Starlink restructured its entire U.S. plan lineup in January 2026 and raised prices again in June. The tier names changed, the deprioritization rules shifted, and a $25/month add-on can now replace what used to require a completely separate plan. If you researched this even six months ago, it’s worth a fresh look.
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The single most important question before picking a tier: do you have a permanent address where the dish will live? If yes, start with a Residential plan and only consider Roam if you travel more than two weeks per month. Find your situation below.
The decisions that cost people money aren’t about which plan sounds best — they’re about misunderstanding what “priority” and “deprioritization” actually mean in practice.
Every Starlink plan includes unlimited data and no hard cap. “Deprioritized” doesn’t mean your data gets cut off — it means that during congestion on your local satellite cell, your traffic moves to the back of the queue while higher-priority subscribers are served first. In a rural area where your Starlink cell has few subscribers, deprioritization is essentially invisible: the cell rarely reaches the congestion level that triggers the priority queue. In a dense suburban or exurban area where many neighbors are also on Starlink, peak-hour congestion is real, and a deprioritized subscriber can see speeds drop from 80 Mbps to under 20 Mbps between 7 PM and 10 PM. Whether to pay for a higher-priority tier depends almost entirely on your local cell’s congestion level — which you can only know by testing. The 30-day return window exists for exactly this evaluation.
A Residential plan is registered to a specific service address, but it’s not permanently locked there. You can update your service address through your Starlink account when you move — Starlink approves these changes as long as the new address has service availability. What it does not support is casual location-switching for travel. If you want to use the dish at a vacation cabin, an RV site, or a temporary location away from your home address, you need either the $25/month Portability add-on or a Roam plan. The Portability add-on is the less-talked-about option that solves most people’s “I travel sometimes” problem for $25/month instead of the jump to a full Roam plan. Adding it to a Residential 200 plan costs $105/month total versus $175/month for Roam Unlimited — a $70/month difference — with better priority when you’re at home.
Only in specific circumstances. Residential Max gives you the highest residential network priority — your traffic gets served before both the 200 Mbps and 100 Mbps tiers during congestion. It also removes the speed cap, allowing downloads above 200 Mbps on fast satellites. Additionally, it includes a free Router Mini for mesh extension and a free Starlink Mini kit rental for travel. If you’re in a lightly subscribed rural cell where the network rarely congests, you’ll notice almost no practical difference between Max and the 200 tier — both deliver full speeds because nobody is competing for the bandwidth. The right time to upgrade to Max is after you’ve experienced consistent peak-hour slowdowns on the 200 tier — not as a starting assumption. Switch up if needed; switching down is equally easy.
Roam Unlimited, as of its current pricing and terms, supports in-motion use up to 100 miles per hour — a feature SpaceX added when it rebranded and repriced the plan. However, this in-motion performance relies on the dish’s ability to maintain a satellite lock while the vehicle moves, which works significantly better with the Starlink Mini (lighter, lower profile, faster relock) than with the Standard dish. The Standard dish can maintain a connection at highway speeds, but in-motion performance varies with tree cover, hills, and bridge overpasses. Roam 100 GB and Roam 300 GB are now domestic U.S. only — they do not support international use. Only Roam Unlimited supports travel outside the U.S., and only up to 30 days abroad per trip (a rule tightened from the previous 60-day allowance in July 2026).
Both options exist. The Standard Kit (dish, Gen 3 router, cable, kickstand mount) costs $349 as a one-time purchase, or approximately $10 per month to rent on residential plans. Over 24 months, renting adds $240 to the total cost versus buying outright — so purchasing makes financial sense if you plan to keep the service long-term. The Starlink Mini costs $199–$249 and is purchased outright; no rental option is currently available for the Mini. In select low-congestion areas, Starlink has periodically offered free hardware rentals as a promotional offer — check your availability at starlink.com to see what pricing applies to your specific address. Hardware prices also vary by location in 2026: congestion surcharges can push hardware prices higher in dense markets, while some rural areas see hardware offered at lower regional pricing down to approximately $89 in some cases.
Canceling removes your reservation for that service address. If you cancel and want to reactivate later, Starlink will accept your reactivation — but if your area has reached capacity in the interim, you’ll be placed on a waitlist rather than immediately re-activated. This risk varies significantly by location: in low-density rural areas, capacity is rarely an issue and reactivation is typically immediate. In popular suburban markets or fast-growing rural regions, a six-month gap in service could mean returning to a waitlist. Standby Mode is specifically designed for this scenario — for $10 per month (post June 2026 pricing), you retain your account and service address while receiving very low speed connectivity (up to 500 Kbps), without fully canceling. Use it for seasonal pauses or extended travel rather than outright cancellation when your return is likely.
For many small businesses, Residential Max handles the work fine — and at $130/month versus $250+/month for the Business tier, the cost difference is substantial. The practical distinction: Residential Max gives you the highest priority among residential subscribers, but during extreme congestion it still yields to Business subscribers. Business plans provide dedicated priority data allotments — typically 1 TB on the base Business plan and up to 2 TB on the higher-tier Business plan — plus speeds that can reach 500 Mbps in favorable conditions, which exceeds what Residential Max regularly delivers. The right choice depends on how costly downtime is. A remote worker who can shift non-critical tasks to off-peak hours is fine on Residential Max. A medical office, financial advisor taking client calls, or a construction site needing constant upload of video footage should look at the Business tier’s consistency.
Current U.S. pricing as of late August 2026 — after the June 2026 price adjustment across residential tiers. Always verify final pricing at starlink.com before ordering, as hardware prices vary by location and promotional offers change monthly.
| Plan | Monthly | Hardware | Speed | Priority | Location | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | $55/mo | $349 or ~$10/mo rent | Up to 100 Mbps | Lowest residential | Fixed address | 1–2 light users · rural |
| Residential 200 | $80/mo | $349 or ~$10/mo rent | Up to 200 Mbps | Mid residential | Fixed address | Families · WFH · 3–5 users |
| Residential Max | $130/mo | $349 or ~$10/mo rent | Uncapped · 400+ Mbps | Highest residential | Fixed address | Dense cells · power users |
| + Portability Add-On | +$25/mo | Existing dish | Same as base plan | Same as base plan | Anywhere in U.S. | Occasional travel · seasonal |
| Roam 100 GB | $55/mo | $349 or $199–249 Mini | 100 Mbps (priority data) | Deprioritized behind Residential | U.S. only | Light travel · backup · camping |
| Roam 300 GB | $80/mo | $349 or $199–249 Mini | Up to 200 Mbps | Deprioritized behind Residential | U.S. only | Regular travel · longer trips |
| Roam Unlimited | $175/mo | $349 or $199–249 Mini | 100–150 Mbps typical | Deprioritized behind Residential | U.S. + international 30 days/trip | Full-time RV · no fixed address |
| Business (Base) | $250/mo | $2,500 HP dish | Up to 220–350 Mbps | Dedicated 1 TB priority | Fixed or mobile | Small biz · remote offices |
| Business (Higher) | $500/mo | $2,500 HP dish | Up to 500 Mbps | Dedicated 2 TB priority | Fixed or mobile | Larger operations · mission-critical |
| Standby Mode | $10/mo | Existing dish | Up to 500 Kbps | Minimal | Fixed address held | Seasonal pause · preserve account |
Starlink has changed plan pricing, tier names, and hardware options multiple times. Prices shown reflect U.S. conditions post the June 2026 price adjustment. Hardware pricing varies by location — congestion surcharges apply in high-density markets, and promotional discounts (including free rental periods) appear periodically in lower-congestion areas. The definitive current price for your specific address is always at starlink.com after entering your address.
Starlink restructured its U.S. residential lineup on January 14, 2026 into three speed-tiered plans. The names changed, the priority hierarchy changed, and a June 2026 price adjustment moved the entry tier from $50 to $55 per month. Here’s what each actually delivers.
This is where most people should start — not because it’s the best plan, but because it’s the honest test of whether Starlink’s performance in your specific cell is sufficient before committing to a higher tier. Real-world download speeds average 65–100 Mbps, which comfortably handles 4K streaming on one device, video calls, and general browsing. The cap means you won’t pull faster than 100 Mbps even if the satellite overhead has available capacity. The trade-off that matters most in practice: this tier is deprioritized behind both Residential 200 and Max during congestion — when neighbors in your cell are streaming heavily, your traffic moves to the back of the queue first. In a rural cell with few subscribers, this distinction is invisible. In a suburban-adjacent area, evening slowdowns can be significant. Run morning and evening speed tests during your 30-day trial before deciding whether to stay or step up.
The $80/month tier is where most Starlink households settle after a month or two of real use. The 200 Mbps cap supports multiple simultaneous streams, video conferencing while kids are gaming, and the kind of household internet activity a family of three to five generates without hitting a wall. Network priority sits above the 100 tier — during peak-hour congestion, Residential 200 subscribers get served before 100 tier subscribers, meaning the speed difference between these two plans widens during the exact hours when it matters most. The honest case for this tier over the cheaper option: it’s not just a higher cap, it’s a better queue position in congested cells. For households in areas with multiple Starlink neighbors, that priority difference is the real value — not the higher speed ceiling.
Residential Max replaced the old “Residential” standard plan when Starlink restructured its tiers in January 2026 — and added perks the old plan didn’t have. There’s no speed cap: when the satellite overhead has capacity, downloads can exceed 400 Mbps on favorable passes. Network priority is the highest available among residential plans — during congestion, Max subscribers are served last to be squeezed. The plan includes a free Router Mini for wireless mesh extension and a complimentary Starlink Mini kit rental, essentially bundling travel connectivity into the monthly fee. Who actually needs this: subscribers in medium-density areas who have tested the 200 tier and experienced consistent peak-hour slowdowns. If your 200 tier delivers smooth evenings, Max is a $50/month premium for a ceiling you may rarely touch. If evening slowdowns are real and frustrating, the priority upgrade here is the fix.
For $25 per month added to any Residential plan, you can use your dish at any location within the U.S. where Starlink has coverage — a vacation cabin, an RV site, a family member’s property. This add-on produces essentially the same flexibility as a Roam plan for occasional travelers, at dramatically lower monthly cost. Residential 200 at $80/mo plus the $25 add-on equals $105/month versus Roam Unlimited at $175/month — a $70/month difference — while retaining better network priority when you’re at home. Only subscribers who are genuinely full-time mobile (no permanent home address) benefit from a pure Roam plan over a Residential plan with Portability added.
Roam plans serve subscribers without a fixed address, or those who need coverage at multiple locations regularly. Three tiers exist, each with different data allowances, geographic scope, and in-motion capabilities.
Roam 100 GB is priced the same as Residential 100 at $55/month, which makes it easy to compare directly. The difference: Roam gives you location flexibility in exchange for a data limit — 100 GB of priority-speed data per month, then reduced speeds for the remainder. One hundred gigabytes is more than enough for occasional weekenders (a camping trip or two per month where streaming is casual), but will feel limiting for anyone connecting multiple devices heavily for extended periods. This plan also does not support international use — it is domestic U.S. only. The practical use case: a vacation cabin or seasonal property where you want decent internet a few weeks per year without committing to the Portability add-on on a Residential plan year-round.
Roam 300 GB launched in May 2026 as a middle option between the light-use 100 GB plan and the full unlimited tier. Three hundred gigabytes of priority data per month is enough for a family traveling most of the summer — regular streaming, video calls, school work — without hitting the ceiling that frustrated heavy users of the 100 GB plan. Like Roam 100 GB, this tier is limited to domestic U.S. use. It is deprioritized behind all Residential subscribers during cell congestion — important context if you park in populated RV parks where other Starlink subscribers share the cell. This plan fills a real gap for the six-to-eight-week-per-year traveler who found 100 GB insufficient but didn’t need — or want to pay for — full unlimited service.
Roam Unlimited is the plan for people who live on the road — full-time RVers, van dwellers, long-haul travelers without a permanent address. Unlimited data with no hard cap, in-motion support up to 100 miles per hour (the Standard dish and Mini both support this, though Mini performs more smoothly in motion), and international use in Starlink-covered countries for up to 30 days per trip. The 30-day international limit tightened in July 2026 from the previous 60-day allowance — if extended international stays are your use case, verify current policy before ordering. In practice, real-world Roam speeds average 100–150 Mbps in rural areas, which is fully usable for remote work and streaming. For anyone with even an occasional fixed address, compare this price against Residential 200 plus the $25 Portability add-on before ordering — the $70/month difference adds up to $840 per year.
Business plans require the High Performance dish — a different, larger piece of hardware that costs $2,500 and is not interchangeable with the Standard residential dish. The hardware cost alone means the math only works for organizations where internet reliability has direct business impact.
Business plans provide dedicated priority data allotments — 1 TB on the $250/month base Business plan, 2 TB on the $500/month higher Business plan — that are served ahead of all residential subscribers, including Residential Max, during congestion. Speeds on the High Performance dish can reach 500 Mbps on favorable satellite passes, exceeding what residential hardware typically delivers. The dish itself is rated for more extreme operating conditions, handles heat and weather better, and supports in-motion use in commercial vehicle applications. The hardware investment ($2,500 for the HP dish) is the real filter for who should consider this tier. Many small businesses — a remote accountant, a rural veterinary clinic, a small construction company — will find Residential Max at $130/month handles their load completely. The Business tier pays off when consistent speeds during peak hours are directly tied to revenue, billable hours, or client service commitments.
A working test: run a Residential Max plan for 30 days and note your peak-hour performance. If Residential Max delivers consistent speeds during your business hours, you’ve saved $120+/month versus the Business tier — plus avoided the $2,500 HP dish purchase. Business plans make sense when that test fails, not before it. Many small businesses operate smoothly on Residential Max and upgrade only when a specific bottleneck forces the question.
The plan and the hardware are separate decisions. Not every dish works with every plan, and the price difference between hardware options is significant.
The Standard Kit ships with the Gen 3 or V5 dish (depending on order date and location), a Wi-Fi 6 router, an approximately 75-foot proprietary cable, and the kickstand base mount. It works with all Residential and Roam plans. The V5 dish (shipping in select U.S. zones since July 2026) is significantly smaller and lighter than the V4 — roughly 384 × 306 mm and 2.4 lbs versus the V4’s 594 × 383 mm and 6.4 lbs — with lower power consumption and a pipe adapter mount included in the box. If you ordered recently and your kit is noticeably lighter than expected, you may have received V5 hardware. Verify which generation you received before purchasing third-party mounts — V5 compatibility varies across older accessory lines.
The Mini is a compact dish roughly the size of a laptop — designed for backpack portability, USB-C power, and easy deployment in vehicles, tents, or anywhere the Standard dish is impractical. It works as a secondary device on an existing Residential account (requires an active Starlink subscription) or as the primary hardware on a Roam plan. Real-world speeds are somewhat lower than the Standard dish due to the smaller phased array, but 60–100 Mbps is typical — fully adequate for remote work and streaming. The Mini is the right hardware choice for anyone primarily using Starlink for travel and willing to accept slightly lower peak speeds for the portability advantage.
The HP dish is larger, built for extreme environments, and engineered to maintain satellite contact under conditions the Standard dish handles less gracefully — including sustained in-motion use, high heat, and heavy commercial deployment cycles. It is required for all Business plans and is not available for use with Residential or Roam subscriptions. The $2,500 hardware cost is the primary qualifier for whether a Business plan makes financial sense — combined with the $250–$500/month service fee, the first-year cost of a Business plan starts at approximately $5,500 before taxes and mounting hardware.
Start with Residential 100 at $55/month. It handles email, video calls with family, streaming one screen, and general browsing without a problem. If you’re in a rural area — which describes most of Starlink’s subscriber base — the deprioritization on this tier will be essentially invisible because your local cell is unlikely to reach the congestion level that triggers the priority queue. Run the 30-day trial honestly: test morning speeds and evening speeds. If evenings feel fine, stay at $55/month. If evenings are consistently slow, step up to the $80 tier. There is no senior discount offered by Starlink, but some state broadband subsidy programs cover Starlink service costs — search your state’s broadband office or contact your state’s department of agriculture for rural broadband assistance programs that may apply to your address.
Residential 200 at $80/month is the right starting point. Video conferencing is sensitive to upload speed and latency more than raw download speed — and the 200 tier’s higher network priority during peak hours means your calls are less likely to degrade during the morning work rush when neighbors are also online. If your schedule runs primarily from 9 AM to 5 PM, you’re largely outside the worst congestion window (5–11 PM evenings), which means the 100 tier might work fine for daytime calls even with its lower priority. Test the pattern before committing to Max: if daytime calls are smooth and only evening gaming or streaming suffers, that’s a household usage problem rather than a work-from-home problem, and stepping to $130 to fix evening entertainment is a personal call rather than a work necessity.
Add the $25/month Portability add-on to whatever Residential plan you’re already on — or would start on. Residential 200 plus Portability at $105/month total delivers the same location flexibility as Roam, with better priority when you’re at home. Compare that to Roam Unlimited at $175/month and you’re saving $70/month, or $840/year, while getting better home performance. The math favors the Portability add-on for anyone who travels less than full-time. Roam Unlimited is the right choice only when you have no fixed address and are genuinely on the road for more than a few weeks at a time most months of the year.
A single Starlink dish and router cover one building well. Extending coverage to a barn, outbuilding, or second structure requires either running the Starlink cable to that location (maximum total run of 150 feet with the extension cable) or using a Starlink Mesh Node ($130, or included free with the Residential Max plan) to extend Wi-Fi wirelessly within range. For truly separate buildings at a distance, a second Starlink account on a second dish is the most reliable solution — Starlink permits multiple accounts per person at different addresses. For agricultural or small business use cases involving multiple sites, evaluate whether Residential Max on each location or a Business account serves the operation better based on the consistent-speeds requirement.
The most useful diagnostic: run a speed test at 2 AM and again at 8 PM on a typical weekday. If the gap between those results is small — both show reasonable speeds — your current tier is right-sized and upgrading buys you little. If the 2 AM test shows 150 Mbps and the 8 PM test shows 15 Mbps, you’re experiencing significant congestion-related deprioritization, and moving up one tier gives your traffic a better queue position during those peak hours. Switching is free and instantaneous — there’s no penalty for trying a tier and switching back. The change takes effect immediately through your Starlink account portal, and billing adjusts pro-rated at your next billing cycle. Don’t overthink the decision; the trial-and-switch model is designed for exactly this kind of exploration.
All pricing, plan names, data allowances, speed claims, and hardware costs reflect reported U.S. conditions as of late August 2026 and are subject to change by SpaceX at any time without notice. Prices vary by location — congestion surcharges and promotional discounts apply in specific markets. Hardware prices reflect the Standard Kit and Mini; regional pricing may differ. Always verify current pricing, plan availability, and terms at starlink.com before placing any order or making a plan decision based on this guide. This content is entirely original and does not constitute a commercial endorsement of any Starlink plan.