Starlink has been one of the most aggressively promoted internet services of the past two years — price cuts, hardware giveaways, referral cash, and seasonal discounts have appeared regularly. But promotions at Starlink expire without warning and vary by your service address. This guide covers every active deal, who qualifies, what the fine print actually says, and the fastest way to find out what is available at your specific location right now.
These are the questions people type when they are trying to figure out whether switching to Starlink — or getting a better deal on their existing plan — actually makes sense. Answered directly, without the runaround.
The referral program is the most reliable money-saver available to everyone in the U.S. right now: if a current Starlink subscriber sends you their referral link before you order, you receive one free month of service — worth $55 to $130 depending on your plan. The existing subscriber earns $100 in cash. That is a verified, standing program as of September 2026. Hardware pricing and promotional discounts are address-specific and change constantly — check starlink.com with your exact address to see what is on the table at checkout today. Deals seen in your neighbor’s ZIP code may not apply to yours.
It depends entirely on your address. In June 2026, Starlink moved new Residential customers to a hardware rental model in most areas — $0 upfront for the dish with a $10 per month kit rental fee added to your monthly bill. In some lower-demand U.S. areas, the rental fee itself was later reported as being removed again, meaning the dish costs nothing at all upfront and no monthly rental applies. If you would rather own the hardware outright, the Standard Kit lists at $349. The situation is genuinely fluid and address-driven — your checkout page is the only authoritative answer. The key tradeoff: rental customers cannot use Standby Mode to pause service.
Yes. In June 2026, Starlink raised the regular price of its Residential plans for the first time in several years. The Residential 100 Mbps plan went from $50 to $55 per month. The Residential 200 Mbps plan is $85 per month. Residential Max — the top home tier at 400+ Mbps — is $130 per month. The price increase affected both new and existing customers starting with the June 2026 billing cycle. Customers who signed up during promotional periods kept their promotional pricing until their promotion period ended. Promotional deals that ran earlier in 2026 — including a $29/month introductory plan — have expired.
No. Starlink does not offer income-based discounts and does not participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program or the Lifeline program. There is no senior discount, military discount, or public benefit program exclusive to Starlink service. The referral program (one free month for new subscribers) and any address-specific promotions are the only ways to reduce your cost below the standard listed price. Some third-party credit card promotions — such as a Chase Sapphire offer that ran through September 11, 2026 giving 30% back on Starlink purchases — have appeared occasionally and are worth checking if you carry a rewards card. Starlink has stated no current plans to participate in government subsidy programs.
Yes, and this is one of the most consumer-friendly policies in the satellite internet industry. If you are unhappy with Starlink for any reason — including if you simply cannot get a clear enough sky view at your address — you can return all hardware within 30 days of activating service and receive a full refund on the equipment cost. The first month of service is not free during this window; you will still be billed for service used. You must initiate the return through your account on starlink.com — not through the mobile app — and Starlink provides a prepaid return shipping label. The 30-day clock starts when billing begins after activation, not when the dish arrives.
That offer ended in June 2026. Through much of 2025 and into early 2026, new Residential customers in eligible areas received the Standard Kit dish at no charge — either outright or with a 12-month subscription commitment. That promotion was discontinued as of June 15, 2026, coinciding with Starlink’s move to the rental model. Separately, a short-lived promotion in spring 2026 offered the Residential Max plan with a free Mini kit for travel — that also ended. The hardware landscape has changed significantly: Starlink is now a subscription-plus-rental model in most markets, rather than a buy-once-own-it model. If you already own a Starlink dish, that hardware remains yours — existing owners are not affected by the rental change.
Free pausing no longer exists. In August 2025, Starlink replaced the free pause feature with Standby Mode — a paid holding plan that keeps your dish minimally connected at roughly 500 Kbps (enough for basic messages and email) for a monthly fee. That fee started at $5, then doubled to $10 per month in May 2026. Standby Mode also no longer supports in-motion use as of March 2026. If you only need Starlink seasonally and do not want to pay $10 per month to keep the account on hold, the alternative is to cancel entirely and reactivate later — your hardware stays usable on the same account. Rental customers cannot access Standby Mode at all — that option is only available to customers who own their hardware outright.
Two things work for existing customers. First, the referral program pays you $100 cash per friend you refer who activates a Residential Starlink plan. There is no cap stated on how many referrals you can make. Second, Starlink has sent unsolicited 20% monthly discounts to select existing Residential customers — these appear as email notifications with no promo code to enter, just an applied credit. There is no known way to trigger or request this discount; it appears to go to customers in areas where Starlink has excess network capacity and wants to reward retention. Watching your email and staying subscribed are the only ways to catch these.
These are the deals and promotions verified as active or recently expired as of September 2026. Promotions without an expiration date may end without notice — confirm at checkout before planning around them.
| Deal / Promotion | Savings | Who Qualifies | Fine Print | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referral Program — Free Month for New Subscribers | 1 free month of service (up to $130 value) | New Residential or Roam customers who use a referral link | Must stay subscribed 2 months; credit applied on 2nd bill; referring subscriber gets $100 cash | ✅ Active |
| $0 Upfront Hardware — Rental Model | $0 down; $10/mo rental fee in most areas | New Residential customers; select U.S. & international areas | Rental customers cannot use Standby Mode; must return dish if service cancelled | ✅ Active (address-specific) |
| 30-Day Money-Back Trial | Full hardware refund if returned within 30 days | All new customers ordering directly from starlink.com | First month of service still billed; return must be initiated via web portal (not app) | ✅ Active — ongoing policy |
| Select Customer 20% Monthly Discount | 20% off monthly bill for 6 months | Existing Residential customers in low-demand service areas (sent by email) | No promo code; Starlink sends notification automatically; cannot be requested | ⚡ Periodic / YMMV |
| Starlink Mini Hardware — $199 Promotional Price | $50 off standard $249 retail price | Customers purchasing a Starlink Mini directly; select markets | Price and availability vary; confirm at checkout — full retail is $249 | ⚡ Periodic — check at checkout |
| Winback Offer — Free Month for Returning Customers | 1 free month of service (up to $120 value depending on area) | Former Starlink subscribers who cancelled service | Promotion ran through September 30, 2026; availability for future cycles unconfirmed | ⚡ Limited / check your email |
| $29/Month Introductory Rate (Spring 2026) | $21/month off for first 3 months | New customers in select high-capacity areas | Ended May 10, 2026 — discontinued | ❌ Expired |
| Free Standard Kit with 12-Month Subscription | $349 hardware value at no cost | New Residential customers in eligible U.S. areas | Ended June 15, 2026 — dish now rented, not given free | ❌ Expired |
| Free Starlink Mini with Residential Max Subscription | Mini kit at no cost + 50% off Roam plan | New Residential Max subscribers | Ended June 15, 2026 — Max plan no longer includes free Mini | ❌ Expired |
Promotions are address-specific and can end without notice. Verify at starlink.com before making any purchasing decision.
Starlink’s hardware pricing model changed fundamentally in 2026. What you pay upfront depends almost entirely on your service address and which market you are in. Here is the current landscape.
The current default for new Residential customers in most U.S. markets. You receive the dish at no upfront cost but pay a $10 monthly rental fee on top of your service plan. You do not own the hardware. If you cancel, you must return the dish within 30 days or be charged its full retail price. Rental customers cannot use Standby Mode to pause service.
In lower-demand U.S. areas with excess network capacity, Starlink has been reported as removing the $10 monthly rental fee entirely — meaning the dish arrives at no cost and no added monthly charge applies. This varies by address and is not advertised separately. It simply appears that way at checkout for qualifying locations. Check your address at starlink.com to see which model applies to you.
The Standard Kit is still available to buy outright for $349 if you prefer to own the hardware. Owners avoid the monthly rental fee and can use Standby Mode to hold their account at a low cost ($10/month) between active periods. You can also transfer or sell owned hardware to another user. This option is particularly useful for seasonal users — RV owners, cabin properties, or anyone who pauses service for months at a time — because the math favors ownership over rentals for long-term subscribers.
The Starlink Mini is a compact, backpack-sized dish designed for travel. Standard retail is $249, but a $199 promotional price has appeared in select markets. The Mini requires an existing Starlink account — it is not a standalone starter option, but an add-on for people who already have Residential service and want portability, or for dedicated travelers on a Roam plan. Roam plans for the Mini start at $55/month for 100 GB of priority data.
At $10 per month, the rental fee costs $120 in year one, $240 over two years, and $360 over three years. The outright purchase price of the Standard Kit is $349. If you plan to keep Starlink for more than two years and nine months, buying the dish outright is cheaper than renting — every month beyond that point is money you paid but didn’t need to. If you are not sure you will keep Starlink, the $0 rental entry keeps your risk low during the first year. But if you know you are staying, the math clearly favors owning.
The Starlink referral program is one of the few deals that benefits both sides. Here is exactly how it works as of September 2026, and the six details that matter before you share or use a link.
1. No mass sharing: Starlink’s terms prohibit using referral links in bulk emails, paid ads, or large social media broadcasts. Personal sharing with people you actually know is the intended use. Violations can result in removal from the program.
2. No self-referrals: You cannot use your own referral link to get a free month. Starlink explicitly blocks this.
3. Service must be available: Always have the new customer check address availability at starlink.com before clicking a referral link — referrals only work if service is available at the recipient’s address.
4. New customers only: The referral new-customer reward applies only to people who have never had a Starlink account before.
5. Credits apply after activation, not at checkout: The free month does not show up as a discount at the time of purchase — it appears on the second billing cycle after the new customer has been active for 60 days.
6. Promotional pricing is not affected: If the new customer signed up during a promotional period, the referral free month stacks on top — it does not replace or void promotional pricing.
Starlink’s 30-day return policy is a genuine risk-free window for anyone uncertain about signal quality at their home. But it works differently than most people expect — read the mechanics before you activate.
The full hardware cost — the dish, router, cables, and mounting hardware — is refunded in full if the kit is returned in undamaged, unmodified condition within the 30-day window. Starlink accessories purchased at the same time are also returnable within 30 days. The cost of shipping to you is not refunded. The first month of service charge is not refunded.
The 30-day window begins when your billing period starts after you activate service — not when the dish arrives at your door. Starlink also states that the window is the later of 30 days from the Payment Due Date or 7 days from delivery, whichever is longer. If your dish sits unactivated for a week after delivery, you have at minimum 7 days from delivery even if that extends slightly past the billing window.
Log into your Starlink account at starlink.com using a web browser — this process cannot be started through the mobile app. Under “Your Starlinks,” click Manage, then Cancel Service. During cancellation, you will be asked your reason and offered the refund option if you qualify. Starlink generates a prepaid return label (UPS or FedEx) that you print and use to ship everything back. Refunds post within 5 to 14 business days of Starlink confirming receipt.
Do not permanently mount the dish to your roof during the 30-day trial — roof penetrations and permanent installs make the hardware harder to return cleanly. Instead, use the portable tripod stand or a temporary non-penetrating mount while you evaluate signal quality. Keep the original box and all packaging materials. Run the app’s obstruction check on day one — if trees or rooflines are blocking a significant arc of the sky, that will not improve and is a valid reason to return.
Prices as read from Starlink’s U.S. pages on September 7, 2026. Service plan prices are verified. Hardware costs are address-specific — your checkout price may differ.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Speed | Data | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 Mbps | $55/mo | Up to 100 Mbps down | Unlimited (deprioritized in peak hours) | 1–2 person households; basic streaming and browsing |
| Residential 200 Mbps | $85/mo | Up to 200 Mbps down | Unlimited | 3–5 person households; multiple devices; remote work |
| Residential Max | $130/mo | 400+ Mbps; top priority | Unlimited; top network priority | Heavy users; power users; 4K streaming; gaming; 5+ devices |
| Roam 100 GB | $55/mo | Up to 300+ Mbps | 100 GB priority; then low-speed unlimited | Occasional travelers; RV use; can pause with Standby Mode |
| Roam 300 GB | $80/mo | Up to 300+ Mbps | 300 GB priority; then low-speed unlimited | Regular travelers; monthly road trippers; van lifers |
| Roam Unlimited | $175/mo | Up to 300+ Mbps | Unlimited high-speed; 160+ countries | Full-time travelers; international use; no data cap concern |
| Standby Mode | $10/mo | ~500 Kbps (2G level) | Unlimited low-speed | Seasonal pausing; keeping account active at minimal cost (owned hardware only) |
All prices are U.S. Residential plan prices as of September 7, 2026. Plans also require hardware (rental or purchased). Prices can change at any time — verify at starlink.com.
Do two things before ordering. First, ask anyone you know who already has Starlink for their referral link — using it before you sign up gives you one free month of service (worth $55 to $130) and puts $100 cash in their pocket. Second, check your exact address at starlink.com to see what promotions apply at checkout before you pay anything. Promotions at Starlink are address-specific and change constantly — what applies to a neighbor’s address may not apply to yours, and checking takes less than two minutes. If you are uncertain whether Starlink will work well at your home, use the 30-day return window to your advantage: do not permanently mount the dish, keep the original packaging, and evaluate signal quality before month one is up.
Three options exist for existing customers. First and most reliably: use the referral program. Log into your Starlink account, go to the referrals section, generate your personal link, and share it with friends or family considering Starlink. Every successful referral pays you $100 in cash — there is no stated limit on how many you can make. Second: watch your email. Starlink has sent unsolicited 20% monthly discounts to select existing customers in areas with excess network capacity — these arrive without any action required on your part and cannot be requested. Third: evaluate whether your current plan tier is right for you. If your household is one or two people and you are on the 200 Mbps plan, dropping to the 100 Mbps plan saves $30 per month with no perceptible difference for most light users.
The referral program is the best available deal for Roam plan customers too — new Roam subscribers who sign up through a referral link qualify for one free month, and the referring subscriber gets $100. Beyond that, hardware choice matters more for travelers than for home users. If you are buying a dish outright, owning the hardware lets you use Standby Mode ($10/month) to hold your account between travel seasons without fully canceling — rental customers cannot use Standby Mode, which means seasonal travel users end up either canceling and reactivating (fine if your area hasn’t filled up) or paying full Roam rates year-round. The Starlink Mini at $199 to $249 is the most portable option and works well for shorter trips, but requires an existing Starlink account to operate.
Yes — Starlink has been sending winback offers to former subscribers. Through at least September 30, 2026, Starlink offered returning customers one free month of service (worth up to $120 depending on area) as an incentive to reactivate. Check the email address associated with your old Starlink account — winback offers are sent there, not advertised publicly. If you did not receive one, try logging into your old Starlink account and checking for any active promotions shown there. Your previous hardware, if you still have it, can typically be reactivated on the same account — meaning you do not need to buy or rent new equipment. Reactivating an existing account also avoids the 30-day wait period new customers face.
Occasionally, yes. A Chase Sapphire offer ran through September 11, 2026, giving new Starlink customers 30% cash back (up to $30 per transaction, up to $90 total) on purchases made directly through starlink.com. These offers appear in card-holder accounts, not through Starlink’s own site, and are card- and offer-specific. Check your credit card issuer’s offers section — issuers including Chase, Amex, and Capital One have run Starlink-specific purchase credits at various times. These promotions stack with Starlink’s own signup process — you can use a referral link and pay with a card that has a Starlink offer active at the same time.
There is not a dedicated low-income or senior discount program at Starlink. Starlink does not participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program or the Lifeline program, and has no income-tested pricing tier. The referral program is the only way every new customer can reliably reduce their first-year cost — getting a referral link from a current subscriber gives you one free month of service. Beyond that, choosing the right plan tier matters: the Residential 100 Mbps plan at $55/month covers most households with two or fewer users, and downgrading from a higher tier if you are currently on one is the easiest cost reduction available. If a broadband connection is a financial hardship, contact your state’s broadband office — several states have separate satellite internet subsidy programs funded through federal rural broadband grants that Starlink participates in independently of the federal ACP.
Note: Starlink promotions are address-specific, change frequently, and can end without notice. Prices and deal availability reflect information gathered in September 2026. Always verify current offers at starlink.com with your exact service address before making any purchasing decision. This widget reads Starlink’s public pricing but is not affiliated with SpaceX or Starlink.