Viasat Plans & Pricing

Viasat Internet Availability

If you’ve ever gone stargazing and noticed a moving star that suddenly disappears, you might think it’s a UFO, but chances are it’s a satellite reflecting sunlight from over 22,000 miles away. That might not fit your uncle’s alien conspiracy theories, but it’s still an awe-inspiring piece of human engineering.

Viasat uses satellites like these to beam internet service to 327 million people in all 50 states, as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. With all this coverage, Viasat ranks as the second-largest satellite internet provider in the U.S. in terms of availability.

Viasat download speeds top out at 150 Mbps, which is slower than the max speed of most of its terrestrial competitors, but keep in mind that Viasat's signals go to space and back (which isn’t a short journey). Pricewise, Viasat internet plans start at $39.99 per month, though prices may change based on current Viasat deals and promotions.

Viasat Internet Connections

Viasat Internet Contracts and Data Caps

Signing a contract for internet service can feel like a slippery slope if you don't know whether you'll be staying in one place for the foreseeable future. With Viasat, you can choose one of the provider's Unleashed plans and get off scot-free without a contract. However, if you choose its Essentials plan, you'll be required to sign a 12-month contract. In our opinion, if you know you're staying in your home for a while, you won't have to worry. 

As with contracts, Viasat's data caps vary by plan. The Unleashed plan has unlimited standard and high-speed data. The Essentials plan comes with unlimited standard data and a 150 GB cap on high-speed data. If you go over your allotted monthly data, you won’t be charged a fee. Instead, you’ll experience slower internet while Viasat prioritizes users who haven’t gone over their monthly allotment yet.

Viasat Internet Customer Service

While Viasat isn't included in national surveys of internet providers, the ISP has a history of proactively responding to customer issues even when the occasional billing error or service disruption occurs. Some reviews we read noted high latency with Viasat, which is quite common with satellite internet. Others mention data throttling, particularly during peak hours or after reaching their monthly data limit. Again, this is par for the course on a satellite plan. 

Overall, Viasat has a fairly positive reception, with positive customer reviews appreciating the company's unlimited data options, no-contract plans, and widespread availability.

The Value of Viasat Internet

When it comes to Viasat, there are a lot of intricacies, including contracts, fees, plan options, and soft data caps. To help you sort through all these subtleties, here’s a list of pros and cons of Viasat internet:

For many people, Viasat is a shining light in a sea of darkness, where traditional wired internet providers don’t reach. We know how hard it can be to find quality internet in remote areas. While there are some drawbacks to satellite internet, Viasat offers a happy middle ground with no hard data caps, relatively quick speeds, and the option to bundle your internet with voice or satellite TV. If you live in a remote or rural area and need the internet to keep you connected to the outside world, then we recommend Viasat.