Starlink
Satellite · 100–400 Mbps
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet service, delivered from low-Earth orbit rather than from the geostationary arc, which is why its latency sits far closer to a wired connection than traditional satellite does. US residential service is sold in three speed tiers, with no annual contract. The dish and router are bought up front — $349 for the standard kit — and the customer installs the dish themselves.
Is Starlink available at your address?
Starlink plans and pricing
The cheapest and fastest plans Starlink advertises. Availability varies by address — check your own ZIP code to see which of these can actually be ordered where you live.
-
Residential 100 Mbps
Internet
$55
per month
- Download
- 100 Mbps
- Download quoted up to 100 Mbps; actual speed depends on sky view and local demand
- Entry tier — subject to priority limits when the network is busy
- Standard kit $349 up front
No contract
-
Starlink Max
Internet
$130
per month
- Download
- 400 Mbps
- No contract
- Top network priority
No contract
All Starlink plans and pricing
Every plan we hold for Starlink, cheapest first. Where a price is introductory, the rate it rises to afterwards is shown beneath it.
| Plan | Price | Download | Upload | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 Mbps | $55 /mo | 100 Mbps | — | Satellite |
| Residential 200 Mbps | $85 /mo | 200 Mbps | — | Satellite |
| Starlink Max | $130 /mo | 400 Mbps | — | Satellite |
| Residential MAX | $130 /mo | 400 Mbps | — | Satellite |
Advertised rates, before taxes, equipment and local fees — last checked September 2026. Availability and price vary by address.
Before you order
Contract
No annual contract; service is month to month
Data allowance
Residential plans are sold as unlimited; the entry tier carries priority limits
Equipment
Standard kit costs $349 up front; rental is offered in some areas
Installation
Self-installed — the kit ships to the service address
Starlink: common questions
How much does the hardware cost?
The standard Starlink kit is $349 as a one-time purchase, separate from the monthly service charge. A rental option is offered in some areas instead of buying outright, so the up-front cost depends on where you are.
Is Starlink fast enough for video calls and gaming?
Video calls work well for most people, because Starlink's low-orbit satellites cut the round-trip delay that makes older satellite services unusable for live conversation. Gaming is more variable — latency is higher than a wired connection and can spike when the link hands off between satellites or the sky view is partly blocked.
Do I need a clear view of the sky?
Yes, and it is the single biggest factor in whether Starlink performs well at your address. Trees, chimneys and hillsides that cross the dish's field of view cause dropouts, so the mounting position matters more than it would for any wired service.
Is there a data cap?
Residential service is sold as unlimited data. The entry-level tier is subject to priority limits, meaning traffic on that plan can be slowed ahead of higher tiers when the local cell is busy.
Does weather affect the connection?
Heavy rain, dense cloud and snow can reduce speeds or briefly interrupt service, since the signal has to pass through the weather to reach the satellite. Accumulated snow on the dish is the other common cause of outages in cold climates.
Am I locked into a contract?
No. Starlink residential service runs month to month with no annual term, so the commitment is the hardware purchase rather than the subscription.
Keep reading
Guides that help you judge whether Starlink is the right choice, and what the bill will really be.
Strengths and trade-offs
What they do well
- Latency well below geostationary satellite services, which makes video calls practical
- Available at rural addresses with no wired option, as long as the sky view is clear
- No annual contract — service is month to month
- Self-installed, so there is no technician appointment
- Three speed tiers rather than a single take-it-or-leave-it plan
Worth knowing
- The hardware is an up-front cost of $349 on top of the monthly rate
- The dish needs an unobstructed view of the sky — trees, roof lines and hills all cost speed or drop the link
- Heavy rain and snow can degrade the connection, and snow can settle on the dish
- Speeds fall during busy periods in congested areas, and the entry tier is subject to priority limits
- Latency is still higher and less steady than fiber or cable
Similar providers
About this data: Coverage and speed figures come from the FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025, where providers self-report. Advertised speeds are maximums, not guarantees, and availability differs address by address. The FCC publishes no pricing at all, so every price here was taken from a rate the provider advertised publicly, last checked September 2026. Several providers quote only after an address check, and rates move constantly — treat these as a guide and confirm the figure for your own address before you order. Starlink is a trademark of its owner and is listed here for comparison; this does not imply any relationship between us unless marked as a partner.