HughesNet
2.0
3.3
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
LAST UPDATED: February 26th, 2024
Hughes Communications is a provider of satellite-based Internet services. The company is known through its subsidiary Hughes Network Systems, LLC, or HughesNet. The company was bought out by Echo Star in 2011 for over $1 billion. The company has almost 2000 employees, primarily in Maryland, but also in Nevada, Germany, and India.
The Good
- Flexible plans depending on your needs
- Data allowance and faster download speeds
- SmartTechnologies featuring SmartFetch, SmartCompression, SmartResources, and SmartBrowsing
- Excellent FAQ section
The Bad
- Data plans
- Installation fee
- Slower upload speeds
- Cancellation fee
- No "free unmeasured" period
- No price for additional GBs
The Bottom Line
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Mario Martin Montgomery, TX
I recently had to sever my business relationship with HughesNet. For almost 2 years I had experienced one issue after another. Unfortunately, for me HughesNet was the ONLY internet service provider in my particular area, until a more reliable "fiber optic" service became available. When I contacted HughesNet to cancel my service my absolute worst fear were realized. Immediately, every inconvenience that I had been warned about by other customer cancelation began. HughesNet had conveniently taken out of my bank account on 3 different occasions after cancelation. It took me several phone calls on several different days (at least 45-75 minutes each time) to finally get someone to acknowledge and process a refund. After 2 weeks, the supposed refund had not been deposited back into my account, and I made another frustrated phone call. I demanded to speak with a supervisor and after an hour and half I was able to speak with a REAL supervisor (I think). After threatening to go beyond the telephone calls, I was told that my refund was finally being processed. HughesNet is not only a unreliable internet service, they are a discouraging, disappointing, and unethical business. Please avoid this company at all cost!
2 years ago
Margaret Beus Richland, WA
Disappointed with our experience with HughesNet. The company was unable to measure up to the hype given by their salesman. Unlike what we were told, the speed was slow and the data was gone within a week which made it even slower. If we wanted to stream anything on TV, we had to turn off everything else in the house that used internet. Even then the only service that would work moderately well was Netflix. We were also told that our contract could be transferred to another customer. We were in a temporary living arrangement and were to be replaced by another couple in 6 months. The contract is for 2 years. In actuality, the contract was still ours and they could just pay the bill. Then when Covid hit, we had no replacement and none in the foreseeable future. We talked to customer service several times and the best they would do was not charge us the hold fee but in the long run, we will have to pay for the rest of the contract even though we aren’t there and aren’t using it. We feel that we were misled and wouldn’t recommend using this service.
3 years ago
Kcin117 ,
Don't let the advertising and PR hype fool you. This company acts entirely 180 degrees from how they portray themselves. It's monthly charges are some of the highest in the nation and provide the lowest quality service for its customers in the industry. They hide behind the cloud of 'providing internet and entertainment content for those outlying areas that have no service'. The speed of the internet service advertised is no where close to the feed received (25 vs 2 and 25 is a joke everywhere else!). It's still 20 years behind technologically speaking but monthly charges exceed many full service providers and are at the top of the current market chart. I could go on but ........ How they can continue to operate like this is a mystery. The reviews posted indicate the true toxic business environment one will be involved in if you do business with them. You have been warned.
4 years ago
James Whitesburg, GA
What a rip off. had it last year will never have it gain. this company should be put out of business be smarter then I was and don't even go there. never was able to get the service I was I told I would get. it was so slow my pc would not run page would expire Waite 5 to 10 mints and yes I had there so called 5 G witch is a joke. then after 10 to15 calls with no luck in 3 month I canceled and was charged a 400.dollar fee for service I did not get. and I don't live out in the country either. I was told so many lies it ant funny aim with a company now in the same area same price with exhalant service and I don't have to Waite for hours to get a web page up. It is what is huge net is nothing but a joke and a big rip off..
5 years ago
Bskinner
When signing up for Hugesnet,I asked if I would owe anything for installation. Two times I asked this and was told no. I asked why they asked for my bank card no. They SD only to have It on file. They lied and immediately the next day took money out. This caused an overdraft because we budget and all bills had come out until the next deposit. I told them to return my funds ,instead they took my bill dwn to 5$. I'm still not satisfied. I told them I didn't want their service I looked online to see activity . It stated my next bill was due on the 18th. They tryd to get the payment on the 8th. I still Hv Service after telling them I didn't want it and they keep flashing a payment demand Everytime I go online. I hate I ever signed up. These people deceive and lie. It's was too slow from the beginning.
I feel they should be upfront with customers about everything.
7 years ago
Wendy
I am extremely disappointed in Hughes Net. I live in North Port, FL and had lost power from Saturday Sept 9th, 2017 at 6:00pm until late Monday night from Hurricane Irma. When I went to go pay bills on line that were already due I noticed my usage was at 7%. My usage had reset on Sept 9th, 2017 and I could not understand how I was down to 7% when I had no power. I called customer service that did not help me at all and began to tell me how I need to look on line to monitor my usage. I repeated myself again and again explaining I am in North Port, FL and lost all power because of Hurricane Irma so I could not have used the usage. Again, Hughes Net customer service was no help. Instead they told me to unplug my internet and leave it off for 4 more hours in order to see if something was wrong with their equipment. I was shocked since I haven’t had anything for days and they now want me to go without internet again. All said and done nothing was resolved. Customer Service said they would give me extra tokens, which is from 2am to 8am only and not replace my anytime allowance which is between 8am and 2am. You had many internet companies giving free hot spot service to non-customers and my internet company didn’t even replace my usage that I never used. I will tell you they did withdraw my money to pay the bill on Sept 9th, 2017 with no issues. Hughes Net is not about their customers, shame on you.
7 years ago
Rocco Passomato
Absolute worst service in the industry. If you happen to have one more person who is temporarily using some (minimal mind you) of the allotted service, EVERYTHING slows to a crawl on our computer, if it EVER comes on. Service is sketchy at best even when it's at "full"!! When I contacted customer service, I of course got someone who spoke limited English, and who tried to sell me an "upgrade" for more money of course.
The service is so bad that it isn't even worth using the devices...I can't wait until another internet service, ANY other internet service becomes available. I will drop these incompetent idiots like a bag of s___!!!!
8 years ago
Anthony Avon, MA
Absolutely the worst internet provider ever. I had better results from dial up when I was a kid. It doesn’t work for gaming, it doesn’t work for streaming it doesn’t work for your phone. It relentlessly buffers if it works at all. I’m not really sure what it can do but providing usable internet is not one of them. Pretty much selling snake oil. Plz if you value your money do not get huges net what a joke
2 years ago
EJ Aylett, VA
Been with Hughes for about 8 years, it used to be decent although slower than cable but the past 6 months or so there have been many, many times when it is as slow or slower than dialup. I've spent hours on the phone with them and every time they do something it seems better but then goes downhill, can't even get speedtest.net website to load, downloading computer updates at 14.5kbs. I will have to find some other option.
3 years ago
Christy Utterback Houston, MO
I had Hughes Net installed 1 week ago. I have spent no less than 20 hours on the phone with support and had a tech out twice since then. Horrible customer service, horrible service, internet is slow,can't stream movies. When I called and asked, specifically, "Can I stream movies with Hughes Net", I was told...Yes!! NO I CAN'T! Now they are going to come and move my modem and see if that works. I am extremely sorry that I signed up for their service. Just say no, if you are considering it.
4 years ago
Amanda Slezak
worst internet service around. Over priced for so little internet. difficult to get your questions answered. there are always random charges to your account without your knowledge. then when you cancel they tried to charge you almost $400. Never will i recommend this company to anyone.
1 year ago
Richard Danby Rexburg, ID
We had HughesNet for a long time and it worked very well. There was a good strong connection all in the house even far away from the router.
3 years ago
Sarah Odegard Grand Forks, ND
Internet is terribly slow, if it works at all. Have called several times to complain and have even paid to upgrade, but they just tell me that my internet is working fine and I waste 45 minutes on the phone. They even wanted to charge me $135 when my satellite quit working....isn't that why I pay an equipment fee??? Would not recommend.
7 years ago
Drew Katonak
Good customer service Hughes always works fastest and best Internet service
9 months ago Edited November 14, 2024
Shanna Bird Longview, WA
I signed up for HughesNet not knowing that is was a GB set up. It was easy to work with them but the service didn't work for me
1 year ago
Life of Frog South Bend, IN
Slow service, data limits, they will slow down/shut off service for going over your data limit. Cannot download files to do work. Customer service is horrible and cannot help you, most don't even speak English!
2 years ago
Review Source
Jowara Morgande
Great customer service. They have wonderful staff and great offers.
1 year ago
Teresa Taylor FL
I have internet through Hughsnet. Service is slow and totally goes down with a little bad weather. Would not recommend.
2 years ago
Jeff Dallas, GA
Good satellite internet. Faster speeds are needed.
5 years ago
Susan Bowes Aberdeen, WA
i tried them along time ago and they were very expensive to expensive
1 year ago
Leon Yoakum Los Angeles, CA
Too expensive and terrible service. Customer service was rude and not helpful.
2 years ago
Tony's Babygirl Staton MO
Poor service in most areas and low and slow signals
1 year ago Edited October 23, 2023
