Starlink vs. 5G internet

Starlink is a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. It uses a large constellation of satellites to beam internet service down to users on Earth. As of September 2024, Starlink has launched 7,000 satellites.

Starlink offers a few distinct advantages over other satellite internet providers. First, it’s fast: The Residential plan offers speeds up to 100Mbps, while the Priority plan cranks the maximum speed up to 220Mbps. This aligns it with many cable plans, which is a giant leap up from the satellite’s traditionally slow performance.

Starlink also offers unlimited data. This is perhaps the most significant advantage of the service over competing satellite providers like Hughesnet and Viasat. In the past, satellite customers have had to either pay huge fees for more data or heavily restrict their usage. Starlink changes this.

• Price: Starlink's monthly rate starts at $120, nearly double the amount of most 5G plans. Additionally, Starlink charges for equipment, whereas you typically lease equipment from other providers. Starlink kits start at $499, but they are often discounted for first-time buyers. 
• Availability: The main selling point of most satellite internet is availability, and while it was initially hard to get ahold of, anyone can now buy a kit online or from select retailers.  While Starlink can be set up and used almost anywhere in the U.S., its top download speeds vary from state to state, which you can check with Starlink's speed map.

5G home internet uses the same technology as smartphone internet access. A wireless gateway picks up the signal from a nearby tower and broadcasts it as a Wi-Fi network in your home.

These home internet services first began with 4G LTE networks, although the speeds were slower and the availability much more limited. Home LTE internet provided a reasonable alternative to satellite or DSL in rural areas. However, with the increased speed and bandwidth of 5G, it’s become a realistic and affordable alternative to other forms of internet, even outside of rural locations.

All three major cellular carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T) offer a 5G home internet service. These plans usually come with hefty discounts if you have a qualifying cellular plan with the provider. These discounts make 5G home internet extremely compelling, with enough speed for most use cases and a hard-to-beat price.

T-Mobile and Verizon currently provide the most widely available, mature 5G home internet services. AT&T is lagging a fair bit behind in speed and especially availability. Although it’s still a good value, the fact that it’s only available in a handful of large cities makes it challenging to recommend.

T-Mobile and Verizon are pretty similar in terms of price and performance. T-Mobile has plans for $65 to $75 per month ($30 to $50 with a qualifying cell plan). Verizon offers two monthly plans at $50 or $70 ($35 or $45 with qualifying cell plans). 

Speaking of speed, it’s worth noting that while Verizon appears to be faster on paper, real-world performance is about the same. Verizon advertises its theoretical maximum speed, whereas T-Mobile advertises real-world average speeds.

Starlink is available nationwide and around the world—at least in theory. The service is available over a vast area, including much of the U.S., Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, and even a handful of spots in Africa and Asia. 

5G home internet availability varies a bit from provider to provider. T-Mobile offers more or less nationwide coverage, with Verizon only slightly behind. AT&T brings up the rear, covering only a handful of major cities. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) offers a map that shows where there is coverage.

Starlink’s plans top out at 220Mbps, but it’s worth noting that this is on the Business plan, which carries both a higher monthly cost and a dramatically higher equipment cost ($2,500!). The residential plan caps out at 100Mbps, which is still suitable for satellite but less impressive compared to other types of internet. That said, it’ll easily handle most applications and even stream your favorite shows.

5G home internet speeds can theoretically reach up to 1,000Mbps, though this can be misleading. Verizon advertises maximum speeds of 1,000Mbps on its 5G Home Internet Plus package, but these are theoretical—average speeds are more likely to be in the 100–200Mbps range, similar to T-Mobile. This will depend on where you live and the quality of the signal there—people close to urban centers with Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband are much more likely to see the higher speeds.

Satellite internet is known for having high latency. Starlink is better in this regard, thanks primarily to its LEO (low-Earth orbit) constellation. That said, it’s still a great distance for a signal to travel, so some latency is to be expected.

5G home internet is usually better, especially if you’re close to the tower. Low latency was one of the major selling points of 5G when it first hit the market. If you’re a heavy gamer, you may have a better experience with 5G.

This one’s really no contest—any 5G home internet service is going to be significantly more affordable than Starlink (or any other satellite provider, for that matter). This is especially true if you have a qualifying cell plan with the 5G provider—most offer hefty discounts on the home internet service. Even without that, though, the most expensive 5G internet plan is still going to be cheaper than the cheapest Starlink plan—and with comparable speeds too.

Starlink fills two specific niches: customers with no other local internet options and customers who need internet access on the go. In either of these scenarios, Starlink is a fantastic choice.

That said, the service does have a couple of shortcomings. First, it’s expensive. The base service is $120 per month with a $499 equipment charge. If you want faster service or the ability to take it on the road, you’ll pay at least $150 per month, and equipment fees can hit a whopping $2,500.

In our opinion, the best thing about satellite is the ability to get service anywhere.

5G home internet is an excellent choice for rural customers who lack other high-speed internet options. Since there’s less infrastructure involved (just a tower that may already be there, compared to underground lines running to each house), rural areas are potentially more likely to have access to 5G. Additionally, it offers much faster speeds than DSL, often the only option in remote spots.

5G internet is also a great alternative to cable or fiber for city dwellers with a qualifying cell plan with a provider (for a discounted rate) who don’t need the absolute fastest speeds. These customers can access a speedy connection with unlimited data for an astonishingly low price.

5G home internet uses the same mobile internet tech as your smartphone. However, in the case of home internet, the signal is picked up by a wireless gateway that essentially acts as a permanent hotspot for your home. The gateway takes the 5G signal and turns it into a standard Wi-Fi network to which all your devices can connect.

5G home internet is a smart way to take advantage of the infrastructure that most mobile carriers already have in place. It’s also highly affordable and offers speeds comparable to cable, making it a compelling option. 

Starlink’s cheapest plan, Residential, starts at $120 monthly, with $499 in equipment costs due upfront. Prices increase from there depending on your plan and configuration, with monthly service costs reaching up to as much as $5,000 and equipment fees climbing as high as $2,500. But these are for the most luxurious use-cases such as satellite internet for a yacht. 

There’s no clear answer to this question—each has ups and downs, and each is better suited to a specific type of user. That said, for most people who need essential home internet, 5G will be the better choice. This mainly boils down to cost—Starlink is expensive. However, it also requires more equipment (the dish), and there are waitlists in many areas of the U.S.

That said, many users may not have access to 5G home internet, in which case Starlink is obviously the way to go. Additionally, if you need to take your connection on the go, Starlink is a great choice.