Viasat launched three new residential satellite internet plans on 08-Oct-2026: Essentials at $39.99/mo, Unleashed at $69.99/mo and the all-new Unleashed Max at $109.99/mo, each for the first 12 months before the regular rate applies. The plans run on Viasat’s new ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite and replace the old Unlimited Bronze, Gold and Platinum lineup on Viasat’s plans page. This guide covers what each plan costs in year one and year two, the speeds you can realistically expect, which plan carries a contract, and the fees to budget for before you order.
Call free to check Viasat at your address (888) 404-0084What changed with Viasat on 08-Oct-2026?
Viasat replaced its old four-tier Unlimited lineup with three plans, all backed by the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite that entered commercial service in October 2026. The two existing plan names, Essentials and Unleashed, carried over, but their promotional pricing changed from a three-month discount to a 12-month introductory price. The third plan, Unleashed Max, is new. It is Viasat’s first residential tier with priority network access, and it bundles the EasyCare protection plan at no extra charge.
Two other details changed at the same time. The equipment lease fee is now $15/mo on every plan, and Essentials now requires a 24-month minimum service term. Unleashed and Unleashed Max have no annual contract. If you compared Viasat earlier in 2026, those are the figures most likely to be out of date in your notes. You can see the current cards on our Viasat plans page.
How much do the new Viasat plans cost?
All three plans use the same structure: an introductory price for new customers for the first 12 months, then the regular monthly rate from month 13. Prices as of 12-Oct-2026.
| Plan | First 12 months | Price after | High-speed data | Burst speed | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $39.99/mo | $69.99/mo | 150 GB, then unlimited standard data | Up to 150 Mbps | 24-month term |
| Unleashed | $69.99/mo | $99.99/mo | Unlimited | Up to 180 Mbps | No annual contract |
| Unleashed Max | $109.99/mo | $179.99/mo | Unlimited, with priority access | Up to 200 Mbps | No annual contract |
Every plan adds a $15/mo equipment lease on top of the service price, so the real first-year bill is $54.99/mo for Essentials, $84.99/mo for Unleashed and $124.99/mo for Unleashed Max before taxes and surcharges. Standard installation by a professional technician is free on all three.
Call free to compare Viasat plans (888) 404-0084What is Viasat Unleashed Max?
Unleashed Max is the new top tier. It includes unlimited high-speed data, like Unleashed, but adds two things: priority network access and the EasyCare protection plan, which Viasat values at $9.99/mo and includes at no extra charge. EasyCare covers required service calls at no charge, a discounted annual dish relocation and priority customer support when you call Viasat. The plan has no annual contract and is priced at $109.99/mo for the first 12 months, then $179.99/mo.
Viasat positions Unleashed Max for fully connected homes: several people online at once, multiple screens streaming in the evening, and someone working from home who cannot afford a slowdown at 8 pm. If your household is smaller or lighter, the $40/mo gap between Unleashed and Unleashed Max in year one ($80/mo from year two) is hard to justify on speed alone, because the baseline speed is the same on every plan.
What does “priority network access” mean?
Satellite capacity is shared, so when a beam gets busy, Viasat has to decide whose traffic goes first. Priority network access means Unleashed Max customers are placed ahead of Essentials and Unleashed customers during those congested periods. It does not change the baseline or burst speed figures on paper. What it changes is how often you actually see them during peak evening hours, which is when satellite customers typically notice slowdowns. Unleashed customers whose usage trends far above typical residential levels may also see reduced priority during congestion, so Unleashed Max is the plan to pick if you want that risk removed.
What are baseline and burst speeds?
Viasat now describes speed in two numbers rather than one. Baseline speed is the speed most customers experience most of the time. On every current plan, that is up to 80 Mbps. Burst speed is the temporary maximum you can hit under ideal conditions when the network has spare capacity: up to 150 Mbps on Essentials, up to 180 Mbps on Unleashed and up to 200 Mbps on Unleashed Max. Both figures are “up to,” not guaranteed, and vary by location and time of day.
The practical reading is this: the plan you choose mostly changes your data allowance, your priority and your contract, not your everyday speed. If 80 Mbps is enough for your household, and for most streaming and browsing it is, choose the plan by data and contract rather than by the burst number.
Does Viasat require a contract?
It depends on the plan. Essentials requires a 24-month minimum service term. If you cancel before the end of it, Viasat may charge an early termination fee of $15 for every month remaining on the contract. Cancelling Essentials after 10 months, for example, leaves 14 months remaining and an early termination fee of $210.
Unleashed and Unleashed Max have no annual contract and no minimum service term. You are billed month to month and can cancel at any time without an early termination fee. That makes Unleashed the lowest-commitment way to try Viasat, and it is the plan we point most callers to when they are unsure whether satellite will suit them.
What fees should you expect?
- Equipment lease: $15/mo on every plan, in addition to the monthly service price.
- Installation: standard professional installation is free. Non-standard work, such as a pole mount, may cost extra, and the technician will tell you before starting.
- Early termination fee: $15 for every month remaining, Essentials only.
- EasyCare: included on Unleashed Max; an optional add-on on the other plans.
- Taxes and surcharges: apply on top of the advertised prices.
Which Viasat plan is right for you?
Choose Essentials if you mainly browse, email, bank and shop online, you can live within 150 GB of high-speed data a month, and you are comfortable with a 24-month term in exchange for the lowest price. After 150 GB you still have unlimited standard data, but it may be slowed during busy periods.
Choose Unleashed if you stream regularly, have a few people online at once, or simply do not want a contract. Unlimited high-speed data with no cap removes the monthly data worry, and the month-to-month term means you can leave if wired broadband reaches your address.
Choose Unleashed Max if your home is busy every evening, someone works from home over video calls, or you have had congestion problems with satellite before. Priority access is the only way to buy your way ahead of the queue, and EasyCare is a useful inclusion for a dish-based service.
If you are still weighing satellite against other options, HughesNet is the other geostationary provider available almost everywhere, and our best internet providers comparison lines up fiber, cable and 5G home internet where they are available. One free call checks which of these actually serve your address.
FAQ
When did the new Viasat plans launch?
Viasat launched Essentials, Unleashed and Unleashed Max on 08-Oct-2026, backed by its ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite. Viasat’s plans page now lists these three tiers only; older Unlimited plans may still be available in a small portion of the country.
How much does Viasat Unleashed Max cost?
Unleashed Max is $109.99/mo for the first 12 months for new customers, then $179.99/mo. A $15/mo equipment lease applies on top of that, and there is no annual contract. Prices as of 12-Oct-2026.
Does Viasat Essentials have a contract?
Yes. Essentials requires a 24-month minimum service term, with an early termination fee of $15 for every month remaining if you cancel early. Unleashed and Unleashed Max have no annual contract.
How fast is Viasat internet?
Every current Viasat plan has a baseline speed of up to 80 Mbps for most customers most of the time. Burst speeds under ideal conditions are up to 150 Mbps on Essentials, up to 180 Mbps on Unleashed and up to 200 Mbps on Unleashed Max. Speeds are not guaranteed and vary by location.
Is installation free with Viasat?
Yes. All three plans include free standard installation by a professional technician. Non-standard installation work may cost extra, and the technician will tell you in advance.
Prices as of 12-Oct-2026. Introductory prices apply to new customers for the first 12 months; the regular monthly rate applies after that. Speeds are “up to,” are not guaranteed and will vary. Service is not available in all areas.
Homelinkd is an independent comparison service, not Viasat, HughesNet, Starlink or any other provider. Provider names and trademarks, including ViaSat-3, Unleashed Max and EasyCare, belong to their respective owners. Plans, pricing and availability vary by location and are subject to change; confirm details with the provider at time of order.