Does Starlink Residential Work Anywhere?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
THE "WORK ANYWHERE" MYTH
It is a common misconception that because Starlink comes from space, the "Residential" plan works anywhere you set up the dish. This is incorrect. Starlink Residential is designed for a fixed home location (your service address) and will only work where Starlink has coverage, regulatory approval, and enough local capacity. If you need true mobility, Starlink pushes you to "Roam" instead.
THE FIXED LOCATION RULE
1. Residential = Fixed Service Address
When you sign up for Residential, it’s intended for a fixed service address. If you set up the dish away from that service address, your service can be degraded or may not work, and you’ll typically need to update your service address (subject to availability).
2. No In-Motion Use
Starlink explicitly states that in-motion use is not permitted on standard Residential plans. Even if you have the hardware mounted to a vehicle, the plan itself restricts connectivity while moving.
3. International Barriers
A Residential service address cannot be in a different country than the one used during initial sign-up. To move countries, you usually have to cancel and start a new account or perform a formal transfer process.
MOVING ADDRESS vs ROAMING
So what if you want to use your Residential dish somewhere else? You have two options, but both come with caveats.
| OPTION | HOW IT WORKS | THE RISK |
|---|---|---|
| Change Service Address | You log into the app and update your home address to the new location. | Waitlists. If the new area is at capacity, Starlink will not let you move your service there. You could be left with no internet. |
| Switch to Roam | You change your plan type from Residential to "Roam" (mobile). | Price & Speed. Roam is more expensive and has lower network priority (slower speeds) than Residential. |
THE RESIDENTIAL MAX SOLUTION
In 2026, Starlink introduced a hybrid solution for homeowners who also want to travel. It is called Residential Max.
This plan is designed to be the "best performing home internet service" (up to 400+ Mbps), but it solves the geo-locking problem by including eligibility for a Free Starlink Mini kit.
HOW IT WORKS
- Home: You keep your powerful standard dish fixed at home for maximum speed.
- Away: You take the free Mini dish on your travels (subject to availability).
- The Cost: You choose a Roam plan for the Mini and pause/unpause when needed (Standby Mode), so you’re not paying year-round if you don’t want to.
UK PLANS & PRICING
If you are in the UK, here is the breakdown of your options for home vs travel.
| PLAN | COST (GBP) | USE CASE |
|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | £35/mo | Strictly Home. Select areas only. 100 Mbps cap. |
| Residential 200 | £55/mo | Strictly Home. Standard speed. 200 Mbps cap. |
| Residential Max | £75/mo | Home + Travel: max speeds + top Residential priority + eligible free Mini + discounted travel plans. |
| Roam 100GB | £50/mo | Travel Only. Unlimited low-speed data after 100GB high-speed. Works in Starlink coverage areas (including 150+ countries/territories), subject to Starlink’s roaming, coastal, and policy limits. |
| Roam Unlimited | £96/mo | Travel Only. Unlimited data for heavy travellers. |
USA PLANS & PRICING
The US structure is similar, but prices and roam costs differ slightly.
| PLAN | COST (USD) | USE CASE |
|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | $50/mo | Strictly Home. Select areas only. 100 Mbps cap. |
| Residential 200 | $80/mo | Strictly Home. Standard speed. 200 Mbps cap. |
| Residential Max | $120/mo | Home + Travel: max speeds + top Residential priority + eligible free Mini + discounted travel plans. |
| Roam 100GB | $50/mo | Travel Only. Unlimited low-speed data after 100GB high-speed. |
| Roam Unlimited | $165/mo | Travel Only. Unlimited data. Expensive. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY WON'T IT WORK AT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE?
It is likely because your friend lives in a different "cell" than you. Starlink manages network capacity by assigning dishes to specific locations. If you take your residential dish to a cell that is already full or outside your service area, it may be blocked from connecting.
CAN I USE ROAM AT HOME?
Yes, you can use a Roam dish at your house, but it will be slower than a Residential plan because Roam traffic is "deprioritised" behind Residential users. It is also usually more expensive.
SUMMARY: FIXED MEANS FIXED
Don't gamble on taking your Residential dish on holiday. It is intended for a fixed address. If you need flexibility, get a Roam plan or upgrade to Residential Max to get that eligible free Mini for your travels.