Choose Starlink Residential for one home; choose Roam when you need to take your internet between destinations. Both currently start at $55 a month in the U.S., but their entry plans buy different things: Residential 100 Mbps has unlimited data with a download-speed ceiling, while Roam 100GB has a monthly high-speed data allowance followed by low-speed service.
U.S. service prices and official terms checked October 21, 2026. This is a published-plan comparison, not a hands-on speed test. Address eligibility, equipment offers, taxes and checkout charges can change your total.
Starlink Residential vs Roam: current U.S. prices
The current U.S. Starlink service-plan page lists these monthly service prices. The lower Residential speed tiers are available only in selected areas. Treat the table as a service comparison, not an all-in equipment quote.
| Plan | Monthly service | What the allowance or limit means |
|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 Mbps | $55 | Unlimited data; downloads capped at 100 Mbps |
| Residential 200 Mbps | $85 | Unlimited data; downloads capped at 200 Mbps |
| Residential Max | $130 | Unlimited data; maximum available speeds and top Residential network priority |
| Roam 100GB | $55 | 100 GB of high-speed data, then unlimited low-speed data |
| Roam 300GB | $80 | 300 GB of high-speed data, then unlimited low-speed data |
| Roam Unlimited | $175 | Unlimited high-speed data, subject to network management and travel restrictions |
Mbps measures connection speed; GB measures how much data you use. A 100 Mbps home plan does not stop after 100 GB. Conversely, buying 100 GB on Roam does not promise a constant 100 Mbps connection.
At the listed rates, keeping service active for 12 months costs $660 for Residential 100 Mbps, $1,020 for Residential 200 Mbps or $1,560 for Max, before equipment and other charges. Roam 100GB, 300GB and Unlimited would cost $660, $960 and $2,100 respectively. These are 12 monthly payments, not discounted annual plans or a guarantee against future price changes.
Which is better for a house, cabin or RV?
| Your situation | Start by checking | What could change the decision |
|---|---|---|
| A home where the dish stays put | Residential availability at that address | Available speed tier, installation cost and evening performance |
| A cabin used for part of the year | Residential plus its actual pause eligibility | Hardware or promotion exclusions, standby fees and capacity when resuming |
| Camping trips at different destinations | Roam 100GB or 300GB | Video use, trip length, power and an unobstructed setup location |
| Frequent travel with heavy data use | Roam Unlimited | International duration, country authorization and network congestion |
| One home connection and a separate travel kit | Residential Max’s optional Mini offer | Separate Roam service, promotion terms and the combined recurring bill |
Residential is a fixed-location service, not a roaming workaround. Moving house may require changing the service address and accepting a different available plan. For a camper that changes locations, paying for Roam buys location flexibility rather than a promise that it will be faster than a home plan.
If your destinations have dependable cellular coverage, a mobile hotspot may be a simpler travel option. Compare the hotspot allowance, coverage and equipment you already own before buying a separate satellite kit.
What happens when Roam runs out of high-speed data?
According to Starlink’s Roam plan guidance, the 100GB and 300GB plans switch automatically to unlimited low-speed data after the allowance is used. Basic messages and email may remain practical; video calls, streaming and large downloads are limited. Unused high-speed data does not roll into the next billing cycle.
Do not size a plan only by the number of travel days. A household watching television, backing up photos and downloading game updates can use data very differently from someone checking email. Check your existing router or hotspot’s usage counter and include every person and device sharing the connection. A provider’s estimate of a week of typical use is not a week-long guarantee for your family.
For a three-month season, the service-only arithmetic is $165 on Roam 100GB versus $240 on Roam 300GB. The extra $75 buys 600 GB more high-speed data across those three billing cycles, not one pooled allowance you can spend whenever you like. Add any charges for the other nine months, equipment and activation before calling either option the cheaper seasonal setup.
Does Residential get better speeds than Roam?
Starlink’s formal service-plan descriptions give Residential Max higher priority than Roam Unlimited during congestion. The lower Residential tiers also have different priority from Max. This is not a simple rule that every Residential connection always beats every Roam connection.
The 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps limits are ceilings, not minimum speeds. Starlink advertises higher maximum available speeds for Max and Roam, but actual results depend on conditions and are not guaranteed. Keep the plan’s download limit separate from WiFi coverage inside a house or camper. A clear view for the antenna does not fix a weak indoor WiFi connection, and a better router does not remove satellite obstructions.
Pausing service is not necessarily free
Starlink’s current pause and Standby Mode rules describe a small monthly fee for low-speed standby access. Do not budget $0 simply because an older review says pausing was free. Confirm the charge shown for your service line; the public guide does not give one universal U.S. fee for every offer.
The guide also excludes certain promotions and rentals and currently says Standby Mode is unavailable for V5 hardware. Pausing does not reserve Residential capacity: your former home plan may be unavailable when you return, and resuming may trigger a demand surcharge. This matters if you are buying a kit for a cabin you intend to close for winter.
A pause normally leaves the current paid service running through the billing period. Resuming high-speed service incurs a charge, with billing-cycle and prorating rules. Confirm the effective date and amount before approving a change. Standby is low-speed connectivity, not a substitute for a normal streaming or remote-work plan, and it is not intended for use while moving.
International travel and use while driving have limits
The current international-travel policy gives Roam Unlimited up to 30 days at a time outside the registered home country, with grouped-region exceptions. The U.S., Canada and listed associated territories are grouped together. The limited-data Roam plans are for the home country or eligible grouped region, not unrestricted worldwide travel. The U.S. Roam page specifically includes U.S. and Canadian travel for 100GB and 300GB.
Check the exact destination, travel-registration requirements and local authorization before leaving. Do not rely on an old 60-day rule or assume that a country on a marketing map is available under your particular plan. Extended stays can require a different service or an account transfer. Ocean use has additional conditions and can incur per-GB charges; it is not covered merely because you pay for unlimited land data.
In-motion use requires an eligible plan, supported hardware and an authorized location. Residential does not allow it. A loose antenna on a vehicle is not a safe installation, and a Roam subscription alone does not make every older motorized dish suitable. Set up and operate equipment only in ways approved for that model; do not handle it while driving.
Hardware and installation can change the cheapest option
The subscription name is not the hardware name. Mini, Standard and V5 refer to equipment choices, while Residential and Roam describe service. Check the exact kit you are buying, its plan eligibility, power requirements and mounting options. Do not assume a discounted home kit can later switch to every travel plan without a fee or restriction.
Starlink advertises an optional Mini kit and discounted travel-plan offer for Residential Max. That does not mean unlimited Roam service is automatically included in the $130 home subscription. Read the separate activation and ongoing service terms. Bundle discounts can depend on keeping the associated home plan.
For an order quote, record the kit purchase or rental charge, shipping, taxes, installation, accessories and any demand surcharge separately from service. Starlink also describes a one-time Roam activation charge for some Standard-kit customers in applicable markets; confirm whether it applies rather than adding an unverified flat fee. Our broadband hidden-fee checklist can help you compare the complete order with another provider.
Before you choose a plan
For a fixed home, check the available Residential tier and total installation cost first. For travel, decide how much high-speed data you need and where the kit must work. If you want to pause for months, confirm that the exact hardware and offer support it before buying.
Save the order summary, return conditions and recurring charges. Test the actual setup at your home or destination during the stated return window, including the applications you depend on. Do not cancel a working connection or set off on a remote trip based only on a headline monthly price.