“Starlink mobile” now means two different things, and mixing them up is the easiest way to waste money. One is satellite coverage for your regular phone, which you get through a carrier. The other is a portable Starlink dish for internet on the road. A third thing, a full Starlink phone carrier, is in the works but not yet on sale.
Key Answers Before You Spend Anything
Eight questions, answered the way we wish the marketing pages would.
Not a standalone one. Starlink Mobile is the name SpaceX uses for its direct-to-cell service, but in the United States you reach it through T-Mobile’s T-Satellite. SpaceX has said it wants to become a real mobile carrier, and it has filed for the name and bought spectrum, but there is no consumer Starlink carrier plan yet.
It connects a compatible phone to Starlink satellites when you have no cell signal, for text messages, picture messages, location sharing, texts to 911, and a short list of apps that work over limited satellite data. WhatsApp voice and video calls are among them. It is not a replacement for a normal signal, and speeds are far below even a weak 4G connection.
It is included at no extra cost on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond and Better Value plans. Everyone else pays $10 a month, which T-Mobile’s page describes as a limited-time price that saves $5 a month, and it auto-renews monthly. Customers of other carriers can add it too if they have an unlocked, compatible phone with eSIM.
Often not. T-Mobile says it works automatically on most phones from the last four years, and it publishes a device list. Satellite data for apps needs newer software, such as recent versions of Android and iOS. Check your exact model on T-Mobile’s list before you pay.
Starlink Roam is portable internet for RVs, boats and travel, using a Starlink dish. Roam 100GB is $55 a month, Roam 300GB is $80, and Roam Unlimited is $175 and includes more than 160 countries. The Mini kit is $149 on Starlink’s page, or twelve payments of $12.41.
On the 100GB and 300GB plans you drop to unlimited low-speed data for the rest of the billing period. Starlink describes 100GB as about a week of typical use, which is a useful reality check if you plan to work from the road.
Not soon. The FCC approved 15,000 next-generation satellites this week, but SpaceX’s own timelines put next-generation satellites mid-2027 and commercial service from late 2027 to the first half of 2028. Do not switch carriers or prepay for something that is not on sale.
Maybe not. Many recent iPhones and Pixels already include free satellite emergency messaging, and Verizon offers free satellite texting on some Samsung phones. If all you need is an emergency lifeline, check what your phone already does before you add a monthly fee.
Find a Store, Installer or Dealer Near You
Satellite coverage works from the sky, so there is no tower map to check. What you can find locally is a store to sign up for service, a pro to mount a dish, and an RV dealer who has seen a few setups. This tool opens a live map search around your location.
Your coordinates are sent to Google Maps only when you tap a button here. This page does not store them. Map results are search listings, not endorsements.
Starlink hardware and T-Satellite are sold through Starlink and T-Mobile directly. We found that in-demand gear attracts look-alike sites and resellers, so confirm any seller on the official Starlink or T-Mobile page before you pay. Local installers are independent businesses, so ask for references and a written price.
The Ten Contacts That Matter
This is the short list of places that can actually answer a question or fix a problem, whether you are signing up for T-Satellite, buying a dish, or comparing what your own phone already does.
Our timeline from T-Mobile announcements, the FCC approval reported this week, and SpaceX executives’ stated targets. Future dates are SpaceX plans, not commitments.
| # | Contact | Use it for | How to reach | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-Mobile T-Satellite | Adding or removing satellite service, device compatibility | Included or $10/mo | |
| 2 | Starlink Roam and Mini | Ordering a dish, choosing a Roam plan | $55–$175/mo + kit | |
| 3 | Starlink support | Account, billing and troubleshooting for dish customers | Free with account | |
| 4 | FCC Consumer Help Center | Complaints about service, billing or 911 text issues | Free | |
| 5 | Apple satellite features | Emergency SOS and Messages via satellite on iPhones | Free for now | |
| 6 | Google Pixel satellite | Satellite SOS and messaging on supported Pixels | Free on supported phones | |
| 7 | Verizon satellite messaging | Free satellite texting on certain Samsung phones | Free on eligible phones | |
| 8 | AT&T | Checking the status of its planned satellite service | Not announced | |
| 9 | AST SpaceMobile | Tracking the competing satellite-to-phone network | Free to read | |
| 10 | FTC ReportFraud | Reporting a fake seller or online purchase scam | Free |
When we cross-checked prices, we found several third-party pages still listing the Mini at $199 or $249 and Roam Unlimited at $165, while Starlink’s own page now shows the Mini at $149 and Roam Unlimited at $175. Starlink changes prices often, so use the official page at the moment you order.
Satellite Options Compared by What You Actually Need
Every option below solves a different problem. The mistake we see most is paying for internet when an emergency text lifeline was all that was needed, or the reverse.
| Option | What it does | Cost | What you need | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Satellite (Starlink) | Texts, 911 texts, picture messages, select apps including WhatsApp calls | Included, or $10/mo | Compatible phone, clear sky outdoors | Slow data; some apps will not work |
| iPhone satellite features | Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite, Find My | Free; Apple has extended it | iPhone 14 or newer | Text-focused; you point at a satellite |
| Pixel satellite (Skylo) | Satellite SOS and messaging | Free on supported models | Pixel 9 and 10 series (not the 9a) | Emergency and messaging only |
| Verizon satellite texting | Basic satellite texting | Free on eligible phones | Verizon plan, certain Samsung Galaxy models | Basic texting; limited phone list |
| Starlink Roam dish | Full internet for a laptop, tablet or hotspot | $55–$175/mo + $149 Mini | Dish, power, sky view | Low-speed data after your cap on 100GB and 300GB |
We computed these from the prices on Starlink’s and T-Mobile’s pages: $10 x 12 for the add-on, and 12 months of Roam plus the $149 Mini. Taxes and fees are extra, and the two services do very different jobs, so this is a cost check, not a like-for-like comparison.
Do you need internet or just an emergency text lifeline? Does your phone already have free satellite messaging? Will you be outdoors with a clear sky, or inside a vehicle or building? Do you need to work online, or only check maps and send messages? And how many days a month will you actually be off grid? If the answers are “text lifeline,” “yes,” “outdoors,” “maps and messages” and “a few,” you probably do not need to pay for anything extra.
What to Do in Your Exact Situation
T-Satellite and the free phone features are meant for texting and a few apps with a clear view of the sky, not for steady calls. Update your phone, test the satellite connection before the trip, and tell someone your route. Satellite texting is a layer of safety, not a substitute for planning, and a dedicated satellite messenger is a separate device if you want a purpose-built option.
The question is data. Starlink says Roam 100GB lasts about a week of typical use, which is not much if you are on video calls daily, so full-time remote workers usually land on Roam Unlimited at $175 a month. Roam also supports use in motion, but mounts, power and local laws matter, so have a passenger handle setup. Compare Mini versus Standard dish for power draw and roof space before you buy.
T-Mobile lets customers of other carriers add T-Satellite, but you need an unlocked, compatible phone with eSIM. In the latest comparisons we reviewed, Verizon offered free satellite texting on some Samsung phones and AT&T had not yet launched a consumer service. Before paying $10 a month, check whether your phone’s own satellite feature already covers you.
A Mini on a Roam plan is a common backup, but data matters more than speed. Roam 100GB gives you a limited pool of full-speed data, then slows to low speed, so a backup that is used only occasionally can fit the $55 tier. If you will rely on it for days at a time, compare Roam 300GB at $80. Roam is for mobile use, so a home setup is a different plan.
It may arrive, but not on a timeline you can plan around. The FCC approved SpaceX’s 15,000-satellite application and a waiver this week, SpaceX is buying more spectrum, and executives have talked about competing head to head with carriers. They have also pointed to late 2027 or 2028 for service, and a nationwide terrestrial network is still undecided. Keep your current carrier, and revisit when SpaceX announces actual plans and prices.
Start with what you already own. Apple has extended free satellite features for existing iPhone users and gives new iPhone buyers a year free, most Pixel 9 and 10 phones include satellite messaging, and Verizon offers free texting on some Samsung phones. If none of that applies and you are on T-Mobile, check whether your plan already includes T-Satellite before adding anything.
Prices, plans, supported phones and timelines reflect Starlink’s and T-Mobile’s published information and recent reporting as checked in early October. Starlink and carriers change them often, so confirm on the official pages before you buy. Future dates for Starlink Mobile are SpaceX plans and may change. Satellite messaging depends on the phone, software, sky view and conditions, and is not a guaranteed emergency service. This page is independent and is not affiliated with SpaceX, Starlink, T-Mobile, Apple, Google, Verizon, AT&T or AST SpaceMobile. The location finder opens third-party map listings; they are not endorsements.
Key sources: Starlink.com Roam and Mini pages · T-Mobile T-Satellite pages and newsroom · FCC approval reporting for Starlink Mobile satellites · Light Reading, Fierce Network and MacRumors reporting on SpaceX’s mobile plans · 9to5Mac and Techlicious on phone satellite features