About HughesNet Vs. Starlink: When scouring for a service provider, location is often the main determinant, especially if you’re living in a rural area.
But satellite internet providers like Starlink and HughesNet have broken this barrier and opened up new possibilities.
Suppose you’re wondering what makes these two so significant.
In this article, we will look at the differences between Starlink and HughesNet, focusing on internet reliability, coverage, price, and overall performance.
HughesNet vs Starlink: Definition
Founded in 1971, HughesNet is a household name in satellite internet services. The company offers multiple connection plans to its customers in the United States.
Each plan is suited for different preferences, from live video streaming, web browsing and teleconferencing.
Starlink Internet is a newer provider and has quickly gained traction across the globe.
It offers satellite internet beyond the United States borders, providing reliably fast internet speeds.
Starlink has plans for homeowners, businesses, and government agencies. The variety of plans makes it a service provider worth counting on.
HughesNet vs Starlink: Performance
While both Starlink and HughesNet offer satellite internet services, they differ so much that we have to break it down.
Each company has pros and cons, so we’d recommend taking a closer look at the differences to reduce the burden of making that crucial choice. Let’s dive in!
Technology
Satellite train in space
HughesNet offers internet service through Geostationary satellites, whereas Starlink has Low Earth orbit satellites as the main point of contact.
Geostationary satellites are typically over 20,000 miles away from the Earth, which causes high latency during internet communications.
It makes Starlink’s low earth orbit satellites quite faster as they’re only about 500 miles from the earth’s surface.
Availability
Since HughesNet started operating a few decades ago, it has coverage across all 50 states in the US, including in rural areas.
Starlink is still struggling with rural area coverage in the United States, although it is available in most urban centers.
Speed and Latency
Wifi Logo Speed
Starlink offers impressive download speeds of up to 200 Mbps and upload speeds as high as 50 Mbps.
Of course, it will vary with the availability and location of the router. HughesNet offers lower internet speeds of up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps.
Due to the different satellites used, Starlink has a lower latency than HughesNest, which goes as much as 1000 ms.
Pros and cons of Starlink
Pros
- Zero data cap
- Zero installation charges
- Low latency
- Low earth orbit satellites
Cons
- Speed throttling
- Unsatisfactory customer care
- Expensive equipment
Pros and cons of HughesNet
Pros
- Rental option
- Non-peak data throttling
- Available in all 50 states
Cons
- High latency
- Poor performance in bad weather conditions
Plans and Price
Starlink offers a straightforward data plan with a monthly fee of $110 for residential and roaming customers.
Business and maritime subscriptions cost $500 per month. HughesNet has several plans, starting with $64.99 for 15 GB of data per month.
Other variations give 30 GB, 45GB, and up to 75 GB of data, which costs $159.99.
Installation
Man installing dish
HughesNet is pretty hands-on with its equipment, and they have gone a step ahead to ensure customers don’t get stuck installing devices.
The company offers free installation services if the device is on lease and $100 for every upfront purchase.
The $100 is sometimes waived, depending on the company’s policies. Starlink, however, has slacked on installation and does not offer free installation.
You must install every hardware or call a professional installation company.
Customer service
Unlike most reviewers online, we did not find Starlink’s customer experience satisfactory.
In this age of instant gratification, people are more focused on companies that attend to their needs as fast as possible. Starlink lacks some basic avenues, such as a live chat option.
The HughesNet is a step ahead and has a working phone number, email, and a live chat option for quick queries.
HughesNet vs Starlink: Stream Video
HughesNet has enough internet to stream videos up to 4K resolution, although it is set to stream at 480p to maintain data usage.
You can turn off these limits and enjoy 4K streaming with zero to minimal buffering.
Starlink easily streams 4K content from all platforms, such as YouTube, Netflix, or TikTok.
The speeds are high, and with its low latency, you’ll rarely get a buffer sign on your next stream.
HughesNet vs Starlink: Gaming
Man, on a gaming station
When we talk about gaming online, the most important factor is latency. It is a deal breaker among game streamers as they must be as accurate as possible in most games.
A slight delay can lead to losing points or even massive prizes in online tournaments.
Starlink is a great option for gaming as it offers both high internet speeds and low latency.
It is also well integrated to perform on the highest end of gaming consoles and PCs.
HughesNet, on the other hand, simply couldn’t offer high-quality online gaming, especially in games like Call of Duty and other combat games.
The service has an average latency of about 900 milliseconds, a huge drawback for games.
Interestingly, HughesNet suggests avoiding playing games that require input from another player or a corresponding type of play, such as chess or casino games.
HughesNet vs Starlink: Which One Should You Use?
Overall, Starlink looks more promising than HughesNet simply because of its Low earth orbit satellites that they intend to launch every year.
HughesNet will have difficulty keeping up if Starlink continues with this trend, and they may soon look for other avenues or adapt to the LOE technology.
Plus, Starlink is looking to revolutionize satellite internet with a Direct-to-Cell service set to begin early in 2024.
This service will allow customers to text calls and access data without app changes, network shifts, or firmware updates.
Using the power of IoT, this technology seems revolutionary at its best.
HughesNet still commands a huge market reach in the United States, and it may take a while before people adapt to Starlink.
They’re set to introduce the Gen6 satellites that’ll amplify internet speeds up to 50 Mbps and a download speed of 5 Mbps.
It is still a decent perspective, and if you’re not a gamer or heave-browser, we don’t see why you should switch to Starlink.
Conclusion
While all the bells and whistles point to Starlink, you should consider if you’re comfortable paying an extra $500 or $2,500 for hardware alone.
If you need basic internet at home with a few obligations or heavy browsing or video streaming, HughesNet can be a promising option.
The only downside to HughesNet is the data caps and limits, which can be inconvenient if you have a busy month at work or use data more than usual.
All in all, this guide has provided enough insights to differentiate between Stalrink and HughesNet.
The ultimate choice of better service depends on several factors and your preferences.