Starlink is like the internet from space by Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX. It uses satellites close to Earth to provide internet access. Starlink has lots of data, really fast internet, and less waiting time than other satellite internet. You can use it at home or take it with you.
Compared to other internet from space like Viasat and HughesNet, Starlink gives more data and is faster. However, the equipment costs more in the beginning. Also, it is not everywhere yet, so some people wait a long time. You can see which satellite internet is in your area below.
Other Internet Plans
| Category | Starlink | HughesNet | Viasat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 4 out of 5 stars | 3.5 out of 5 stars | 4 out of 5 stars |
| Price | $90.00–$250.00/mo | $64.99–$149.99/mo | $69.99–$299.99/mo |
| Download Speed | 20-100Mbps | 25Mbps | 25-100Mbps |
| Data | 1TB/mo | 15-200GB/mo | 60-500GB/mo |
| Installation Fee | One-time fee $599.00–$2,500.00 | $99.00 | Free |
Starlink Internet Plans & Pricing
| Starlink Plans and Pricing | Starlink Standard | Starlink Priority | Starlink Roam | Starlink Mobility | Starlink Maritime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | $90.00–$120.00/mo. | $250.00–$1,500.00/mo. | $150.00–$200.00/mo. | $250.00–$5,000.00/mo. | $250.00/mo.–$5,000.00/mo. |
| Price* | 25–220Mbps | 40–220Mbps | 5–50Mbps | 220Mbps | 220Mbps |
| Speed | 25–50ms | 25–50ms | 25–50ms | 25–50ms | 100+ms |
| Latency | $599.00 | $2,500.00 | $599.00–$2,500.00 | $2,500.00 |
Types of Starlink Internet Services
Starlink has five types of internet services, but most people care about five of them. These are Starlink Standard (used to be Starlink Residential), Starlink Business (with three plans), Starlink RV (now Starlink Roam), Starlink Mobility, and Starlink Maritime (which is now part of Starlink Mobility). The download speeds for these plans go from 5 to 220Mbps, and it depends on your plan and where you are.
People mostly want Starlink Standard, especially if they want internet at home. The price for the standard plan changes based on where you live. If only a few people are using it at the same time (low-capacity), you pay $90 a month. If it is a busy Starlink area (high-capacity, which is most areas), you pay $120. You only find out when you sign up or when Starlink tells you it changed in your area.
In general, Starlink at home is a good internet plan, but it is not everywhere, and sometimes the network is not super reliable. This is especially true if lots of people are using it in your area or if there are Starlink Business or Starlink Mobility customers nearby because their data is more important than your home internet data.
| Starlink vs. Viasat and HughesNet | Satellite provider | Starlink | HughesNet | Viasat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $90.00–$250.00/mo. | $49.99–$174.99/mo.*** | $69.99–$299.9/mo.** | – |
| Speed | 50–500Mbps | 15–50Mbps | 12–100Mbps | – |
| Data cap | Unlimited | 15–200GB | 12–500GB | – |
| Equipment and Installation | $599.00–$2,500.00 one-time equipment fee; self-installation | $14.99/mo. equipment lease; Free professional install | $9.99/mo. equipment lease; Free professional install |
Starlink vs. Viasat Comparison
Starlink and Viasat are pretty similar in speed, but Viasat gives you less data, and its coverage map is bigger than Starlink’s. Both are good for speed and data, but we lean towards Viasat because it is more likely that you can get it.
Also, Viasat just sent out its new Viasat-3 satellite, which can hold much data. This might mean faster speeds or more data soon. Meanwhile, Starlink has been having some trouble keeping its network working well.
Unlike Starlink and Viasat, HughesNet does not have the same fast speed, but that is okay because it is not aiming for that. HughesNet is the budget option, providing decent internet speed for simple use at a lower cost than the others. If you just need the internet for checking emails and sometimes video calling your family, HughesNet is a good fit for you.
Important Links
How can you get Starlink
To get Starlink internet, go to the Starlink website and order it. If Starlink covers your area and has enough internet space, they will send you the Starlink Kit in about 2 weeks.
To see if Starlink is available where you live, visit our Starlink beta sign-up page. We will guide you through the waitlist and check the area availability.
If Starlink isn’t in your area yet, you can still order it and join the waitlist. Pay a deposit of $99 to $500, depending on the type of service you want standard Starlink, Starlink RV internet (now called Starlink Roam), or Starlink Business. The quickest way to find out when you can get Starlink is to enter your address on the Starlink website.
People May Also Ask
What are Starlink 2023 Speeds
Starlink in Switzerland had one of the quickest download speeds among countries in Q2 2023 at 122.47 Mbps. Other fast countries include Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, France, Ireland, Estonia, and Portugal.
How Fast is Starlink
Starlink usually gives download speeds from 25 to 220 Mbps, and most users have speeds over 100 Mbps. Upload speeds are typically between 5 and 20 Mbps.
Starlink vs. 5G Speed
In perfect conditions, Starlink download speeds go from 50 to 250 Mbps. Comparatively, 5G can provide average download speeds between 50 Mbps and 2 Gbps, depending on available spectrum layers.
Starlink vs. Fiber Speed
Speed tests show Starlink’s median upload speed is about 14 Mbps, while fiber often goes faster, reaching 20 Mbps or more based on your connection speed. The most significant difference between them is their latency.
Is Starlink Unlimited
Because Starlink’s satellites are close to Earth, they can offer fast speeds, low latency, and unlimited data. While there are no data caps, some technical limits might affect your Starlink satellite internet experience.
