How to Cancel HughesNet Satellite Internet in 2026

HughesNet is one of the hardest services to cancel. A $400 early termination fee that decreases by $15/month, equipment you need to retrieve from your roof, and aggressive phone retention. Here's the full playbook.

The Early Termination Fee

HughesNet contracts are 24 months. If you're close to the end, it may be worth riding it out to avoid the fee. Check your contract start date in your HughesNet account or on your original agreement.

How to Cancel HughesNet

1. Call 1-866-347-3292 (phone only — no online cancellation)
2. Say "cancel service" to reach the retention department
3. Verify your identity (name, address, account number)
4. Decline retention offers (expect 2-3 rounds)
5. Get your cancellation confirmation number
6. Ask about your equipment return kit — they'll send a box with a prepaid label
7. Ask for your final bill amount including any ETF

Equipment Return: The Roof Problem

HughesNet requires you to return the radio transmitter — the component attached to the satellite dish on your roof. This is the part that makes HughesNet cancellation uniquely painful:

• You must climb onto your roof and remove the radio transmitter from the dish arm
• The dish itself can stay — HughesNet only wants the transmitter back
• You also return the modem/router
• Return everything in the prepaid box within 45 days
• If you don't return equipment: $300+ unreturned equipment fee

Why HughesNet Is So Bad (And Why People Stay)

HughesNet satellite internet has fundamental limitations:

• High latency (600-800ms) — satellite signal must travel 22,000 miles to space and back. Video calls lag, gaming is impossible
• Low data caps — 15-100GB/month. A single 4K movie uses 7GB. A family can burn through monthly data in days
• Slow speeds — 25Mbps download max (often slower in practice)
• Weather interference — rain, snow, and heavy clouds can knock out service

People stay because they live in rural areas with no alternatives. If that's changed, get out now.

Better Alternatives

• Starlink: $120/month, no contract — low-Earth orbit satellite with 25-100Mbps and 25-50ms latency. Massively better than HughesNet for rural areas
• T-Mobile Home Internet: $50/month — if you have T-Mobile coverage, this is cheaper and faster. No data caps
• Verizon LTE Home Internet: $25-50/month — 4G/5G wireless home internet where available
• Fixed wireless ISPs: Local ISPs using tower-based connections — check your area at broadbandnow.com