Best Satellite Communicators (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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When you make frequent trips to the backcountry, staying in touch with civilization is important, and for most people, this means using some sort of satellite communication device. Civilian commercial satellite communication devices come in two broad categories: satellite phones, which enable voice and data transmission; and satellite messengers, which provide two-way data (only) transmission either as a stand-alone device or paired with a smartphone.

Regarding satellite communicators, everything is a tradeoff in terms of size, capability, weight (batteries are heavy), display interface, cost (in terms of the unit and service plan), and intuitiveness of the device. Earlier this year, we reviewed the best satellite personal locator beacons and messaging devices, and this review will expand our search to include voice-capable devices. So if you frequently travel beyond the range of your smartphone, read on to find out the best satellite communication device for you.

Best Premium Satellite Phone: Iridium 9575 Extreme
Best Overall Satellite Communicator & Navigator: Garmin inReach Explorer+
Best Value Two-way Satellite Text Messenger: Somewear Labs Global Hotspot
Honorable Mention Satellite Phone: INMARSAT ISATPHONE 2
Best Value Satellite Phone: Globalstar GSP-1700
Best Satellite Smartphone: Thuraya X5 Touch
Best Stand-Alone Two-Way Satellite Messenger: Globalstar SpotX

Best Premium Satellite Phone

Iridium 9575 Extreme

Pros

Reliable voice communication
True global coverage
Enhanced battery
Programmable one-touch SOS
Access to 24/7 emergency assistance
Large display

Cons

Expensive unit cost
Expensive service plan
Bulky

Product Specs

Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.3 x 1 inches
Weight: 8.7 ounces
Battery life: 4 hours talk, 30 hours standby
Satellite network: Iridium
Two-way text capable: Yes
Voice capable: Yes
Navigation: Supports GPS and Google mapping
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

This ruggedized intuitive satellite phone provides reliable off-grid connectivity in every corner of the globe and has the highest water-/dust-proof rating on the market.

Best Overall Satellite Communicator u0026 Navigator

Garmin inReach Explorer+

Pros

Intuitive to use
Reliable two-way text messaging
Uses Iridium network, more satellites to connect to
Good smartphone app

Cons

Expensive
Bulkier than others

Product Specs

Dimensions: 2.7 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
Weight: 7.5 ounces
Battery life: Up to 100 hours at 10-minute GPS tracking
Satellite network: Iridium
Two-way text capable: Yes
Voice capable: No
Navigation: GPS with preloaded 1:24,000 topo maps
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

This device has the best-integrated navigation and satellite text communication system of the lot — saving weight and adding excellent connectivity to any backcountry adventure.

Best Value Two-way Satellite Text Messenger

Somewear Labs Global Hotspot

Pros

Super simple to use
One-touch SOS
True global coverage
Affordable
Low-cost service plan

Cons

Needs to pair with a smartphone for full functionality
No pre-set messaging function

Product Specs

Dimensions: 3 x 3.6 x 0.8 inches
Weight: 4 ounces
Battery life: 10 days at 10-minute tracking
Satellite network: Iridium
Two-way text capable: Yes, with smartphone
Voice capable: No
Navigation: No, tracking with smartphone
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

This tough little pocket-sized device transforms your smartphone into a two-way satellite text machine complete with real-time position GPS tracking and one-touch SOS capability.

Honorable Mention Satellite Phone

Inmarsat IsatPhone 2

Pros

Fast satellite network registration
Voicemail, text, and email capable
Location services and GPS tracking
Rugged
Global SOS assistance
Easy to use

Cons

Satellite coverage not as complete as Iridium
Expensive

Product Specs

Dimensions: 6.7 x 3 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 11.2 ounces
Battery life: 8 hours of talking, up to 160 hours in standby mode
Satellite network: INMARSAT
Two-way text capable: Yes
Voice capable: Yes
Navigation: GPS tracking
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

This rugged, easy to use, and reliable satellite phone provides near world-wide coverage, intuitive user interface, and has the longest battery life of the lot.

Best Value Satellite Phone

Globalstar GSP-1700

Pros

Near global coverage Low unit cost
GPS location services
Easy-access short messaging and voicemail
99-entry internal address book

Cons

Satellite coverage not as complete as Iridium
Expensive service plan

Product Specs

Dimensions: 5.3 x 2 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 7.1 ounces
Battery life: 4 hours of talking, up to 36 hours in standby mode
Satellite network: Globalstar
Two way text capable: Yes
Voice capable: Yes
Navigation: No
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

While Globalstar is no longer holding inventory of new models, you can still find these certified pre-owned satellite phones for $299.99 — a real bargain.

Best Satellite Smartphone

Thuraya X5 Touch

Pros

Runs on Android OS
5.2-inch full HD touchscreen
Supports Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome, and more
Fully ruggedized
Good battery life

Cons

Thuraya does not cover North or South America
Expensive

Product Specs

Dimensions: 5.7 x 3 x 1 inches
Weight: 9.2 ounces
Battery life: 11 hours of talking, up to 100 hours in standby mode
Satellite network: Thuraya (does not service North or South America)
Two-way text capable: Yes
Voice capable: Yes
Navigation: Yes
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

This next generation model is the world’s first Android satellite phone. It’s not cheap, but it is smart, reliable, and offers capabilities well beyond Iridium or Inmarsat phones.

Best Stand-Alone Two-Way Satellite Messenger

Globalstar SpotX

Pros

Great user interface
Stand-alone two-way texting
Location tracking
Dedicated U.S. phone number
Check-in functionality

Cons

Slow message send time
Bulky

Product Specs

Dimensions: 6.5 x 3 x 1 inches
Weight: 7 ounces
Battery life: Up to 10 days with 10-minute tracking
Satellite network: Globalstar
Two-way text capable: Yes
Voice capable: No
Navigation: No
Emergency SOS: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

This capable satellite messenger has an integrated keyboard, offers the easiest text-typing experience, and doesn’t require pairing with a smartphone to be fully functional.

Things to consider before buying a satellite communicator

Voice capability

The very first question you should ask yourself when considering buying a satellite communication device is whether you absolutely need voice capability. The cost difference between text-only and voice units is about $1,000. For most users, two-way text is enough. And with the decreasing costs of satellite communicators and service plans, there is little excuse not to carry one during your off-grid backcountry travels. These devices can literally be the difference between life and death in a backcountry emergency.

Stand-alone

The next question you’ll want to ask is whether you want to bring one or two devices with you for full functionality, as many devices require smartphone integration. If you are moving via vehicle, this is hardly a consideration, but if you are backpacking your gear, every ounce counts. Stand-alone devices have less power recharging requirements, so you’ll have to carry fewer power bricks or solar panels.

Coverage

Not all satellite providers have the same coverage areas. Iridium, with its 66-satellite constellation, is the only company that provides true global coverage. Inmarsat has three satellites in higher orbit but has significant gaps at the poles. Thuraya only covers Europe, most of Africa, and most of Asia. And SPOT covers most land masses but has gaps in the oceans. So check to see that the manufacturer and service provider cover the areas you need.

One-touch SOS

I consider this to be a critical feature on satellite communication devices. If you find yourself in a real emergency, you want a simple way to communicate your distress to a real human sitting in a response center that’s manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Look for models that have this potentially life-saving feature.

FAQs about satellite communicators

Q: Can you text via satellite?

A: Yes, most devices now support this capability with varying degrees of ease. I find that traditional satellite phones are super clunky to text on because they use the old T9 interface and you have to push single buttons multiple times to select the right letter. Satellite text messengers that link to your smartphone tend to have the best user interface.

Q: Do I need a satellite communicator for hiking?

A: If you are doing local day hikes, probably not. If you are venturing into the backcountry out of cell phone service range, it’s a really good idea to bring one along. The farther out you go, the further you are from help, and the more self-reliant you must be. A satellite communication device provides a much-needed safety margin.

Q: What does a satellite communicator do?

A: Essentially, a satellite communicator enables you to communicate with other ground stations by sending an electronic signal to a satellite in orbit and back down to another point on Earth. Depending on the device, this can be done in voice-only, voice and text, or text-only modes. Text-only devices tend to cost much less for the base unit and service plan.

Final thoughts

While there are many fine satellite communication systems on the market, for voice transmission, I prefer the Iridium Extreme due to its fast and reliable connectivity and true global coverage. For me, the cost is prohibitive. I don’t really want to talk to people when I’m in the backcountry. I prefer to text them on my own time, which is why I really like the Somewear Labs Global Hotspot, which essentially turns my iPhone into a two-way satellite messenger with GPS position tracking and weather reports. The Somewear Labs hotspot is also a much more cost-effective solution in terms of unit price and service plans.

Methodology

All the satellite communicators in this review were selected based on personal ownership, hands-on inspection, and thoroughly reviewing manufacturers’ specifications. We take our time to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each item, and also check out the reviews of other experts just to make sure we’re not missing anything. For this review, we considered more than a dozen makes and models. We parsed between systems that prioritized voice and those which were text-only models, and tried to provide solid representatives of each category. I based my criteria on my own experiences using outdoor gear in the field for more than 35 years.

After gathering enough high-performing products for a best-of article, I racked and stacked each based on their attributes, design, and performance. My bias is towards the lightest, best-functioning, and lowest-cost solutions available. We don’t torture test gear here at Task & Purpose — we test within normal usage limits. When gear does fail or break, we contact the manufacturer to see if and how it stands by its products. I also take a look at how easy the gear is to maintain or repair in the field — the simpler, the better.