Starlink Internet Review 2023: Plans, Pricing, and Speeds

Starlink offers five types of internet services total, but only five are actually relevant to most users: Starlink Standard (previously Starlink Residential), Starlink Business (which has three plans), Starlink RV (now Starlink Roam), Starlink Mobility, and Starlink Maritime (which is now actually considered part of Starlink Mobility). Download speeds for these plans range from 5–220Mbps with different levels of data prioritization depending on your plan and location.

Starlink Standard (which offers residential home internet) is the one most users are after, and its probably all you need if you want an at-home connection. The Starlink standard plan price depends on your coverage area. If you live in an area where the network is at low-capacity (not many people using it at the same time), you'll pay $90 a month, and if you're in a high-capacity Starlink area (which is most of its areas), you'll pay $120. You'll only know which one when you sign up—or when Starlink tells your area's changed from one to the other.

Overall, Starlink residential is a great internet plan, as long as you remember that it isn't available everywhere and that Starlink's network can be a little unreliable. That last part goes doubly if your network area is currently overtaxed, or if you have Starlink Business or Starlink Mobility customers nearby because their data gets prioritized over your Starlink residential standard data.

For more on Starlink data tiers and how they affect your plans, read our Starlink data section below.

Starlink and Viasat are about equal when it comes to speed, though Viasat offers less data than Starlink and Starlink's coverage map is smaller than Viasat's. Either one will treat you well for speed and data, but we'd give the edge to Viasat just because you're more likely to be able to get it. 

Plus, Viasat just launched its new Viasat-3 satellite with terabyte capabilities, so its speeds and/or data could increase in the near future, while Starlink has been struggling to maintain its network.  

HughesNet, meanwhile, doesn't match up to either Starlink or Viasat's speed, but it's not trying to. HughesNet is the budget pick intended to deliver you broadband internet speeds for basic connectivity at cheaper prices than either. If you're looking just for something that lets you browse your email and occasionally video call your family, this is the right choice for you.

Starlink's only competition isn't just other satellite internet providers, though. Some of the best rural internet options are now 4G and 5G home internet providers. So how does Starlink satellite stack up against fixed wireless?

If you can get Verizon or T-Mobile 4G or 5G home internet, we suggest going with them instead of Starlink. Starlink is a solid satellite internet service provider (where it's available), but Verizon and T-Mobile will give you all the same benefits (no contracts, high speeds) at a significantly cheaper price, and with even less latency. 

If you're a Verizon mobile customer already, we suggest going with Verizon LTE Home internet over T-Mobile home internet just because you'll get blazing speeds for only $25 a month.

The only downside to Verizon and T-Mobile home internet providers is that they aren't available everywhere, just like Starlink. Check out our reviews on Verizon LTE Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet for more, or search your zip code below to see if one of these great internet providers are in your area.

You can get Starlink internet by placing an order on the Starlink website. When Starlink has internet coverage and bandwidth capacity in your area, you can get your Starlink Kit shipped directly to you within 2 weeks.¹

To check if Starlink's availability in your area, check out our Starlink beta sign-up page, where we'll walk you through the waitlist, area availability, and more.

If Starlink isn’t in your area yet, you can still place an order and secure your spot on the waitlist by paying a $99–$500 deposit, depending on if you want the standard Starlink service, Starlink RV internet (now called Starlink Roam) or Starlink Business. The easiest way to see when you can get Starlink is to enter your address on the Starlink website.

SpaceX’s Starlink currently falls short in one of the most important concerns for the rural internet community: availability.

Starlink is regularly using SpaceX rockets to launch more satellites to increase worldwide availability, but there are still major gaps in Starlink internet coverage compared to established nationwide satellite providers like Viasat and HughesNet.

You can sign up for Starlink even if it’s not quite available in your area. But you’ll have to pay a $99.00 deposit and might be waiting months longer than promised due to supply chain issues. SpaceX has cited these issues specifically as chip and silicon shortages.³ Starlink also services customers on a first come, first served basis, which could be an issue for you if Starlink is in high demand in your area and you’re low on the list. If you need satellite internet now, go with Viasat or HughesNet.

Starlink internet is currently available to most of the continental US, with notable black spots across the South and West, especially for Starlink RV coverage.

Starlink is also available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. SpaceX is regularly launching more satellites (and Elon Musk is tweeting about them), which means its availability is continually expanding.

For more on Starlink availability, check out our When Will Starlink Be Available? guide to determine when Starlink will be available near you or sign up for the Starlink waitlist.

SpaceX has recently run into hiccups with taking preorders in Pakistan and India without a license, which will certainly delay its ambitions for global coverage.^9,10 In the US, SpaceX has approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a Starlink network of 4,408 satellites. But it’s seeking additional FCC approval to expand that network to over 30,000 satellites, which would mean a drastic increase in coverage and performance for the US.¹¹

Monthly Starlink prices for satellite service range from $90 to $5,000 dollars, depending on the type of plan you want (fixed location or mobile) and how much Priority data or Mobile Priority data you want with it. Obviously, that's a pretty big range, so we'll break it down for you by plan. 

Starlink Business

Starlink Business offers three different satellite internet plans. Priority 1TB, like Starlink Standard, is intended for a fixed location, but unlike Starlink Standard it comes with Priority data, which means faster speeds. Priority 1TB costs $250 a month, Priority 2TB costs $500 per month, and 6TB $1,500 a month.

For the record, most families don't use more than 1TB, so if you have a small business, definitely go with $250 plan to start. If you need more, can always upgrade without hassle.

You can pick what equipment you get with Starlink Priority, but Starlink recommends the $2,500 high performance satellite to keep up with your Priority data.

Starlink RV (Starlink Roam)

Starlink Roam, once called Starlink RV, is the first of Starlink's portable internet plan options. It costs either $150 per month for Regional access or $200 a month for Global. And don't forget your up-front equipment costs of either $599 for a satellite you have to setup each time you stop or $2,500 for in-motion technology.

For more details on Starlink RV costs, check out our full Starlink Roam review.

Starlink Mobility

Starlink Mobility is Starlink's newest internet plan, and it shares a lot of similarities with Starlink Roam, except that its significantly more expensive and uses the highest priority data available for Starlink services. In fact, it costs $250 per month for 50GB data, $1,000 a month for 1TB data, and $5,000 per month for 5TB of data.

Starlink Mobility also exclusively uses the Flat High Performance Starlink, which means you have to pay $2,500 up-front equipment fees. The high prices aren't really intended for most people. Starlink Mobility is much more geared towards mobile businesses like emergency responders or luxury vehicle fleets. 

Starlink Maritime plans are technically now under the same umbrella as Starlink Mobility as well, but with a few differences. Learn more about them in our Internet for Boats review.

Starlink Maritime costs the same amount for the same data tiers as Starlink Mobility, so refer to the costs above when deciding if this is the plan you need. Like Starlink Roam's Global plan and Starlink Mobility, Starlink Maritime uses the Flat High Performance Starlink dish that costs $2,500 up-front. 

Like we’ve said, the Starlink Kit equipment fee is $599–$2,500, which is more than a little hefty—especially if you get any of Starlink Business's plans: Priority 1TB, Priority 2TB, and Priority 6TB. It’s definitely a major financial barrier for the service, which is unfortunate since Starlink’s mission is to provide affordable broadband for underserved rural communities. The good news is that Starlink plans to reduce this cost in the future, with Elon Musk claiming it will eventually be as low as $250.¹² 

Starlink customers can find some financial relief in the lack of installation fee for Starlink, which we’ll cover more below.

Starlink has no internet contracts with its service. You can cancel your service at any time without paying cancellation fees. Your service will continue to the end of the payment period and then stop. You can also get a refund on your equipment fee if you cancel your service within 30 days and return the equipment in good shape and in the original packaging.

Starlink data caps coincide with its different service plans, starting first with Standard data, then Priority data, Mobile data, and Mobile priority data. Keeping track of these data types, the Starlink plans they belong with, and the prices you'll pay for both can be a bit complicated, so we've divided them out for you below. 

Starlink Standard is the simplest data situation you'll come across. You get unlimited standard data all month long for the plan's $90–$120 monthly price. That unlimited satellite internet does come with a small asterisk, though. Starlink may no longer have 1TB caps on its Standard plan, but it does say it will slow your data if you use more than the average Starlink user. It doesn't disclose what that amount is, so what your data cap is remains to be seen.

Starlink's Business plans, on the other hand, get a bit more complicated. You'll select your Starlink Business plan based on the amount of priority data you want, hence why it's divided into Starlink Priority 1TB, 2TB, and 6TB.

Having priority data means your internet activities will be prioritized above those with Starlink Standard (residential users, essentially), so you don't have to fear slowdowns even if there are a lot of people on the Starlink network in your area (unless there are Mobile Priority users—but more on that below). 

Starlink Priority plans are from there divided up by how much priority data you want. The more data, the more expensive your plan will be per month. If you do run out of priority data in a month, you can either buy more (see table above for prices) or rely on the Standard data you'll automatically be rerouted to thereafter.

That covers Starlink plans that are designed for a fixed location or permanent address. Things get a bit more complicated, or nicely customizable if you're feeling optimistic, with Starlink's mobile internet plan offerings. 

Starlink Roam plans offer unlimited Mobile data, but pay attention to that asterisk because Mobile data is deprioritized beneath even Standard data. That doesn't mean you'll experience slow speeds necessarily, but it does mean if Standard data, Priority data, and especially Mobile Priority data customers will all have priority over you if you're in an area where lots of them area using the Starlink network.

Starlink Mobility plans, however, have the highest priority data, mostly so they can cater to the needs of first responders and other mobile emergency needs. These are also some of Starlink's most expensive plans, the price depending entirely on how much of the Mobile Priority data you desire.

As an important note, Starlink Maritime plans run by the same rules as the Mobility plans and data amounts listed above, so keep that in mind before you purchase.

The biggest difference you’ll see when comparing Starlink to Viasat and HughesNet is the monthly data allotment. Starlink offers unlimited data and Viasat and HughesNet have data caps. Although Viasat and HughesNet technically offer unlimited data as well, your speeds will be slowed significantly (almost to unusable speeds) once you hit the data cap for your plan. If you’ve had satellite internet in the past, you know that having enough data can be an issue—especially if you stream on satellite internet or use a lot of data working over Zoom.

Starlink whisks those worries away with big priority data caps and then unlimited standard data. "Unlimited" isn't a word you don’t hear very often in the rural internet world, so even if there is an asterisk about slower speeds, it's worth it.

Starlink’s unlimited data combined with its above-average broadband speeds are its most intriguing features by far. They’re a big part of Elon Musk’s mission to bring better internet options to underserved areas throughout the world.

Starlink installation is free because it’s a self-installation process performed through the Starlink app, once you get your Starlink kit. After you pay the $599–$2,500 equipment fee, you’ll be shipped a Starlink Kit, which includes the following:

• Starlink satellite dish (either circular or rectangular)
• Wi-Fi router/power supply
• Cables
• Base

To install your Starlink, you can follow the Starlink install guide and download the Starlink app for iOS or Android. The app will help you find a clear view of the sky, which is essential to keep your Starlink operating its best. You can also purchase additional mounting equipment in the Starlink Shop once you place your order. In some areas, the Starlink satellite dish and setup kit is also available to purchase through retailers like Home Depot.

Another glaring difference is in equipment costs. Starlink requires you to pay $599–$2,500 up front for the Starlink Kit (in addition to shipping). The price difference depends on whether or not you opt for Starlink Business. Viasat and HughesNet offer more affordable leasing options.

Monthly plan costs can also be lower with Viasat and HughesNet, depending on which plan you choose. That said, both require 2-year contracts while Starlink requires no contracts and doesn’t charge any installation fees. Starlink will even give you your money back if you return the equipment in good shape and cancel within 30 days.

Flat High Performance Starlink

Starlink's Flat High Performance satellite device is is thinner, has permanent installation on your vehicle of choice, and offers truly portable internet, unlike the typical Starlink satellite dish that comes with Starlink Standard, Starlink Business, and Starlink Roam's Regional plan. It comes with Starlink Roam's Global plan, Starlink Mobility, and Starlink Maritime. The Flat High Performance Starlink is significantly more expensive, so you'll notice all the plans it comes with are on Starlink's higher end too.

Although on paper it may seem Starlink has Viasat beat when it comes to speed, Viasat is not far behind with 100 Mbps. But with the recent addition of Starlink Business, Starlink blows Viasat out of the water by offering 220Mbps speeds. That said, currently Viasat has a reputation for more reliable service and dependable speeds. For a more detailed comparison, you can always check out our Starlink vs. Viasat guide. 

Starlink’s service is still prone to service disruptions caused by a network that’s still in progress along with other connection issues that are inherent to low-Earth orbit technology. However, Starlink Business promises a stronger connection with prioritized bandwidth and weather-resistant satellite internet equipment. Plus, those Priority 1TB, Priority 2TB, and Priority 6TB plans have roomy data caps—even if you're certainly paying for them.

Both HughesNet and Viasat planned to launch new satellites in 2023 that will provide internet speeds as fast as 150 Mbps as well as increased data capacity. Unfortunately, Viasat's rocket launch was unsuccessful, so residential plans may become more restricted. But HughesNet is still looking forward to its new satellite, which should launch toward the end of 2023, so faster and roomier data caps could be on the way. 

SpaceX's Starlink always has a little something going on, but right now, it's all about Starlink's latest version two satellites. 21 of these smaller, mini satellites were sent up for testing with a recent Starlink launch, with Starlink clearly hoping the V2's new technology would resolve the major network congestion issues that led to the Starlink price hike (see below for more).

Unfortunately, Starlink's V2 satellites are now falling from the sky and burning up in the atmosphere. That's after Starlink trackers noticed that Starlink's V2 satellites were dropping in altitude, when they were meant to be ascending. Elon Musk admitted in a tweet that Starlink V2 satellites have been running into issues. Fortunately, it's has several successful launches since then. But we still recommend keeping an eye on how Starlink delivers on its goal to increase its coverage base, especially with newcomers like Project Kuiper on the horizon.

If you've been suffering from the Starlink price hike and hoping for network congestion relief from the Starlink V2 satellites, it unfortunately looks like you're going to have to wait a bit longer. If you need better internet now, check out our Viasat vs. HughesNet review to see if one of these satellite internet providers might resolve your issues in the meantime. 

Starlink hiked prices by $10 a month in 2022, and now it's doing it again in 2023--and least for some of its customers.

Starlink prices in "limited capacity areas" are increasing to $110 a month, but Starlink plans in "excess capacity areas" are dropping to $90 month (which is even slightly cheaper than the original price in 2022). The switch happens in April for current customers, but new customers get those prices starting now.

So far, it seems the capacity areas are known by customers who are receiving notifications about the price changes by Starlink itself via email. Starlink customers getting price hikes have, unfortunately, also recently experienced a drop in speed. Starlink only promises speeds up to 300 Mbps, but "up to," as with all internet service providers, doesn't mean you'll experience that top speed most of the time. Ookla even reports that most Starlink plans are delivering only around 53 Mbps.

On March 29, Space X launches 56 more Starlink satellites into the atmosphere from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. That totals Starlink's number of satellites launched to 4,217. All satellites on board were of Starlink's older generation, not the new Starlink V2 satellites, since the newer Starlink V2s have been running into issues (see above).

That's right, Starlink now offers internet at high altitudes. This offering, of course, isn't really for the typical consumer like you and me. This is for the big tin can companies flying along in the sky. But we'll tell you how much it'll cost them anyway, since you might get to appreciate high-speed Wi-Fi on your flight in the future because of them.

Starlink Aviation packages cost $12,500 a month to $25,000 a month for up to 350 Mbps speed per plane. And we're not done yet. Because the one-time hardware purchase costs $150,000, with the equipment actually making it to businesses sometime in 2023.

At least if you get to use Starlink Aviation internet on your flight in the future, you can now appreciate that you're using expensive Wi-Fi, right?

Starlink doesn’t offer TV or voice bundles currently, despite its variety of plans. So if you wanted both Starlink Standard and Starlink Roam (RV), for example, you'd need to pay both bills, so keep that in mind when deciding when signing up.

If you want to bundle TV with Starlink, your best bet is to get DISH or DIRECTV. Both DISH and DIRECTV are available everywhere, but remember you won’t get any discounts from combining Starlink internet with TV. 

• Viasat vs. HughesNet: Which One Is Better for You?
• Best Rural Internet Providers of 2022
• When Will Starlink Be Available?
• Best Satellite Internet Providers of 2022

Starlink internet is right for you if you live in a rural area where satellite internet is your best option and Starlink is available. If you’re ok paying a high equipment fee, navigating its strange new data plan structure, and riding out service hiccups as SpaceX continues to flesh out its network, then you can enjoy unlimited data (with an asterisk) and some of the fastest rural internet speeds available.

Although with the recent developments in Ukraine and Russia, using Starlink could potentially come with increased risks of experiencing cyberattacks since Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system in use in Ukraine. It remains unclear if those attacks will affect US users to the same degree they will affect users in Ukraine, but it's certainly something to keep in mind as the conflict continues to develop.¹³

That all said, we've outlined Starlink's largest pros and cons to see if Starlink is any good for you specifically.

Starlink pros

Pro: Unlimited satellite internet data and fast broadband speeds make a huge difference for rural communities.

Pro: Lower latency than Viasat and HughesNet, which makes activities like gaming on satellite internet easier.

Pro: Portable satellite internet options make life on the road possible.

Starlink cons

Con: Starlink customer service can be confusing, and Starlink service options and rules change so often customers sometimes feel cheated, jaded, and upset.

Con: Starlink availability is limited so customers are left waiting more than a year even after ordering, and service continues to be spotty and easily prone to disruptions.

Con: Starlink's making a pattern of price hikes, and many customers have seen speeds slow.

Con: Enormous up-front equipment fee ($599–$2,500) can be difficult to swallow.

Starlink is a satellite internet provider developed by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. It uses low-Earth orbit satellites to provide faster speeds, more data, and lower latency broadband service to underserved rural and remote areas worldwide.

Starlink Priority is a luxury internet service tier that offers Starlink Priority data and speeds up to 220Mbps (which is less than the 150–500 Mbps it used to offer). It also costs a stiff $250.00–$1,500 per month depending on whether you want 1TB or 6TB of Priority data and requires a $2,500 equipment fee. The data amounts are definitely expensive, but if you somehow run out of Priority data, you'll stay connected with Standard data, the same data tier Starlink Residential plans are given.

You can now use Starlink in your RV! SpaceX just released a specific Starlink RV plans (Starlink Roam Region and Starlink Roam Global) that will cost $150 to $200 a month. Just go to Starlink’s website to sign up for the portable internet you’ve hoped for—if it’s available in your area.

Starlink for RVs, now called Starlink Roam, costs $150 a month for Regional service (that being, service restricted only to your conintent) and Global service which gives you world-wife connectivity for $200 a month--or rather, connectivity in any country Starlink is already available in.

Starlink Roam hardware costs $599 up front if you want the portable option, or $2,500 if you wanted it permanently isntalled on your vehicle to get satellite internet service even while you're in motion. Starlink’s RV internet (Starlink Roam) also bills monthly with no contract, so you can pause and resume service whenever you want.

Starlink internet reports speeds from 50–200 Mbps, but users may experience slower speeds due to network issues. Starlink Business promises 150–500 Mbps speeds and more consistent service. But Starlink Business is much more expensive.

Starlink costs anywhere from $90 per month for Starlink Standard with standard data in low-capacity areas to $5,000 per month if you want the Starlink Mobility 5TB of Priority Mobile data. Starlink also requires upfront equipment fees ranging from $599 at the lowest to $2,500 at the highest. What type of Starlink plan you pick, plus what time of equipment, plus the data tier and allotment you want will all determine exactly how much Starlink costs. Check out our Starlink data breakdown above for more specifics.

Starlink internet is unlimited and has no data caps.

Starlink internet is no longer in beta, so you can get Starlink once it’s available in your area. Currently Starlink is available to the northern US states, but availability is rapidly expanding throughout 2022. The best way to see if you can get Starlink is to enter your address on the Starlink website.

Starlink is designed to work in snow, extreme heat (122 degrees Fahrenheit), extreme cold (-22 degrees Fahrenheit), heavy rain, sleet, and hail. The dish is hydrophobic and has the ability to melt snow, although that warmth might make it attractive to cats.

Starlink internet is currently not portable and is intended for stationary residential use. However, Elon Musk has announced plans to eventually expand Starlink service to RVs, cars, and boats.

Starlink is working with astronomers to resolve concerns about Starlink satellites obstructing the natural night sky. Some efforts include updating Starlink software to adjust positioning to make them invisible to the naked eye and deploying sun visors that darken satellites from sun
Reflections.

Elon Musk said there are 1,915 active Starlink satellites currently in orbit as of March 22, 2022.

Elon Musk is the founder, chief engineer, and CEO of SpaceX, which is the aerospace company and manufacturer that operates the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

Our SatelliteInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on research, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. We dig deep to get hard-to-find information on internet plans, fees, and upcoming brand developments. We make this information easy for you to find in one place via our in-depth reviews, and we use our satellite internet industry expertise to analyze the options to help you make the most informed decision for your household.