Starlink Internet Plans Explained

Starlink launched in late 2020, and the service has been expanding rapidly since. Right now, there are multiple types of internet plans available from Starlink.

In this guide, we will cover each Starlink service tier. We will detail the performance, cost, and target customer of each plan. Finally, we’ll recommend which Starlink plan you should purchase for your needs.

How many Starlink internet plans are there?

There are 6 product lines available from Starlink:

• Residential
• Roam
• Business
• Mobility
• Maritime
• Aviation

Each of these plans fall into one of four types of data on the Starlink network: Standard, Priority, Mobile, and Mobile Priority. These data types determine what priority your internet traffic gets on the network. Higher priority data will have faster speeds in times of network congestion.

See also: Guide To Starlink Data Types And Data Caps

With multiple plan options and data types, it might seem difficult to know which service plan is right for you. In the next section, we will detail each plan. You’ll get a better idea of the features and specifications, so you can know which plan fits your needs the best.

Starlink Residential

Starlink Residential is the original internet plan offered by Starlink. Residential is intended for the majority of customers globally. It is meant to be used at one permanent location, typically a home.

Residential uses Standard data. The Standard data type is capable of download speeds between 25-100 mbps, and upload speeds of 5-10 mbps. Latency is between 25-50 ms. Standard data is unlimited, there are no data caps.

The Residential plan costs $120/month, with a $599 equipment fee. There are no contracts, customers can cancel anytime.

Since the demand for Residential is so high, and the Starlink satellite constellation isn’t fully deployed yet, there is limited capacity at this time. In some areas, you’ll need to pre-order Residential and be put on the waitlist. As network capacity expands, Starlink allows those on the waitlist to order equipment and start using the Residential service.

Residential Best Effort

Starlink Best Effort is an internet plan for Starlink customers who are on the Residential waitlist. Right now, the offer for Best Effort service is only being extended to select customers who have pre-ordered Residential Starlink.

The idea is that those on the waitlist can get Best Effort and receive Starlink internet while they wait on their account to be converted to Residential service. Best Effort is basically what the name implies. You’ll get Starlink internet, but the performance will not be guaranteed, and you should expect it to be slow at times.

Best Effort is intended for the same customers as Residential. It’s for permanent home use.

Best Effort doesn’t use Standard data like Residential. Best Effort accesses the Starlink network with the Mobile data type. Download speeds with Mobile data range from 5-50 mbps, and with upload speeds of 2-10 mbps. Latency is a bit higher than Standard data, with a specification of less than 99 ms.

Like Residential, there are no data caps. Best Effort customers are deprioritized on the Starlink network. The traffic from Residential customers has priority, meaning Best Effort customers will experience slower speeds in times of network congestion.

Best Effort costs $120/month, with a $599 equipment fee. There are no contracts, and customers can pause and resume service as they please. When your account is eligible for Residential, it will be converted automatically, with no need to purchase additional hardware.

Learn more about Starlink Best Effort by clicking here.

Starlink Roam

Starlink Roam (formerly Starlink RV) is an internet plan for travelers. RV’ers, van dwellers, and overlanders are the intended customer market for Starlink Roam. This service tier allows you to take Starlink anywhere, and use it to stay connected in areas with active Starlink coverage.

The hardware you get with Roam is identical to the Residential hardware. The difference is the ability to use the dish outside of your registered service address. There is an option to upgrade to the Flat High Performance hardware.

With Roam, you get the Mobile data type. With Mobile, you will see download speeds of 5-50 mbps, and upload speeds of 2-10 mbps. Latency is 99 ms or lower. Roam users get unlimited Mobile data. Roam is similar to Best Effort, where bandwidth is deprioritized. Roam users will notice slower speeds compared to Residential users in times of network congestion.

Starlink Roam starts at $150/month for the Regional plan, with a $599 equipment fee. A Global plan is also available. Roam service can be paused and resumed at any time, and there are no contracts. Since Roam is intended to be used anywhere, there is no waitlist. Virtually anyone can order Roam and use it anywhere with coverage.

To learn more about Starlink Roam and the Mobile data type, click here.

Starlink Business

Starlink Business is the Starlink internet service plan aimed at commercial customers. If you plan to use Starlink for business, or other high-demand uses, you’ll want to go with Starlink Business.

Business uses different hardware than Residential. The antenna is larger for the more demanding workload requirements of commercial applications.

Starlink Business uses the Priority data type. Speeds for Priority are in the range of 40-220 mbps download, and 8-25 mbps upload. Latency is between 25-50 ms. Business plans come with a limited amount of Priority data, but unlimited Standard data after all Priority data is exhausted.

Business starts at $250/month for 1TB of Priority data. The High Performance hardware kit costs $2,500. There are no contracts with the Business plan.

To learn more about Starlink Business and Priority data, click here.

Starlink Mobility And Maritime

Starlink Maritime and Starlink Mobility are the two service plans aimed at high-demand, in-motion use. The targeted market for Maritime and Mobility is everything from cruise ships to remote rescue teams.

Maritime/Mobility uses special hardware, allowing for in-motion use, even at highway speeds or while at cruising speed on the ocean.

Maritime and Mobility use the Mobile Priority data type. Speeds range from 40-220 mbps download, and 8-25 mbps upload. Latency is a bit higher, with the spec being < 99 ms.

Choose between 50GB, 1TB, or 5TB of Mobile Priority data. After that, land users will have unlimited Mobile data. Ocean users will lose internet connectivity with the exception of Starlink.com, so they can purchase more Mobile Priority data.

Maritime starts at $250/month for the 50GB plan, with a $2,500 up-front equipment fee. There are no contracts.

To learn more about Maritime and Mobile Priority data, click here.

Starlink Aviation

Starlink Aviation is the Starlink service for business and private jets. Just like how Maritime is aimed at commercial and high-end applications, Aviation is aimed at the commercial market, not consumers.

Aviation uses the Aero Terminal, a special Starlink antenna designed specifically for each airplane model. Compatibility is limited, and you can find a full list of compatible models on Starlink.com.

Starlink Aviation service can deliver up to 350 mbps, with latency as low as 20 ms. Data is unlimited.

The cost is $12,000-$25,000/month, with a $150,000 equipment fee. There are no contracts.

To learn more about Starlink Aviation, click here.

Which Starlink internet plan should I choose?

You should pick Residential if:

• Your primary need is home internet
• You aren’t a business or organization
• You are ok with potentially being on the waitlist
• You don’t need to pause your Starlink service

If you are on the Residential waitlist and are offered Best Effort, pick it if:

• You are fine with deprioritized service while you wait for Residential
• You don’t have any other internet options to get you by
• You won’t need to use Best Effort to travel with
• You are ok with paying full price for degraded performance

You should order the Roam plan if:

• You primarily use Starlink while traveling
• You don’t need the highest level of performance
• You don’t intend on using it for home internet long term
• You want to be able to pause and resume service

You should order Business if:

• You are a business, organization, government, etc.
• You want the highest level of performance
• You don’t mind the high cost
• You want the highest priority bandwidth on the network

You should order Maritime/Mobility if:

• You have a high-demand, in-motion application
• You need internet beyond the coastal waters
• You don’t mind the high cost
• You want the highest priority data on the network

You should order Aviation if:

• You are a commercial aviation business
• You need global high speed internet coverage for your jets
• You can outsource the installation with the Starlink provided hardware
• Cost isn’t a barrier

See also: Starlink Roam vs Starlink Residential