Starlink Review (Updated 2026)
USA & UK: The Bombshell Update
Elon Musk and Starlink have dropped a bombshell on the internet industry. By completely scrapping the upfront hardware cost for residential users and adding new competitive priced plans they have transformed from a niche "rural-only" saviour into a mainstream juggernaut ready to compete with the big boys. This bold move has triggered the largest rating increase for any ISP in the history of our reviews. Let's dive in.
New 2026 Pricing Plans
Starlink has split its offering into Residential (Home) and Roam (Travel). The headline news is the shift to a rental model for home users. For a complete breakdown check out our guide to Starlink full pricing.
🏠 Residential vs. Roam: What's the Difference?
It is crucial to understand which plan fits your life before ordering. Many users ask does Starlink Residential work anywhere?
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Residential:Geo-Locked to your home. You get higher priority data (faster speeds) and crucially the hardware is a £0/$0 rental. You cannot take this dish on holiday.
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Roam:Unlocked for travel. You can take this anywhere on the continent. However data is "deprioritised" (slower in busy areas) and you must purchase the hardware upfront.
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Free Mini:Exclusive to Residential Max. Max subscribers are eligible for a "Free" Starlink Mini rental. However, note that this is not plug-and-play; you must add a separate Roam plan to your account for the Mini to work (discounted by 50% for Max users).
Curious why has Starlink lowered price in the UK?
For fixed locations. Hardware Cost: £0 (Rental). Note: You must return the kit if you cancel.
| Plan | Speed Cap | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | 100 Mbps | £35/mo |
| Residential 200 | 200 Mbps | £55/mo |
| Residential Max | 400+ Mbps | £75/mo + Free Mini Rental (Requires discounted Roam plan) |
🎁 Free Starlink Mini for Travel (£159 Value): Available exclusively on Max plans. You must activate a separate Roam plan to use it, but you receive a 50% discount on that subscription.
For fixed locations. Hardware Cost: $0 (Rental). Note: You must return the kit if you cancel.
| Plan | Speed Cap | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | 100 Mbps | $50/mo |
| Residential 200 | 200 Mbps | $80/mo |
| Residential Max | 400+ Mbps | $120/mo + Free Mini Rental (Requires discounted Roam plan) |
🎁 Free Starlink Mini for Travel ($199 Value): Available exclusively on Max plans. You must activate a separate Roam plan to use it, but you receive a 50% discount on that subscription.
🚐 Roam Plans (Travel & Mini)
For caravans, RVs, and digital nomads. Hardware is NOT free; you must buy the 'Mini Kit' or 'Standard Kit' upfront.
| Data | Hardware Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100GB Data | £159 (Mini) / £299 (Std) | £50/mo |
| Unlimited | £159 (Mini) / £299 (Std) | £96/mo |
| Data | Hardware Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100GB Data | $199 (Mini) / $349 (Std) | $50/mo |
| Unlimited | $199 (Mini) / $349 (Std) | $165/mo |
Pros and Cons
What It Nails
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£0 / $0 Upfront Cost The biggest barrier to entry is gone for residential users. You can now get Starlink installed for the price of a standard monthly bill.
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Tiered Speeds Finally, options for lighter users. If you only need 100 Mbps you don't have to pay for the full bandwidth capability.
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Global Roaming The new Mini Kit fits in a backpack and runs off low power (USB-C) making it a game-changer for hikers and van-lifers.
The Drawbacks
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Rental Return Policy Since you don't own the residential hardware you must return it if you cancel. Failure to do so will result in a hefty fee.
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Customer Support Starlink is still notorious for having virtually no human support. If something breaks you are reliant on a digital ticket system.
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Deprioritised Roaming Roam data is lower priority than Residential. In crowded areas your 'Unlimited' travel plan might slow down significantly.
The Concept
From "Purchase" to "Rental"
Previously buying Starlink meant shelling out hundreds (£449/$599) for the dish before you even got online. The 2026 update has flipped this. Now Starlink essentially operates like a standard ISP (e.g. BT or Comcast) as they send you the router and modem (the dish) for free as part of the service. You use it while you subscribe and you send it back when you leave.
This lowers the risk significantly for new users. You aren't stuck with an expensive piece of plastic if the service doesn't work for you. However for the "Roam" plans the Purchase model remains likely because travellers damage or lose hardware more frequently.
Hardware: Standard vs Mini
The Standard Kit (Gen 3)
Shipped with Residential plans. This is the larger more powerful dish designed for permanent installation. It now comes with a Gen 3 Wi-Fi router which offers significantly better range and mesh capabilities than previous iterations. If you opt for the 'Residential Max' plan you may even get a free mesh node included.
The Mini Kit
Available for Roam users (approx £159/$199). This unit is roughly the size of a laptop and integrates the Wi-Fi router directly into the dish itself meaning one unit and less cable clutter. It consumes far less power making it ideal for running off a portable battery station or a car's 12V socket.
Technical Specs
With the new tiered system your specs depend entirely on your wallet.
Speed Tiers Explained
Residential 100/200: These plans are software-capped. The hardware is capable of more but Starlink limits your throughput to manage network congestion. 100 Mbps is ample for a family of 4 streaming 4K TV. Check out the latest Starlink average UK speeds to see how real users are performing.
Residential Max: This unlocks the "best effort" capability of the hardware pushing 400+ Mbps in optimal conditions. This is aimed at power users and businesses.
Latency: Regardless of the plan latency remains excellent for satellite typically sitting between 25ms and 50ms. Many users ask is Starlink good for gaming? The short answer is yes and it is miles better than traditional satellite though not quite fibre perfection.
Performance & Speed
Real World Testing (2026)
We ran extensive tests on the "Residential 200" plan in a semi-rural UK location to see if the caps are noticeable. The results were surprisingly stable:
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Residential:Download speeds consistently hovered between 160-190 Mbps, rarely dipping below 140 Mbps even during peak hours (8 PM). Uploads have improved significantly, sitting comfortably at 20-30 Mbps. The software cap actually seems to help stability, preventing the wild fluctuations we saw in early Starlink days.
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Roam (Mini):The Mini on Roam told a different story. While capable of 100 Mbps in open, uncongested areas, our campsite testing in Cornwall saw speeds throttle to 15-25 Mbps during busy periods due to network deprioritisation. It is usable for browsing, but 4K streaming struggled during peak times.
Top Alternatives
Even with the £0/$0 upfront cost on the residential plans Starlink might not be for everyone.
The Trade-Offs
The new rental model introduces new rules you need to follow.
Equipment Liability: Because you are renting the dish for £0/$0 you are responsible for it. If it gets damaged by hail or you lose it during a move you may be liable for the full replacement cost.
Cancellation Logistics: Cancelling isn't just clicking a button anymore. You have to box up the gear and ship it back. Starlink usually provides shipping labels but it adds friction to leaving the service compared to the old "keep the dish" model.
FAQs
Is the hardware really free now?
For Residential plans yes. You pay £0/$0 upfront for the hardware but it is a rental. If you cancel your service you must return the kit to Starlink. For Roam/Travel plans you generally still purchase the hardware (Mini or Standard) upfront.
What is the difference between Residential and Roam?
The main difference is mobility. Residential is geo-locked to your home address but offers higher priority data and £0 upfront rental hardware. Roam works anywhere on the continent but requires you to buy the hardware upfront and has deprioritised speeds.
What is the difference between Residential 100 and 200?
The main difference is the capped download speed. 'Residential 100' is capped at 100 Mbps making it cheaper (£35/$50) while 'Residential 200' offers up to 200 Mbps for a higher monthly fee. Both use the same standard satellite dish.
How We Rated Starlink
To ensure fairness we use a standardised weighting system across all our ISP Reviews. Here is exactly how the 7.8/10 score for Starlink was calculated:
This approach allows us to judge the best deal for each customer without bias. Commission, CPA, and margins are not used in the scoring model.
HASNAAT MAHMOOD
Broadband & Technology Expert
"Elon Musk's decision to scrap the upfront hardware cost is a bombshell. It completely changes the value proposition of Starlink. It is no longer just the 'best rural option' as it is now aggressively undercutting traditional fibre providers in pricing. If you can live with the lack of phone support this is currently the most exciting internet product on the market."