How to Switch from HughesNet to Starlink: Complete Guide

Key Takeaway

Order Starlink first, wait for it to arrive and confirm it works at your location, then cancel HughesNet. HughesNet charges up to $400 for early termination in the first 90 days, declining by $15/month thereafter. You must return HughesNet equipment within 45 days of cancellation or pay a $300 unreturned equipment fee. Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap between services to avoid downtime.

Before and After: HughesNet vs Starlink

Here is exactly what changes when you switch:

Metric	HughesNet	Starlink	Improvement
Download speed	25-100 Mbps	50-250 Mbps	2-10x faster
Upload speed	3 Mbps	10-40 Mbps	3-13x faster
Latency	600-800 ms	20-60 ms	10-30x lower
Data cap	100-200 GB priority, then throttled	Unlimited (soft cap)	No more throttling
Contract	24 months	Month-to-month	No commitment
Video calls	Poor (major delay and freezing)	Excellent	Works properly
Online gaming	Unusable	Playable (20-60 ms)	Now possible
Streaming quality	Buffering common	Smooth 4K	Reliable
Monthly price	$39.99-$74.99	$120 (standard)	Higher cost
Equipment cost	Included (leased)	$349 (Standard kit, purchased)	Upfront cost
Orbit type	GEO (35,786 km)	LEO (550 km)	65x closer

The monthly cost is higher with Starlink ($120 vs $39.99-74.99 for HughesNet). However, Starlink delivers dramatically better performance - no data caps, no contract, and latency low enough for real-time applications that simply do not work on HughesNet.

Step-by-Step Switching Process

Step 1: Order Starlink (Do This First)

Do not cancel HughesNet until your Starlink kit arrives and you confirm it works. Starlink availability varies by location, and delivery can take days to weeks depending on your area.

1. Go to starlink.com
2. Enter your address to check availability
3. If available, order the Standard kit ($349)
4. Select the Residential plan ($120/month)
5. Wait for delivery (typically 3-7 business days for in-stock areas)

If Starlink shows “Waitlist” for your area, you may need to wait. Do not cancel HughesNet until you have a confirmed Starlink delivery date.

Step 2: Install and Test Starlink

When your Starlink kit arrives:

1. Unbox and set up the dish using the kickstand (temporary ground placement is fine)
2. Download the Starlink app and complete the setup process
3. Connect to WiFi and run speed tests
4. Use Starlink as your primary internet for 3-7 days to confirm reliability
5. Test your critical use cases: video calls, streaming, work applications, gaming

This testing period is important. Starlink performance varies by location due to satellite coverage density, obstructions, and network congestion. Confirm it meets your needs before cutting off your only other internet option.

Step 3: Check Your HughesNet Contract Status

Before calling to cancel, know where you stand:

1. Log in to your HughesNet account at my.hughesnet.com
2. Check your contract start date and remaining months
3. Calculate your potential early termination fee (see fee schedule below)

HughesNet requires a 24-month commitment. If you are still within that period, you will owe an early termination fee.

Step 4: Cancel HughesNet

HughesNet can only be canceled by phone. There is no online cancellation option.

Call: (866) 347-3292

When you call:

1. Tell the representative you want to cancel your service
2. They will likely offer retention deals (discounts, plan changes) - decline if you have already decided to switch
3. Confirm the exact cancellation date
4. Ask about your early termination fee amount (if applicable)
5. Ask about the equipment return process and deadline
6. Get a confirmation number for the cancellation
7. Ask for written confirmation via email

Important: Note the name of the representative and the date/time of your call. Keep the confirmation number. These details protect you if there are billing disputes later.

Step 5: Return HughesNet Equipment

After cancellation, HughesNet will send you a return kit containing:

• A shipping box
• Packing tape
• A prepaid UPS return shipping label
• A UPS packing slip

You must return the following within 45 days of cancellation:

Equipment	Unreturned Fee
Satellite modem	$100
Power supply	Included in modem fee
Radio transmitter	$200
Total unreturned fee	$300

For HughesNet Fusion plans, the unreturned equipment fee is $500 (additional $200 for the multipath device).

What you do NOT need to return:

• The satellite dish (antenna)
• The mounting hardware
• Any cables

The radio transmitter is located on the outdoor dish arm and must be detached. This may require going on your roof. If you are not comfortable doing this, consider hiring someone to remove it.

Return timeline: You have 45 days from your cancellation date to return the equipment via UPS using the prepaid label. Do not delay - the unreturned equipment fee is charged automatically after 45 days.

Step 6: Confirm Final Billing

After cancellation:

1. Check your next 1-2 billing statements for any unexpected charges
2. Verify the early termination fee matches what you were quoted
3. Confirm no unreturned equipment fees were charged (assuming you returned equipment)
4. If there are billing errors, call (866) 347-3292 with your cancellation confirmation number

HughesNet Early Termination Fee Schedule

HughesNet’s early termination fee starts at $400 and declines by $15 for each month of completed service.

Months Completed	Early Termination Fee
0-3 (first 90 days)	$400
4	$385
5	$370
6	$355
7	$340
8	$325
9	$310
10	$295
11	$280
12	$265
13	$250
14	$235
15	$220
16	$205
17	$190
18	$175
19	$160
20	$145
21	$130
22	$115
23	$100
24 (contract complete)	$0

Strategy: If you are close to the end of your contract, waiting a few months can save significant money. If you have 6+ months remaining and HughesNet is unusable for your needs, the math may still favor paying the fee and switching immediately - especially if you factor in the value of usable internet.

When the Fee May Be Waived

HughesNet may reduce or waive your early termination fee in certain situations:

• You are moving to an area where HughesNet is not available. Contact customer service with proof of your new address.
• Persistent service issues. If you have documented repeated outages or speeds well below what was promised, use this as leverage when calling.
• Negotiation. Some representatives have authority to offer partial fee waivers, especially if you cite financial hardship or service dissatisfaction.

There is no guarantee of a waiver, but it is worth asking.

The Overlap Strategy: Avoiding Downtime

The recommended approach is to run both services simultaneously for 1-2 weeks:

Week 1: Starlink arrives and testing

• Set up Starlink while HughesNet is still active
• Use Starlink as primary, HughesNet as backup
• Test all your critical applications on Starlink
• Verify Starlink works reliably at your location

Week 2: Cancel HughesNet

• Once you are confident in Starlink, call to cancel HughesNet
• You will likely have service through the end of your current billing cycle
• Begin the equipment return process

Why overlap matters: If Starlink has obstruction issues at your location, or if availability is limited in your area, you do not want to be without internet while troubleshooting. The cost of 1-2 weeks of overlap (roughly $10-20 of extra HughesNet charges) is worth the insurance.

What to Expect in the First Week on Starlink

Day 1: Initial Setup

• Connection may be intermittent for the first few hours as the dish maps your sky
• Speeds may be lower than expected initially
• The dish may reboot once or twice as it receives firmware updates

Days 2-3: Optimization

• The system learns your sky view and satellite patterns
• Connection stability improves
• Speeds begin to reflect your area’s typical performance

Days 4-7: Settled Performance

• Connection should be stable with brief drops only during severe weather or infrequent satellite handoff gaps
• Run speed tests at different times of day to understand your area’s congestion patterns
• Typical results: 75-220 Mbps download, 10-40 Mbps upload, 20-60 ms latency

The “Wow” Moments

Switchers from HughesNet consistently report these immediate improvements:

• Video calls actually work. Zoom, FaceTime, and Teams calls run smoothly instead of freezing, cutting out, or having 2-second delays.
• Web pages load instantly. Each click on HughesNet had a 600+ ms delay before anything happened. On Starlink, pages feel instant.
• Streaming without buffering. Netflix, YouTube, and other services play immediately in full quality without the loading wheel.
• Gaming is possible. Online gaming goes from completely unusable (600+ ms) to playable (20-60 ms).
• No more data anxiety. With unlimited data, you stop monitoring usage and just use the internet normally.

Cost Comparison: First-Year Total

Cost Category	HughesNet (Select Plan)	Starlink (Standard)
Monthly service (12 months)	$599.88 ($49.99/mo)	$1,440 ($120/mo)
Equipment	$0 (leased)	$349 (purchased, one-time)
Installation	$0 (included)	$0 (self-install)
Early termination fee	N/A (staying)	N/A (no contract)
First-year total	$599.88	$1,789

Starlink costs roughly $1,189 more in the first year. However, this comparison does not capture the value difference. HughesNet at $49.99/month delivers 25-100 Mbps with 200 GB data cap, 600+ ms latency, and a 24-month contract. Starlink at $120/month delivers 50-250 Mbps with unlimited data, 20-60 ms latency, and no contract.

If you are switching mid-contract, add the early termination fee to Starlink’s cost. If you are in month 12 of your HughesNet contract, that is an additional $265.

What to Do with the HughesNet Dish

After you return the required equipment (modem, power supply, radio transmitter), the dish, mount, and cables are yours. HughesNet does not require them back and will not retrieve them.

Your options:

• Remove it. Take down the dish and mount if they are visible or in the way. This may require a ladder and basic tools.
• Leave it. If it is on the roof and not causing issues, leaving it in place is fine. It will not interfere with Starlink.
• Repurpose the mount. If your HughesNet dish is in a good elevated position, you may be able to use the existing pole or mount for your Starlink dish (with the appropriate Starlink pipe adapter, which fits poles with diameters between 31 mm and 63.5 mm).

FAQ

Can I cancel HughesNet online?

No. As of 2026, HughesNet can only be canceled by calling their customer service line at (866) 347-3292. There is no online cancellation option, no chat cancellation, and no email cancellation. Be prepared for retention offers - the representative will likely try to keep you as a customer by offering discounts or plan changes. Politely decline if you have decided to switch.

How long does the HughesNet cancellation process take?

The phone call itself typically takes 15-30 minutes, including wait time and the retention pitch. Your service will usually remain active until the end of your current billing cycle. The equipment return must be completed within 45 days of cancellation. From the time you call to cancel until your account is fully closed and equipment returned, expect the full process to take 2-6 weeks.

Is Starlink worth the higher monthly cost compared to HughesNet?

For most users, yes. Starlink costs $120/month versus HughesNet’s $39.99-74.99/month, but the performance difference is dramatic. Starlink delivers 10-30 times lower latency (20-60 ms vs 600+ ms), 2-10 times faster speeds, and unlimited data with no throttling. Activities that are impossible on HughesNet - video calls, gaming, cloud-based work applications - work smoothly on Starlink. If you only use internet for email and light browsing, HughesNet is adequate. For anything more, Starlink justifies the premium.

What if Starlink is not available at my address?

If Starlink shows “Waitlist” or “Coming Soon” for your address, you can place a $150 refundable deposit to reserve your spot. Availability depends on satellite coverage density in your area and existing subscriber count. In the meantime, keep your HughesNet service active. You can also check Amazon Leo availability - the service began rolling out in early 2026 and is expanding to new areas. Viasat is another GEO alternative, though it has similar latency limitations to HughesNet.

Do I need to return the HughesNet satellite dish?

No. HughesNet only requires you to return the modem, power supply, and radio transmitter within 45 days of cancellation. The satellite dish, mounting hardware, and cables do not need to be returned. HughesNet will not come to your property to remove them. You can leave the dish in place, remove it yourself, or hire someone to take it down. If you leave it, it will not interfere with your Starlink service.