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Starlink vs HughesNet

Measured speed and lag, data rules, price, contract and equipment, side by side with dates, plus who should pick which.

Updated Facts checked 14 min read By Starlink Switch USA

Rectangular Starlink dish on a mount at the ridge of a green metal roof on an old wooden post office building
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 4.0

Answer first · current to

In the Starlink vs HughesNet match-up, Starlink wins on almost every measure in Ookla’s US tests for Q1 2026: typical lag of 39 ms against 674 ms, and downloads of 127.39 Mbps against 48.55 Mbps. Starlink’s home plans also have no monthly data allowance.

HughesNet can still be the better pick if trees block most of your sky (its dish needs only a gap to the south), or if your contract ends soon and the fee for leaving is high. HughesNet’s advertised price starts at $39.99/mo for the first year; Starlink sets its price by your address.

Starlink vs HughesNet for US homes
What we compareStarlinklow-orbit satellitesHughesNetgeostationary satellites
Typical downloadmeasured, Ookla, US median, Q1 2026127.39 Mbps48.55 Mbps
Typical uploadmeasured, Ookla, US median, Q1 202621.46 Mbps4.1 Mbps
Typical lag (latency)measured, Ookla, US median, Q1 2026; lower is better39 ms674 ms
Advertised speedwhat the provider saysStarlink's Specifications expect 80–100 Mbps download on Residential 100 and 80–200 Mbps on Residential 200, 15–35 Mbps upload on both, and send you to the coverage map for Residential Max.Up to 100 Mbps download and up to 5 Mbps upload, depending on the plan.
DataUnlimited data on every Residential plan. Speeds can slow at busy times.Each plan has a monthly amount of Priority Data; after it runs out you keep unlimited Standard Data, which may be slower than other traffic at busy times.
Monthly priceSet by address: US Residential prices vary by region, and starlink.com hides Residential prices until you type in an address.From $39.99/mo for the first 12 months (Lite, promotional). Regular price: about $49.99 (Lite) to $89.99 (Elite) a month after the first 12 months, with bank autopay; Fusion's regular price isn't published without an address.
EquipmentBuy the kit for $349, or rent it where offered: a one-time $0, $99 or $199 set by address and plan (the $99 adds professional installation; the $199 is a rental kit that includes it).Hughesnet equipment is either leased for a monthly fee, with free standard installation for new lease customers, or bought upfront together with installation. Lease fee: about $9.99 to $19.99 a month, as reported by SatelliteInternet.com; Hughesnet shows its own lease fee only for a street address.
InstallationYou set it up yourself with the Starlink app. Professional installation is an option at checkout.A HughesNet technician installs and aims the dish.
ContractMonth-to-month with no long-term contract (some offers excepted). Check the order summary for any term.24 months (Select, Elite, Fusion) or 12 months (Lite).
Fee to leave earlyNone on month-to-month service.Up to $400, falling $15 a month after the first 90 days. Calculator
If you change your mindA kit bought on starlink.com and sent back undamaged inside 30 days of your Payment Due Date earns a full refund, first month's fee included.Cancel before installation and Hughes refunds what it collected when you ordered. After that, the fee applies.
Equipment back when you leaveBought kit: yours to keep. After you cancel, a rented kit has 30 days to reach Starlink in good condition; otherwise you're billed its full retail price.Leased modem and radio within 45 days, or $300 ($500 on Fusion).
Sky it needsA wide view: the dish has a 110° field of view. Starlink wants as much open sky as it can get, though a dish with part of its view blocked often still works.An open line of sight to the southern sky, because the dish points at one satellite parked over the equator.
Where you can get itStarlink says plan offerings vary with network capacity, regulatory approval and local demand, and some plans may not be available in your area.The contiguous U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico; Fusion only in the contiguous U.S.
Home phoneNo Starlink Residential plan includes home phone or voice service; Starlink sells internet service.Hughesnet sells Hughesnet Voice, a home phone add-on with its own 24-month commitment and a fee of $10 for each month left if you cancel early.
Measured rows: Ookla (Speedtest Intelligence), crowd-sourced tests, US medians for Q1 2026, all plans mixed. Everything else comes from each provider’s own pages on the dates listed under Sources, except HughesNet’s lease fee (reported by SatelliteInternet.com) and its price after the first year (our arithmetic from HughesNet’s promotions).

Why is the speed and lag gap so large?

Typical lag, Ookla, US median, Q1 2026

Starlink
39 ms
HughesNet
674 ms

Starlink’s median lag was about 17 times lower than Hughesnet's and about 19 times lower than Viasat's; its median download was about 2.6 times Hughesnet's and about 3.1 times Viasat's (our arithmetic from Ookla’s figures).

Lag (latency) is the pause between a click and the first reply. It decides whether a video call feels like a conversation and whether an online game is playable. Download speed decides how fast a page or a show loads once it starts.

The gap comes from distance. HughesNet’s satellites sit about 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above the equator. Starlink’s satellites orbit roughly 340 to 570 km (about 210 to 355 miles) up, depending on the orbital shell. Every request goes up to a satellite and down to a ground station, and the reply comes back the same way. For HughesNet that trip takes at least about 477 ms at the speed of light alone (our arithmetic), before any equipment adds its own delay. For Starlink, it’s about 5 to 8 ms of pure travel time for a satellite straight overhead.

How far the signal travels: old satellite compared with StarlinkSide view of one home and two signal paths. Old satellite service such as HughesNet or Viasat sends each request up about 35,786 km (22,236 miles) to a geostationary satellite and down to a ground station, and the reply returns the same way. Starlink's low-orbit satellites are only a few hundred km up, so the trip is far shorter. The drawing is not to scale.not to scaleOld satellite(HughesNet, Viasat)about 35,786 km /22,236 miles upStarlink(low orbit)a few hundred km upyour homeground stationground station
Each click climbs to a satellite, drops to a ground station, and the reply makes the same trip back. Old satellites orbit about 60 to 105 times higher than Starlink’s, so that trip takes longer.

Hughes says much the same. It told the bankruptcy court that its satellites add a round-trip delay of about 600 ms. Hughes told the court that low-orbit satellites deliver latency typically in the range of 20 to 40 milliseconds. Starlink says that in June 2025 its US median latency at peak hours was 25.7 ms, and under 1% of US readings topped 55 ms. Why old satellite internet lags

One Starlink limit to know about: Residential gets IPv4 through CGNAT, so no public IPv4 address and no inbound IPv4 connections (a public IPv4 is offered only on Local and Global Priority plans), while native IPv6 works on every plan. That matters if you host game servers or reach home cameras from outside.

Data: Priority Data vs unlimited data

HughesNet: each plan has a monthly amount of Priority Data; after it runs out you keep unlimited Standard Data, which may be slower than other traffic at busy times. Plans include 100 GB of Priority Data a month on Lite and Select, 200 GB on Elite and Fusion (as reported by SatelliteInternet.com; HughesNet shows each plan’s amount only for an address). Use between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. doesn't count against Priority Data, and video streams at up to 480p (“DVD quality”) under the Video Data Saver.

Starlink: unlimited data on every Residential plan. But speeds can slow during network congestion and peak hours, Residential 100 and 200 Mbps slow down sooner than Residential Max, and Starlink may cut the speed of households that use far more than a typical home. Starlink’s peak hours are 6 pm to 11 pm local time.

How each plan treats your monthly dataHughesNet: normal speed up to a monthly allowance, then slower. Each plan has a monthly amount of Priority Data; after it runs out you keep unlimited Standard Data, which may be slower than other traffic at busy times. Starlink Residential: no allowance, but it can slow at busy times. Unlimited data on every Residential plan, but speeds can slow at busy times.normal speedslowerHughesNetslower after the allowanceEach plan has a monthly amount of Priority Data;after it runs out you keep unlimited StandardData, which may be slower than other traffic atbusy times.Starlink Residentialcan slow at busy timesUnlimited data on every Residential plan, butspeeds can slow at busy times.
Each bar is one month of data use, left to right. Rules as each provider describes them on its own pages.

In practice: a household that streams in the evening, works from home or downloads game updates tends to run through HughesNet’s Priority Data. On Starlink the same household has no allowance to watch, though evening speeds can dip in busy areas. Data caps compared in detail

What does each one cost?

HughesNet advertises plans from $39.99/mo for the first 12 months, with a bank autopay discount of $5/mo already counted. Our arithmetic for the regular price: about $49.99 (Lite) to $89.99 (Elite) a month after the first 12 months, with bank autopay; Fusion's regular price isn't published without an address. Leased equipment adds about $9.99 to $19.99 a month, as reported by SatelliteInternet.com; Hughesnet shows its own lease fee only for a street address. Hughes says a plan's monthly service fee won't change for 2 years.

Starlink sets home prices by address: US Residential prices vary by region, and starlink.com hides Residential prices until you type in an address. Press checks found Residential prices up to 20% above or below the standard price, depending on the address. With no address entered, Starlink’s US national order list showed Residential 100 Mbps at $49.50, 200 Mbps at $76.50 and Max at $143 a month on Nov 3, 2026; prices vary by address, and starlink.com shows yours once you enter it. Buying the kit costs $349, or you can rent one where Starlink offers that. Before you pay, the order summary lists the monthly price, the kit, shipping and taxes for your address.

The fair comparison for your home: HughesNet’s price after the promotion plus the lease fee, against the monthly figure starlink.com quotes for your address. If you’re still under a HughesNet contract, add the fee for leaving. Every cost of switching, added up · HughesNet fee calculator

Sky view: where each one works

HughesNet needs an open line of sight to the southern sky, because the dish points at one satellite parked over the equator. One clear line through the trees is enough. Starlink needs much more of the sky: its dish has a 110° field of view, and Starlink wants as much open sky as it can get, though a dish with part of its view blocked often still works. A spot that works for HughesNet can fail for Starlink, especially with tall trees to the north. Check your spot with the Starlink app before you order. Can Starlink go where the HughesNet dish is?

Weather: Starlink says a downpour, heavy snow or hail may drop the connection for a short spell, and service should return when the weather clears.

Home phone service

HughesNet: Hughesnet sells Hughesnet Voice, a home phone add-on with its own 24-month commitment and a fee of $10 for each month left if you cancel early. Starlink: no Starlink Residential plan includes home phone or voice service; Starlink sells internet service. If you switch, move your number to a mobile or VoIP phone service before you cancel HughesNet, because cancelling Hughesnet internet also cancels Hughesnet Voice, and both termination fees can apply. Keeping your phone number

Who should pick which?

Starlink is usually the better pick if:

  • you make video calls, play online games, stream in the evening or upload photos and video;
  • you run out of Priority Data most months, or plan your downloads around the night-time window;
  • the Starlink app shows open sky at a spot where you can mount the dish;
  • you’re out of contract, or the fee for leaving is small.

Reality check

HughesNet, or waiting, is the better pick if…

  • Trees or hills block most of your sky, and the Starlink app finds no clear spot. HughesNet needs only one gap to the south.
  • Your HughesNet term ends within a month or two. The fee shrinks every month and ends with the term.
  • You mostly email and browse, and HughesNet’s price after the promotion, plus the lease fee, comes out lower than the Starlink price for your address.
  • T-Mobile or Verizon 5G home internet reaches your address and holds up in the evening. It usually costs less, and both cover part of a fee for leaving HughesNet: T-Mobile up to $750 on a prepaid card, Verizon up to $500 as a bill credit, with conditions.
  • Cable or fiber reaches your road, or a funded fiber build for your address is due within about a year. Wait and compare then.

Switching from HughesNet: the short version

Keep HughesNet running until Starlink has proved itself. In order: check your fee for this month, check the sky, order, set Starlink up next to HughesNet, test both on busy evenings, move any HughesNet Voice number, and only after that call HughesNet to cancel. Every step, with what to say and what to send back: Switching from HughesNet to Starlink, step by step.

HughesNet switchers ask

Is Starlink better than HughesNet?

For speed, lag and data, yes, in Ookla’s US medians for Q1 2026: Starlink’s typical lag was 39 ms against 674 ms for HughesNet, and Starlink’s home plans carry no monthly data allowance. HughesNet can still be the better choice at a home where Starlink can’t see enough sky, or while the fee for leaving a HughesNet contract is high and the term ends soon.

Why is Starlink’s lag so much lower than HughesNet’s?

Distance. HughesNet’s satellites hold one spot over the equator and are about 60 to 105 times farther away than Starlink's satellites, so each request and reply travels much farther before a page starts to load. That delay is what makes video calls stutter and online games lag on HughesNet, whatever the plan’s download speed. The full explanation

Is Starlink cheaper than HughesNet?

It depends on your address. HughesNet starts at $39.99/mo for the first 12 months, then rises, and may add a lease fee. With no address entered, Starlink’s US national order list showed Residential 100 Mbps at $49.50, 200 Mbps at $76.50 and Max at $143 a month on Nov 3, 2026; prices vary by address, and starlink.com shows yours once you enter it. Set that against HughesNet’s price after the promotion, plus the lease and any early-exit fee.

Does Starlink have a data cap like HughesNet?

No monthly allowance: Starlink lists unlimited data on every Residential plan, while HughesNet gives 100 GB of Priority Data a month on Lite and Select, 200 GB on Elite and Fusion. There is still a catch on Starlink: speeds can slow during network congestion and peak hours, Residential 100 and 200 Mbps slow down sooner than Residential Max, and Starlink may cut the speed of households that use far more than a typical home. Data limits compared

Does bad weather hit Starlink harder than HughesNet?

Not in a way that should decide it. Starlink says a downpour, heavy snow or hail may drop the connection for a short spell, and service should return when the weather clears. Its dish is built to melt falling snow, so a snowy night rarely needs a trip outside. HughesNet dishes can also drop out in heavy rain, so weather alone is rarely the reason to stay or to switch.

Does the Hughes Chapter 11 case change this comparison?

Not much. As of the latest filings we read, Hughes is in Chapter 11, and Hughes says there is no impact to customers and it expects no disruption to service. Its service and its contracts carry on, so an early termination fee and the equipment return still apply if you leave. Switch because Starlink fits your home better, not out of fear the service is about to stop. What we know

Is Starlink better than HughesNet for gaming and video calls?

Yes, by a wide margin, because for both lag matters more than download speed. In Ookla’s Q1 2026 US medians, Starlink’s lag was 39 ms and HughesNet’s 674 ms. At geostationary distances most online games feel delayed and video calls talk over each other; at Starlink’s, both behave much like a wired line. Why

Where these facts come from

We took every figure and rule on this page from the pages below; the oldest reading dates from . Terms move often, so confirm with the provider before you cancel or order.

  1. 5G Home Internet (Verizon)Verizon · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  2. CODATA Value: speed of light in vacuumNational Institute of Standards and Technology · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  3. Declaration of Robert Del Genio in Support of Chapter 11 Petitions and Requests for First Day Relief (Doc 4)U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas (filed by Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation) · published Aug 2, 2026 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  4. Early Termination Fees and Other Important Terms (customers who subscribed on or after July 8, 2025)Hughes Network Systems, LLC · published Jul 8, 2025 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  5. FCC Gives SpaceX Approval for 7,500 More Starlink Gen2 SatellitesVia Satellite · published Jan 12, 2026 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · secondary source
  6. Hughes Update: Transforming Hughes for the Future (FAQ)Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation · published Aug 3, 2026 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  7. Hughesnet Fair Access Policy (customers who subscribed on or after Dec 19, 2023)Hughes Network Systems, LLC · published Dec 19, 2023 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  8. Hughesnet Internet Reviews: Plans, Prices, and Speeds ComparedSatelliteInternet.com (Andreas Rivera) · published Nov 18, 2025 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · secondary source
  9. Hughesnet PromotionsHughes Network Systems, LLC · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  10. Hughesnet Subscriber Agreement (new services ordered on or after July 8, 2025)Hughes Network Systems, LLC · published Jul 8, 2025 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  11. Hughesnet Voice Service AddendumHughes Network Systems, LLC · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  12. Hughesnet: Satellite Internet for Rural AmericaHughes Network Systems, LLC · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  13. Ookla's 2026 US Starlink speed reportOokla · published May 5, 2026 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  14. Residential Satellite Internet PlansHughes Network Systems, LLC · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  15. RV Mobile Internet on Starlink's address-based price test (Oct 2026)published Oct 30, 2026 · checked Nov 2, 2026 · secondary source
  16. Standard 4 X spec sheet (PDF)Starlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  17. Starlink network update pageStarlink · published Jul 14, 2025 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  18. Starlink plan descriptions (US legal document)Starlink · published Oct 8, 2026 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  19. Starlink specifications (US legal document)Starlink · published Mar 11, 2026 · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  20. Starlink support: contract questionchecked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  21. Starlink support: first-time setupStarlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  22. Starlink support: IP addressesStarlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  23. Starlink support: moving your service addresschecked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  24. Starlink support: obstruction check before installStarlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  25. Starlink support: plan eligibilitychecked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  26. Starlink support: Residential plansStarlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  27. Starlink support: returning a kitchecked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  28. Starlink support: the referral programchecked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  29. Starlink support: weather and serviceStarlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  30. Starlink terms of service (US)published Aug 6, 2026 · checked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  31. starlink.com front page as a US visitor with no addresschecked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  32. Starlink's US Residential price list (no address)checked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  33. Starlink's US Roam price list (no address)checked Nov 2, 2026 · primary source
  34. T-Mobile Home InternetT-Mobile USA · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  35. Types of orbitsEuropean Space Agency · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source
  36. Why are my speeds slow outside or during peak hours? (Starlink help center)Starlink · checked Nov 3, 2026 · primary source

Checking method: each price, fee and rule here links to the provider’s or regulator’s own page, dated the day we read it. No internet provider pays for a place on this site; the only income is the Starlink referral explained on our money page. Our fact-checking · How we make money · Corrections

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