For people living in rural areas where regular home internet is hard to find, Viasat internet service could be a good choice. Viasat offers satellite internet that is usually faster than DSL and fixed wireless options. Although satellite internet is often seen as expensive and has limited data, Viasat is changing this view. Their latest plan includes options to cover contract buyouts and remove data caps. However, before you sign up for Viasat, it’s important to know the costs, benefits, and drawbacks of using this satellite internet provider.
Understanding Viasat's Satellite Internet Service
Viasat is a satellite internet provider. They offer internet service to homes and businesses across the US. Unlike cable or fibre internet, which needs many underground cables, satellite internet sends internet signals from satellites to a dish at your home.
This means satellite internet is available almost everywhere in the lower 48 states, Alaska, and Hawaii. However, there is one main challenge for all internet providers that use satellite technology, including Viasat: latency. Latency is the delay in milliseconds for data to travel. All satellite internet services, including Viasat's, have high latency because the data has to travel a long distance to get to where it needs to go.
The Basics of Viasat Internet Plans
Viasat plans have seen big changes recently. In the past, Viasat had many different plans. But now, by late 2024, they only have one residential plan: Viasat Unleashed. This plan is easy to understand. Viasat gives customers the fastest download speeds for their address, up to 150 Mbps, along with unlimited data.
The price for this plan changes depending on where you live and the speeds Viasat can deliver to you. If you are in a place where speeds are slower, like capped at 25 Mbps, you will pay much less each month than someone who can get speeds of 100 Mbps. Other things, like equipment costs, can make your total bill higher, but your location mainly affects your overall costs.
Viasat speeds are generally slower when compared to other internet providers. Most cable internet plans usually start at about 200 Mbps, and many fibre internet options provide speeds over 1,000 Mbps.
Coverage and Availability in the United States
To get Viasat service, just provide your zip code. The company will quickly check if its satellite internet is available at your address and let you know what speeds you can expect. Viasat has a wide service area that covers the entire continental US, so availability is rarely an issue.
Even people in remote areas can use Viasat. The company focuses on providing internet service to places where other internet providers may not reach. Since Viasat uses satellites, your physical location matters less than things like trees or plants that might block the signal.
Your address does not change the price or availability of a Viasat plan. However, it will affect the internet speeds you can get. In some places, you might only have access to slower speeds (around 12 Mbps), while in other areas, you could enjoy speeds up to 150 Mbps.
Breaking Down Viasat Cost Per Month
Viasat has made its pricing easier in recent years. They moved from many complex plans with different data limits and speeds to a simple plan that offers unlimited data. Now, instead of charging more for faster speeds, they charge you based on the speeds you can get at your home.
A customer who can get 100 Mbps download speeds will pay more than someone with only 50 Mbps. Still, both customers can enjoy unlimited data. However, if either customer uses more than 850GB of data in 30 days, their speeds might slow down.
Overview of Plan Options and Pricing
As of late 2024, Viasat offers a single plan, Viasat Unleashed, to its satellite internet customers. However, the price you will pay for this plan will vary based on the speeds Viasat can deliver to your location. The company’s website is a bit unclear regarding the actual starting price for a Viasat Unleashed plan, but at minimum, expect to pay around $100 per month, with some customers paying closer to $150 depending on their location.
Viasat Unleashed
Analyzing the Value: What You Get for Your Money
Value can mean different things to different people. It changes based on what a customer needs and their budget. For Viasat, value can be seen in relation to other rural internet options. When you compare Viasat internet to DSL or fixed wireless, Viasat is often more expensive. You might find some DSL providers offer similar speeds at lower costs depending on your area.
If you can only get DSL speeds of 25 Mbps or slower, or fixed wireless isn't an option nearby, Viasat provides good value with download speeds up to 150 Mbps. Just remember, you'll pay more each month for this service. Customer satisfaction is another important factor to think about when looking at Viasat and other internet service providers.
Sadly, recent data from sources like the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power doesn’t give much insight into how happy customers are. Data from the Better Business Bureau shows a worrying situation. Nearly 2,000 complaints are lodged with the BBB, and Viasat has a low rating of 1.04. This indicates that Viasat customers have a lot of complaints.
Additional Costs to Consider with Viasat
Monthly internet bills can be quite high, often around $150 or more. There are also extra costs with Viasat to think about. For instance, equipment fees and installation charges may surprise customers. This is especially true for those who have dealt with an older provider with outdated rules.
But let's be clear, Viasat isn't the only internet provider that asks for a lot of money to get online. Many big internet providers also have hidden fees. One common fee is for equipment rental. This is basically another way to increase their profits.
Installation Fees and Equipment Costs
Viasat has some upfront costs that you need to think about. First, you might have to pay for installation and equipment. You can rent Viasat's modem/router combo for $15 each month. Alternatively, you can buy it outright for a one-time payment of $250. By purchasing it, you won't have to pay monthly fees anymore. Choose whether to rent or buy based on what fits your needs, but keep in mind that renting will cost you more in the long run.
Another important upfront cost is the installation fee. Some customers in specific areas can get professional installation for free. However, others may have to pay hundreds of dollars based on their credit history. If you prefer, you can try installing the equipment yourself. Just remember that Viasat uses a satellite dish for its internet service, so you will be placing a big, heavy dish on your roof.
In the end, it might be better to pay for professional installation. Make sure you talk about the costs with Viasat before starting the service. This way, you can avoid any unexpected fees or surprises.
Potential Extra Charges and How to Avoid Them
Viasat is different from other companies because it does not charge extra for more data. With the Viasat Unleashed plan, there are no data caps. If you go over the soft data limit of 850GB in a month, Viasat will slow down your speeds instead. To keep your speed up, Viasat suggests spreading out big uploads or downloads. You should also try to only stream in standard definition or avoid heavy data use during busy times.
The Viasat Unleashed plan is better than older plans. Those plans charged an early termination fee if you ended your contract early. The Unleashed plan has no contract. This means you can sign up for just one month. If you decide it is not right for you, you can cancel without any fees.
But be aware that if you leave Viasat and don't return the equipment, there is a big "unreturned equipment fee." If you rented the equipment, that fee could be up to $250. To avoid this cost, just return your equipment on time and keep the original packaging.
Comparing Viasat Plans: Finding Your Perfect Fit
With just one Viasat plan available, it is easy to find the right one for your home. All you need to do is give Viasat your home address. They will quickly let you know if you qualify for the Viasat Unleashed plan and what speeds you can expect.
Viasat does not require contracts for residential customers any more This means you can try the service without any worry. This is different from before when Viasat had two-year contracts with high fees for ending early.
Plan Features and Speeds Explained
The best thing about Viasat's Unleashed plan is that it has unlimited data. In the past, Viasat's plans had data limits like other satellite services such as Hughesnet. These limits were often called "unlimited," but they had catches. Once customers used up their monthly data, download speeds would slow down a lot.
Viasat has changed this frustrating rule by offering what they call "virtually unlimited data." Different from other satellite providers who have priority data, Viasat slows down speeds for all customers if they go over a certain monthly data limit. Viasat says that customers using less than 850 GB of data a month won't see any drops in speeds.
But remember, satellite internet speeds are usually slower than DSL or fibre internet in most places. If you go over that soft data cap, you might face very slow speeds, making your connection almost impossible to use.
Best Plans for Different User Needs
When thinking about satellite internet for your home internet options, you should consider speeds and data limits. This is important based on how much your household uses the internet. For instance, a single person working from home on a budget might do well with a DSL internet plan.
However, a big family that streams, games, and uses video conferencing may need to look at other rural internet options. This could be fixed wireless or, if it's available, 5G home internet. The right internet plan for you will depend on what's offered at your address and your budget.
In many rural areas, Viasat might be one of the few ways to connect. If that’s your only option, be ready for some satellite internet issues, like high latency, possible service interruptions, and higher prices for slower speeds compared to other internet types.
The Impact of No Data Caps on Your Monthly Bill
Viasat's decision to remove data caps should not change your monthly bill. Your bill is based on the download speeds available in your area, not the amount of data you use. Before this change, Viasat, like Hughesnet, charged customers extra fees if they went over their data limit.
Now, without data caps, there will be no extra fees. However, it's important to remember that Viasat's unlimited data has a rule. If you use more than 850GB in a month, your speeds may slow down for the rest of that month.
Understanding Unlimited Data Options
Unlimited data sounds great, especially if you're moving from a provider that limits your data each month. But when it comes to internet service, "unlimited" often isn't quite what it seems. Most internet providers, except for fibre internet, may slow your speeds if you regularly go over a certain amount of data.
Viasat is clear about this in the details of its Viasat Unleashed plan. It says that if you use more than 850GB of data in a month, you might experience slower speeds. It’s not clear how Viasat figures this out, but if you keep your data usage below 850GB each month, you should avoid slower internet speeds.
If you're worried about going over Viasat's 850GB soft data cap, you can easily check your usage. Most router management apps, including the one from Viasat, will show you a real-time view of your data. This way, you can see how much data you are using each month and find out which devices are using the most data.
How Unlimited Data Affects Streaming and Browsing
Viasat's unlimited data plan is good for light browsing or streaming in a typical home. Most families use about 590GB of data each month, based on OpenVault's data. This means they can stay well under Viasat's limit of 850GB. However, homes that watch a lot of 4K content or make many video conferencing calls might come close to this limit by the end of the month.
If you plan to stream in high definition or 4K, pay attention to your data use. This way, you won’t be surprised if Viasat reduces your internet speed. Viasat warns that slowdowns can happen during busy times on the network. So, if you reach their soft data limit, light browsing or casual gaming might become very slow.
To prevent these annoying slowdowns, keep track of your data, especially as the month comes to an end. You can also turn off high-definition streaming on services like Netflix or Hulu. This helps ensure that your internet isn't overloaded by heavy media.
Viasat's Contract Terms and Conditions
Thankfully, understanding Viasat's contract terms is easy. Viasat no longer needs contracts for its home internet service. You can sign up for one month of Viasat. If you don't like the service, you can cancel without paying any early termination fees.
This no-contract option for internet service may not mean Viasat is being nice. It is probably a response to what its competitor, Starlink, is doing.
Contract Lengths and What They Mean for You
Contract lengths used to be normal with internet providers. These providers made customers sign a contract, often lasting one or two years, to keep their service. This helped them make money from loyal customers.
Yet, recently, many internet providers have stopped using contracts. They see that giving customers more freedom is important. It is smart for customers to steer clear of long contracts when possible because you can’t predict the future. Also, many providers do not refund service fees, so if you cancel early, you could lose a lot of money for a service you did not use.
This is not a problem with Viasat. The company offers a contract-free home internet service. You will not be tied to a long-term agreement. If you have issues with billing or customer service, you can easily move to another provider.
Early Termination Fees and How to Navigate Them
Early termination fees can be a big problem when you sign a long contract for services like a cell phone plan or home internet. In the past, if you wanted to cancel your Viasat service before your contract ended, you had to pay a large early termination fee (ETF).
The ETF amount changed based on how much time was left in your contract. It could be several hundred dollars, especially if you were only a few months in. Luckily, Viasat no longer has early termination fees for residential internet because they have removed contracts completely.
But you should still read the fine print. If you rent equipment from Viasat, you have to return it when you cancel your service. If you don’t return the equipment, you will have to pay a fee for not returning it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing the monthly cost of Viasat's satellite internet service is very important. It helps you choose the right plan for your needs and budget. Look at the different plan options, see what value you get, and remember to think about extra costs like installation fees. This way, you can make a smart choice. Since no data caps are affecting your bill, look into unlimited data options too. This can change how you stream and browse. Getting familiar with Viasat's contract terms can help your overall experience. Before you make your final choice, check your needs, compare plans, and think about how you use the internet. With Viasat's reliable service, you can stay connected easily.
