Hughesnet Speed Test

Hughesnet is a straightforward satellite internet service with a simple pricing method. It offers three different plans with varying download speeds and data caps, the highest possible being 100Mbps. Upgrading to a top-tier Hughesnet plan will give you faster speeds and a higher data cap, allowing you to do more things that take a lot of data, like streaming Netflix or having Zoom calls.

Hughesnet is available almost everywhere in the US, making it a good choice for people who live in rural areas without a lot of options. To connect, all you need is a clear view of the Hughesnet satellites, which can be found in the southern sky.

If you use more data than the amount allotted in your plan, you won’t be cut off from the internet, but your connection speed will be throttled to speeds much slower than you’re used to, sometimes as slow as 3Mbps. If you do a speed test and your download speed is far below the standard 50-100Mbps, it’s likely you hit your data cap for the month.

If you run out of full-speed data, there are a few ways to get more. The simplest is to upgrade to a Hughesnet plan that offers more data per month. Hughesnet also sells data tokens, which cost about $3 per 2GB of data. The nice thing about data tokens is that they don’t expire. Even if you end up not needing them, they will rollover to your next billing period.

Data tokens can be purchased from the Hughesnet website or through the mobile app.

• Your Guide to Internet Data Caps
• What Is a Good Internet Speed?
• Hughesnet Review
• Viasat vs. Hughesnet

To check your Hughesnet speed, use our Hughesnet Speed Test. To ensure you get the best results, make sure that you’re viewing this page on a device that’s connected to your Hughesnet internet. Also, make sure other devices in your home are not using data. Once you’re ready, go to the top of this page and click Start Speed Test. Your results will give you your download speed along with your upload speed and latency.

• The maximum download speed of a Hughesnet connection is 100 Mbps (the minimum speed to be considered broadband is 25 Mbps, according to the Federal Communications Commission).
• When you've chewed through your premium data for the month, you'll get Hughesnet's slowest speeds of about less than 1 Mbps, depending on your area and time of day.

Weather can interfere with your connection, dropping your actual connection speed. But the most common reason for having a low download speed is passing your data cap. Once you pass the monthly data cap for your plan, your speed is throttled, giving you the significantly slower download speed above.

If you're curious about the current speed of your internet connection, take the speed test at the top of the page.

If you’re getting less than the minimum 50 Mbps download speed, there are a few things you can do to get back up to speed:

1. Make sure you haven’t passed your data cap for the month.
2. Look at your satellite dish to ensure it’s clear of debris.
3. Check your router for any connection issues.

For more information, check out our troubleshooting guide that covers how to make Hughesnet faster.

If you’re getting the full 25 Mbps but it’s not enough to do what you want online, you should probably look into switching ISPs. Viasat is available in all areas where Hughesnet has service, and there might be other rural internet options like Centurylink DSL as well.

The Jupiter 3 is the latest addition to Hughesnet's geostationary satellite constellation that was successfully launched in late 2023. The updated technology allows for download speeds up to 100 Mbps anywhere in the US. It also boosted all minimum speeds from 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps.

The Bonus Zone is a space of time between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. local time when Hughesnet customers can use extra data. When you get online during Bonus Zone hours, all your data is counted against a bonus pool of 50 GB rather than against the normal amount of data on your plan.

The Bonus Zone doesn’t offer unlimited high-speed data, so if you use up all 50 GB, your connection will still be throttled like it normally would be. Still, 50 GB is a lot of data, especially if you only have a 100 GB plan. This makes it an ideal time to schedule large downloads like system updates or even downloading video to play back later during the day.

The Hughesnet satellite internet speed test measures your speed and internet performance by looking at three things:

1. Download speed: This measures how quickly data travels from the server to your computer, which determines how quickly the content on a page loads and how high the quality of a video stream can be. According to the FCC, to qualify as high-speed broadband internet, a connection must have at least 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed.
2. Upload speed: This is how fast you can send data from your computer to the server. You upload data every time you upload a photo to social media or send an email. Some activities, like video calls, need a good upload speed to run smoothly.
3. Latency: This measures how long it takes information to travel in a round trip from your computer to the server and back. Since satellite data must travel all the way to satellites in Earth orbit, the latency of satellite internet is very high. Latency is important for things like online gaming, where reaction time really counts.

When you take the speed test, a file is sent from the server to your computer, and then back again. By timing this information, the test can determine your download speed, upload speed, and latency.

Your internet speed can vary throughout the day. During periods of high internet traffic, usually in the evening, your connection speed might slow slightly. To get an accurate picture of how fast your Hughesnet connection is, we suggest taking the speed test multiple times over the course of a day.