Starlink has completely changed broadband internet access for rural and underserved areas around the globe. If you are considering Starlink as your internet service provider, it helps to know the pros and cons of the service in 2024, so you can make an informed decision.
In this article, I’m going to cover the biggest disadvantages of Starlink. I will also go over the highlights of the service, so you get the complete picture. The pros and cons listed here are just my own subjective opinion. The goal isn’t to change your mind on anything, just to provide all the information I can to help you in your own decision about Starlink.
Table of Contents
Starlink Cons
Let’s start with the disadvantages. There are real issues reported by my readers, by users of online Starlink communities, and problems I’ve personally experienced.
Customer Service
By far, the biggest disadvantage of Starlink is customer service and communication. I get a lot of emails and comments from my readers on the subject of customer service. Most people are simply wondering, “How do I contact Starlink?” It should be a simple process, as it is with any other business, but Starlink makes it complicated.
Whether it’s a question about sales, availability, technical specs, etc., the unfortunate fact is that Starlink doesn’t provide any kind of public communication method. You can’t call them, email them, or even send a message on their website unless you are an active subscriber.
Even when you do buy the service, official communication only happens through an online support ticket system. Everything, from simple billing questions to tech support, happens online through your account portal. Customers have complained about slow response times to these tickets. In some cases, customers wait multiple weeks for a response from Starlink, even for a major issue like service being down.
High Costs
Starlink is more expensive than most kinds of internet. For the Residential plan, you will pay $120/month, with an up-front equipment cost of $599. Starlink isn’t much more expensive than other satellite internet services, but it is much more expensive than fiber, cable, 5G, etc.
$599 is a lot of money to pay up-front. Starlink doesn’t offer any kind of payment plan or installments. To order, you must be able to afford the high up front cost. Starlink has introduced equipment rental options in some markets, but not the US.
Other than the outright price, you also have to think about periodic increases. Starlink has increased their prices 2 times since launching the service. That means that, over about a 3 year time period since launching, the price of the service has gone up about 20%. It’s likely prices will change again regularly in the future.
Slow Speeds and Network Congestion
Another disadvantage is the network congestion issues and slow speeds that Starlink customers can experience during peak hours. Congestion is especially a problem in areas where there are a lot of Starlink users, such as the eastern US. During peak hours, from 5pm-11pm, users may see drastically slower speeds as the bandwidth supply is quickly used up by all the Starlink users.
In response to the issue, Starlink has started publishing average speed data for the public to see. You can now check the Starlink speed map before ordering, to see what kind of real world performance that real users are getting in your area.
Complicated DIY Installation
When you order Starlink, you are 100% responsible for proper installation. Starlink does sell mounting accessories, but unless you can find an independent satellite installer, it’s a DIY job. If you are even somewhat handy, most installations won’t be difficult. But for the average person, mounting a satellite dish to a roof is a complicated endeavor.
The tricky part about Starlink is that it needs a very wide, clear view of the sky. Trees and other obstructions can cause performance issues. Starlink has an obstruction checker tool in their app to help, but every customer will need to verify that potential installation locations are free from obstructions for optimal performance.
Weather Sensitivity and Reliability
Starlink is satellite internet, and as a result, it can be affected by weather. Heavy rain, snow, and ice can knock out your signal for minutes at a time. In the heaviest downpours or snow, you could lose internet for hours. In 2024, where more and more people are working from home, that can be a big disadvantage.
Besides weather outages, sometimes the Starlink network has issues that result in downtime. These outages aren’t common, but do happen periodically. Satellite internet in general, not just Starlink, won’t be as reliable as fiber, cable, or other terrestrial broadband options.
Being an Early Adopter
The last big Starlink con on my list is the penalty that comes with being an early adopter to new technology. This one is sort of a broad disadvantage that takes into consideration most of the previous points that I’ve made on this list.
People who signed up for Starlink in the earliest months experienced a lot of network reliability issues, instability, and performance fluctuations. Even years later in 2024, the service is relatively new. Changes are still being made to the specifications and policies.
One good example is the implementation, and then quick removal, of the 1TB soft data cap for Starlink Residential customers. As Starlink continues to grow, expect more changes to the service, whether it is to policies or performance.
Starlink Pros
Starlink isn’t all about the disadvantages. There are a lot of good things about the service too. Here are some highlights.
Global Coverage
By far, the biggest advantage to Starlink is the global coverage. With Starlink’s range of service plans, you can select from fixed Residential service, to Global Roam, that allows you to use your dish virtually anywhere on Earth.
No other ISP in the world can match Starlink’s availability and coverage. Coverage even extends to the open oceans with Starlink’s Maritime service, and even thousands of feet in the air with their Aviation service.
High Speed, Low Latency Satellite Internet
Traditionally, satellite internet has been known for slow speeds and high latency. Before Starlink, activities like online gaming and video calling was impossible with other satellite ISP’s like Viasat. But in 2024, Starlink is one of the few low earth orbit satellite ISP’s to offer speeds faster than 200 mbps, with latency under 50 ms.
With Starlink, customers can game online, join video calls, work remotely, and stream their favorite TV shows and movies. It’s internet without compromises, which hasn’t been the case with satellite internet previously.
Many Hardware And Service Options
Another pro of Starlink is the wide range of hardware and service options available. Starlink has a service plan to fit almost any use case. If you need home internet, you can select the Residential service. If you are a business, the Priority service plan offers better performance. People that need portable service can purchase Roam.
There are also multiple hardware options to choose from. The entry-level Standard hardware kit is suitable for home internet or for portable applications. Power users and businesses can upgrade to the High Performance kit. Need to use Starlink in-motion on your RV or vehicle? The Flat High Performance dish can be selected to offer that capability.
Modern, App Based Account Management
Starlink is a modern technology company, so it is no surprise that another advantage is their iPhone/Android app, and completely digital account management. Customers manage their subscription, pay their bill, and order accessories completely online.
This pro might be controversial, as some people will view it as a con. But in my own opinion, I appreciate that I can do everything online or through the app, without having to pick up the phone.
Conclusion
Although I’ve outlined several big disadvantages of Starlink, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Starlink is providing high speed, low latency internet to areas of the world that previously didn’t have it. Even with the current issues, most customers are grateful to have more competition available.
The disadvantages won’t offset the advantages for most potential customers. If you are considering Starlink, take a look at your current internet options, and prioritize the factors above. I believe it’s important to have all the information, both pros and cons, in order to make the best decision as a consumer.
Do you have any criticisms or good things that you would add to the list? Let me know in the comment section below!
Is there any way a Starlink system can be made Secure. Right now mine is an Unsecured Network but I would really like to have a secured network.
Yes, open the app, and click on the message that says something about finishing the router setup. If you can’t see that message, go to Settings, then Network, to set a password and secure the network.
I need the portability option, but only for 5 months of the year to use out at our lake lot. Can I switch back to $140/month in the off season?
It depends on capacity in the area. In high capacity areas (no waitlist for Residential) you can switch back and forth from the Roam plan. But if your address is in a low capacity area for Residential, you won’t be able to switch back from Roam.
You can check capacity/availability at Starlink.com/map
Do I have to use their router? Can I connect the Starlink satellite to my Orbi router and mesh system? Maybe I have to connect Starlink’s router ethernet out to my Orbi? Thank you for your time.
Tony
You can use your own router and bypass the Starlink router. I have a guide here:
https://www.starlinkhardware.com/how-to-bypass-the-starlink-router/
Thank you Noah. I appreciate your help.
Well you don’t know what you are talking about.
This article is full of half truths and outright falsehoods. Network Congestion is getting better by the week. You make no mention of how they are launching ~50 new satellites every 4 days so far in 2023. There will literally be thousands more satellites by the end of this year. You make no mention of the new satellite’s enhanced communications abilities either. Nor do you mention the changes made by Starlink to the transmit/receive rates of current dishes installed to improve speeds/reliability. The data cap thing is a myth now. They just slow you down to best effort speeds, which are still FAR better than typical DSL speeds. Unless you’re downloading, you’re very unlikely to notice the “slow down”. It’s technically not a slow down either. They simply place your traffic at a lower QoS than other service tiers. It’s not rocket science. Anyone in the US CAN get Starlink. Yes, anyone. Order the Roam (formerly RV) service. Boom. It’s that easy. Then, you can upgrade your service plan to Business., like so many others have done. UPgrading service plans does NOT increase your speeds per say. It mainly places your traffic at a higher QoS so that your traffic has the highest priority on the Starlink network. Latency improved from ~80ms to Google to ~ 25 by simply upgrading my service plan. Yes – it was that big of a difference. For those that live in rural areas like us, paying $250/month for a reliable and stable 120Mbps/20Mbps connection is no big deal since the local teleco won’t even lift a finger to run fiber out this way. I can play Call of Duty online reliably AND competitively with Starlink.
Starlink has improved considerably in just the last 6 months. Speeds, service, availability, etc. We have only had one major service outage and that was only for about 45 min due to an issue on SL’s end. Other than that, it has been rock solid. Zero issues. We can stream on multiple devices , play online, and work from home simultaneously with zero issues.
You really should be more forthcoming instead of bashing Starlink.
Starlink Customer Service is the worst Customer Service I have ever encountered. I have not been able to use it when I need it due to programming problems. They do not care, I am sorry I ever got involved with this product. Do not purchase it is not worth the problems!!!
Installation is simple and easy. My brother lives in a small village in Ontario, Canada, and was getting worse than 2Mbps from the local internet 5G cell provider. He mounted Starlink to his roof in an hour. He now gets around 60Mbps average, but it ranges from 20Mbps to 200Mpbs. He loves it, and its half the price of the bad 5G service he had.
While it’s true you can sign up for STARLINK’s RV service and get a kit shipped to you quickly, I would advise you not to do this. Our Son gifted us with this option and it is totally impossilbe to stream TV in prime time using it since they slow you down to less than dial-up speeds between 5 and 11 PM.
Good article. Wish I’d read it earlier. An error at Starlink’s end has meant I was charged 4 times for the dish. Starlink just don’t do support. I have tried contacting them in every way I can think – ticket, email, facebook, phone. No response. Received the dish today. Works fine. Why would you ruin your business’s reputation by ignoring people if your products are really that good? I’m gobsmacked how badly Starlink is run and wonder if it will survive as a business.
I can only get signal a few meters from the router… 1 room away it is very weak and it’s a wooden house with no concrete or other obstructions. Am I doing something wrong?
Could be your device or a bad router. It should definitely have a good signal one room away.
Our WiFi from Starlink is incredibly weak. Can’t get signal just 38 feet away with no walls or obstructions in the way.
If you purchase a separate router, which you can find almost anywhere (Walmart, etc.) you can get an inexpensive one that will do better than that. You can probably just hook right into the Starlink router and use your own for Wi-Fi instead. Make sure you secure both with a password which will keep others from using your service and slowing you down, as well. Problem solved?
The installation is super duper easy. You just sit it on the roof and wrap with a bungee cord. Unless you live in an area that gets crazy high winds or something, that’s all the more attachment you need.
Just installed StarLink. Super fast download speed — consistently above 70mb, but quality of live soccer matches, streaming movies, etc. is worse than with standard wi-fi router. Big question no one can answer is “Why?”. TV is 2021 Sony Bravia, all software updated.
I’m not sure what you mean by standard wifi router. Do you mean a different kind of internet like cable or fiber?
The why could be many things. The first thing that comes to mind for me is the signal strength of the TV on the Starlink wifi network. If your Starlink router is 70 feet away, for example, your speeds will be significantly slower. You can move the router closer, add mesh nodes, or hardware the TV to fix this issue. The other thing is the possibility of obstructions. What does your Starlink app obstruction map look like? Do you see a lot of 2+ second outages in the Statistics section of the app?
My 20 year old son ordered the Starlink Hardware. He has decided not to keep it and it was clear on the Starlink website that he could return it if it was unopened. He has tried for 3 weeks to get the mailing labels from Starlink with no luck. The 30 day clock to return the hardware is ticking. He has submitted a ticket to Starlink with no response. Help! How does my son return the unopened box back to Starlink?
Cheryl
On Starlink.com there is an account portal to log in, cancel service, and return the kit. This self service system should have generated the return label. If not, he will need to wait on Starlink to respond to the ticket.
Streaming via Roku some programs require a service provider. I don’t see Starlink listed as a provider. Will that change at some point?
What programs? Are you sure they aren’t asking for something like DirecTV or cable company credentials? A lot of live TV streaming apps will require a cable/satellite TV provider in order to access cable networks and live TV. Starlink isn’t a satellite TV or cable TV provider, and never will be, so they won’t get you access to those same channels.
Just purchased Starlink. Waiting for equipment. Will I still need my DirectTV if I have a “smart” TV
No, but you’ll need to find a streaming service that gives you all the channels you want from DirecTV. YouTubeTV is one of the popular live TV services.
If you buy the equipment and the internet doesn’t work for you. Can you get a refund for it
Yes, you have 30 days to request a full refund. After that, they will issue a partial refund based on how long it’s been since your order was delivered.
We have been trying to request a refund for 3 weeks with no response from Starlink. They have not sent us the mailing labels after 3 weeks requesting them. The button to request the mailing labels is not appearing on our screen. How can we contact Starlink with this problem?
The support ticket system is the only way to contact Starlink:
https://www.starlinkhardware.com/how-to-contact-starlink-customer-support/
Hello everyone, I’ve been trying to order Starlink from Portugal and the Credit card is declined no matter what Card I use. I did call every Credit Card company with no reported problems; I know this is not a new problem anybody knows a way around it? Thank You
(Also, I use Credit Card from Portugal, USA and the same problem,I did ask a friend from the US to order for me with his credit card and his name to a diferent address in Portugal and the card was declined also)Honesty I run out of ideas.Thx for your time.
OMG. Starlink was a game changer for those of us in the country with only two other options, ATT DSL at 3mbps or Hughesnet which (i am told) is despicable and slow.
BUT . . . Now we are going to be paying $120 per month because we are in a “limited capacity” area. I can not believe they are going to change my price to $120 per month because we have no other competition. Yet, those in the “excess capapcity” areas will have their bill reduced by $20, to $90 per month. I have contacted our AG’s office, since SpaceX received government subsidies and loans to help those of us who have no other options.
And, we have had nothing but issues with our service. We had our dish replaced a few months after we initially installed because it went “belly up”. We have asked for the new “rectangular” dish and we are not eligible because the beta version is still active. WTH? Now with the new app design, we are unable to get our Starlink to feed the 2.4ghz to our cameras and lights in the back of our home. To top it off we are a week and a half waiting for tech support to remote in and fix this since we are out of state right now.
What about satellite delay? In a live VOIP call does the delay cause problems like the early SatPhones? As a user of early SatPhones I was firmly aware of the delay. I caused conversational problems which are obvious.
Starlink uses satellites in low earth orbit, which means the time delay (latency) is very low just like traditional internet services. The latency with Starlink is between 25-50ms. Not enough to cause any noticeable issues during calls or video streams.
I have had and loved Starlink for about 8 months. A week ago internet failed and I have been unable to get it back. No response from email to company. My computer tells me I have a signal of varying strength (as always), but no internet. Today I reluctantly re-activated my despised Hughesnet account to get some internet, but want to get reconnected through Starlink. I can’t find any sort of support from Starlink. Suggestions please
I’d try factory reboot. I had a similar problem and I did factory reboot no issues afterwards. If I remember correctly you unplug and replug in the router like 5 or 6 time fast.
Then plug it back in then wait for it to reboot then set it up again. Worked for me contacting customer service was a waste of time every time I contacted them.
Have you created a support ticket with Starlink? You said you emailed them, but they don’t really have an email to send to. You have to create a support ticket to get your issue resolved:
https://www.starlinkhardware.com/how-to-contact-starlink-customer-support/
Can I use an existing sat dish for starlink?. Currently mine is used for Foxtel.
No, the technology for a standard satellite dish and a Starlink dish is completely different.
Hi, I live in Murcia region in Spain in the mountains. Set up Starlink a few days ago and get brilliant reception (230 Mbps at the router and strong signals throughout the house even with half meter thick walls…OK, not 230, but good enough for most Wi-Fi stuff). My question is about IPTV. Because Starlink has a dynamic IP address for residential use, my IPTV system can’t find it through the auto DHCP. Can I operate IPTV through a VPN (read your article about VPN with Starlink) or is there some other way I can use my Starlink to feed my IPTV?
Trying it with a VPN is about the only way I know to fix this issue.
Thanks Noah!
What sort of upload speeds are you getting. We are in the Catalan Pyrenees.
Living in SW Virginia mountains w terrible cell service, tried several IPs w awful service and very $$, Starlink was and still is a game changer at our house. Now everyone in the house (plus a bunch of teenage guests)can be online, streaming, gaming, etc. w fast uninterrupted service. We LOVE it!! Have not in 2 years needed customer service and have had no problems, maybe an hour down during a snowstorm, but we can easily live with that.
Agreed 💯💯
Considering Starlink. We do not have a physical address. Equipment will be shipped to a P.O. Box at rural post office 25 miles from where Starlink will be used. Map shows availability but when registering I get a notice that service can not be guaranteed away from this address. Already frustrated with lack of customer support.
Use Google plus codes in place of the address for your service address. Alternatively, on the Starlink.com website, start typing in an address, then select “Set location on map” and pinpoint your exact location that way. Shipping address can be different from the service address.
I just got starlink limited version in my area and I LOVE IT. I had Hughes net and Viasat I had every version of satellite internet possible all were trash slow plus Data caps. I’d normally get 2 days of Netflix or any streaming service 4 or 5 hours total and Done. Then limited data and SLOW… Plus horrible customer service.
I found the setup of starlink to be pretty simple I love the app I’m totally stoked with the limited version I can’t wait until full version it’s awesome no issues ,no buffering movies, no you can’t download or upload anything like others its great. Full version of starlink will be mid 2023 in my area I’m told.
As far as price it’s not a lot more than the others top plans with 100 times better product. Yes the initial output of $599 is high but IMOP definitely worth every penny
My only complaint on starlink is customer service is horrible just an email service back and forth takes forever and not very helpful.. that said I gave starlink 20 star’s
Agreed, it’s a game changer compared to other satellite internet options. The only real downside is the support, which hopefully improves over time!
Agreed 💯💯
In 2 years we have not needed customer service- that’s pretty great these days….
Are you in Idaho? We are in Emmett and looking to replace Hughes.
No I’m in Florida
But I can say if you have Hughes net and can replace it with starlink Id say 100% without a doubt do it go to starlink if you can you won’t be disappointed
Been there/done that too, yes Starlink is AWESOME
Hi! Great article. I was wondering about the RV starlink for sailboats. We are planning to sail through three different continents. North America (the Caribbean and Panama), Oceania and Australia. What happens after you have used the starlink for 2 months outside your own country of purchase within the same continent? Will it still work? Does it come with any fees? And what happens when you need to change continent? Is that even possible? Is there coverage on the pacific islands? The coverage map on the official web page for starlink is somewhat confusing because of the colours. Thank you in advance.
I’m not sure. the Terms of Service say that Starlink may force you to buy another unit to use in the new continent. It doesn’t say exactly what the procedure is. Use this RV specific map: https://www.starlink.com/map?source=rv
Anywhere in blue is covered. Gray is not covered.
Long story short – home I am buying was supposed to have fiber but doesn’t. Starlink seems to be only option. I work from home, 100% reliant on internet and heavy user. I’m debating backing out of closing and losing earnest money because I’m very uncertain about satellite internet.
Is this extreme? It just seems like such an unknown to be on satellite. Starlink seems fairly well reviewed but all of the disadvantages you list are top of mind for me. The Starlink website gives almost bare bones information and asks for a $600 payment. It says there is availability at my address and the area has zero trees so seems like it might work.
Is considering satellite internet as a 100% remote worker crazy?!
It depends on what kind of remote work you are doing. If you need to be on video conferences most of the day, you might notice more of the small dropouts and performance fluctuations than someone who is doing design work and sending several emails per day. Overall, I would say Starlink is good enough for remote work, but it still is satellite internet with all the inherent problems that come with it. For example, weather. Expect intermittent service during heavy rain and snow, for example. If reliability is a top concern for constantly staying connected, a backup internet source would be recommended. This could be your cell phone hotspot, a DSL line, etc. Lot’s of people do remote work on Starlink because they don’t have any better options, but it will depend on your specific needs for reliability. Fiber is obviously better, but if you don’t have access to it, Starlink would be a good alternative.
There is no comparison to me, Starlink provides better, faster service than any other satellite provider and its not expensive compared to competitors. Hughes Net offers 25 gb for about 75 a month with a 100gb data cap. Viasat is worse. I had to use att cellular service for 2 years and it was horrible. Starlink has been a godsend to people like me.
100% agree
RE: Multiple Locations: A previous question about using Starlink in 2 countries with one system. It was answered that it must be used in the “same” continent. So if I live in the USA, travel in Canada and winter in Mexico I am in the same continent. Can I use 1 system and bring it back and forth ?
Yes, the RV plan and also the Residential plan with Portability added has the ability to travel around and be used within the same continent.
how can i use starlink for my office where i have multiple users?
It depends on if you just need Wifi, or Ethernet connections. For Wifi it would be pretty simple, just set it up and everyone connects. Expand with mesh nodes if you need more coverage. For Ethernet, you would need the Ethernet Adapter from Starlink, a switch, etc. Your office might already have the network hardware to plug Starlink into.
Mesh extenders/Mesh networks also have anywhere from 1-4 ethernet ports that can be used for ethernet devices. Don’t know how well that would work, but I use mesh extenders for camera’s and a couple TV’s connected to my main wifi router over 5g and they work great locally and remotely.
True! The Starlink mesh nodes are compatible with the Starlink Ethernet Adapter, so you could gain an Ethernet port for non-Wifi devices if needed.
I have a Starlink node and Ethernet adapter.
It works great it has a Ethernet net port to hardwire stuff
I got my Roku hard wired to the node with an adapter works great.
My Neighbor in our rural area said it’s excellent and Hughes is really slow I know this first hand and Starlink is 40.00 more but most likely I’ll get it
I love it… Couldn’t be happier
I live for 6 months of the year in Northern Alaska where internet is difficult. I want to get Starlink as it serves this community. However, I spend the other 6 months of the year on a fairly remote island in Tonga who I believe is also serviced by Starlink. My question is, will the equipment I initially purchase be portable where I can take it back and forth? Or, will I have to buy two systems, one for each location?
You would need two systems for locations that far apart. RV can only be used within the same continent. Residential with Portability can only stay at a secondary location for up to 2 months at a time.
My Starlink reoriented itself and now my speeds are slower!! Why would it do that?
You can unplug the router for a few minutes, and then plug it back in to reboot it. See if that helps. If it doesn’t, I recommend contacting Starlink so they can remote in and make sure everything is good.
I will try that. But why would it change direction? It was facing north and now it is more WNW.
Starlink might be testing different alignments in certain areas. There are sats all over the sky, they could be trying to level out performance for a large region by distributing the load more evenly.
My neighbor likes it and it has increased speed dramatically and the moving of the satellite is to face best reception and she gets snow and has said the satellite has sensors for temperature and works in the snow and Hughes satellite goes out and I can second that because I have Hughes ……slow and is interrupted a lot
Noah Clarke’s article on SL’s disadvantages provides an excellent head’s up to potential subscribers. The identified issues are explained without jargon and delivered in a matter of fact tone. There is a nod to its popularity and why rural customers like myself are seeking a service provider outside the limited scope currently available. Two thumbs up to Noah.