Starlink now has more plan options than ever — and more ways to get confused. Three residential tiers, three Roam tiers, business priority plans, a rental program, a compact Mini dish, and a price increase that hit most customers mid-year. This guide cuts through all of it so you know exactly what you’re paying for and which plan actually matches what your household does online.
The questions people actually have when they’re sitting on Starlink’s order page trying to figure out if they’re about to make a mistake. Answered directly.
For the majority of U.S. households — including families with multiple people streaming, working from home, video calling, and gaming simultaneously — the Residential MAX at $130/month is the right answer. It delivers the highest speeds available at your address (up to 400 Mbps), carries the highest network priority when the constellation is busy, and comes with the Gen 3 router included. The lower-tier 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans are only offered in areas where Starlink has excess network capacity to spare — they’re not available everywhere, and they come with lower network priority, which means slower speeds during peak hours. If you have any question about which tier fits, MAX removes that uncertainty.
Both options exist, but with important strings attached to the rental. As of June 2026, Starlink charges a $10/month hardware rental fee for the Standard dish kit in select markets — replacing what was briefly a free rental program. The rental requires a $20 shipping fee upfront. If you rent, you cannot pause your service (a key feature many users rely on seasonally), and if you cancel, you must return the equipment undamaged or you’ll be charged full price. If you purchase the dish outright ($349 at most retailers), you own it permanently — you can pause service, reactivate, and resell it. For long-term users, buying the dish outright is cheaper: three years of $10/month rental adds up to $360, compared to a one-time $349 purchase. The rental only makes sense if you genuinely plan to use Starlink for less than a year.
Starlink’s residential plans are technically unlimited in that they never cut off your service or charge overage fees for using too much data. What they do is deprioritize your connection relative to higher-tier users when the network is congested. On the Residential MAX plan, you receive the highest priority among consumer plans — meaning you’re last in line to be slowed down. On the 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans, your connection has lower network priority than MAX subscribers, so during busy periods (typically evenings in dense areas), your real speeds may fall below the plan’s speed cap. This is different from a “data cap” where speeds drop after a specific GB threshold — it’s a service quality distinction that matters most during peak hours in higher-population areas.
In May 2026, Starlink increased monthly prices across nearly all plans — the Residential 100 Mbps went from $50 to $55, the 200 Mbps from $80 to $85, and the MAX from $120 to $130. Roam Unlimited increased from $165 to $175. The increase applied to both new and existing customers starting with June 2026 billing. Starlink cited expanding network infrastructure, growing satellite capacity, and rising global operating costs. This marked the first significant residential price change in several years. The company is not a regulated utility — there is no price lock guarantee — so these kinds of adjustments can happen again. If you were on the old pricing, your bill increased automatically at your June 2026 renewal, and there was no opt-out option other than canceling service.
No — residential plans and Roam plans are two separate, incompatible products. A Residential plan ties your dish to a specific registered address; using it at a different location is a violation of Starlink’s terms of service and may result in service interruption. Roam plans are purpose-built for mobile use — you can take the dish anywhere in the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) with no address restriction. The Starlink Mini dish is the hardware designed for Roam plans, though the full Standard dish is also compatible. If you split time between a home and an RV, the practical setup is a Residential plan for home use (with the Standard dish staying mounted) and a Roam plan for travel (using a Mini or portable setup). Alternatively, Residential MAX subscribers previously received a discounted Roam bundle — that perk was discontinued for new customers in June 2026.
Genuinely good — not a compromise. Even the 100 Mbps entry plan provides enough bandwidth for multiple simultaneous HD streams. The MAX plan’s 150–400 Mbps download speed handles 4K streaming on multiple TVs while someone is video conferencing in another room without any buffering. Latency — the delay that makes video calls feel choppy or laggy — runs 25–50 ms on residential plans, which is comparable to cable internet and more than adequate for smooth Zoom, Teams, and FaceTime calls. The rare exception: a brief blip every 15–30 seconds as the dish transitions between overhead satellites. Most users describe this as occasionally causing a half-second freeze on a video call, roughly once every few minutes. It’s noticeable if you’re watching for it; most people stop noticing it after a few days.
A few legitimate paths exist. The hardware sometimes goes on sale — the Standard dish has appeared at Best Buy and Walmart for as low as $89–$199 during promotions, compared to the $349 list price, which meaningfully reduces first-year cost. Starlink occasionally offers discounted dish kits in areas where it has excess network capacity and wants to increase subscribers. Bundling Starlink internet with a mobile phone plan through a third-party like US Mobile can reduce the monthly service cost below Starlink’s direct pricing in some cases. There is no senior discount, no income-based discount, and no referral program from Starlink directly. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that previously subsidized satellite internet for low-income households was ended by Congress in 2024, leaving no federal discount mechanism currently active for Starlink service.
Three tiers for stationary home use, each tied to a registered service address. The plan you choose stays at that address — these are not portable or mobile options.
The 100 Mbps plan is Starlink’s most affordable residential option — but it comes with three meaningful constraints that most reviews gloss over. First, it’s only available in areas where Starlink’s network has spare capacity. If your address isn’t in one of those areas, you simply won’t see this plan as an option when you check your address on Starlink’s website. Second, it carries the lowest network priority among residential customers — when the local satellite sector gets busy (typically evenings), MAX and 200 Mbps subscribers are served first, and 100 Mbps connections get what’s left. In uncongested rural areas, this rarely matters. In suburban areas with many Starlink users, it can mean real-world speeds well below 100 Mbps during prime time. Third, it comes with the smaller Mini Router rather than the full Gen 3 Router, which may limit Wi-Fi range in larger homes. It’s the right plan only if it’s available at your address and your household’s internet use is genuinely light — email, standard definition streaming, basic video calls, and web browsing.
The 200 Mbps plan sits between the entry 100 Mbps tier and the premium MAX, offering a theoretical speed ceiling of 200 Mbps — enough for 4K streaming on a couple of screens simultaneously, or comfortable work-from-home use with video calls and large file transfers. It includes the Gen 3 Router (unlike the 100 Mbps plan), giving better Wi-Fi coverage in most home sizes. Like the 100 Mbps plan, availability is limited to areas where Starlink has network headroom to support it — this tier was previously sold as “Residential Lite” under a different name. Network priority sits in the middle: better than the 100 Mbps plan during peak congestion, lower than the MAX. The honest assessment: for $45 less per month than the MAX, you accept speed ceiling limitations and lower priority. If the plan is available at your address and you’re confident in light-to-moderate use, it’s a reasonable option. But for families with multiple simultaneous heavy users, the MAX is worth the extra $45/month.
The Residential MAX is Starlink’s flagship residential tier — available at every address where Starlink offers service, carrying the highest network priority among consumer plans, and capable of reaching speeds up to 400 Mbps in favorable conditions. Real-world speeds for most U.S. MAX subscribers average 150–300 Mbps, which is meaningfully faster than the typical cable internet connection and more than sufficient for every common household use simultaneously: 4K streaming on multiple TVs, video conferencing, gaming, and large downloads running at the same time. The Gen 3 Router handles multi-device Wi-Fi distribution efficiently throughout typical homes. One note from mid-2026 changes: the MAX plan no longer includes a free Mini dish rental for travel or discounted Roam plan access — both perks were discontinued in June 2026 for new subscribers. If you’re ordering Starlink for the first time and want the plan that requires zero second-guessing, this is it.
Every current Starlink plan in a single reference. The table shows residential, Roam, and business priority tiers side by side so you can see at a glance where each plan fits and what it costs.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Max Speed | Latency | Data | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 Mbps | $55/mo | Up to 100 Mbps | 30–40 ms | Unlimited (low priority) | Light users · select areas only |
| Residential 200 Mbps | $85/mo | Up to 200 Mbps | 30–40 ms | Unlimited (mid priority) | Moderate users · select areas only |
| Residential MAX ★ | $130/mo | Up to 400 Mbps | 25–50 ms | Unlimited (highest priority) | Most households · available everywhere |
| Roam 100GB | $55/mo | Up to 260 Mbps | <99 ms | 100GB priority, then de-prio | Occasional travel · light mobile use |
| Roam 300GB | $80/mo | Up to 260 Mbps | <99 ms | 300GB priority, then de-prio | Part-time RVers · regular travelers |
| Roam Unlimited | $175/mo | Up to 260 Mbps | <99 ms | Unlimited (deprioritized) | Full-time RVers · boaters · nomads |
| Priority Local 50GB | $55/mo | 135–310 Mbps | 25–50 ms | 50GB priority data | Business · light priority use |
| Priority Local 500GB | $155/mo | 135–310 Mbps | 25–50 ms | 500GB priority data | Business · moderate data needs |
| Priority Local 1TB | $280/mo | 135–310 Mbps | 25–50 ms | 1TB priority data | Remote offices · critical operations |
| Priority Global 50GB | $250/mo | 135–310 Mbps | 25–50 ms | 50GB priority data · worldwide | International business · maritime |
| Priority Global 1TB | $1,150/mo | 135–310 Mbps | 25–50 ms | 1TB priority data · worldwide | Global enterprise · vessels · aviation |
Roam plans use the same satellite network but with one fundamental difference: no fixed address. You take the dish wherever you go — an RV, a boat, a remote cabin, a campsite — and it works. The trade-off is a data cap structure and slightly higher latency than residential plans.
All three Roam plans use the same hardware and deliver speeds up to 260 Mbps — the difference is how much “priority” data you get before the connection shifts to deprioritized (slower) mode. On the 100GB plan at $55/month, your first 100GB each month is delivered at full speed with network priority. Beyond 100GB, you continue to receive service — it doesn’t cut off — but your speeds are reduced when the network is congested. The 300GB plan ($80/month) extends that priority window to 300GB. The Unlimited plan ($175/month) provides unlimited data but at deprioritized status throughout — meaning it runs at network-leftover speed rather than queued priority. For most RVers and part-time travelers, 300GB is enough for a month of streaming, video calls, and casual browsing. Full-time liveaboards who rely on the connection for work should consider the Unlimited tier and accept that speeds vary more by satellite coverage zone.
A common misconception: if you have a residential plan, you can “just take the dish on a trip.” Starlink’s terms of service do not permit using a Residential plan at an address other than your registered location — doing so can trigger service interruption. Roam and Residential are separate products, separate plans, and (ideally) separate hardware. If you want both home internet and travel internet, you need a Residential plan for home and a Roam plan for travel. The Starlink Mini dish ($199–$249) is the hardware purpose-built for Roam — compact, lighter, with a built-in router, and designed to power up quickly at a campsite.
Starlink’s business plans — now called Priority plans — are built for operations that can’t afford to be deprioritized during peak hours. They carry network precedence over all residential and Roam subscribers and can be used in fixed or mobile configurations.
Starlink’s business plans underwent a significant restructuring in 2025, replacing the old single-tier Priority plans with two distinct systems: Local Priority (for use within one country) and Global Priority (for international, maritime, and cross-border operations). Both carry network precedence over consumer plans — during peak congestion, Priority subscribers are served before Residential and Roam users. The most significant change from the old structure: unlimited data is no longer an option. Priority plans now sell data in buckets (50GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and higher) with per-GB overage charges beyond the cap. This is a meaningful shift for businesses that previously relied on unlimited Priority data. Local Priority starts at $55/month for 50GB — far too little data for typical office use — and rises to $280/month for 1TB. Global Priority pricing is substantially higher, starting at $250/month for 50GB. A Terminal Access Charge is billed separately per active terminal per month.
Most small home offices and rural businesses don’t need Priority plans. The Residential MAX at $130/month provides the highest consumer priority, download speeds up to 400 Mbps, and unlimited data — more than enough for a solo operator or small remote team doing video calls and cloud work. Priority plans become relevant when: (1) reliable uptime during peak hours is mission-critical, (2) your operation requires multiple terminals, (3) you need guaranteed SLA-level performance, or (4) you’re running maritime or aviation applications that need Global coverage. If the Residential MAX handles your use case, the cost difference ($130/month vs. $280+/month) does not buy meaningful performance improvement for most office workflows.
The dish is not optional — it’s the physical receiver that communicates with satellites overhead. Understanding what hardware you’re getting (or renting), what it costs, and what you’ll need to install it properly prevents the most common first-week disappointments.
The Standard Starlink kit for residential customers includes the Gen 3 rectangular dish (also called “Dishy”), a Gen 3 router or Mini Router depending on plan tier, a power cable, approximately 75 feet of cable connecting the dish to the router, and a basic kickstand for ground placement. Everything you need to get online is in the box — no additional purchases are required for basic operation. What’s not included but commonly needed: a roof mount or pole mount if you want the dish elevated (kickstand placement on the ground often creates obstruction problems with rooflines and trees), additional cable if your dish-to-router run needs to be longer than 75 feet, and a cable entry grommet if you’re running the cable through an exterior wall. These accessories are sold through the Starlink Shop and can be ordered after your initial activation, once you’ve confirmed placement works.
The Mini is a dramatically smaller version of the Standard dish — roughly the size of a laptop — with a built-in router rather than a separate unit. It draws less power, sets up in minutes, and fits in a standard backpack. It was designed primarily for Roam plan users — travelers, campers, and people who need internet at temporary locations. It also opened up new possibilities for apartment renters who can place a Mini on a balcony or window ledge without the larger footprint of the Standard dish. Speed performance on the Mini is lower than the Standard dish — typically 50–150 Mbps rather than 150–400 Mbps — and the antenna’s smaller aperture means it’s more sensitive to obstructions. Pricing for the Mini runs $199–$249 depending on the current promotion, compared to $349 for the Standard kit. For Roam customers doing occasional travel, it’s the right tool. For home use as a primary internet connection, the Standard dish delivers meaningfully better performance.
The Starlink app (free, iOS and Android) includes an augmented reality obstruction tool — point your phone’s camera at the sky from your planned dish location, and it maps exactly which trees, rooflines, chimneys, or structures block the satellite tracking zone. A branch that clips 5% of the dish’s field of view is enough to cause daily reconnection events. This check takes two minutes and has saved many buyers from a frustrating return experience. Run it from the actual spot where you plan to mount the dish — not from a nearby window or from memory. If the check shows significant permanent obstruction and you have no alternative placement, Starlink will still work but performance will be consistently degraded regardless of which plan you choose.
As of June 2026, Starlink’s rental program in select markets charges $10/month plus a $20 upfront shipping fee for a Standard kit. If you purchase the dish outright at $349, your break-even point is roughly 33 months — after that, every month with the owned dish saves you $10. Additionally, renters cannot pause their service (a key feature for seasonal users), and must return the dish undamaged upon cancellation. The rental makes financial sense only for short-term use — less than about 18 months. For anyone planning to use Starlink long-term, purchasing the dish is the better deal. The Standard dish is also available at retail (Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot) and occasionally goes on sale for significantly less than the $349 list price.
Forget the plan names for a moment. Here’s how to match your actual household to the right tier based on what you do online — not what Starlink’s marketing copy suggests.
Email, video calls with family, streaming a show or two in the evenings, and general web browsing — that’s the typical pattern. Any Starlink plan handles this comfortably. If the 100 Mbps plan is available at your address, it covers this usage with room to spare. If it isn’t available, the Residential MAX at $130/month is your only option, and it will be dramatically faster than you need — but it works, reliably, without any trade-offs. The hardware step that matters most: run the obstruction check in the app before ordering, and if you’re not comfortable on a ladder, know that the kickstand lets you place the dish on a flat surface like a patio or yard while you figure out the permanent mount. Professional installation costs around $99–$199 and is available in most areas through Starlink’s website.
This is the scenario where plan tier actually matters. When three people are streaming different shows in HD, a fourth is on a video call, and a fifth is gaming — all at the same time — the lower-tier plans’ speed caps and network priority limitations show up in real performance. The Residential MAX is the correct plan for this household. Its 150–400 Mbps real-world speeds and highest consumer network priority mean everyone gets a usable connection even during peak evening hours. What to watch after activation: run speed tests at 8 PM on a Tuesday — peak usage time — to verify your actual speeds before the 30-day return window closes. If the speeds are disappointing during peak hours, your area may be congested enough that even MAX shows limitations, which is rare but worth confirming early.
For a single person working from home, Starlink handles all remote work requirements on any residential plan. The critical spec for remote workers is upload speed — Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet all encode your outbound video stream, which requires upload bandwidth, not download. Starlink upload speeds run 20–40 Mbps on Residential MAX, which is adequate for clear HD video conferencing. The one friction point: the 15–30 second satellite handoff cycle produces a brief blip that most video call software automatically conceals, but occasionally registers as a half-second freeze visible to call participants. This happens regardless of plan tier. Using a wired Ethernet connection from the router to your laptop (rather than Wi-Fi) minimizes all other variables and gives the steadiest possible experience.
You need a Roam plan, not a Residential plan. Full-timers who rely on the connection for work should look hard at the Unlimited tier ($175/month) — the deprioritized data means speeds vary more during congested periods, but the connection continues regardless of how much data you use. Part-time travelers who camp on weekends should start with the 100GB plan ($55/month) and monitor monthly usage in the Starlink app before deciding whether to upgrade. The ability to pause Roam plans is one of their most underappreciated features — if you’re parked at a stationary location for six weeks and want to use a cheaper local option, you can pause Roam billing for that period rather than canceling entirely.
Starlink is playable for competitive gaming, not ideal. Average latency of 25–50 ms handles most games including battle royale, MMOs, and racing games at a moderate-to-competitive level. The complication is handoff spikes — brief jumps to 80–150 ms that occur on a predictable cycle as the dish switches between overhead satellites. These spikes register in fast-paced competitive lobbies. The Residential MAX gives the lowest average latency and the highest priority — which helps most during congested evening hours. Using a wired Ethernet connection to your gaming console or PC is essential — Wi-Fi adds its own latency variability on top of Starlink’s satellite latency. Players who primarily run MMOs, strategy games, and casual multiplayer won’t notice Starlink’s limitations. Players in ranked competitive shooters who rely on reaction-time advantages will.
For a small business where downtime costs money, the choice between Residential MAX and Priority plans comes down to one question: can you afford occasional slower speeds during peak evening hours? Residential MAX provides the best consumer experience but is still subject to network deprioritization during congestion. If your business hours are mostly 9 AM–5 PM in rural areas with few Starlink neighbors, Residential MAX likely performs at full speed during your workday and the lower-cost service is the practical choice. If your operation involves evening hours, high-reliability requirements, or you’re in a denser area with significant Starlink subscriber density, the Local Priority plan at $155/month for 500GB provides guaranteed queue priority — you get bandwidth before any Residential or Roam user does. That priority may be worth far more than the cost difference if your business depends on it.
This guide is for general informational purposes only. Starlink pricing, plan availability, hardware costs, and terms of service change frequently. The 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps residential plans are only available in select regions — check your specific address at starlink.com to confirm current availability and pricing. All prices reflect U.S. market rates and do not include applicable taxes or local surcharges. Rental availability and pricing are subject to market-by-market rollout. Priority plan Terminal Access Charges apply separately per service line. This content is entirely original.