Starlink's current pricing structure

Starlink charges $120 per month for its standard residential service as of early 2024, plus a one-time hardware cost of $600 for the dish, router, and cables you need to set up. If you want faster speeds, Starlink offers a Priority tier at $200 per month, which guarantees better performance during peak hours but uses the same satellite network. Both plans include unlimited data — there is no monthly cap.

The hardware fee is the largest upfront cost. You can spread this across 12 months by paying $50 extra per month instead of $600 upfront, which brings your first-month total to $170 (or $250 for Priority). After the first year, your bill drops to the monthly service fee alone.

Starlink also sells optional add-ons: a backup battery ($139) that keeps your connection alive for about 12 hours during a power outage, and a second router ($50) if you want to extend coverage to a separate building. These are not required to use the service.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard Starlink costs $120 per month plus $600 for the dish and equipment, or $50 extra per month to spread the hardware cost over a year.
  • Priority service costs $200 per month with the same equipment fee, and guarantees faster speeds during busy times on the same satellite network.
  • Both plans include unlimited data with no monthly cap, unlike many cable and fiber providers.
  • A backup battery ($139) and extra router ($50) are optional and useful only if you need power backup or coverage in a second building.
  • Starlink's total first-year cost ranges from $1,440 to $2,400 depending on which plan and payment method you choose.

How Starlink's price compares to cable and fiber

Starlink's $120 monthly fee is higher than many cable providers in urban areas, where you might find plans starting at $50 to $80 per month. However, Starlink's main advantage is availability: it works in rural areas where cable and fiber do not reach. In those locations, your alternatives are often satellite internet from Viasat or HughesNet (which cost $50 to $150 per month but have data caps), or fixed wireless from Verizon or T-Mobile (which cost $50 to $80 per month but require line-of-sight to a tower).

If fiber is available at your address, fiber is usually cheaper than Starlink — many fiber providers charge $60 to $100 per month for gigabit speeds. But fiber is not available in most rural areas, which is why Starlink exists. The trade-off is that you pay more per month but gain service where nothing else works.

Starlink's unlimited data is a real difference. Viasat and HughesNet both cap data at 150 GB to 500 GB per month depending on the plan, and charge overage fees or slow your connection after you hit the limit. Starlink does not.

What affects your actual bill

Your monthly bill can change based on a few factors. If you move to a new service area, Starlink may charge a relocation fee (usually $50 to $100) and may change your monthly rate depending on demand in that region. Starlink's pricing varies slightly by location, so a plan that costs $120 in one state might cost $130 in another.

If you pause your service temporarily — for example, if you are away for several months — Starlink charges a pause fee of $25 per month instead of the full service fee. This is cheaper than canceling and restarting, which would require you to pay the hardware fee again.

Taxes and fees are added at checkout and vary by state and local jurisdiction. In most places, expect to add 5 to 10 percent to the advertised price.

Installation and hidden costs

Starlink installation is a do-it-yourself process: you unbox the dish, plug it in, and connect it to power and your router. There is no technician visit and no installation fee. This saves you $100 to $200 compared to cable or fiber, which typically charge for a technician to come to your home.

However, you may need to buy additional equipment if your setup is unusual. If your dish needs to be mounted on a roof or pole rather than sitting on the ground, you will need a mounting kit ($30 to $50). If your router is far from the dish, you may need a longer ethernet cable ($15 to $30). If you have trees or buildings blocking the southern sky (where Starlink's satellites are), you may need to hire someone to trim branches or relocate the dish, which is not Starlink's cost but yours.

Starlink does not charge for customer support, but support is chat-based only — there is no phone line. If you need hands-on help troubleshooting, you may need to hire a local technician, which is not a Starlink cost.

Starlink for businesses and temporary use

Starlink offers a Business tier at $500 per month, which provides priority access to the network and a service level agreement (a may provide that Starlink will fix problems within a certain timeframe). This is aimed at small businesses that depend on internet for daily operations, not home users.

For temporary use — such as a construction site, event, or RV — Starlink offers a Roaming plan at $150 per month, which lets you use your dish anywhere in North America without paying a relocation fee each time you move. The hardware cost is the same ($600), so roaming makes sense only if you plan to move frequently or use Starlink for less than a year.

Cancellation and contract terms

Starlink has no long-term contract. You can cancel at any time without a penalty, though you lose the hardware fee you paid upfront if you have not finished the 12-month payment plan. For example, if you paid $50 per month toward the $600 hardware cost and cancel after 6 months, you have paid $300 toward hardware and owe the remaining $300 if you want to keep the dish. If you return the dish, you forfeit what you paid.

Starlink will refund your final month's service fee if you cancel mid-month, prorated to the day you stop using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a data cap on Starlink?

No. Both standard and Priority plans include unlimited data with no monthly cap. Starlink does not slow your connection or charge overage fees after you reach a certain amount of data, unlike Viasat and HughesNet.

Do I have to pay the $600 hardware fee upfront?

No. You can pay $50 per month extra for 12 months instead, which spreads the cost across your first year of service. After 12 months, your bill drops to just the monthly service fee.

What is the difference between standard and Priority service?

Priority costs $80 more per month ($200 instead of $120) and guarantees faster speeds during peak hours when the network is busy. Both use the same satellite network and hardware. Standard service may slow down during evenings and weekends in congested areas, while Priority does not.

Can I pause my Starlink service if I am away?

Yes. You can pause service for $25 per month instead of paying the full $120 or $200. This is cheaper than canceling and restarting, which would require you to pay the hardware fee again.

Do I need to hire someone to install Starlink?

No. Installation is do-it-yourself — you unbox the dish, plug it in, and connect it to power. There is no technician fee. However, if your dish needs to be mounted on a roof or pole, you will need a mounting kit ($30 to $50), and if trees block the southern sky, you may need to hire someone to trim them or relocate the dish.