Does Hughesnet Gen 5 Service Go Up During Contract

HughesNet Satellite Cyberspace Review 2022

HughesNet offers good value for its lower-GB plans, but if you lot want download speeds faster than 25 Mbps, expect to Viasat.

Information effective 11/eleven/21. Offers and availability vary by location and are discipline to alter.

* Service plans require a 24-month commitment.

Last Updated: 5 months ago

HughesNet but added more data to its plans, but be prepared to pay more.

Take a peek at our updated review to run across how its new prices and data caps compare to Viasat.

If you need satellite internet, HughesNet is a dandy pick for a budget-friendly plan that doesn't come up with a lot of data or speeds faster than 25 Mbps. Merely as shortly as y'all need more information, HughesNet's prices quickly rocket past Earth's orbit.

We dug into HughesNet's 4 internet plans to figure out which one is the best deal—and whether this satellite cyberspace provider is worth the cost at all. Permit'south dig in.

Meet all the rural internet options available in your area.

Pros

No price hikes for two years

Clear and transparent plans and pricing

Option to add more data plus free Bonus Zone data

Cons

Only ane 25 Mbps download speed selection

Low information caps

Loftier prices for 45 GB and 75 GB plans

HughesNet prices and plans

HughesNet packs value into its lower-information plans, but picket out for farthermost costs if you lot need more data

HughesNet internet plans range from $64.99 a month for 15 GB of data to $159.99 a calendar month for 75 GB of data. You can too find two plans between those: a 30 GB program for $74.99 a month and a 45 GB plan for $109.99 a month. All HughesNet plans come with 25 Mbps download speeds.

Satellite net about always costs more than than other kinds of connections, similar DSL or fiber. What tin we say? Satellites are expensive machines. Even so, you might feel some sticker shock.

If yous only moved to the state from a urban center, don't be surprised to see a higher monthly bill, fifty-fifty if you experience like you're getting slower service now than y'all did at your old place.

HughesNet satellite internet promotional prices

Information effective 11/11/21. Offers and availability vary past location and are subject to change.

* Service plans require a 24-month commitment.

We mentioned that HughesNet's internet plans are transparent and piece of cake to understand. Each program is named for the data cap information technology comes with. How unproblematic is that?

Possibly as well simple for some. Those data caps are all that changes from plan to plan—y'all won't encounter a boost in speed if y'all pay more.

Where is HughesNet available?

You tin can get HughesNet satellite net anywhere in the U.s.. All you need is a clear view of the Southern sky.

That does go far more hard for homes in the mountains or those surrounded past trees or tall buildings to get a signal. This is another reason getting your HughesNet dish professionally installed is a good idea. Your installer should be able to find a spot with the clearest view of the heaven.

How does HughesNet compare to Viasat?

HughesNet used to exist the amend deal compared to Viasat, at to the lowest degree if you needed less information. Simply how does information technology stack up now?

The HughesNet 45 GB plan comes with 25 Mbps download speeds and 45 GB of data for $109.99 a month.

The closest comparable Viasat plans, Liberty 50 and Unlimited Silvery 25, come with 12 to 25 Mbps download speeds and l to 120 GB of information. Liberty 50 starts at $75 a month, while Unlimited Silvery 25 starts at $84.99 a month.

HughesNet 45 GB: $109.99 a calendar month for 24 months.Full: $ii,639.76 for two years of service.
Viasat Liberty fifty: $75.00 a calendar month for 3 months, and then $100.00 a month for 21 months.Total: $2,325.00 for ii years of service.
Viasat Unlimited Silver 25: $84.99 a calendar month for iii months, and so $119.99 a month for 21 months.Total: $2,774.58 for two years of service.

HughesNet is no longer a solid bargain compared to Viasat, even if y'all gene in Viasat's iii-calendar month price hike. Despite higher data caps, y'all'll either pay less for slightly slower speeds with Viasat, or slightly more for the same 25 Mbps speeds and more information.

HughesNet 45 GB plan vs. Viasat Liberty 25 plan

Information effective xi/11/21. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

* Service plans crave a 24-month delivery.

† Offering bachelor to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may exist due at checkout. Minimum 24-calendar month service term required. Equipment charter fee is $12.99/mo. Taxes utilize. Service is non bachelor in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at whatever time.

The terminal verdict is, even with the price hike, Viasat'due south plans are a better bargain, especially if yous desire more data and faster download speeds.

Yous may pay effectually $100 more than over two years for Viasat service, just yous get a more reasonable amount of data.

Want more HughesNet versus Viasat comparisons?

We compare price, data, and download speeds in our Viasat vs. HughesNet review and give you the full view of what Viasat costs after 3 months in our Viasat review.

HughesNet internet speed

HughesNet'southward 25 Mbps download speeds can't compete with Viasat'southward max speed of 100 Mbps

Satellite internet providers often change their offerings based on your location. For example, Viasat changes its prices and speeds depending on where you live. But you don't have to deal with that with HughesNet. HughesNet gives y'all the aforementioned 25 Mbps speed regardless of your address.

Viasat and HughesNet download speeds comparing

For some, that may not be a good matter. Simply 25 Mbps is more than than enough to comfortably check your electronic mail and scroll through Facebook without waiting forever for pages to load.

Of course, you might notwithstanding face some slowness with certain types of activities, like streaming videos or playing online games. Sadly, that's just the nature of the satellite internet beast.

Y'all run into, satellite internet has higher latency than other net connectedness types. That means it takes longer for your reckoner to send information to that satellite orbiting the Earth virtually 22,000 miles away, so to the website you lot're visiting, and back.

How do HughesNet data guidelines work?

Even though HughesNet net plans list data caps, those aren't set in rock. You don't have to worry most your data existence cut off or paying overages if you use more than than your prepare amount.

That said, your speeds volition slow down if you get over the information amount on your plan. We call these soft caps, or "data guidelines." They're not hard-and-fast limits, merely you'll feel like they are if you use more what'due south on your plan.

If your kids go on a Disney+ spree and gobble up your data allowance, HughesNet will slow down your speeds to a rate that makes molasses look fast. (1 to 3 Mbps, to be exact.)

There are some means to make sure y'all don't utilize up all your high-speed information and clamber through your social media feed at a snail's pace. We cover these in-depth in our HughesNet data guide, but hither's a quick look:

Track your data usage on the HughesNet app. (iOS | Android)
Accept advantage of the Bonus Zone, which gives yous l GB of extra data each calendar month between 2 a.m. and eight a.m.
Stream your videos in standard definition (SD).
Buy a HughesNet data token.

Contracts, equipment, and fees

HughesNet's nevertheless stuck on that 2-year contract, and its equipment fees tin can exist pricey

Just like Viasat, HughesNet locks you lot into a two-year service contract. Your price does stay the same for all 24 months, with no surprise price hikes—which is nice.

But we still dislike contracts and wish HughesNet (and Viasat) would either stop using them or limit them to just one yr.

That said, satellite internet is a pain to fix up and a pain to return, so you probably won't desire to switch it out besides oftentimes anyhow. And if you don't plan on moving anytime shortly, and then 2 years isn't a terribly long time to keep your internet service.

Equipment

HughesNet's broadband internet service requires a satellite antenna and a modem. You can buy this equipment from HughesNet, or you can just lease it. Either way, it'south going to be pricey.

How much does HughesNet equipment cost?

Leased or purchased	Price	Setup fee	Price over 2 yrs
Leased antenna and modem	$14.99/mo. (for 24 mos)	$99.00	$458.76
Purchased antenna and modem	$449.98 (equipment and installation)	None	$449.98

Data effective 12/xiii/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

At the end of ii years, your $fourteen.99 monthly equipment fee adds upward to $359.76, which is delightful compared to the $449.99 purchase fee.

Just that full doesn't take into account the $99 setup fee, which is waived if you purchase your equipment. If you lease, you'll cease upward paying that activation fee, bringing your 2-year rental fee total to $458.76. So at that bespeak . . . maybe just purchase information technology outright.

Return your rental equipment on time!

If yous cancel your contract early, make sure you return your equipment by post within 45 days. If you lot filibuster or don't return your equipment, HughesNet will charge you $300. Yikes!

In one case you've decided betwixt renting and leasing your equipment, y'all should get the option to schedule installation. And this is definitely a job y'all desire the pros to take care of, no matter how handy you are.

HughesNet uses 3rd-party contractors to install your satellite antenna and modem. That means the contractors don't work straight for HughesNet, so the quality of your customer service is a fleck of an unknown. But your installer will be able to find the right spot, angle, and height for your dish to catch the best signal.

Remember: Installation can take effectually four hours, so cake out at least half your day.

Service fees

HughesNet charges a $99 activation fee if you lot lease your equipment. Depending on how long you plan to keep your service, that could be another reason to buy your equipment outright.

Installation fee: If y'all lease your equipment, there's a $99 activation fee. If you buy your equipment, installation is included and the activation fee is waived.

As for early termination fees, if you lot cut your HughesNet contract short, expect to pay out the wazoo for it.

Early termination fee:You'll pay $85 minimum if you abolish your service early on, and depending on when yous cancel, you could pay upwards to $400.

The early on termination fee decreases the longer yous go on your service. But the lowest you'll possibly pay to cancel is $85, which is all the same a decent clamper of change.

If you cancel earlier your equipment is installed, HughesNet says it'll refund what you paid when you placed your social club. But if your equipment is already installed and y'all decide to cancel your internet service only xc days or less into your 2-twelvemonth contract, there'll exist a large honkin' $400 cancellation fee heading your fashion.

This is ane of the reasons we dislike contracts so much. Who can know for certain they won't need to cease their service early on? Life happens.

And even if you abolish afterwards those first 90 days, you'll withal owe a hefty amount: $400 minus $15 for each month you've kept your service. Ugh.

Customer service

HughesNet's client service is lackluster—just like every other internet provider

Read a HughesNet review or two and you lot'll find some unhappy campers.

Sadly, the aforementioned is true for pretty much every net service provider (ISP). In the latest American Customer Satisfaction Alphabetize (ACSI) report, the industry average was 65 out of 100.²

That's a D grade.

HughesNet itself didn't receive a rating, just instead was rated in the category of "All Others" by the ACSI. Have that equally y'all will—we call back at that place's a good chance HughesNet has work to do on the customer service front.

HughesNet customer service rating

Rating	HughesNet score
ACSI 2020–2021	62 out of 100 ("All Others")

If you lot demand to contact HughesNet client back up, you've got a few options:

Online support middle
Support forum
Facebook: @HughesNet
Twitter: @HughesNet

If you're stuck with no other solution merely to phone call HughesNet, our customer service tips volition assistance keep yous cool as a cucumber.

Recap: Is HughesNet loftier-speed satellite internet good?

HughesNet is a expert pick if you don't need lots of speed and want to avoid price hikes

Satellite internet is never mind-blowing, but HughesNet offers consistent speeds across the state. Plus, information technology won't throw any mid-contract toll gotchas your way.

For now, HughesNet's prices, speeds, and data caps stake in comparison to Viasat. But the launch of its next satellite (hopefully in belatedly 2022) should see improvements across the lath.

Prices and plans:HughesNet scores points in our books for transparent plans and pricing. But y'all'll pay a higher price compared to Viasat.
Speed: We wish HughesNet offered more ane download speed of 25 Mbps. Still, this is enough speed to check emails and even stream a lilliputian too.
Contracts, equipment, and fees: HughesNet plans come with a two-year contract, which is pretty standard. And depending on how long you plan to keep your service, information technology may be worth forking over the money to purchase your HughesNet equipment.
Customer service: No internet provider earns a golden medal for customer service. We'd love to run across HughesNet and others better.

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Data constructive 05/19/2022. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject area to change.

Meet all rural internet options nigh you lot.

Written by

Catherine McNally

Catherine has a degree in journalism and an MBA, and has spent the terminal x+ years writing everything from Okinawa travel guides to stories on Medium. She'due south been online since AOL CDs were a thing and is an unapologetic PC gamer. She believes the cyberspace is a necessity, not a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to assistance everyone stay connected. You lot can also find her on Twitter: @CMReviewsIt.