Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) is Amazon's satellite internet service, and it's finally getting close to reaching actual customers this year. After seven years of development, Amazon has rebranded its low Earth orbit (LEO, get it?) broadband project and is gearing up to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.
If you live or work somewhere with limited internet options, satellite is the right choice. But should you wait for Amazon Leo or just go ahead with Starlink? Here's everything you need to know about speeds, pricing, hardware, and when you can actually sign up.
What is Amazon's Project Leo?
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) is all about taking on the digital divide. By putting together its own satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, Amazon will be able to beam satellite internet to places in the U.S. and around the world that either don't have adequate internet access or don't have any access at all. In particular, Amazon's goal is to offer broadband service that is fast, reliable, and easy on consumers' wallets. The project officially rebranded from Project Kuiper to Amazon Leo on November 13, 2025.
The traditional satellite internet providers in the U.S., HughesNet and Viasat, have geostationary satellites around 22,000 miles above Earth, which stay in place over a particular location by moving at the same speed as the planet rotates. LEO satellites, on the other hand, are much closer, at only around 350–400 miles above Earth. The LEO satellites orbit Earth, completing a lap approximately every 90–120 minutes, and form an interconnected transmission network that allows the satellites to send data to each other at much faster speeds.
These differences are what will allow LEO satellite internet providers like Amazon Leo and Starlink to outperform the established satellite internet providers by delivering faster download speeds, lower latency, and greater reliability—at a much more competitive price point.
Amazon Leo launch date
Amazon Leo was scheduled for a mid-2026 consumer launch, with broader availability expected to grow throughout 2027. The service is currently in enterprise beta (which launched April 8, 2026) with a select group of business partners testing the network. Consumer service is not yet available to the public.
Amazon announced the project back in spring 2019, and in July 2020, the company received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy and operate its satellite constellation—and committed $10 billion to the effort. Under the terms of that authorization, Amazon was required to launch at least half of its 3,236 satellites by July 30, 2026. Amazon has since requested a two-year extension, with the remainder due by July 30, 2029.
To meet its deployment schedule, Amazon took a multi-provider approach to launches from the start. More than 100 launches have been secured across five different rockets: Atlas V, Ariane 6, Falcon 9, Vulcan Centaur, and New Glenn. Since the first full-scale deployment mission in April 2025, more than 330 satellites have been launched across 12 missions.
How much will Amazon Leo cost?
Amazon has not announced pricing for Amazon Leo subscriptions yet, though you can expect that both the monthly service and customer terminal pricing will be competitive. From the beginning, Amazon has emphasized that its goal is to connect as many people as possible, and keeping costs reasonable is a key part of that vision.
Amazon will most likely offer pricing comparable to Starlink. Starlink currently costs $55–$165/month depending on speed tier, with hardware costing $299–$599 upfront.
Amazon has already revealed that Project Leo's antenna will be relatively small and thus less costly to produce, so its customer terminal may be priced below $400 in order to compete against Starlink. With Amazon's incredible financial resources, it shouldn't be hard for the company to offer a lower upfront cost to gain customers quickly, even at a loss.
Amazon Leo terminal options
In order to connect to Amazon Leo for satellite service, you need to purchase a satellite dish, also known as a terminal. Amazon has three customer terminal models: Nano, Pro, and Ultra. All three use Amazon's custom Prometheus chip and are designed for self-installation.
- Amazon Leo Nano (7-inch, up to 100 Mbps) is the smallest dish option, intended for mobility, remote workers, and basic residential use. It's lightweight and easy to pack or mount.
- Amazon Leo Pro (11-inch, up to 400 Mbps) is more powerful and designed to handle multiple devices simultaneously, 4K streaming, and heavy data usage. It's best for busy households and small businesses alike.
- Amazon Leo Ultra (20x30-inch, up to 1 Gbps) is an enterprise-grade, full-array antenna built for demanding usage. It's designed for businesses and organizations that need gigabit speeds and connects securely and directly to Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Amazon Leo speeds
Depending on which terminal you choose, your speeds can reach upwards of 1Gbps. Here's how Amazon Leo's speeds break down by terminal:
| Terminal | Download speed | Upload speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Nano | Up to 100Mbps | TBA | Basic residential and remote workers |
| Leo Pro | Up to 400Mbps | TBA | Residential or small businesses |
| Leo Ultra | Up to 1Gbps | Up to 400Mbps | Large businesses |
Where is Amazon Leo available?
Amazon aims to make fast satellite internet service accessible to people all over the U.S. and the world. While consumer plans aren't yet available, the initial rollout is planned for five countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Coverage will start at northern and southern latitudes first, expanding toward the equator as more satellites are deployed. Consumer beta service in those five countries is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
Is Amazon Leo good for rural internet?
Rural connectivity is Amazon Leo's primary mission—providing fast, reliable broadband to people stuck with slow DSL, overpriced legacy satellite plans, or even no broadband at all.
Amazon Leo's LEO satellites orbit much closer to Earth, delivering lower latency and faster speeds that hold up for video calls, remote work, and streaming. Amazon has also secured over $210 million in BEAD program funding to serve 321,500+ underserved U.S. locations.
If you need coverage now, our guide to rural internet plans and providers covers the best options currently available.
Who is Amazon Leo best for?
Many places in the U.S. and around the globe have limited to no broadband internet access. In many rural parts of the U.S. in particular, access to cable, DSL, 5G, or traditional satellite internet providers can be overpriced, non-existent, or unreliable. This digital divide is an issue that has become more pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic, as many have turned to remote work, virtual schooling, and telemedicine.
Amazon's plan is to improve broadband access in the U.S. and beyond by offering reliable satellite internet with high speeds, low latency, and an affordable price. This triple-threat combination is something that traditional satellite internet companies like HughesNet and Viasat have not been able to accomplish, which has created demand for companies like Amazon and SpaceX to bring their LEO satellite internet projects to market.
The basics of satellite internet
Is satellite internet the future?
Satellite internet, particularly from providers like SpaceX and Amazon that use LEO satellites, can bring internet access and adequate performance to locations that otherwise might not have better options, like rural areas. Satellite internet isn't meant to serve densely populated cities, so it's not going to be the best option for people who have access to alternatives like cable and fiber internet.
What is satellite internet and how does it work?
With satellite internet, data is transmitted to and from satellites above the Earth wirelessly. This allows you to access the internet without needing a wired connection like cable, fiber, or DSL, or a wireless cell tower nearby.
What is the fastest internet type?
The fastest and most reliable internet type you can get is fiber, which has low latency and can reach download speeds of 2Gbps.
What is the best internet for streaming?
The best type of internet for streaming, whether it's something live or your favorite Netflix series, is fiber because it offers the best download speeds, similarly high upload speeds, and low latency.
How fast is satellite internet?
How fast satellite internet feels depends not just on download speed, but also on latency. Since LEO satellites are much closer to Earth than geostationary ones, providers like Starlink and Project Leo can end up with much lower latency than HughesNet and Viasat, since the data has less distance to travel. This setup reduces lag when you're trying to do a live video chat, for example. In fact, the experts at High Speed Internet put Starlink's low-Earth-orbit satellite service to the test and found that, on average, customers saw consistent speeds of 100Mbps.
Satellite internet providers compared
The two established players in the satellite internet space—HughesNet and Viasat—are in for a shake-up. New providers with LEO satellite constellations are coming onto the scene to offer better speeds, latency, and prices. Starlink is leading the pack, and Amazon Leo is soon to join the fun.
| Provider | Download speed | Latency | Monthly data | Monthly price | Equipment cost | Available now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Leo | Up to 400Mbps (Leo Pro) | 50ms (est.) | TBA | TBA | $400 (est.) | Enterprise beta only |
| Starlink | Up to 1Gbps | 20–40ms | Unlimited | $55–$165/mo. | $299–$599 | Yes |
| HughesNet | Up to 25Mbps | 700ms | 15–100GB | $50–$150/mo. | Leased | Yes |
| Viasat | Up to 150Mbps | 700ms | Unlimited (throttled) | $100–$300/mo. | Leased | Yes |
Satellite internet from the traditional providers, HughesNet and Viasat, has been plagued with mediocre speeds, high latency, data caps, expensive installation, and costly plans. This dreary landscape changed for the better with Starlink readily available. Starlink is an affordable option with up to 1Gbps download speed, far lower latency, and no data caps. When Amazon Leo launches, there will be even more competition in this space, and we can expect to see pricing and speeds comparable to Starlink.
Not sure which connection type is right for you? Our guide to home internet types breaks down everything from fiber to fixed wireless to satellite, so you can compare your actual options. Otherwise, browse the most popular internet plans currently available:
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Cox
Go Fast + Mobile Unlimited
$90/mo
for 24 months. Available in select locations.
|
|
Kinetic
100 Mbps
$19.99/mo
for 1 year with AutoPay
|
|
Optimum
300 Mbps Internet
$25/mo
with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.
|
Should I wait for Amazon Leo or get Starlink?
If you need satellite internet right now and Starlink is available in your area, it's probably not worth waiting for Amazon Leo. Starlink has 9,000+ satellites currently in orbit and over 9 million subscribers. Amazon Leo has 241 satellites in orbit as of April 2026 and a consumer rollout that's realistically going to take most of the year to complete.
That said, if you can wait, Amazon Leo might promise cheaper service. Amazon's manufacturing scale could mean lower equipment prices right out of the gate. There's also potential for Prime bundling discounts. And being a few years behind Starlink means Amazon got to watch all of Starlink's early-adopter headaches before building its own product.
If you're already on Starlink and it's working for you, there's no compelling reason to switch. But if you're still waiting on a good rural internet option, Amazon Leo is worth getting on the waitlist now.
How do I sign up for Amazon Leo?
Consumer access isn't broadly available yet, but the free public waitlist is open now at Amazon Leo's registration page. Signing up is free and puts you in line for early access when service reaches your area, and there's no payment or commitment required.
If you can't wait and need a solution now, compare what's currently available in your area using the widget above, or check our rural internet guide for the best options right now.
Amazon Leo FAQ
What happened to Project Kuiper?
Project Kuiper was renamed Amazon Leo on November 13, 2025. The new name is a reference to the low-Earth-orbit technology that powers the network.
How fast is Amazon Leo?
The Leo Pro delivers up to 400Mbps download speeds, the Leo Nano up to 100Mbps, and the enterprise Leo Ultra up to 1Gbps.
Can I bundle Amazon Leo with Amazon Prime?
Amazon has hinted at potential Prime bundling—discounts or early access for Prime members—but nothing has been officially confirmed as of mid-2026.
Is Amazon Leo available in rural areas?
Not yet, but rural connectivity is Amazon Leo's main objective. Amazon has secured millions in BEAD program funding to reach underserved U.S. locations.
What is better, Starlink or Amazon Leo?
Right now, Starlink is better. It's available today with a functional network, 9,000+ satellites in orbit, and 9 million+ subscribers. Amazon Leo is still in enterprise beta. The projected specs are comparable on paper, but Starlink is the clear choice if you need satellite internet now.
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