Starlink Roam vs Residential: Costs, Speeds and Who Should Choose Each Plan
Whether Starlink Roam or Starlink Residential is right for you will depend on your traveling habits, equipment needs and budget.
- Starlink Roam is an extension of Starlink’s Personal division of plans that allows you to take consistent satellite internet on the road with you.
- While you can use the same equipment from a Residential plan for Starlink Roam, you will need to purchase more equipment that costs thousands of dollars to use the internet while driving.
- Starlink Roam is best for people who are living and working from the road.
Few internet providers have generated as much excitement as Starlink in recent years. That’s because Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology is reaching more areas than ever to provide high-quality internet access where other providers struggle. With this access, Starlink features two main plans: Starlink Roam and Starlink Residential. Choosing between these two plans can be challenging, especially when you are considering your budget, speed necessities and flexibility. To help you choose, we are breaking down what you need to know before choosing the right Starlink plan for you.
Overview of Starlink Roam
- What Is Starlink Roam?
- Why Would Starlink Roam Be Right for Me?
- How Much Does Starlink Roam Cost?
- How Does Starlink Roam Differ From Other Starlink Plans?
- What Are the Differences Between Starlink Roam and Starlink Residential?
- Should You Switch to Starlink Roam?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Starlink Roam
What Is Starlink Roam?
Starlink Roam is a fresh generation of the company’s LEO satellite technology that expands the options for internet access worldwide. It is under the larger umbrella of Starlink’s Personal division, whose other subcategories are Residential and Boat internet access.
Roaming Speeds: Depending on where you are, you may experience slower speeds with Starlink Roam than Starlink Residential, as speeds are specific to your geographic location. You’re more likely to experience the lower end of that spectrum in connectivity dead zones and extremely rural areas. Even so, that range is plenty to perform most everyday online activities that you already do at home.
Starlink Roam offers immense flexibility compared to Starlink Residential. You can upgrade your service immediately, pack up your equipment and watch Netflix in a tent under the stars the same night. You also have the flexibility to cancel your Starlink Roam subscription at any time. For example, if you’re traveling around in an RV over the summertime, you can pay between $50 and $165 per month for Starlink Roam and take internet access wherever you go.
Why Would Starlink Roam Be Right for Me?
Starlink Roam is an excellent option for individuals who live, work or spend significant time off the beaten path in places with little internet access. It’s especially applicable if you fit into one of the following categories:
- You live in an RV. If you primarily live in an RV throughout the year and move with the seasons, Starlink Roam guarantees that you will always have quality internet access, independent of what the newest RV park offers.
- You plan seasonal trips on the road. Starlink Roam is ideal if you have a flexible schedule and want to turn on and off your internet service. For example, if you live an RV lifestyle only a couple of months out of the year but return to a home base, your Starlink service can be paused accordingly when your trip ends. The start-up costs can be pricey, but that flexibility may be worth it.
- You drive internationally and work. Starlink Roam offers both Mobile Regional and Global plans, which cover either an entire continent or any country, respectively. Let’s say that you want to drive to Baja, California, for a few months out of the year. The $165 per month Starlink Roam Mobile Regional plan can give you peace of mind that you already have an internet plan and don’t need to set up a temporary solution for a continental trip. If you want to drive further south to Panama and beyond, the $400 per month Mobile Global plan has you covered.
- You work in an extremely rural area that requires internet access. Many parts of the country are simply internet and cell service deserts, but people like emergency responders and police officers still need to communicate. Starlink Roam may be a steep investment for a larger team, but it can solve this internet connectivity problem on the go.
How Much Does Starlink Roam Cost?
There are three tiers to Starlink Roam service: Roam 10 GB, Roam 50 GB, and Roam Unlimited (Mobility). Whether you have the Roam 10 GB or Roam 50 GB plan will depend on your location, while Roam Unlimited is the highest tier available. Starlink also offers a Priority level plan that you can tap into with either Roam or Residential.
| Details | Roam 10 GB, Roam 50 GB or Pause plans | Roam Unlimited (Mobility) | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $50 per month | $165 per month | $250 per month |
| Speeds | 45-230 Mbps | 45-230 Mbps | 100-280 Mbps |
| Location | International | International | International |
| Ideal customer | In-continent travelers and campers | International travelers spanning continents | High-usage customers anywhere |
| Stipulations | Deprioritized during peak congestion hours; may experience throttling | Must change origin country if spending 2+ months in a foreign country | Required service tier for internet while driving |
One place where you will have to shell out some extra dough is for the equipment. Starlink Roam subscriptions primarily function with the same Standard equipment as Starlink Residential plans, costing $349. This Standard equipment guarantees stationary internet access at a campsite with equipment like an antenna, base, router, Starlink cable and AC cable.
However, if you want internet access while driving, Starlink recommends upgrading to the Performance (Gen 3) Kit, which comes with additional cables and an independent power supply for $1,999. Featuring a sturdier design than the regular Starlink equipment, the Performance Kit comes equipped with advanced GPS capabilities that allow it to stay consistently connected while you’re on the move.
Not So Fast: While Starlink Roam doesn’t exactly throttle service, your service during the peak usage hours of 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. may be slowed to accommodate other customers who pay the premium for a Mobile Priority plan.
How Does Starlink Roam Differ From Other Starlink Plans?
Starlink offers both Personal and Business internet solutions. Personal Starlink services include subscriptions for Residential and Roam customers. The Business side includes Fixed Site, Land Mobility, Maritime, Aviation and Direct to Cell service for enterprise customers. Each Business category comes with its own plans, specifications and stipulations. The Personal wing of Starlink includes the following distinctions between service types (for non-priority plans):
| Details | Residential | Roam | Boats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $80-$120 per month | $50-$165 per month | $250-$2,150 per month |
| Equipment fee | $349 | $349 | $2,500 |
| Speeds | 45-230 Mbps | 45-230 Mbps | 100-280 Mbps |
| Recommended equipment | Standard | Standard or Performance | Performance |
| Ideal customers | Rural households without a quality internet connection | Digital nomads, travelers, and the RV community | Regular recreational or professional sailors |
Additionally, Starlink offers a different type of internet plan: Starlink Residential. The main difference between Roam and Residential is where the internet connection will be hosted. In contrast to Roam, where the connection is more mobile and therefore suited for those on the go, the Residential network is established at a fixed location, making it ideal for households.
What Are the Differences Between Starlink Roam and Starlink Residential?
Of course, if you aren’t going anywhere with your Starlink service, you probably want to go with Starlink Residential. However, before you lock yourself into that decision, consider these differences between the two services on paper:
| Feature | Starlink Roam | Starlink Residential |
|---|---|---|
| Service plans |
|
|
| Starting price | $50 per month | $80 per month |
| Max download speeds | 230 Mbps | 230 Mbps |
| Max upload speeds | 20 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Data cap | 50 GB soft cap or Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Weather resistance | Yes | Yes |
| Portability | Dynamic Location | Fixed Location |
| Use Case | RVs, digital nomads, traveling workers | Households |
| Pausing Service | Yes | N/A |
Should You Switch to Starlink Roam?
Switching to Starlink Roam largely depends on your lifestyle and what type of internet you’re already working with that may or may not be successful. A Starlink Roam subscription may make sense if you live in an area with no internet providers beyond satellite or DSL, and you want to take your equipment on the road with you regularly.
The service is ideal for travelers who need a consistent home base or are driving from place to place enough to need an independent internet source. If you live full-time in an RV or take months-long trips throughout portions of the year, Starlink Roam is an excellent solution.
However, unless you have extenuating circumstances where you need global access or an uncongested network in the evenings, Mobile Global and Mobile Priority plans may not be necessary. There are ways to work around not being online during peak service hours, and most travelers are not driving across continents.
At the end of the day, Starlink Roam’s flexibility means that current Starlink customers can now hop online, upgrade their service and cancel it when necessary to take those extended once-in-a-lifetime trips. It just may not be applicable as an everyday ISP unless you’re a full-time traveler who thrives off the beaten path.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starlink Roam vs Residential
Is Starlink Roam slower than Starlink Residential?
Starlink Roam isn’t any slower than Starlink Residential in a traditional sense. However, if you are traveling to a certain region where the speeds are slower or faster, your speeds may vary compared to the Residential plan, which will be more consistent.
Can you pause your Starlink Roam subscription?
Starlink Roam allows customers to pause their subscription as necessary and activate it when needed for a trip. This flexibility is ideal for people who take annual RV trips nationwide during specific seasons but eventually return to a home base.
Does Starlink Roam require special equipment?
Starlink Roam requires Standard equipment to function from fixed locations. If you already own that equipment from your Starlink Residential plan, you don’t need to purchase anything else. However, if you want internet access while driving in your car or RV, you must invest $1,999 in the Performance equipment.
Can you upgrade to Starlink Roam at any time?
Yes, you can upgrade to Starlink Roam at any time. If you experience throttling during peak hours, you can upgrade to a Mobile Priority tier for expedited service, which starts at $250 per month.
Can you use Starlink Roam while moving in an RV or truck?
You can use Starlink Roam while driving, but it requires an investment of $1,999 to purchase the Performance dish that will enable this capability. If you do not need to use the internet while driving, the $349 standard equipment will work just fine in a stationary location.
Does Starlink Roam work in remote areas?
Yes, Starlink Roam can be used even if you’re within a remote area, thanks to its countrywide and coastal coverage.
Is Starlink Roam worth it compared to Residential?
It ultimately depends on when and how you’ll be using the internet. If you use the internet primarily at home or may not travel as much, Starlink Residential is the better option. However, if you’re consistently on the go or frequently outdoors, it’s best to stick with Starlink Roam.