Trying to choose the best satellite internet connection, but couldn’t decide which one to go for? Well, you may have heard the names Viasat and Starlink so often. These two ISPs are currently at the top of the service, with faster internet speed and unlimited data.
Starlink has gained so much popularity because of its LEO satellite network, and Viasat is available throughout the USA and its contiguous areas.
However, there are some key differences between these two ISPs, like their position, download speed, installation service, and service contracts.
Feeling a bit confused? To help you make a perfect decision, today we are going to break down the features and inform you about their detailed service plans.
Keep reading to learn more.
Starlink: Plans and Pricing
If you opt for Starlink, you will get 4 different plans. Let’s see all four plans and what they offer:
| Service plans and packages | Features | Price |
| Unlimited standard data 40GB, 1TB, or 2TB of priority data.Speed: 40-220Mbps+ | Unlimited data speed: 20-100Mbps | $120 per month$599 for hardware |
| Starlink priority Package: Starlink business fixed site | Unlimited standard data.40GB, 1TB, or 2TB of priority data.Speed: 40-220Mbps+ | $140-$500 per month.$2500 for hardware. |
| Starlink Mobile Package: Starlink roam | You get a global data plan, and the hardware is portable. Unlimited data.Speed: 40-220Mbps | $150/month for regional plans.$200/month for global plans.$599 for hardware |
| Starlink mobile priority Package: Starlink for boats, Starlink land mobility, and Starlink maritime | You can use the hardware while moving. Unlimited data with up to 5 TB of mobile priority data. | $250-$5,000 per month.$2500 for hardware. |
Now let’s talk about the Starlink satellite internet plans a bit:
- The standard plan is suitable for use in your homes, and it’s good for fulfilling your basic browsing needs.
- The Starlink Priority Plan is for business use or setup. Users who need faster speed can opt for this.
- If you have an RV or often go camping, the Starlink Mobile package is just what you need. Additionally, you may also opt for Starlink Mini, which is portable.
Ships and boats need the Starlink Mobile Priority package the most, where they keep traveling and need a faster internet connection.
Viasat: Plans and Pricing
Viasat has restructured and improved its satellite internet plans in 2024. Let’s see what they are offering:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Viasat Unleashed | Unlimited data with faster speed.Speed: 25-150Mbps | $99.99-$119.99 per month. |
Viasat vs Starlink: Equipment
A satellite internet connection needs some ground equipment. This equipment is provided by the ISP.
Now, let’s see what the terms and conditions of Starlink and Viasat are regarding their equipment:
Starlink Equipment Cost and Policy
If you are a Starlink customer, you have to buy their hardware with a one-time payment of $599. For high-performance hardware, the cost is $2,500. Apart from that, you have to pay the monthly charge as well.
But what would happen to the hardware if you wanted to cancel the Starlink satellite internet connection? You can return the device and get full cash back, but this policy is only for the first 30 days after buying the hardware.
If you want to cancel the connection after 30 days, you have to keep the hardware to yourself. But you can still sell the hardware to someone else who’s going to have a Starlink satellite internet connection.
Viasat Equipment Cost and Policy
Viasat gives away their hardware equipment as a lease. You can either pay $15 per month or make a one-time payment of $250 for the hardware. To get the Viasat equipment as a lease, you need to have a credit evaluation or check before you sign up.
You can also avoid the credit check option and pay $299.99 to completely buy the equipment. If you opt for the lease option and, for some reason, you want to cancel the connection, you have to return the equipment within 30 days after the cancellation.
Starlink vs Viasat: Add-Ons
Both Starlink and Viasat have some add-ons to complete their installation processes. Let’s take a look at them:
Add-Ons from Starlink
- Accessories for installation:
You will get several pieces of equipment to install the Starlink dish, including mounts, pole mounts, and cables. Starlink also provides routers for extended coverage.
- App:
The Starlink app is very necessary while installing and positioning the dish. You can monitor your network status and test your internet speed through the different tools provided by the app.
Add-Ons from Viasat
- Satellite Dish TV: You can enjoy the combination of satellite internet and television with Viasat. There are affordable price ranges for TVs and DVRs.
- Viasat Voice: This is an amazing home phone service from Viasat for their customers. You can connect this to your smartphone and landline.
- Office hours: This feature helps you do office activities or work from home with several apps. You can enjoy this between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. An interesting fact is that you can enjoy this without using your data, but you have to pay an additional $40 to avail of it.
Starlink vs Viasat: Speed Comparison
As we all know, Starlink and Viasat are two of the fastest satellite internet service providers. But who is the fastest among the two, and who offers the best possible speed?
Well, Viasat offers up to 150 Mbps of download speed. But the exact speed depends on the location you are currently in and some other factors. There are some areas where the download speed could be only 25 Mbps.
Talking about Starlink, it could provide a speed between 25 and 100 Mbps. It’s faster than Viasat, but the average speed depends on several factors, like user traffic, network traffic, signal strength, and weather. The speed may vary depending on the hours of the day.
Availability Comparison
You will get network coverage from Viasat almost in every corner of the USA. It’s available in all 50 states here. Recently, Viasat has planned to expand its territory to other parts of the world.
On the other hand, Starlink also covers most areas in the United States, which you can see on the availability map of Starlink. However, Starlink is also expanding its coverage in Asia and Europe.
Viasat vs. Starlink: Good for Home or Business?
So, which of these two satellite ISPs is the better option for you? Have you decided already? Wait a second; let’s find out for what purpose these ISPs are best—home use or office use?
Home Use
- Viasat: Viasat home plans are pretty good if you are someone who loves to work from home or someone who just needs to use the internet for browsing or video streaming.
- Starlink: Starlink Standard plan is the most suitable plan from the company for use at home. Like the other Starlink plans, this one also provides unlimited and fastest data.
Business Use
- Starlink: Starlink has pretty good plans for large businesses, especially maritime businesses. They have the fastest internet connection, even for the continuously moving ships and boats.
- Viasat: To be honest, there are no such large-scale data plans for larger businesses from Viasat. You can contact them for the service you want and ask them for the data and speed you require.
Do not forget to check out another similar comparison to gain more insight:
