Starlink: How Much Does It Cost?

Starlink is offering potential customers a cheaper way to use its service by selling refurbished kits directly from its website. As of April 2024, you can now purchase refurbished versions of the latest Starlink Standard kit for a $200 discount. Learn more about it below.

Starlink is considered the fastest and most convenient satellite internet provider currently on the market, but it’s far from the most affordable. While it can be the most preferred option for internet in rural locations, the high startup costs, even with the lowest tier package, can be too high of a ceiling for some potential customers.

However, there are a few different ways to save money if you want the highly sought-after equipment, including from Starlink itself.

Brand new Starlink equipment kits cost $599 or $2,500, which is more than a little hefty—especially if you get any of Starlink Priority plans. It’s definitely a major financial barrier for many who’d benefit from the service, which is unfortunate since Starlink’s mission is to provide affordable broadband for underserved rural communities.

Both kits come with everything you need to get it working right out of the box. This includes the dish itself, a modem/gateway that you can connect to via Wi-Fi, a power supply, and the proprietary cables to connect everything. The kits also include a one-year limited warranty.

The only things that don’t come in the kits that you’ll have to order separately are mounting attachments if you plan on permanently installing the dish to your home or business.

The Standard Kit is the most common version of Starlink you’ll see out there. It can be used with most of Starlink’s internet plans, both fixed and mobile. The only thing it isn’t compatible with is Starlink’s Mobility plan, which allows you to connect to the web while the dish is moving.

For that, you’ll need the Flat High-Performance Kit. At a much higher price point of $2,500, it’s Starlink’s luxury option meant to provide the strongest connection and be used while in motion. This is the version you’ll find on boats, rural emergency vehicles, or mobile businesses. Not recommended for typical use.

Starlink has begun selling refurbished versions of its Standard Kit for $399, a more than 30 percent discount. According to Starlink, the refurbished kits will have the same devices, functions, and warranty as a standard order. When dealing with previously used equipment, it’s a relief to at least know there’s a one-year warranty.

Because of Starlink’s business model of selling equipment, it’s possible to find third-party sellers of their equipment. You can look on online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or your local classifieds to find people selling their used Starlink equipment. The previous owner just needs to remove the dish from their account.

Like buying any used electronics, you run the risk of buying damaged or defective equipment. Since you’re buying from a third party, Starlink will not compensate you if the equipment won’t work. You’ll need to weigh the risk of faulty equipment against the seller’s discount. It’s much safer to make your purchase from Starlink.

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 at 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 are also available to purchase through retailers like Best Buy.

Monthly Starlink prices for satellite service range from $120 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. We’ll also include the many monikers Starlink markets the plans.

Starlink Priority offers three different satellite internet plans. Like Starlink Standard, Priority is intended for a fixed location, but unlike Starlink Standard, it comes with Priority data, which means faster speeds. Priority 40GB costs $140 a month, Priority 1TB costs $250 a month, and Priority 2TB costs $500 per month.

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

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

Starlink Mobile, once called Starlink RV then Roam, 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 set up each time you stop or $2,500 for in-motion technology.

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

Starlink Mobile Priority shares many similarities with Starlink Moible, except that it is significantly more expensive and uses the highest priority data available for Starlink services. In fact, it costs $250 per month for 50GB of data, $1,000 per month for 1TB of data, and $5,000 per month for 5TB of data.

Starlink Mobile Priority 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 Mobile Priority is much more geared towards mobile businesses, emergency responders, or luxury vehicle fleets.

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

Starlink has no internet contracts with its service. You can cancel your service at any time without paying cancellation fees. Your service will continue until 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.