Best Satellite TV and Internet Providers 2023

Best Satellite Internet
Viasat
Viasat Internet
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
Starting from
$59.99
/mo
Best Satellite TV
Dish
DISH
4 out of 5 stars
4
Starting from
$79.99
/mo
Satellite Internet Runner-Up
HughesNet
HughesNet Internet
3 out of 5 stars
3
Starting from
$64.99
/mo
Satellite TV Runner-Up
Directv
DIRECTV
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
Starting from
$64.99
/mo
Catherine McNally
Editorial Lead, Internet & Gaming
March 28, 2023
3 min read

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We’ve reviewed and ranked the best satellite TV and satellite internet providers, so if you’re in the market for satellite TV and internet service, you came to the right place.



The best satellite internet providers 2023
Provider
Best for
Monthly price
Download speeds
Data cap
Learn more
Viasat
Best satellite internet$59.99-$299.99*12-150 MbpsUnlimited
HughesNet
Satellite internet runner-up$64.99-$174.9925-25 Mbps200 GB
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
* Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $12.99/mo. Taxes apply. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.
Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Pricing not available in all areas.
The best satellite TV providers 2023
Provider
Best for
Monthly price
Max channels
Learn more
Dish
Best satellite TV$79.99-$109.99290
Directv
Satellite TV runner-up$64.99-$154.99^340
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
All offers require credit qualification, 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay.
^ All prices include $5 Autopay & Paperless Bill discount, which may take 1-3 bill cycles to begin (pay $5 more per month until discount begins). New approved residential customers only. 24-mo. agreement required. Offers may be discontinued at any time.

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Look for the best satellite internet deals near you.

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Find great deals on DISH and DIRECTV in your area.

Viasat: Best satellite internet provider

Viasat offers the fastest internet speeds and most data

Between Viasat and HughesNet satellite internet, Viasat is the clear winner when it comes to the fastest possible download speeds. Viasat internet plans come with download speeds between 35-150 Mbps, compared to HughesNet's 15–50 Mbps speeds. To top it off, Viasat's data caps blow HughesNet's out of the water.

Viasat's plans come with unlimited standard data but keep in mind your speeds slow down if you use up your high-speed data allotment.

Viasat unlimited data plan prices
Plan
Price
Download speed
Data cap
Details
Discovery 25 Mbps/100GB$59.99/mo.°35 MbpsUnlimited
Discovery 50 Mbps/200GB$79.99/mo.°50 MbpsUnlimited
Discovery 100 Mbps/400GB$119.99/mo.°100 MbpsUnlimited
Discovery 150 Unlimited$159.99/mo.°150 MbpsUnlimited
Choice 25 Mbps/60 GB$99.99/mo.**Up to 25 MbpsUnlimited
Choice 50 Mbps/100 GB$99.99/mo.**Up to 50 MbpsUnlimited
Choice 30 Mbps/150 GB$149.99/mo.**Up to 30 MbpsUnlimited
° Installation fees, monthly equipment lease fees, and taxes may apply. After 100 GB of High-Speed Data usage, you still have unlimited access to Standard Data, which may result in slower speed.
** Prices and availability vary by location. Installation fees, monthly equipment lease fees, and taxes may apply. After 100 GB of High-Speed Data usage, you still have unlimited access to Standard Data, which may result in slower speed.

Speeds are up to and not guaranteed and will vary.

Find Viasat satellite internet prices in your area.

DISH: Best satellite TV provider

DISH offers great value and a variety of channels

DISH is known for consistent pricing with no hikes, plus excellent sports coverage. (Though you'll want to go with DIRECTV if you're after ESPN College Extra.)

DISH also beat out traditional cable companies like Xfinity and Verizon Fios—you can see our top TV provider picks here.

DISH satellite TV prices
Plan
Price
Available channels
Details
America's Top 120$79.99/mo.††190
America's Top 200$99.99/mo.††240+
America's Top 250$109.99/mo.††290+
†† All offers require credit qualification, 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
Find the best deals on DISH TV near you.

HughesNet: Satellite internet runner-up

HughesNet offers low-cost plans, but you're stuck with slow speeds and limited data

HughesNet satellite internet can be a great pick if you don't plan on streaming, gaming, or working from home.

Its cheapest plans are the best value, but you'll need to watch your data usage like a hawk. (And 15–25 Mbps download speeds are barely enough to keep one person online.)

HughesNet satellite internet prices
Name
Price
Download speed
Data cap
Details
15 GB$49.99/mo.‡‡15 Mbps15 Mbps
50GB$49.99/mo.25 Mbps50 Mbps
100 GB$74.99/mo.‡‡25 Mbps100 Mbps
200 GB$149.99/mo.‡‡25 Mbps200 Mbps
Fusion 100 GB$74.99/mo.‡‡25 Mbps100 Mbps
Fusion 200 GB$149.99/mo.‡‡50 Mbps200 Mbps
‡‡ Pricing for the first 6 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Pricing not available in all areas.
Find HughesNet internet plans in your area.

DIRECTV: Satellite TV runner-up

DIRECTV has more channels than DISH, but its price hikes might turn you away

DIRECTV makes you sign a two-year contract just like DISH, but it's the only satellite TV provider that bumps your price up after one year. (DISH won't until after two years.)

DIRECTV is one of only two service providers that offer ESPN College Extra, though DISH has more total sports channels.

DIRECTV prices
Plan
Price
Available channels
Details
ENTERTAINMENT All-Included$64.99/mo.^^165+
CHOICE™ All-Included$84.99/mo. for 24 months plus taxes and fees°°200+
PREMIER™ All-Included$154.99/mo. for 24 months plus taxes and fees°°340+
ÓPTIMO MÁS™$74.99/mo. for 24 months plus taxes and fees***205+
^^ w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
°° w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. and Regional Sports Fee up to $13.99/mo. are extra & apply.
*** w/ 24 mo. agmt. 2nd year price currently $98.99/mo. + tax & fees. Price subj. to change.
Find the best DIRECTV plan in your area.

Recap: The best satellite TV and internet providers 2023

Whether you're in need of rural satellite internet or want to flip through hundreds of satellite TV channels, Viasat satellite internet and DISH TV are the best.

  • Viasat: Best satellite internet. With download speeds up to 150 Mbps and unlimited data, Viasat outshines HughesNet.
  • DISH: Best satellite TV. DIRECTV may have more channels, but DISH is the better deal. Plus, sports fans will love the selection.
  • HughesNet: Satellite internet runner-up. If you just browse email and Facebook, HughesNet's 15–50 Mbps download speeds and low data caps might do the trick.
  • DIRECTV: Satellite TV runner-up. Despite a mid-contract price hike, DIRECTV could be right for you if you're looking for the most channels—or ESPN College Extra.

Why get satellite internet service?

pro
Pros
pro Available in rural areas
pro Speeds can rival DSL and cable internet
con
Cons
con High prices
con Low data caps

If you’re interested in satellite internet, it might be because there’s no other option for internet service in your area.

Thankfully, satellite internet has made strides to compete with the likes of cable internet and DSL. For example, if you’re looking for plans with download speeds of 5 to 25 Mbps, you’ll notice satellite internet pricing is comparable to some cable internet providers.

The biggest advantage to satellite internet is nationwide availability. If you live outside the suburbs or in a rural area, satellite internet is the best way (and maybe the only way) to get internet service.

Satellite internet isn’t as generous as cable internet when it comes to data allowance, but outside of multiplayer online gaming and working from home, satellite internet can cover most internet needs.

You might also find bundled internet + TV options which can save money on monthly bills, so make sure to ask if bundled options are available in your area.

Find out how Viasat, HughesNet, and Starlink all stack up in our  satellite internet providers review.

Find the best internet deals in your area.

Why get satellite TV?

pro
Pros
pro Available everywhere in the US
pro Satellite TV options for RVs
pro Great sports coverage
con
Cons
con High prices
con Two-year contract
con One-year price hike with DIRECTV

A two-year contract for satellite TV might seem like a disadvantage, but many other TV providers require contracts for one or two years as well, such as Comcast Xfinity. Plus, those TV providers that don’t require a contract are typically more expensive than satellite TV.

DIRECTV used to offer a free season of NFL Sunday Ticket, (you can get it from YouTube TV starting this fall), but other professional sports channels, like NFL Network, NHL Network, ESPN, and MLB Network, are available on DISH and DIRECTV.

Because satellite TV is available nationwide, you can get TV in the most remote of places, including your cabin in the woods. And if you want mobile TV, both DISH and DIRECTV have service for RVs and boats, so you can get satellite TV on the road or on the lake.

If you’re wondering what makes satellite TV unique, check out our rankings for the Best satellite TV providers.

Find the TV deals in your area.
Catherine McNally
Written by
Catherine McNally
Catherine has a degree in journalism and an MBA, and has spent the last 10+ years writing everything from Okinawa travel guides to stories on Medium. She’s been online since AOL CDs were a thing and is an unapologetic PC gamer. She believes the internet is a necessity, not a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to help everyone stay connected. You can also find her on Twitter: @CMReviewsIt.

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