Starlink vs. Viasat: How Do LEO and GEO Satellite Internet Compare?

Starlink offers several plans tailored for different use cases. While the underlying service plan structure is straightforward, the company’s branding and the way it presents these plans on the website are confusing. 

For consumers, there are two categories of plans:

• Residential covers basic residential coverage and is best for home use. There are three tiers of fixed location use with varying speeds, although 
• Roam is for RVs, campers, and other mobile users. It can be used internationally and in motion. It comes with a 100GB data plan or unlimited data.

On a more positive note, unlike Hughesnet and some other ISPs, Starlink doesn't require contracts so that you can cancel at any time. I've successfully paused service with the option to reactivate whenever I want to, which is great when I only use it seasonally. 

The most common plan, Starlink Residential, offers unlimited data (within reasonable limits)—no more data caps. Some plans include additional Priority Data that gives you faster speeds, but the standard data has no cap once that's gone.  

Viasat's Unleashed plan offers new customers unlimited high-speed data (with no priority data cap) and features no contract. However, your speeds and final pricing are determined by your address since they cannot guarantee their top speeds everywhere. Additionally, Viasat has a soft data cap and may grant lower network priority if you exceed 850GB of data in a month.

Viasat Essentials starts at $39.99 per month for the first three months, then increases by $30 per month. It's a more affordable plan with a 150GB monthly data limit. Depending on your location, you may receive a reduced rate or a higher rate. Since there is no contract, you pay month-to-month and can cancel at any time, but there is no price-lock guarantee. Visit the Viasat website or contact the sales team for more details on what's available in your area. 

A one-time installation fee may be pending a soft credit check and your location. The total cost of your Viasat service will also include a monthly equipment lease of $15, resulting in a significantly lower upfront cost than Starlink.

Viasat’s internet plans advertise download speeds of up to 150Mbps, but I was getting closer to 50Mbps. Still enough to handle most online activities, like streaming and web browsing, so I was surprised by how fast it was, given its legacy technology.

While Viasat has decent download speeds, the high latency can make using the service frustrating. I found videos needed to buffer longer, and web pages would take a few seconds to fully load.

Starlink residential download speeds can reach up to 400Mbps, but your speed depends on your location. I live in the western United States and consistently get speeds between 100 and 200Mbps. Plus, the much lower latency made it nearly indistinguishable from my cable internet. 

Remember that advertised download speeds from any satellite provider are not guaranteed, and the speeds you’ll experience depend on factors such as network traffic, weather, and signal strength.

Latency is affected by the satellites' distance from the Earth. Viasat uses geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, which are 23,000 miles above Earth. However, Starlink uses low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which are closer to the Earth. Low latency is essential for fast, reactive internet use, such as buffer-free streaming and online gaming.

For satellite internet, latency is the name of the game, and there’s one clear winner. Starlink’s download speed and latency blow Viasat out of the water. 

With Starlink, you must pay upfront for the hardware: $349 for the Standard dish or $199 for the Mini dish.

Starlink also doesn't offer professional installation. The equipment is completely self-install, but luckily, it's relatively simple to get online with Starlink. It took me less than 30 minutes to set up the dish and router so I could get connected. It will take a bit longer and require additional accessories and work to permanently install your dish at home.

I recommend the Starlink Standard dish for most use cases, as it's compatible with all plans and supports residential and mobile use. The Starlink Mini is for ultimate portability, as it's the size of a laptop and has built-in Wi-Fi, but it is really only meant for mobile use, not home internet.

Since you own the equipment, you can take it with you when you move or sell it if you decide to cancel.

Viasat leases your equipment for $15 per month, in addition to your bill. Alternatively, you can pay a one-time lifetime lease of $250. You’ll save money if you keep Viasat long-term (more than 18 months). 

Viasat requires professional installation and may incur extra costs, depending on a soft-credit check, though my installation was free. My experience was overall positive. My installer was courteous and knowledgeable and got me online fast. They will determine the best spot in your home to place the dish and run cable to the inside. They will work with you if there are spots you don't want the dish located. 

The entire setup was easy. I could schedule a time that was convenient for me, and the installer called ahead to let me know when they'd arrive. The entire process took about an hour.

Customers have criticized Starlink's hands-off approach to customer service. There is no dedicated support phone line, email, or live chat; support is only available by submitting tickets through the website or mobile app.

 “The customer service is subpar for a modern company,” Olson said. “If (Starlink) is that good, they shouldn't be afraid to put up a live chat.”

On the other hand, most customers I interviewed rarely had to contact support because everything worked as expected with no interruptions.

It was similar to the story of Viasat customers I talked to. The service was reliable enough that customers rarely needed customer support, except when they needed replacement parts. If you need dependable support (i.e., they can get someone on the phone for help), Viasat wins out.

To improve the reliability of your Viasat internet service, consider contacting the tech support team or visiting the Viasat Support Forum to see if others have already encountered and resolved your issue.

Viasat satellite internet service is available in all 50 states and covers 99 percent of the United States. Plans are underway to expand the Viasat satellite network to additional regions worldwide. Contact Viasat to confirm coverage in your area.

As of 2025, Starlink’s availability map covers most of the United States. At one time, there were extensive waitlists in the eastern half of the country, but these seem to have largely disappeared. However, as more customers sign up, more areas have been added to waitlists until capacity can increase with additional satellite launches.

Starlink is one of the most high-profile satellite internet services, and many people are excited to have it available in their area. If you're ready to spend $349.00 or more on Starlink equipment and live in an area with the fastest, most reliable service, Starlink is the best choice.

Viasat's flagship internet plan is slightly less expensive than Starlink's primary offering and has no hefty upfront costs. However, you're likely to have worse performance due to higher latency. If you don't have heavy bandwidth needs and want to save money, Viasat is a viable option for internet in rural areas.