Best satellite phones for emergencies (2026)

A satellite phone makes voice calls where there's no cell service at all: after a hurricane takes towers down, in the backcountry, or at a remote cabin or ranch. This page compares six on two networks: Iridium, which describes its network as global, and Inmarsat, whose satellites sit in a fixed (geostationary) orbit over the equator. Every one needs an airtime plan or prepaid minutes on top of the phone, and every one needs a clear view of the sky. Figures are the maker's, read on the date in each card's notes. We haven't used these ourselves.

By Tom Calder · Updated November 9, 2026 · 6 products, all price-tracked

Satellite phones compared for US households

Our picks

Best satellite phone 4.5

One rugged handset for calls and texts

Photo: Amazon

Iridium Extreme

Iridium · Voice, SMS, GPS tracking, SOS button · Talk 4 h, standby 30 h · IP65, MIL-STD 810F

The rugged standard: calls and texts anywhere

Researched

$1,471 at Amazon

as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

In stock

Check price →

Best for teams 4.2

Satellite walkie-talkie for a group

Photo: Amazon

Iridium Extreme PTT

Iridium · Voice, push-to-talk groups, data, emergency services · Talk 6.5 h, standby 54 h (phone mode) · IP65, MIL-STD 810F

Satellite push-to-talk for a ranch, crew or response team

Researched

$1,729 at Amazon

as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details

In stock

Check price →

Best satellite hotspot 4.3

Your own phones call and text over Wi-Fi

Photo: Amazon

Iridium GO! exec

Iridium Certus · Wi-Fi hotspot: 2 calls or data at once · Talk 6 h, standby 24 h · IP65

Satellite calls, messages and light data for a family or crew

Researched

$2,254 at Amazon

as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details

In stock

Check price →

All 6 compared

Show

Phone	Network	Services	Battery (maker)	Toughness	Price
1. Iridium Extreme 9575 Satellite Phone (with SIM cards) Best satellite phone Iridium · Voice, SMS, GPS tracking, SOS button · Talk 4 h, standby 30 h · IP65, MIL-STD 810F The rugged standard: calls and texts anywhere 4.5	Iridium	Voice, SMS, GPS tracking, SOS button	Talk 4 h, standby 30 h	IP65, MIL-STD 810F	$1,471 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Iridium's rugged handset makes calls and sends texts over a network Iridium describes as global, with a dedicated SOS button and GPS tracking. Airtime costs extra on top of the phone, and like any sat phone it needs a clear view of the sky. Best for The rugged standard: calls and texts anywhere Good Iridium's global network SOS button and GPS tracking IP65 and MIL-STD 810F Worth knowing Airtime costs extra Talk time 4 hours Needs open sky to connect Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if texts and SOS are enough: a satellite messenger costs far less to buy and run.
2. Iridium Extreme Satellite Phone with 600-Minute 1-Year Prepaid SIM (BlueCosmo bundle) Iridium · Voice, SMS, GPS tracking, SOS button · Talk 4 h, standby 30 h · IP65, MIL-STD 810F A sat phone with a year of minutes in the box 4.4	Iridium	Voice, SMS, GPS tracking, SOS button	Talk 4 h, standby 30 h	IP65, MIL-STD 810F	$2,320 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The same Iridium Extreme, sold by BlueCosmo with a prepaid SIM holding 600 minutes, valid for a year from when you activate it online. Handy if you want it ready for hurricane or wildfire season; check the minutes' expiry when you buy. Best for A sat phone with a year of minutes in the box Good 600 prepaid minutes included Iridium's global network SOS button and GPS Worth knowing Prepaid minutes expire a year after activation Talk time 4 hours Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you already have an airtime plan: buy the phone alone.
3. Iridium GO! exec Satellite Wi-Fi Hotspot with Fixed Installation Kit Best satellite hotspot Iridium Certus · Wi-Fi hotspot: 2 calls or data at once · Talk 6 h, standby 24 h · IP65 Satellite calls, messages and light data for a family or crew 4.3	Iridium Certus	Wi-Fi hotspot: 2 calls or data at once	Talk 6 h, standby 24 h	IP65	$2,254 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Not a phone but a satellite hotspot: your own phones and laptop connect over Wi-Fi to make calls, send messages and use light data (Iridium lists up to 88 kbps download, slow by home standards). This listing adds a fixed installation kit for a vehicle or boat. Best for Satellite calls, messages and light data for a family or crew Good Two calls at once, or several data connections Uses the phones you already have Garmin Response SOS support Worth knowing Data is slow 1,200 g Airtime costs extra Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need one handset you can carry: the Iridium Extreme is smaller.
4. Iridium Extreme PTT Satellite Phone (push-to-talk) Best for teams Iridium · Voice, push-to-talk groups, data, emergency services · Talk 6.5 h, standby 54 h (phone mode) · IP65, MIL-STD 810F Satellite push-to-talk for a ranch, crew or response team 4.2	Iridium	Voice, push-to-talk groups, data, emergency services	Talk 6.5 h, standby 54 h (phone mode)	IP65, MIL-STD 810F	$1,729 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched An Iridium Extreme that also works like a walkie-talkie by satellite: press to talk to everyone in your group, wherever they are. It suits ranches, search teams and response groups. Push-to-talk needs its own service plan as well as the phone. Best for Satellite push-to-talk for a ranch, crew or response team Good Group push-to-talk by satellite Longer talk time than the standard Extreme Also a full sat phone Worth knowing PTT needs its own plan Only useful if your group has PTT handsets Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if it's just for you and a family: a standard Extreme or a messenger is simpler.
5. Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 Satellite Phone Inmarsat (geostationary) · Voice, SMS, email, send location · Talk 8 h, standby 160 h · IP65, IK04 The longest battery life of any sat phone here 4.2	Inmarsat (geostationary)	Voice, SMS, email, send location	Talk 8 h, standby 160 h	IP65, IK04	$772.90 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Inmarsat's handset has the longest battery here, up to 8 hours' talk and 160 hours' standby. Inmarsat's satellites are geostationary, so the phone needs a clear view of the sky toward them. Airtime is extra. Best for The longest battery life of any sat phone here Good 8 hours' talk, 160 hours' standby Voice, texts and email IP65 Worth knowing Airtime costs extra Needs a clear view toward the satellite Heavier than the Iridium Extreme Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you'll often be in deep canyons or thick forest: the phone needs a clear view toward the satellite.
6. Iridium GO! Satellite Wi-Fi Hotspot Iridium · Wi-Fi hotspot: calls, texts, basic data via app · Talk 5.5 h, standby 15.5 h · IP65, MIL-STD 810F A pocket hotspot that turns your phone into a sat phone 4.0	Iridium	Wi-Fi hotspot: calls, texts, basic data via app	Talk 5.5 h, standby 15.5 h	IP65, MIL-STD 810F	$854.90 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The original pocket Iridium hotspot: your smartphone connects by Wi-Fi and makes calls and sends texts through Iridium's app. Data is very slow (2.4 kbps), fine for text and weather files, not for browsing. The GO! exec is its faster successor. Best for A pocket hotspot that turns your phone into a sat phone Good Pocket size, 305 g Uses your own phone IP65 and MIL-STD 810F Worth knowing Very slow data Airtime costs extra Older design Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need real data: the GO! exec is far faster.

ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedStates earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and can change at any time.

Who needs one, and who doesn't

Most households don't. If you want to send texts and an SOS when cell service is down, a satellite messenger like the Garmin inReach costs far less to buy and to run. A sat phone earns its cost if you need to talk, not text: remote homes and ranches, boats, response teams, or someone in the family who works off-grid. We've left out Thuraya phones: we couldn't confirm Thuraya coverage in the US from Thuraya itself, so check Thuraya's own coverage map before buying one for use here.

Before you buy

Budget for airtime, not just the phone.

Every phone here needs a plan or prepaid minutes. Prepaid SIMs expire after a set time, so check how long the minutes last when you buy.

Iridium or Inmarsat.

Iridium's satellites fly in low orbits and move across the sky; Inmarsat's are geostationary, fixed high over the equator, so an Inmarsat phone needs a clear view of the sky in their direction.

Step outside to call.

Satellite phones need an open view of the sky; they generally won't connect indoors.

SOS.

The Iridium Extreme has a dedicated SOS button; Iridium lists Garmin Response (IERCC) support for the GO! and GO! exec. Register and test it before you need it.

Handset or hotspot.

A handset is one rugged device that does it all. The GO! and GO! exec make a Wi-Fi network: your own phones join it and call and text through Iridium's app.

Keep it charged.

Listed talk times run from 4 to 8 hours. Store it charged, and make a test call every few months so you know the plan and the phone still work.

How we choose

We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →

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Common questions

Do satellite phones work in the US?

Yes: Iridium and Inmarsat phones both work in the US. You need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky, and an active airtime plan or prepaid minutes.

Do I need a plan for a satellite phone?

Yes. The phone alone can't make calls. You buy a monthly plan or a prepaid SIM with minutes; one listing here, BlueCosmo's Iridium Extreme bundle, includes 600 prepaid minutes valid for a year.

Satellite phone or satellite messenger?

A messenger sends texts and an SOS and costs far less to buy and run; a phone lets you talk. For most families, a messenger is enough. Pick a phone if voice matters: a remote home, a boat or a work crew.

Can I use my own phone with a satellite hotspot?

Yes. The Iridium GO! and GO! exec create a Wi-Fi network your smartphone joins, and you call and text through Iridium's app. Iridium's specs for the GO! exec allow up to two calls at once.

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