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 150 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.

One of the things we like about Viasat is that it offers an Unlimited plan, which doesn’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 (1000GB) before the end of the month, you can keep using data at reduced speeds and at no additional cost. It does have unlimited data use during typical work hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time) that doesn't count toward your allotment.

Viasat also offers Backup Internet for businesses that have a primary internet source but need a reliable connection to fall back on in case of an outage.

Hughesnet Business internet is a straightforward satellite provider with the most affordable starter internet plans. Hughesnet plans offer 50 to 100 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, it is significantly cheaper. Hughesnet's Select Pro plan is nearly half as much as Viasat's primary internet plan. The trade-off is that Hughesnet has very meager priority data caps, unlike Viasat.  After you reach your monthly allotment of priority data, you can 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 220 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. Starlink's Priority plans for business are $140—$500 per month, plus a $2,500 up-front equipment fee.

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.  

Viasat Internet is our top choice for most rural or small-town businesses. With speeds up to 150 Mbps available in some areas, Viasat offers fast, reliable satellite internet. Unlimited data is exactly what rural businesses need to stay connected 24/7 without paying too much. 

If you need satellite internet on a budget, we recommend Hughesnet’s low-data plans. We like the attractive price point of $84.99 per month for essential, but minimal internet use because of the strict priority data cap.  

Starlink has the fastest speeds thanks to the low latency technology. It has a much higher price point, especially if your business needs lots of priority data for the fastest possible speeds.

That's why we view Viasat as a happy medium between the three satellite providers. It provides decent speeds over unlimited data for a fair price. 

If you have a startup business in a rural area, you can get reliable, cheap internet from Hughesnet Business, which gives you up to 200GB of monthly data at speeds up to 100Mbps for $129.99 per month. If you have a higher budget or heavier data needs, opt for Viasat Business Unlimited, which gives you unlimited data at speeds up to 150Mbps for $159.99 per month.

Using a VPN (virtual private network) with satellite internet can slow your connection, and it isn’t usually recommended. Some providers, such as Viasat, offer specific recommendations for using a VPN, such as 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.

You can get home satellite internet with Viasat, Hughesnet, and Starlink. Hughesnet has the lowest prices, Viasat features unlimited data, and Starlink is fast and convenient. In fact, many customers who run home businesses and work from home use residential internet plans and are able to do everything they need while saving money. To learn more about residential satellite internet in your area, visit our Satellite Providers page.