Starlink vs Viasat
Starlink ranks higher on our formula, 42 to 26 on each provider's best plan. It is also cheaper over two years (from $61.46/mo all-in) and sells the faster top plan (220 Mbps).
Prices last checked September 2026.
Side by side
Starlink and Viasat compared
Real cost is the two-year monthly average with the promo step-up, equipment rental and installation folded in.
| Measure | Starlink | Viasat |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Satellite | Satellite |
| Fastest plan | 220 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
| Upload on fastest plan | 25 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Lowest advertised price | $49/mo | $100/mo |
| Lowest real cost | $61.46/mo | $100/mo |
| Price steps up after promo | No | No |
| Data caps | None | None |
| Contracts | None required | On some plans |
| Equipment fee | Included | Included |
| States served | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Our rating (best plan) | 42/100 | 26/100 |
Plans
Every plan from both
Starlink
SatelliteChecked Sep 11, 2026- Residential Lite100 Mbps · $49/mo · real $61.46
- Residential220 Mbps · $55/mo · real $69.54
Viasat
SatelliteNot yet checked- Unleashed 5050 Mbps · $100/mo · real $100
- Unleashed 100100 Mbps · $150/mo · real $150
Honest assessment
Where each one wins
Starlink
- Works at any address with a clear view of the sky
- 25–60 ms latency, unlike legacy satellite
- Unlimited data on residential plans
- Hardware costs $299–349 up front
- Busy areas add a one-time congestion surcharge at checkout
- Trees and roof angles matter a lot
Viasat
- Available at essentially every US address
- No hard data cutoff on Unleashed plans
- Free standard installation
- 600+ ms latency — video calls and gaming suffer
- Speeds slow during peak hours
- 24-month contract
Questions
Starlink vs Viasat, answered
Is Starlink or Viasat better?
Starlink ranks higher on our formula, 42 to 26 on each provider's best plan. It is also cheaper over two years (from $61.46/mo all-in) and sells the faster top plan (220 Mbps).
Which is cheaper, Starlink or Viasat?
Starlink has the lower real cost: $61.46 a month averaged over two years with fees included, against $100 for Viasat. The advertised entry prices are $49 for Starlink and $100 for Viasat.
Which is faster, Starlink or Viasat?
Starlink sells the faster top plan, at 220 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up. Viasat tops out at 100 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up. For most households upload speed matters more than the headline download figure.
Where can I get both Starlink and Viasat?
Both are sold in every state, which makes them the usual alternatives to each other wherever wired service is limited.
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