Starlink vs Viasat: Inflight WiFi Comparison
Starlink (LEO) and Viasat (GEO) are the two dominant satellite WiFi providers in commercial aviation. Starlink's low-earth orbit gives it a major speed and latency advantage; Viasat's geostationary network has been deployed longer and covers more airlines. Here's how they stack up.
| Metric | Starlink Aviation | Viasat |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | ✓ 40–220 Mbps | 10–60 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | ✓ 8–25 Mbps | 3–10 Mbps |
| Latency | ✓ 20–40 ms | 400–800 ms |
| Orbit | ✓ LEO (550 km) | GEO (35,786 km) |
| 4K Streaming | ✓ Yes | Viasat-3 only |
| Video Gaming | ✓ Yes (low latency) | No (high latency) |
| Airlines (US) | United, Hawaiian, Southwest | ✓ Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, AA |
| Free WiFi | Free on UA/HA (no login) | Free on DL/B6 (easy login) |
| Fleet Maturity | Rolling out (2023–2026) | ✓ Deployed since 2013 |
| International | Growing | ✓ Broad coverage |
Starlink wins decisively on speed and latency — there's no comparison for streaming, gaming, or video calls. Viasat wins on fleet breadth (more airlines, longer deployment) and a head start on international coverage. If you have a choice, fly Starlink. If you're on a Viasat airline, Viasat-3 upgrades are closing the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Starlink faster than Viasat on planes?
Yes, significantly. Starlink averages 80–180 Mbps on commercial flights; Viasat-2 averages 15–40 Mbps. The gap comes from orbital altitude: Starlink satellites orbit at 550 km vs Viasat at 35,786 km, which also gives Starlink 10–20× lower latency.
Which airlines have Starlink vs Viasat?
Starlink: United Airlines (fleet-wide), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest (rolling out). Viasat: Delta, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (partial), and many international carriers.
Is Viasat-3 better than Viasat-2?
Yes. Viasat-3 delivers 50–150 Mbps with lower latency than Viasat-2's 15–50 Mbps. It's still GEO satellite (higher latency than Starlink) but closes the speed gap meaningfully. JetBlue and Alaska are first in line for Viasat-3 upgrades.
Can I stream Netflix on Viasat inflight WiFi?
Usually yes in HD on Viasat-2 and Viasat-3. 4K is possible on Viasat-3 but can buffer. Viasat-2 on a full aircraft can be slower — expect SD-HD on busy flights.
Does Starlink work over the ocean?
Yes. Starlink Aviation has global coverage including oceanic and polar routes. This is a key advantage over Gogo ATG (which cuts out over water) and gives it an edge on international routes where Viasat also has solid but slightly slower coverage.