Hughesnet Business Internet Review
Set up shop and have your internet come to you.
available in Data effective 4/26/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Pricing for the first 6 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Pricing not available in all areas.
Our Hughesnet Business internet review
May 8, 2023 | Share
Hughesnet Business internet is a low-cost way to keep your business connected in areas where there’s not existing infrastructure. It can be crucial for running point-of-sale systems, maintaining internal web servers, or just keeping connected with remote employees.
Like most business internet services, Hughesnet Business gives business owners some perks that aren’t available in residential plans. Business plans come with more equipment maintenance options, the ability to purchase a static IP address, more customer support tailored specifically to business needs, and a larger, more powerful dish.
One notable drawback of Hughesnet business compared to other business internet plans is speed. Business internet plans usually offer higher speeds than residential plans to meet the needs of an office full of workers or a factory full of equipment. Unfortunately, Hughesnet’s business plans offer the same speed as its residential plans, 25Mbps. It also suffers from the standard issues of satellite internet, such as high latency and low data caps.
Pros:
- Wide availability
- Business support
- Optional static IP
Cons
- Low speeds
- Limited data
- High latency
Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts | Customer ratings | Hughesnet Business vs. the competition | Bottom line | FAQ
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Compare Hughesnet Business internet plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | View on Hughesnet site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business 30 | $84.99/mo. | 25Mbps | |
| Business 100 | $89.99/mo.* | 25Mbps | |
| Business 200 | $164.99/mo.* | 25Mbps |
Data effective 2/23/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Pricing for the first 6 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Pricing not available in all areas.
Hughesnet Business speeds: What’s best for you?
All Hughesnet plans have a download speed of 25Mbps. This can be a deal-breaker for those who require higher speeds for their business to function, but it makes choosing a plan more straightforward, as you only have to consider the pros and cons of cost vs data.
Hughesnet Business data caps
Hughesnet’s monthly data allowances range from 30GB to 200GB for business plans. With Hughesnet’s top speed of just 25Mbps (which we found to be much slower on average when testing residential plans), the data stretches further than you’d think. Additionally, many critical business functions like running a customer’s credit card don’t use large amounts of data.
Since data is the big expense decision with Hughesnet, it’s important to know how much data your business actually uses. Overestimating the amount of data you need can nearly double your monthly service costs.
Is Hughesnet Business internet available where you live?
Enter your zip code below to see the options available for business internet in your area.
Our favorite plan: Hughesnet Business 100.
If you’re using satellite internet for your business, it’s probably because you don’t have access to cheaper, faster options. While you ultimately have to make the best of what you have, it’s important to use your tools for what they’re best at.
Satellite internet like Hughesnet Business is an amazing tool for you to meet your customers where they are instead of making them come to you. It’s great for keeping locations like farms or construction sites connected to the rest of the company. It can even be a valuable backup connection in situations when going offline for even a few minutes could cost the company a lot of money.
There are also situations where satellite isn’t the solution. For example, many small businesses host their corporate websites on their own servers, but you definitely don’t want to try that over a satellite connection. Although a separate hosting service is an additional expenditure, it’s well worth it for both you and your customers. Satellite internet can be a powerful business tool, but it has specific use cases.
Hughesnet Business ongoing deals and promotions + bundles
Get the 50 GB Data Plan for solid speeds and a 50 GB chunk of data for $149.99 per month.
Hughesnet Business internet fees
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Installation fee | $99.00 |
| Equipment lease fee | $19.99/mo. |
| Equipment purchase | $449.98 |
Data effective 4/26/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Hughesnet’s business fees are fairly similar to its fees for residential internet. Not too many surprises, but still something to pay attention to when you’re comparing your options.
Hughesnet Business internet installation, equipment, and contracts
Satellite is already one of the more expensive ways to connect to the internet, but while most people are aware of its high monthly cost, it’s important to remember that satellite requires a substantial upfront investment as well.
Hughesnet Business installation and equipment
Satellite internet has relatively expensive equipment and long contracts. One slight perk of a business plan is that Hughesnet provides a slightly larger and more reliable dish than residential customers get at roughly the same cost.
Hughesnet Business internet contracts
Hughesnet plans come with a 24-month contract, which is a pretty big commitment. We aren’t fans of long-term contracts, but they are standard with satellite internet.
Hughesnet internet customer ratings
| Overall | Speed | Reliability | Customer service | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughesnet customer satisfaction rating | 3.1/5 | 3.1/5 | 3.1/5 | 3.2/5 | 3.1/5 |
| Average rating* | 3.7/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.3/5 |
*Average rating of all ISPs included in our most recent customer satisfaction survey
Hughesnet tied with Viasat for overall customer satisfaction in our annual survey, though Hughesnet managed to edge ahead of the competition in most other categories. Hughesnet did especially well in terms of price, where it was looked at much more favorably than other providers.
Our customer satisfaction survey only collected data from residential internet customers, so the differences between providers don’t reflect providers’ business offerings. Hughesnet maintains many similarities between residential and business plans, such as cost and speed. Other aspects, like customer service, are likely to differ more considerably.
Hughesnet Business vs. the competition
| Speed | Price | Customer rating§ | Order online | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 25Mbps | $84.99–$164.99/mo.* | 3.1/5 | |
 | Up to 100Mbps | $175.00–$500.00/mo.† | 3.1/5 | |
| Up to 220Mbps | $500.00/mo.‡ | N/A | Shop Plans |
Data effective 4/26/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Pricing for the first 6 months. Service plans require a 24-month commitment. Pricing not available in all areas.
†Offer available to new qualifying customers. One-time standard installation fee may be due at checkout. Minimum 24-month service term required. Equipment lease fee is $12.99/mo. Taxes apply. Service is not available in all areas. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time.
‡Plus hardware, shipping & handling fees, and tax. Fully refundable. Depending on location, some orders may take 6 months or more to fulfill.
§According to our annual customer satisfaction survey.
For those looking for business internet that offers higher speeds, both Viasat and Starlink have a lot more to offer than Hughesnet, though that additional speed comes at a price.
Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services like Starlink offer the fastest satellite speeds currently available, along with lower latency. But these satellite companies are still struggling to compete in the satellite market. Starlink is the only functioning LEO satellite provider, and new customers may have to wait months to get equipment. That’s not really feasible for most businesses.
Another option for low-latency satellite connections are Hughesnet’s Fusion plans, which combine satellite internet with low-latency wireless connections.
Read our full reviews of Hughesnet vs. its main internet competitors
Is Hughesnet Business internet right for you?
Satellite internet is not an ideal solution for business if you have any other options. However, if satellite is your only option, Hughesnet is a cost-effective way to stay connected, no matter where your business operates. Although its business plans don’t differ as dramatically from its residential plans, it’s definitely worth choosing business over residential for additional features like Hughesnet’s business support services.
If a basic connection is what you need, Hughesnet has you covered. If you have higher bandwidth needs, Viasat or Starlink might be better options.
FAQ about Hughesnet Business
What’s the difference between Hughesnet Business internet and Hughesnet residential internet?
Although the differences in speed, data caps, and monthly cost are minor, Hughesnet business customers have access to useful resources such as business-specific customer support, optional static IP addresses, and more powerful equipment.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
