Disclosure: ShopLikeSam earns commissions when you sign up through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial rankings or recommendations. How we compare providers →
Last updated: October 2026 · Verified plans & pricing
⚡ TL;DR — Key Takeaways
Viasat delivers satellite internet to homes and businesses across the U.S., including areas where no other broadband option exists. Availability, speeds, and pricing vary by address, and plan options are limited in Alaska. With speeds up to 100 Mbps and plans designed for streaming and remote work, Viasat offers one of the most capable satellite internet experiences available — though high latency remains a characteristic limitation of geostationary satellite technology.
| Plan | Plan Price | Equipment Lease | Taxes & Fees | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $39.99–$69.99/mo | ~$13/mo | ~$1.50+ | ~$54–$85/mo |
| Unleashed | $69.99–$99.99/mo | ~$13/mo | ~$1.50+ | ~$85–$115/mo |
Exact plan, price, and data allowance depend on your address. The $9.25/mo Lifeline discount (see Affordable Programs below) applies to any plan for qualifying households.
Viasat plans include a monthly data threshold. After this threshold is reached, speeds may be reduced during periods of network congestion, but you are never completely cut off. Unlimited data plans available on select plans in some areas.
Plan availability and pricing vary significantly by location — some addresses qualify for unlimited data plans while others are subject to the thresholds below. Always check viasat.com or call (978) 723-5746 for plans at your exact address.
| Plan | Speed | Data Threshold | Upload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat Essential | 25 Mbps | 150 GB | 3 Mbps | $39.99/mo |
| Viasat Unleashed | 100 Mbps | Unlimited | 3 Mbps | $69.99/mo |
Plan rate: $69.99/mo (Unleashed ranges $69.99–$99.99/mo depending on address)
Viasat requires a 24-month service agreement and charges an equipment lease fee on top of the plan price. Here's what to budget for:
Not in the way "unlimited" usually means. Every standard Viasat plan includes a monthly priority data threshold; once you use it, speeds may be reduced during congested periods rather than cutting you off completely — a "soft cap," not a hard limit. Some addresses are offered plans with no speed reduction after the threshold, which Viasat markets as unlimited; this varies by address and plan, not something you can count on everywhere. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm whether a truly unlimited plan is available at your address.
With satellite, the coverage question comes before everything else — plans, pricing, even the review. Viasat's footprint isn't defined by where a cable or fiber network happens to have been built; it's defined by whether your property has a clear view of the southern sky. That's why Viasat reaches all 50 U.S. states, including addresses no wired provider has ever served.
Before you commit — call (978) 723-5746 to check if T-Mobile 5G Home or another fixed broadband option is available at your address first.
Viasat requires professional installation — a certified technician mounts a satellite dish at your property, aligned precisely toward Viasat's geostationary satellites. The process takes 2–4 hours and includes connection of an indoor modem/router combo unit. All equipment is leased, not purchased.
| Equipment | Lease Fee | Return on Cancellation | Install Fee | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite dish | Included in equipment lease | Yes, required | $0–$99 | 2–4 hours, within 3–7 business days of order |
| Indoor modem/router | ~$13/mo (combined with dish) | Yes, required | Included in install | Same visit as dish install |
A directional satellite dish mounted on the roof or exterior wall, aligned toward Viasat's geostationary satellite. Larger than a standard TV dish. Must have a clear southern sky view. Professional alignment is required for optimal signal strength and cannot be self-installed.
A combined modem and Wi-Fi router unit installed inside your home. Connects to the outdoor dish via coaxial cable run through the wall. Broadcasts dual-band Wi-Fi to your devices. Leased at ~$13/mo — returned to Viasat if you cancel service.
Viasat sends a certified installer to mount the dish, run the cable, and configure the indoor unit. Standard installation typically costs $0–$99 depending on current promotions. Complex installations (longer cable runs, special mounting) may incur additional fees.
Viasat uses Ka-band frequencies which can be affected by heavy rain (rain fade). Light rain or clouds rarely impact service. Heavy downpours or severe storms may cause temporary slowdowns or brief outages. Service restores automatically once conditions improve — no manual reset needed.
Viasat participates in the federal Lifeline program, which reduces the monthly cost of satellite internet for qualifying low-income households. This is especially important in rural areas where Viasat satellite internet may be the only available broadband option.
The Lifeline program provides a $9.25/mo federal discount ($25/mo on Tribal lands) applied directly to your Viasat monthly bill, regardless of which plan you have. While smaller than the ACP program (ended in 2024), Lifeline remains a federal benefit for qualifying households, funded through an ongoing federal program (before equipment lease).
Qualification: income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or participation in SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, or the Federal Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit.
Viasat Business satellite internet serves farms, construction sites, small offices, retail locations, and mobile businesses operating in rural areas beyond the reach of cable or fiber. Business plans include higher data thresholds, static IP options, and dedicated business support — making them suitable for POS systems, security cameras, and cloud applications.
Entry-level business satellite internet for small offices and retail locations. Includes static IP option, 24/7 business-priority support, and dedicated account management. Suitable for email, web access, and light cloud usage across 1–5 workstations.
Starting around $99/moHigher speeds and larger data thresholds for businesses with multiple users or cloud-heavy workflows. Supports POS systems, security camera uploads, inventory management tools, and video conferencing. Includes SLA-backed uptime commitment and priority technical response.
Starting around $149/moViasat powers in-flight Wi-Fi on United, JetBlue, and other carriers. For businesses requiring connectivity on vessels, vehicles, or remote job sites, Viasat offers mobile VSAT solutions and maritime internet packages beyond standard residential plans.
Call for custom quoteFor enterprise, multi-site, or specialty business internet requirements, call (978) 723-5746 to speak with an authorized Viasat business specialist.
Viasat's most accessible discount is the Lifeline federal credit for qualifying low-income households. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm current promotions and discounted installation at your address.
Eligible low-income households get a $9.25/mo federal discount ($25/mo on Tribal lands) applied to any Viasat plan. See the full eligibility rules and application steps under "Viasat Affordable Internet Programs" above, or apply directly at lifelinesupport.org.
Viasat periodically waives or discounts the standard installation fee ($0–$99) for new customers. Professional installation is required for all Viasat plans — a certified technician mounts the dish and configures the indoor unit. Confirm whether discounted installation is available at your address today by calling (978) 723-5746 before placing your order.
In some Viasat service areas, certain plans include unlimited data with no speed reduction after the threshold. Availability of truly unlimited plans depends on satellite capacity in your specific area. Call (978) 723-5746 to ask whether unlimited plans are available at your address — this can be a significant upgrade from standard soft-cap plans for heavy data users.
See the full plan table and current pricing above under the Internet Plans tab. Viasat's lineup comes down to two tiers at most addresses: Essential (lower speed and data, lowest price) and Unleashed (higher speed, more or unlimited data, higher price). Some addresses are offered a different tier structure — always confirm the exact plans available at your address before ordering.
For a single user doing email and light browsing, Essential is the lowest-cost entry — though its data allowance (40–150GB depending on address) goes fast with regular video streaming. A household that watches 2–3 hours of HD video per night needs the Unleashed tier — HD streaming uses ~3GB/hour, so even the lower end of Unleashed's data range supports meaningful nightly viewing, and some addresses get unlimited data on this tier. For all-day remote work with video calls and regular streaming, Unleashed is the more practical option. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm which plans, speeds, and prices are available at your specific address.
Viasat is the premium satellite ISP for rural areas — faster and with more data than HughesNet, but still constrained by the fundamental physics of geostationary satellite. Here's our full assessment.
Viasat is the best geostationary satellite option for rural households — faster and with more data than HughesNet, with nationwide availability. The 3.5/5 rating reflects real limitations: high latency, data thresholds, a mandatory equipment lease, and a 24-month contract make it a difficult recommendation when better options exist. But when cable, fiber, and T-Mobile 5G aren't available, Viasat delivers reliable broadband connectivity to addresses that would otherwise have nothing. Always check T-Mobile 5G Home availability before committing. Call (978) 723-5746 to compare options at your rural address.
Viasat is internet only — no TV service and no wireless offering. For rural households, pairing Viasat internet with DirecTV satellite TV is the most common complete entertainment setup.
DirecTV uses a separate dish and satellite from Viasat, delivering live TV channels to rural areas where cable doesn't reach. Many households run both a Viasat dish (internet) and a DirecTV dish (TV) on the same property — they use different satellites and don't interfere. DirecTV packages start at $84.99/mo for ENTERTAINMENT (70+ channels). Call (978) 723-5746 to ask about DirecTV alongside your Viasat service.
Streaming video is possible on Viasat but requires data management. Netflix HD uses ~3GB/hour; 4K uses ~7GB/hour. On the Viasat Unleashed plan, a household typically has 20 or more hours of HD streaming per month before hitting the threshold (more at addresses with a higher data allowance, or unlimited at some addresses). Tips for stretching Viasat data: download shows during off-peak hours when network congestion is lower, set Netflix and YouTube to SD quality (reduces data to ~1GB/hour), use DirecTV satellite TV for live content instead of streaming it live over Viasat.
Viasat does not offer wireless service. In rural areas with Viasat internet, cell service may also be limited — AT&T and Verizon have the broadest rural cell coverage in the U.S. For rural households, a Verizon or AT&T mobile plan alongside Viasat internet provides the most complete connectivity option. Call (978) 723-5746 to discuss your rural connectivity needs.
Viasat competes against other satellite providers and fixed wireless in rural markets where cable and fiber don't reach.
| Provider | Technology | Max Speed | Latency | vs. Viasat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat | Satellite (GEO) | 100 Mbps | 600–700ms | — |
| HughesNet | Satellite (GEO) | 100 Mbps | 600–700ms | Both start around $39.99/mo depending on address; HughesNet offers the Fusion plan for reduced latency (~100ms). Viasat generally offers more data per plan tier. For latency reduction, HughesNet Fusion beats Viasat; for data volume at mid-tier prices, Viasat edges out HughesNet. |
| Starlink | Satellite (LEO) | 220 Mbps | 20–40ms | Starlink is superior on every technical metric: faster speeds, dramatically lower latency, no hard data thresholds, no long-term contract. At $120/mo plus approximately $599 hardware, it's more expensive upfront. If Starlink has capacity in your area and the hardware cost is feasible, it's the better long-term choice over Viasat. |
| T-Mobile 5G Home | Fixed Wireless | 415 Mbps | 20–50ms | T-Mobile 5G Home is faster, lower-latency, cheaper ($50/mo), contract-free, and includes equipment free — where available. Always check T-Mobile 5G Home availability at your address before committing to Viasat. In areas with strong T-Mobile 5G signal, it's clearly the better choice. |
Pricing verified October 2026. Call (978) 723-5746 to compare all available options at your rural address.
Test your Viasat connection's download speed, upload speed, and latency below. Latency will read 600–700ms on standard satellite plans — this is normal.
⚡
Free Internet Speed Test
Check your current download speed, upload speed, and latency — no app or plugin needed.
Run Free Speed Test →Expected speeds during your monthly priority data period: Viasat Essential (~12–25 Mbps), Viasat Unleashed (~30–100 Mbps) — exact speed depends on your address. If speeds are significantly below your plan tier during the priority period, it may indicate dish alignment issues, obstructions (snow, debris), or indoor cable connection problems — restart your modem and check for physical obstructions on the dish before calling an authorized Viasat support agent at (978) 723-5746.
Data sources: Availability from the FCC National Broadband Map (2025). Customer satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Residential ISP Satisfaction Study. Speed benchmarks from the Ookla Speedtest Global Index Q1 2025. Pricing verified October 2026.
Satellite internet reaches virtually every U.S. address, including these cities — but it's usually the fallback option, not the best one. If cable, fiber, or 5G home internet also serves your address, those are typically faster and cheaper.