satellite internet service for rural areas.

You can get home satellite internet with Viasat or HughesNet. HughesNet has the lowest prices, while Viasat excels in delivering the fastest speeds. By 2021, you can start looking into next generation satellite service from Starlink and other companies entering the marketplace. To learn more about residential satellite internet in your area, visit our Satellite Providers page.