Starlink rating
How we calculated our rating
- Decent speeds for a rural connection
- Low latency
- Unlimited data
- Mobile internet available
- High upfront costs
- Slower than cable or fiber internet
- Vulnerable to inclement weather
Starlink Internet review
In a short time, Starlink has become a household name, revolutionizing rural and on-the-go internet access. In many instances, satellite internet is often viewed as a "last-resort" option. However, it can be a lifeline for rural communities lacking 5G internet, cable internet or fiber-optic internet service.
Starlink, the only satellite internet provider to offer speeds up to 220Mbps, has raised the bar compared to its top satellite industry competitors. However, the service comes with a hefty price tag.
Expect to pay $120 monthly for the standard home internet service, plus $349, give or take a hundred bucks, for the equipment needed to get started. Starlink is also imposing a one-time $100 congestion charge in some areas. The monthly rate on mobile/roam service may be lower, but so are the expected speeds.
Locating local internet providers
Still, despite the sky-high costs, Starlink might be the best broadband option for many, particularly residents in rural areas.
Starlink Internet plans and pricing
| Starlink plan | Monthly price | Speed range | Equipment costs | Data allotment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $120 | 25-100Mbps download, 5-20Mbps uploads | $349 upfront | Standard unlimited |
| Priority | $140-$500 | 40-220Mbps downloads, 8-25Mbps uploads | $349-$699 upfront | 40GB-2TB, standard unlimited thereafter |
| Roam | $50-$165 | 5-50Mbps downloads, 5-25Mbps uploads | $349 or ($599 for the Starlink Mini) | Standard unlimited |
| Roam Priority | $250-$5,000 | 40-220Mbps downloads, 8-25Mbps uploads | $349-$1,499 | 50GB-5TB, standard unlimited thereafter |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Locating local internet providers
Starlink's plans are a bit confusing to navigate, but all you need to know is that they are divided into two categories: fixed site and mobile.
The Standard plan is listed as a "Residential" option, and the Priority plan is listed as a "Fixed Site" business internet plan, though you don't need to be a business owner to sign up. The Priority plan comes with an allotment of priority data, starting at 40GB for $140 monthly and capping at 2TB for $500 monthly.
The Roam/Mobile plans are for those on the go, such as campers, RVers, nomads, mobile businesses, or maritime explorers. The plans start with 50GB of priority data for $50 monthly, and there's a "Roam Unlimited" option without a data cap for $165 monthly. Starlink also advertises mobile plans for businesses, like its "Land Mobility" and "Maritime" plans, which start at $250 monthly with 50GB of priority data.
Although the equipment costs a hefty $1,499, you can choose between the Enterprise ($699) or Standard ($349) equipment instead.
I'd like to see a bit more speed for the price, or a lower price altogether, but Starlink definitely adds value in areas where other satellite services cannot, especially through its mobile plans and higher allotments for data.
Starlink leads with faster speeds than Hughesnet or Viasat (not to mention other popular rural internet options), with home internet speeds ranging from 25 to 220Mbps. Hughesnet and Viasat top out at around 100Mbps to 150Mbps in most areas.
Starlink additional fees, data caps and installation
Starlink continues to grow in popularity among rural internet customers, and it's clear why. Here's a closer look at this satellite internet provider's service terms.
Data caps
Starlink's plans feature "unlimited data," but you'll likely still be subjected to internet throttling during peak congestion hours. The Standard home internet plan includes unlimited data while the Priority plan comes with 40GB, 1TB or 2TB of "priority" data depending on the tier you choose. The Mobile Priority plan comes with a wider data cap, offering customers a range between 50GB and 5TB.
Priority data gives users network precedence over Standard users, potentially delivering faster speeds that are less vulnerable to network congestion. Once your priority data pool is exhausted, the service switches over to standard data. When that happens, bandwidth is prioritized the same as everyone else on the network at any given time.
As a result, you may experience slower speeds for the remainder of the billing cycle. Still, it's far less of a penalty than the substantial and intentional speed throttling Hughesnet and Viasat can enforce once customers surpass their monthly data allotment.
Congestion charge
In many areas around the country, Starlink now charges a one-time congestion fee of $100. Starlink says on its website, "Our intention is to no longer charge this fee to new customers as soon as network capacity improves." You can enter your email to be notified when the charge is removed.
Low latency for online gaming
Another advantage of Starlink is its low latency, advertised as 25 to 60 milliseconds, comparable to cable internet and other terrestrial connection types. Most customers should see latency low enough to support online gaming and avoid excessively lagging video calls.
Sometimes called "ping," latency measures the time it takes for information to travel to and from your internet provider. Geostationary satellites, like those employed by Hughesnet and Viasat, orbit some 22,000 miles above the Earth, resulting in the highest latency of any modern internet connection.
Starlink's low Earth orbit satellites zip around the planet at an altitude of around 350 miles -- 60 times closer to the Earth's surface than traditional satellites, per the company's claims -- so transferring information back and forth takes far less time.
High equipment fees but free installation
Hughesnet and Viasat allow you to skip the upfront fee and lease equipment for an additional $15 or so per month. No such option is available with Starlink: Customers purchase the equipment, and after 30 days, it's theirs to keep. The current cost of standard Starlink equipment is $349, currently lower than its previous offer of $599 -- at least for the time being.
Starlink may save you on installation costs, as no professional installation is required (or even available). Hughesnet and Viasat, on the other hand, require professional installation, which can add $100 or more to your upfront costs. Better still, equipment is apparently simple to set up, as seen in the video below.
On the go with the Starlink Mini dish
The rollout of the Starlink Mini leveled up Starlink's appeal to rural, traveling customers. The equipment costs $599, with a monthly subscription cost between $50 and $165. The equipment can fit in your backpack and includes a 30-day trial without a contract requirement; you can stop and start the service anytime. If you upgrade to the Roam Unlimited plan for $165 a month, you can get unlimited data and guaranteed in-motion use up to 100 mph to access the internet on-the-go from your vehicle.
Although the typical download speed averages 50Mbps download speed and 10Mbps upload speed, Elon Musk shared a speed test while using the Starlink Mini that displayed speeds up to 100Mbps, with a 23ms latency. This means you can get internet quality good enough to binge your favorite shows or games with your friends, whether on a boat in the middle of the ocean or hiking the Grand Canyon.
Starlink's simple self-installation
Professional installation isn't available with Starlink, but the self-install process seems fairly straightforward. Starlink offers several mounting options for rooftops, yards and the exterior of your home. There's even a Starlink app for Android and iOS that uses augmented reality to help customers pick the best location and position for their receivers.
In 2021, CNET's John Kim signed up for Starlink at his home in California and began testing it at various locations. At home, he averaged download speeds of around 78Mbps and latency of around 36ms. You can see more of his first impressions in the video included on this page.
Starlink coverage: Available almost anywhere in the US
According to Federal Communication Commission data from June 2024, Starlink is available to 99.7% of US households. That's the highest coverage percentage of any internet provider, including Hughesnet and Viasat.
There are a few cities, specifically Seattle, Portland, San Diego and Austin, where service is currently "sold out." Still, Starlink's coverage is impressive. I ran serviceability checks using addresses from California to Connecticut and down south in Alabama and rural Texas and received a response indicating that "Starlink is immediately available" every time.
Service isn't limited to just the US. According to the company, the list of countries currently served by the growing network of low-orbit satellites includes the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and others.
Starlink's fleet expansion continues at a rapid rate
Starlink has been busy. The total fleet now sits at roughly 6,000 functional satellites, but there's still a way to go. Starlink will likely need at least 10,000 satellites in orbit before it can claim to offer full service to most of the globe, and SpaceX has shown signs that it wants as many as 42,000 satellites in its constellation.
What does this mean for Starlink internet?
Ideally, Starlink's coverage and speeds will improve with every launch. Starlink's website says, "Starlink users typically experience download speeds between 25 and 220Mbps, with a majority of users experiencing speeds over 100Mbps." The internet speed-tracking site Ookla reported that Starlink offered average download speeds of nearly 67Mbps in the US during the first quarter of 2023. (Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as CNET.)
That's down significantly from the end of 2021 when Starlink had median download speeds of just over 100Mbps. The drop may be the result of growing subscriptions and increased network congestion. Hopefully, average speeds will jump back up to around 100Mbps or higher soon as groups of new satellites are added to the fleet.
How does Starlink compare?
Starlink isn't replacing your fiber, cable or even fixed wireless connections like Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet just yet, or possibly ever. That doesn't seem to be the intent behind the service. Starlink is best suited to provide a practical solution for broadband in underserved areas or for a mobile demographic, all areas where traditional wired or fixed wireless services are scarce or unavailable.
Such areas have previously had two internet options: Hughesnet or Viasat. Starlink has emerged as a third option, so how does it compare to its satellite internet rivals?
Hughesnet can be a bit cheaper per month than Starlink, with standard rates of $50 to $95 for maximum download speeds of 50 to 100Mbps. Viasat is also cheaper, with a standard rate of $100 to $150 per month for up to 150Mbps. So Starlink is a slightly more expensive option than both Hughesnet and Starlink despite the faster speed potential, unlimited data and lower latency.
Pricing can be a toss-up between all three satellite providers depending on the ISP or plan you choose and the route you go with the equipment. Starlink holds the advantage in basically every other category, including maximum speeds, latency, data allowances and contract requirements.
What's the final word on Starlink?
Starlink is an exciting and much-needed addition to rural internet's long-limited landscape. Although service is slower and more expensive than many other providers and connection types, the relatively high-speed potential, low latency, unlimited data and no contract requirements boost its value as a rural internet provider.
Starlink internet FAQ
Does bad weather affect Starlink?
Struggles with inclement weather are a definite downside to satellite internet. Per Starlink's FAQ, the receiver can melt snow that lands on it, but it can't do anything about surrounding snow build-up and other obstructions that might block its line of sight to the satellites.
"We recommend installing Starlink in a location that avoids snow build-up and other obstructions from blocking the field of view," the FAQ reads. "Heavy rain or wind can also affect your satellite internet connection, potentially leading to slower speeds or a rare outage."
Can you see Starlink satellites in the sky?
Concern about the proliferation of privately owned satellites in space and controversy in astronomical circles about the impact of low-orbiting satellites on the night sky is not uncommon. In 2019, shortly after Starlink's first broadband satellite deployment, the International Astronomical Union released a statement warning of unforeseen consequences for stargazing and the protection of nocturnal wildlife.
"We do not yet understand the impact of thousands of these visible satellites scattered across the night sky and despite their good intentions, these satellite constellations may threaten both," the statement reads. Since then, Starlink has begun testing various designs intended to reduce the brightness and visibility of its satellites.
At the start of 2020, the company tested a "DarkSat" satellite with a special nonreflective coating. Later, in June 2020, the company launched a "VisorSat" satellite that features a special sunshade visor. In August, Starlink launched another batch of satellites -- this time, they all were equipped with visors.
"We want to make sure we do the right thing to make sure little kids can look through their telescope," SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell said. "It's cool for them to see a Starlink. But they should be looking at Saturn, at the moon...and not want to be interrupted." "The Starlink teams have worked closely with leading astronomers around the world to better understand the specifics of their observations and engineering changes we can make to reduce satellite brightness," the company website reads.
Where can I learn more about Starlink?
We'll continue to cover Starlink's progress from various angles here on CNET, so stay tuned. You should also read Eric Mack's excellent work covering Starlink. Among other issues, he closely examines the project's goals and challenges and the implications for underserved internet consumers and astronomers concerned with light pollution obstructing views in the night sky. Beyond that, we expect to continue testing Starlink's network as it expands. When we know more about how the satellite service performs as an internet provider, we'll tell you all about it.
