HughesNet Internet Review: HughesNet Plans, Prices, and Bundles

Best HughesNet deals

Unlike other satellite internet providers, HughesNet Internet runs a lot of sweet discounts, promotions, and deals to help you get the satellite service you need.

We recommend snapping up the 30 GB deal right now, which will get you HughesNet's 30 GB plan for $25 a month off for the first six months, saving you a total of $150 over the discount's term.

But for all the latest deals, check out our HughesNet deals and discounts page.

More HughesNet promotions

HughesNet has a few long-standing deals, so be sure to take advantage of these opportunities to save money with HughesNet service in the long run:

• Get $5 off your equipment leasing fee for the first six months.
• Get $100 off if you purchase your equipment outright. 

HughesNet, just like Viasat, is planning to launch a new satellite in 2023. The JUPITER 3, planned to launch in the first half of 2023 (but still without a specific date), will have almost triple the amount of capacity as the previous. What's that mean for you? Higher data caps could be coming to HughesNet in 2023. 

Is HughesNet expensive?

HughesNet is the cheapest and most affordable satellite internet provider, but keep in mind, all satellite internet providers are more expensive than cable options.

HughesNet's 15 GB and 30 GB plans are much more accessible than Viasat or Starlink plans. But if you want bigger data caps, HughesNet starts getting more expensive (though still not as expensive as Viasat).

Our favorite HughesNet satellite internet plan

If price isn’t an issue for you, the best HughesNet Internet plan is the 100 GB plan for $149.99 a month. It's a pretty noticeable price tag, but not as expensive as Viasat, and you'll pay only $99.99 for the first six months (a total savings of $300).

We signed up for the 100 GB plan ourselves. Data goes fast with satellite internet—especially if you like streaming—so it’s nice to have as much as you can get. But if you don’t want to pay $149.99 a month, the HughesNet 30 GB plan is more affordable. Plus, you can make those 30 GB last longer by downloading movies and shows during the Bonus Zone (2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.).

If you’ve explored HughesNet satellite internet plans before, you might notice their data caps just got bigger! Way more data for just a little bit more money? Yes, please. Plus, like we mentioned earlier, HughesNet's offering its plans for $20 to $50 cheaper for the first six months of new service, so that balances out in your favor. 

HughesNet Fusion internet plans

What is HughesNet Fusion?

How fast is HughesNet Fusion?

HughesNet Fusion has only two plans right now, and they offer the same speed: 25 Mbps Like HughesNet internet (the satellite-only one), HughesNet Fusion divides its plans up by data amount.

We recommend the HughesNet Fusion 100 GB data plan for most people, especially if you like to stream TV.

Although HughesNet Gen5 data caps got bigger, HughesNet download speeds stayed the same: a humble 25 Mbps. An internet speed of 25 Mbps is plenty functional for internet basics like email and paying online bills, but it’s a little behind the times when satellite providers like Starlink offer satellite internet speeds up to 500 Mbps.

While we tested HughesNet, we noticed that 25 Mbps made video streaming choppier, and it sometimes led to slow load times for things like Zoom and YouTube. You also need to keep an eye on your data limit with HughesNet more than with other satellite internet service providers, though fortunately there are no longer hard data limits (your speeds just slow after you've reached your data cap).

If you're looking for a really high-speed experience from your internet service provider, Viasat or Starlink might be better satellite alternatives for you.

But you might consider our Best 4G LTE Home Internet Providers guide if you're in an area that has cell service without land-based internet providers. Fixed wireless internet could be for you. 

As part of our HughesNet review, we've tested the service ourselves for about six months so we could give you a peek into the behind-the-scenes process.

The prices on our order summary are a bit different than current prices and promotions, but take a look at the HughesNet fees and equipment setup prices for the 75 GB service plan on our order summary below.

If you're interested in more details about how HughesNet handles its customers and fees—or if you want to talk to a HughesNet customer service representative about your own—check out our HughesNet Customer Service advice page.

HughesNet Business

If residential satellite internet isn't what you're looking for, never fear. HughesNet also offers satellite business internet plans, if you're looking to support your small business. Rural areas and digital nomads rejoice!

But HughesNet internet alone might not be enough for your and your business. Fortunately, HughesNet has TV and phone bundles just for the likes of you.

You can’t bundle your HughesNet Internet with TV to get discounts. But you can get DISH or DIRECTV as your HughesNet Internet TV option—you’ll just have to purchase it separately. They’re both available everywhere, just like HughesNet. You’ll just have two satellite dishes on top of your house.

Both satellite TV providers require a 2-year contract that comes with hefty early termination fees. Make sure you’re committed to your DISH or DIRECTV plan for the long haul before you sign the dotted line.

If you don’t want to stress about budgeting your streaming time, go with a satellite TV plan. You can watch as much TV as you want with DISH or DIRECTV, no data caps attached. So, go ahead—have your HughesNet and your TV too.

HughesNet Voice offers satellite-based home phone service via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Although it uses your HughesNet satellite internet connection to make calls, HughesNet Voice won’t count toward your monthly data cap, which sets HughesNet Voice apart from other VoIP phone options that will happily devour your data. Even if you hit your HughesNet Internet data cap, you can still make VoIP calls.

You can easily add HughesNet Voice to your existing HughesNet Internet plan for an additional $29.95 per month. With that plan, you’ll get unlimited calls to the US and Canada. If you need to make international calls, HughesNet Voice offers the International 200 add-on plan for $9.95 per month or the International Unlimited add-on plan for $22.95 per month. It’s easy to bundle HughesNet Voice with your internet service when you buy HughesNet online.

Every HughesNet Voice plan allows you to keep your same phone number or get a new one. The plan also comes with free features such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, voicemail, and more.​

HughesNet Internet vs. Viasat

HughesNet Gen5 seems equally priced with Viasat internet initially, but that’s no longer the case after three months. Viasat raises prices from 30% to 50% after the three-month intro period.

You might grab a deal that discounts HughesNet prices for the first six months, but after returning to the normal price they will stay the same. And since both HughesNet and Viasat require a 2-year contract, you’ll be stuck with the Viasat price hike for the majority of your service.

That said, Viasat does offer higher internet speeds and data caps than HughesNet. All that extra money you’ll be paying with Viasat isn’t for nothing. But if you want a satellite internet plan that starts out with an affordable price and stays that way, go with HughesNet by Hughes Network Systems.

HughesNet Internet vs. Starlink

Starlink offers more data and faster internet speeds than HughesNet, but HughesNet is much more widely available and reliable—at least for now. Starlink’s network is still in the early stages and could surpass HughesNet in availability and consistency over the next few years, although that’s still up for debate.¹ Even though getting Starlink is still a longshot, it’s hard to not be tempted by Starlink’s incredibly fast satellite internet download speeds (speeds go up to 500 Mbps with Starlink Premium) and unlimited data.² Those are two hot commodities in the rural internet market.

But before you jump on the Starlink bandwagon, know that Starlink availability is still highly limited. Many customers are spending months on the waitlist.³ The installation fees are also much higher than Viasat and HughesNet ($2,500 for Starlink Premium!). With Starlink, you have to buy your equipment outright and then install it yourself—there’s no leasing option.

HughesNet also offers the Bonus Zone with all its satellite internet plans. It allows you to use an additional 50 GB of full-speed data between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Sure, it’s not the best time of day to plop on the couch and stream. But it can come in handy if you plan ahead. For example, you can download shows and movies in advance during that time.

HughesNet Internet vs. its main internet competitors

HughesNet internet is one of the top three residential satellite internet providers overall, but if you want more details against how it stacks up against Viasat, Starlink, and other upcoming satellite providers like Project Kuiper, check out our comparison guides below to find out which works best for you. 

• Viasat vs. HughesNet
• Starlink Internet Review 2022
• Viasat Internet Review
• Best Satellite Internet Providers 2022

HughesNet requires a 2-year contract for internet service as well as for HughesNet Voice.

That's a big reason why HughesNet isn't a good option  if you know you’ll be moving soon or if you’re in a temporary housing situation. Installing  HughesNet equipment is a bit of an ordeal, so it’s not really the kind of thing you pick up and go with. Plus, you’ll have to pay an early termination fee if you cancel service before your contract ends.

Cancelling HughesNet

If you want to cancel HughesNet, you'll definitely first want to take a look at the early termination fee policies and see if it's really worth it. If you're frustrated with low speeds, try checking out our HughesNet Troubleshooting page and see if that solves your HughesNet problems.

If you're sure you're ready to cancel HughesNet, check out our HughesNet customer service page for more on how--and check out Viasat for a faster alternative satellite internet.

HughesNet plans have data caps from 15–100 GB per month. HughesNet Internet is technically unlimited, but your speeds will experience reduced speeds once you hit your data cap. If you need more full-speed data, you can use the 50 GB Bonus Zone from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Or you can buy data tokens.

Satellite internet data caps are much lower than what you’d get from a cable or fiber internet provider. And reduced speeds are incredibly slow. That’s why we recommend going with a landline internet option like DSL internet instead if it’s available. With how much we’re all online these days, dealing with a restrictive data cap is not something you want to face unless you have to.

HughesNet by Hughes Network Systems requires a professional installation and typically charges a $99 installation fee for it. But you can often get free HughesNet installation if you lease your equipment. If you’re buying HughesNet online, you’ll see any installation deals reflected in your cart.

Once you place your HughesNet Gen5 order, HughesNet will connect you with a local installer. The installer will call or email you within the next couple of days to schedule a time.

What to expect at HughesNet installation?

HughesNet customers generally have experienced mixed results, but we were happy with our tech when we had HughesNet come and install service. Our installer was professional and got the job done in less than an hour, though we recommend you plan for two just in case.

HughesNet's certified installers will check to make sure your location has a clear view of the southern sky and then move forward installing your new HughesNet satellite dish on something that's at least four feet off the ground and not higher than one story (if you're going to need it installed on something higher than that, you might end up paying more for the non-standard install conditions).

Your HughesNet cord needs a place to enter your home so it can connect your modem/router to the signal coming from the satellite dish. Be prepared for a small hole and some extra cords on the outside of your house.

It will take one to three hours for the HughesNet installer to setup your exterior coaxial cables and run them from the satellite, through your house, to the room where your HughesNet system will be (that's your modem/router and so on).

After all the wires are connected to your modem/router and satellite dish, and all cables are secured, your installer should check your system and ensure you're getting a solid satellite internet signal. Then, you should be on your way to internet connectivity. Stream some Netflix for us, would you? Just make sure your devices are all connected to your modem/router first.

Does HughesNet use a modem or router?

HughesNet satellite internet requires a special satellite modem that you can buy or rent from the company directly. Of course, you can't get Wi-Fi without a router, so HughesNet makes things easy by offering a modem/router combo. Having both options built together keeps things simple, and if you rent it from HughesNet, they handle all the inconvenient things like updates themselves.

The HughesNet router has to be close to wherever your HughesNet tech drills a hole in your wall for the cord to come in from the outside. For us, that ended up being in the kitchen, which is not ideal, but it's what worked best.

We recommend talking out the modem/router location with your installer upon arrival so you can start planning its location while they're getting your dish ready.

HughesNet internet is one of the more affordable satellite internet providers, and to make matters better, it also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

That means you could get $30 off your preferred HughesNet Internet, if you qualify for the ACP of course. Check out our Low Income Internet guide to see if you're eligible. 

Besides the release of HughesNet Fusion at the end of 2022, HughesNet's latest interesting updates come from its parent company, EchoStar.

On February 1, 2023, EchoStar put out a press release revealing that it's partnered with Astro Digital to set up a S-band mobile satellite service (MSS). Astro Digital will start building the satellite constellation in 2024, and once it's complete, EchoStar Global (the Australian subsidiary of EchoStar) will run it. EchoStar's CEO says the company is looking to build out "global non-terrestrial 5G network"⁴ to keep people connected.

It'll be interesting to see how more 5G connectivity in EchoStar may affect HughesNet internet, especially in its HughesNet Fusion plans. Are faster speeds on the horizon? We'll have to see. 

HughesNet satellite internet is a good choice if satellite internet is your best option and you want internet that’s affordable. HughesNet Internet is reliable and available everywhere, and you can pair it with HughesNet Voice. HughesNet’s download speeds and max data caps may pale in comparison to Viasat and Starlink. But HughesNet offers extra data features and no price hikes, which make it a strong contender in the satellite internet race.

HughesNet Internet typically costs $64.99 per month for the cheapest plan and goes up to $149.99 per month for the best plan. But HughesNet is running a deal right now where you could get anywhere from $20 to $50 off a plan a month for the first six months.

The HughesNet monthly lease fee will cost you $14.99 per month. Unlike Viasat, HughesNet has no price hikes, so your monthly bill will stay the same throughout your 2-year contract. When you order HughesNet online, check for any promotions that might reduce your monthly HughesNet cost.

Yes, HughesNet’s 25 Mbps download speeds are fast enough for streaming. You need at least 5 Mbps to stream most streaming services, like Netflix, in SD. So HughesNet Gen5 is more than fast enough for streaming.

Just keep an eye on your data cap—streaming Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and other platforms can eat through internet data quickly, especially if you like to stream in HD or 4K.

HughesNet Internet is technically unlimited, but HughesNet Internet plans have only a limited amount of full-speed (25 Mbps) data.

Once you reach your data cap on your individual plan (15–100 GB per month), your internet speeds will be slowed. But you’ll have unlimited access to data at slower speeds (1–3 Mbps). If you want more full-speed data, you can either purchase a data token or use data from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Is HughesNet owned by DISH?

DISH (previously called Dish Network) doesn't own HughesNet, but HughesNet and DISH are both owned by EchoStar.

HughesNet Internet offers 25 Mbps download speeds and 3 Mbps upload speeds on all its plans. Once you hit your data cap, your download speeds will be slowed to 1–3 Mbps until the next month—unless you purchase more data tokens.

The pros of HughesNet are that it’s the most affordable satellite internet provider and it has no price hikes. The cons of HughesNet are that its download speeds max out at 25 Mbps and its data caps are lower than what you can get from Viasat and Starlink.

Viasat is better than HughesNet if you need faster speeds and more data from your satellite internet connection. But HughesNet is the better choice if you’d rather save money and not deal with Viasat’s price hikes.

HughesNet’s best plan is the 100 GB plan, which gives you the most monthly data for $149.99 per month. In addition to 75 GB of full-speed data that you can use anytime, you also get 50 GB of Bonus Zone data that you can use from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. That’s a combined total of 125 GB of full-speed data each month.

Is HughesNet available in Puerto Rico?

HughesNet is available in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and the continental United States. All you need is a view of the southern sky, and you're set to have satellite internet access on your island home.

The HughesNet Bonus Zone works by offering you an additional 50 GB of full-speed data to use during the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. It's a good way to make your HughesNet data cap last longer by downloading files or streaming materials ahead of time and then watching them later.

Is HughesNet good for Netflix?

But what about streaming TV with HughesNet? It’s possible to stream on satellite internet, but streaming in HD requires about 3 GB of data per hour. That means you’ll get about 25 hours of HD streaming per month on HughesNet’s biggest plan (75 GB). That’s less than an hour of streaming per day. And let’s be honest, that’s not nearly enough TV—especially for weekend binge-watch sessions.

For more specific information on how good HughesNet is for Netflix (and how much data it uses), check out our How Much Data Does Netflix Use? guide.

Our SatelliteInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on hands-on testing, research, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. We dig deep to get hard-to-find information on internet plans, fees, and upcoming brand developments. We make this information easy for you to find in one place via our in-depth reviews, and we use our satellite internet industry expertise to analyze the options to help you make the most informed decision for your household.