Why Have Starlink Prices Increased?

What Changed in May 2026?

Starlink raised several monthly prices in mid-May 2026. In the UK, the main residential plans increased by £5 per month. In the USA, the two lower residential tiers increased by $5 per month and the Max tier increased by $10 per month. Roam plans also became more expensive, while US Standby Mode doubled from $5 to $10 per month.

These are headline public prices. Starlink pricing can still vary by country, service address, taxes, hardware offer, shipping and temporary promotion. Always check the final number directly on Starlink before ordering or switching plans.

Why Promotional Pricing Makes the Increase Look Bigger

The most important detail is that many Starlink price comparisons are not comparing standard price to standard price. They are comparing today’s public price with earlier promotional pricing. That makes the increase look much larger than the standard May price rise.

Promotional Pricing Was Used to Lower the Barrier to Entry

Starlink has used temporary pricing to attract new customers in areas where the network had capacity or where it wanted faster adoption. These deals made the entry price look closer to mainstream home broadband, especially for customers comparing Starlink with fibre, 5G or fixed wireless.

That strategy is common in broadband: a provider lowers the first few months, reduces the equipment cost, or offers a limited-time sign-up deal. The problem is that customers often remember the promotional headline price, not the long-term standard price. When the promotion ends and the standard monthly price increases, the change feels sharper.

For anyone asking why Starlink has become more expensive, both points matter. There has been a real price rise, but there has also been a reset from promotional pricing back toward standard pricing.

Why Have Starlink Prices Gone Up?

The price rise is best understood as a mix of network investment, demand management, product segmentation and the end of selected promotional offers. Starlink is no longer a single-plan satellite internet product. It now has separate pricing for fixed homes, travel, mobility, business, maritime use and paused accounts.

UK Starlink Price Rise: What Changed?

In the UK, the main residential plans have increased by £5 per month. Residential 100 now starts at £40 per month, Residential 200 is £60 per month, and Residential Max is £80 per month. Roam 100GB is now £55 per month, while Roam Unlimited is £100 per month.

The increase feels especially noticeable because selected UK customers previously saw Residential 100 promoted from £25 per month. That offer made Starlink look much closer to a budget fibre broadband deal. Today’s £40 starting point is still competitive for some rural properties, but it is a different value calculation.

UK Price Movement at a Glance

Why the UK Increase Feels Noticeable

• The lowest home plan increased by £5 per month from the earlier standard rate.
• Customers comparing against the £25 promotional entry price see a much bigger monthly difference.
• UK broadband shoppers can often find cheaper fibre or 5G home broadband in towns and cities.
• Rural homes may still have few realistic alternatives, so Starlink can remain worth considering despite the rise.

USA Starlink Price Rise: What Changed?

In the USA, Residential 100 increased from $50 to $55 per month, Residential 200 increased from $80 to $85 per month, and Residential Max increased from $120 to $130 per month. Roam 100GB increased to $55 per month, Roam Unlimited increased to $175 per month, and Roam 300GB remains at $80 per month.

The US increase also needs to be read alongside promotional pricing. Earlier in 2026, selected new customers saw Residential offers from $35 per month and no upfront hardware cost. That made the entry point look much lower than today’s standard public pricing.

USA Price Movement at a Glance

Why the USA Increase Matters

• The cheapest public residential tier is now $55 per month before taxes and checkout adjustments.
• Customers who signed up because of $35 promotional pricing may feel the largest gap.
• Residential Max customers have the largest home-plan increase in dollar terms.
• Roam Unlimited is now more expensive for RV users, off-grid workers and frequent travellers.
• The $80 Roam 300GB plan gives some users a middle option between 100GB and Unlimited.

Who Is Most Affected by the Starlink Price Increase?

The increase will not affect every customer in the same way. A £5 or $5 rise is easier to absorb if Starlink is the only usable broadband connection at the property. It is harder to accept for customers who use Starlink as backup, seasonal service or occasional travel broadband.

What Should Starlink Customers Do Now?

The best response depends on how you use the service. Do not cancel automatically, but do not assume your current plan is still the best fit either.

1. Check whether you are on a promotional price. Work out when the promo ends, what the standard price becomes, and whether any hardware commitment applies.
2. Compare standard price, not just promo price. A temporary discount can make the monthly cost look unusually low. Use the ongoing rate for a fair comparison.
3. Check your real data usage. Roam customers should look at actual data use before paying for Unlimited. A 100GB or 300GB tier may be enough for lighter travel use.
4. Recheck fixed-line availability. Fibre rollouts change quickly. A property that had no decent alternative last year may now have FTTP, wireless or 5G broadband options.
5. Review whether Max is necessary. Many homes do not need the top residential tier unless there are many users, heavy downloads, 4K streaming, gaming and work-from-home traffic at the same time.
6. Use Standby only where it makes sense. If Starlink is only used a few times a year, compare Standby Mode against cancelling and reactivating later.
7. Check the address directly. Starlink prices and available tiers can vary by service address, capacity and promotion.

Is Starlink Still Worth It After the Price Increase?

Starlink is still worth considering where normal broadband is weak, unavailable or unreliable. It is especially useful for rural homes, farms, temporary sites, travelling users, remote workers and businesses that need a backup connection away from the fixed-line network.

For a wider comparison of performance, reliability and value, read our full Starlink review.