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October 29, 2024
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Viasat offers high-speed satellite home internet plans for seniors, veterans, and low-income families in rural areas where internet connection is limited. Although Viasat doesn’t offer a specific plan or discount for seniors, it’s still a great option for older adults who want access to basic internet features such as email, web browsing, and some streaming.
Unlike other providers that hike up their prices, Viasat provides unlimited data service plans and keeps their pricing consistent for two years. Among other standout features are their additional services such as home phone service, internet security, and customer support.
Viasat Pros and Cons
Viasat Pros
- Vast satellite coverage: Viasat provides satellite coverage in all 50 states — covering more than traditional cable internet providers, and making them a great option for those in rural locations.
- Unlimited data plans: Viasat offers several unlimited data plans with no data limit or hard caps on usage, meaning you won’t be charged for going over the monthly allowance.
- Faster speeds: Viasat offers high download speeds of up to 100 Mbps, making them a great option for multiple internet users in one household.
Viasat Cons
- Data throttling: Although Viasat offers high-speed internet with (technically) unlimited data, you may experience slower speeds once you’ve reached your data allowance. For instance, if you’ve used up the 100 GB of unlimited monthly data for your Unlimited Gold 50 plan, your internet might slow down during certain peak times.
- Two-year minimum contract: Viasat requires a 24-month commitment on any of its internet plans. If you cancel within this time, you’ll be charged $15 for each month remaining in your contract.
- No super-affordable option: While Viasat’s most affordable plan is $49.99 per month, this is about average for internet service. Be mindful that this price will rise after three months.
Need Faster Speeds?
While Viasat's satellite internet is available nationwide, its speeds can't hold a candle to our favorite broadband and 5G providers. If you want internet with faster speeds at more affordable prices, then we'd recommend checking out one of our top-rated providers.
Viasat Internet Plans and Pricing
Viasat offers four different internet plans, with the primary differences between them being price, speeds, and high-speed limits.
While Viasat mostly offers the same plans throughout their coverage area, the pricing (and to some degree, speeds) will largely depend on where you’re located. To find out specific pricing in your area –– and whether or not Viasat covers your territory –– visit their website and plug in your ZIP code.
| Viasat Plan | Monthly Price | Download Speeds | High-Speed Limits | Ideal for |
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| Unlimited Bronze 12 |
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12 Mbps | After 40 GB of data use | Email and web browsing on up to two small screen devices |
| Unlimited Silver 25 |
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25 Mbps | After 60 GB of data use | Email, web browsing, and streaming on up to three small screen devices |
| Unlimited Gold 50 |
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50 Mbps | After 100 GB of data use | Email, web browsing, streaming, and more on up to four medium and large screen devices |
| Unlimited Platinum 100 |
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100 Mbps | After 150 GB of data use | Email, web browsing, streaming, and more on up to five large screen devices |
What Are Viasat High-Speed Limits?
All of Viasat’s plans offer unlimited data; however, each of them has a limit on the amount of high-speed data you can access per month. So while your internet won’t get shut off once you reach this limit, your service will no longer be prioritized. This means that if a lot of people are using Viasat internet in your area at a specific time, your service might temporarily be slower.
Pro Tip: Looking for affordable internet service? Check out my guide to senior discounts on the internet.
Which Viasat Plan Is Best for Seniors?
While there is no explicit senior discount with Viasat, you can speak with customer service to check for promotions or other deals. Sometimes, they are willing to make special offers to those of a certain age.
With that said, I would recommend their Unlimited Bronze 12 plan, as it is the most affordable. While it doesn’t offer the fastest speeds, it can give you the internet access you need to send emails, play games, and use social media.
How to Purchase Viasat
The best way to purchase Viasat high-speed internet is through their website, where you can check internet plan availability in your area. Simply enter your home address to find the plans offered where you live.
After selecting your plan, you’ll need to fill out your contact information and other details. When I selected Unlimited Bronze 12, the total came out to $49.99, plus the equipment lease fee of $12.99 per month. There was a disclaimer that said the price would increase to $69.99 after three months. Naturally, I’d have preferred that my internet price didn’t increase at all. However, I appreciated that they were honest about this, as many other providers bury this information in the fine print.
Viasat Installation
Viasat provided excellent customer service when they set up my satellite internet. They dispatched a certified technician who conducted a site survey and worked with me to discuss where the satellite should be installed. I requested to have it installed on the side of the roof, so the technician got to work and handled all the necessary cables and wires.
Overall, the entire installation process only took about two hours. They also performed other necessary configurations and helped address any additional questions I had about high-speed internet. Additionally, they helped me activate My Viasat account before signing an electronic customer agreement.
Pro Tip: Shopping for a new internet provider? Learn why CenturyLink internet for seniors might be a good choice for those who want an affordable, reliable, and fast browsing experience.
Viasat Internet Equipment
Viasat internet requires a Viasat satellite dish, transceiver and bracket assembly, and a Viasat internet modem. The equipment must be installed by a trained Viasat technician, and cannot be self-installed. In terms of equipment for use inside the home, a technician will install a new Wi-Fi Gateway that communicates with outside equipment and your home Wi-Fi network. The Viasat internet Wi-Fi Gateway consists of the modem, wireless router, and VoIP phone adapter.
Viasat offers a warranty on equipment and will replace defective equipment within the first 90 days of service. If you’re looking for additional services in tandem with your internet, Viasat also sells three additional services:
- Viasat Voice: A home phone service that’s offered to Viasat internet subscribers. It claims to be less expensive than a traditional landline phone service with prices starting at $29.99 per month for the first six months.
- Viasat Shield: This internet security service works by monitoring and blocking suspicious online activity and protecting your devices from cyberattacks.
- EasyCare: For customers who want additional customer support assistance, EasyCare can be purchased for $8.99 per month.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for affordable phone service, look no further than a good old-fashioned landline. To learn more, read my picks for the best landline service.
Viasat vs. Hughesnet
The two leading providers of satellite internet, Viasat and Hughesnet, differ greatly in terms of cost and speed.
| Viasat | Hughesnet | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $49.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
| Price Hikes | After three months | After six months |
| Throttles Data | Yes, after reaching monthly allowance | Yes, after reaching monthly allowance |
| Connection Type | Satellite | Satellite |
| Minimum Contract | 24 months | 24 months |
| Fastest Download Speeds | 100 Mbps | 25 Mbps |
| Cost of Equipment | $12.99 per month | $14.99 per month |
Recap
Viasat provides fast internet speeds in places where the internet is not as easily accessible. Although it runs on satellite, and the pricing can be more expensive than other providers, I think it’s still a great alternative to cable internet. With Viasat, you get faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps compared to a standard 25 Mbps with Hughesnet. One thing to keep in mind, though: With Viasat, you can only lease the equipment, whereas Hughesnet lets you either lease or buy it.
If you plan to stream shows and more content on multiple devices, then you might want to consider Spectrum internet for seniors, which provides starting speeds of up to 200 Mbps. If you’re just looking for basic internet features such as email, downloading small files, and web browsing, you might want to consider AT&T’s basic plan, which starts at $45 per month.
To learn more, be sure to read my picks for this year’s best internet for seniors and affordable internet for seniors. Additionally, you can take a look at my hands-on reviews of different providers:
Viasat Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does Viasat internet cost?
Viasat internet starts at $49.99 per month; however, this price will eventually go up, and their overall rates will vary based on your location.
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Is Viasat good for Netflix?
Yes, you can stream Netflix and other streaming platforms using Viasat internet on an unlimited data plan. If you go over the monthly data limit, speeds might be slightly slower.
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Does Viasat have Wi-Fi?
Yes, Viasat internet comes with a Viasat modem or built-in Wi-Fi.
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Is Viasat internet truly unlimited?
Viasat offers several unlimited data plans based on your location. While there’s no limit to how much data you can use during your monthly period, you should keep in mind that if you go over your monthly data allowance, you may experience slightly slower speeds during network traffic.
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How much does it cost to cancel Viasat internet?
If you cancel Viasat internet before the end of your 24-month service agreement, you might be charged early termination fees starting at $15 for each month that remains in the contract.