Cancel guide · Updated April 28, 2026
How to cancel Viasat
Viasat is the satellite ISP that still has a real contract problem in 2026. The newer 'Viasat Unleashed' plans launched in 2024 are no-contract month-to-month, but legacy Viasat Internet, 'Viasat Essentials' (a 12-month term), and the long-running 24-month service plans still ride on a $15-per-remaining-month early termination fee that can total $200-$400. Cancel is phone-only at 1-855-463-9333 with a real retention department, and the equipment return is the most physically involved of any major US ISP, you (or a Viasat technician) have to remove the TRIA from the dish, ship the modem, and Viasat charges your card on file if anything is missing 30 days after disconnect. Most users underestimate the deinstall.
Cancel Viasat, direct line
Viasat does not offer a fully-online cancel flow, phone is the only reliable path.
Policies change frequently. Verify current terms at the time of cancellation. Prices, ETFs, return windows, and cancel numbers can shift, always confirm with the provider on the call before accepting any offer.
Step-by-step: cancel Viasat
Identify which Viasat plan you're on, this dictates the ETF
Sign into my.viasat.com and check your plan name. 'Viasat Unleashed' (launched 2024) is no-contract, no ETF. 'Viasat Essentials' is a 12-month minimum term. Legacy 'Viasat Internet,' 'Choice,' 'Liberty,' 'Bronze,' 'Silver,' 'Gold,' or 'Platinum' plans typically have a 24-month service term with $15/remaining-month ETF. The Customer Agreement (currently version 9.17) is the source of truth, but the MyViasat dashboard 'Plan Details' shows your remaining term in months.
Calculate your ETF before calling
ETF = $15 multiplied by full months remaining on your minimum service term. A 24-month plan canceled at month 10 costs 14 x $15 = $210. A 12-month Essentials plan canceled at month 4 costs 8 x $15 = $120. If you originally chose the 'No Long-Term Contract' option (paying an upfront one-time fee at signup), there is no ETF, you're already month-to-month after the first 30 days.
Call 1-855-463-9333 and request cancellation
Viasat does not have an online cancel flow. The IVR routes 'cancel' or 'disconnect' to retention. Have your account number, the email on the account, and the last 4 of the payment method on file. Retention will offer 1-3 save attempts before processing the cancel; for contracted plans, they may quote your ETF before fully processing the disconnect.
Negotiate ETF reduction if you have leverage
Viasat retention can sometimes prorate or reduce the ETF if you cite: a recent service degradation with documented tickets, a move to an address where Viasat doesn't service (waives the ETF entirely with proof), an active-duty military PCS order (typically waives), or a switch to Starlink because Viasat's speed/latency in your area is unworkable. The script for ETF reduction is rigid, you have to ask explicitly and may need to escalate to a supervisor.
Schedule the dish/TRIA deinstall
Viasat ships a prepaid UPS return box for the modem and indoor cabling within 48 hours of the disconnect order. The TRIA (the radio unit at the end of the dish arm) must also be removed and returned, this is the part most users miss. You can self-remove the TRIA (it unscrews from the arm with basic tools) or, in some service areas, schedule a Viasat technician for a 'deinstall' visit. The dish itself (the parabolic antenna) typically stays mounted on your roof or pole, Viasat does not retrieve it.
Ship within 30 days, only with the Viasat-provided box and label
Viasat will not accept equipment returns shipped without the official return box and prepaid UPS label. Pack the modem, power cord, all Ethernet cables included in the original install, and the TRIA into the provided box. Drop at any UPS staffed location. Equipment not returned within 30 calendar days from the disconnect date is billed to the payment method on file at the full replacement cost, the modem alone is typically $200-$300, the TRIA is another $200+.
Confirm the final bill and any prorated charges
Viasat prorates the service portion of the final bill in most cases, but the ETF is not prorated, it's the full $15 x remaining months. The final bill posts within 1-2 cycles after disconnect and includes: prorated service through the disconnect date, the ETF if applicable, and any equipment fees if the return is incomplete. Watch for double-charges or billing for the cycle after disconnect, both have been reported.
If considering Starlink instead, time the switch carefully
Starlink does not offer trade-in or migration credit for Viasat hardware (the dishes are not interoperable). If you're switching, run Starlink in parallel for 1-2 weeks to confirm sky visibility and speeds before scheduling Viasat's deinstall, the worst outcome is canceling Viasat, then discovering Starlink obstructions on your property. The 24-month Viasat ETF is a real cost; sometimes the math says wait out the contract.
What retention will offer, and how to evaluate it
Here's what to expect when the Viasat retention team pitches you, and how to tell a real offer from a distraction.
- A speed-tier or data-priority upgrade at your current price, the most common save offer, valuable only if Viasat actually has the bandwidth in your beam to deliver the higher tier (rural beams are often capacity-limited).
- An ETF reduction or waiver if you can cite a documented service degradation history, a move outside the footprint, or active-duty military PCS orders. Retention has authority to waive but typically only after 1-2 escalations.
- Switching you to a 'Viasat Unleashed' or no-contract plan to end the term-commitment exposure, useful if you want flexibility but plan to stay 6+ more months. Read the new plan's pricing carefully, Unleashed is sometimes more expensive month-over-month.
- Free 'Viasat Easy Care' (their equipment protection plan) for 12 months. This is mostly cosmetic; the satellite hardware rarely fails in ways Easy Care covers.
- A bill credit of $20-50 applied to the next 1-3 months, narrow in scope. Viasat retention does not have the discounting authority of cable retention departments.
Early termination fee and equipment return
Viasat early termination fees depend on your specific plan and contract option. 'Viasat Unleashed' (launched 2024) is no-contract, no ETF. 'Viasat Essentials' carries a 12-month minimum service term with $15 per remaining month. Legacy 24-month plans (still common on accounts opened before 2024) carry $15 per remaining month for up to 24 months, max ~$360. The 'No Long-Term Contract' option, available at signup with an upfront fee, removes the ETF after the first 30 days. ETFs are waived for: documented moves outside Viasat's serviceable footprint (with proof), active-duty military relocations with PCS orders, and Viasat-side service failures lasting more than 30 consecutive days. Always ask the retention agent to recalculate the ETF before agreeing to pay it, the figure is sometimes overstated in the first quote.
Return the Viasat modem, power cord, all Ethernet cables included in the original install, and the TRIA (the radio unit at the end of the satellite dish arm). The dish itself (parabolic antenna) typically stays mounted, Viasat does not retrieve it. The TRIA unscrews from the dish arm with basic tools; in some service areas, you can schedule a Viasat technician for a deinstall visit. UPS ships a prepaid return box and label to your address within 48 hours of the disconnect order. Viasat will not accept returns shipped without the official box and label. Drop at any UPS staffed location. Equipment not returned within 30 calendar days from disconnect is billed to the payment method on file at full replacement cost, modem typically $200-$300, TRIA typically $200+.
Deadline: 30 days after disconnect
Timing tips
- Calculate your ETF before calling, knowing the exact dollar figure makes it harder for retention to overstate it. ETF = $15 x remaining full months on your minimum service term.
- If you're under 30 days into a new install, you're inside the satisfaction guarantee window, mention this immediately, the cancel script is shorter and installation/activation fees are refunded.
- If switching to Starlink, run it in parallel for 1-2 weeks before disconnecting Viasat. Starlink obstructions and capacity issues only show up in real use, and the Viasat deinstall is hard to reverse.
- Schedule the cancel call for Tuesday-Thursday 9am-noon Pacific (Viasat's HQ is in Carlsbad, CA), retention queues are shortest then.
- Don't ship equipment late, the 30-day clock starts at the disconnect date, and Viasat charges full replacement cost on day 31. UPS the box within 1-2 weeks of receiving the return label, not at the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel Viasat online without calling?
How much is the Viasat early termination fee?
Does Viasat waive the ETF if I'm moving?
What equipment do I have to return?
What if I can't remove the TRIA myself?
What's the unreturned-equipment fee?
Will Viasat prorate my final bill?
Is 'Viasat Unleashed' really no-contract?
Should I switch to Starlink instead of waiting out my Viasat contract?
Thinking of switching instead?
Before you cancel, it's usually worth checking what else is available at your address.