Starlink has introduced an updated version of its portable internet service, Starlink Roam Unlimited, a significant evolution of its previous plans. This new plan allows customers to take their Starlink dish and connect to the internet.
While this may seem attractive for those who travel frequently or need more flexibility, there are some essential details that potential users should know before making the switch.
This post will break down everything you need to know about Starlink Roam Unlimited, including the cost, speed, portability, and other key differences between plans, to determine whether it’s right for your internet needs.
What is Starlink Roam Unlimited?
Starlink has been refining its portable satellite service for some time now, offering several plans in the past, including Starlink Portable and Starlink RV.
With Roam Unlimited, these previous offerings have been phased out, making way for a more flexible and mobile internet experience.
Roam Unlimited has two plan options: a regional plan that covers your continent and a global one that gives you worldwide access.
The plan allows you to bring your Starlink dish to any new location, providing an internet connection wherever you set up your equipment.
One of the key features of Roam Unlimited is that you can pause your service whenever you like, meaning you don’t have to pay for the service when you’re not using it.
You can switch your plan every month, allowing you only to pay when needed, which is especially useful if you travel seasonally.
The Roam Unlimited service can be used with either standard Starlink equipment or the new Flat High-Performance Starlink equipment.
The latter is required for in-motion use, meaning that your dish can work while driving or moving. However, this feature is only available on the Global plan and requires upgraded equipment and a Priority Mobile service plan.
Differences Between Starlink Roam Unlimited and Starlink Residential Plans
While Starlink Roam Unlimited offers flexibility and mobility, it comes with some crucial trade-offs compared to the standard Starlink Residential plan. Below are the main differences between the two:
| Plan | Cost | Speed | Portability | Service Plan |
| Starlink Residential | $120.00/month | 20Mbps–150Mbps | Fixed Location | Standard |
| Starlink Roam Unlimited | $165.00/month | 30Mbps–100Mbps | Anywhere within your continent | Mobile |
| Starlink Roam Regional | $150.00/month | 5Mbps–50Mbps | Anywhere within your continent | Mobile |
| Starlink Roam Global | $200.00/month | 5Mbps–50Mbps | Anywhere in the world | Mobile |
Additional Differences Between Plans
- Equipment:
- Residential: Standard dish ($599)
- Roam Unlimited: Requires a Flat High-Performance dish ($2,500) for in-motion use
- Availability:
- Residential: Available in selected countries only
- Roam Unlimited: Global availability with region-specific limitations
- In-Motion Use:
- Residential: No
- Roam Unlimited: Yes (only available with Global plan)
- Service Cancellation:
- Residential: Fixed monthly subscription
- Roam Unlimited: Flexible with the ability to pause service anytime
Cost Breakdown
The cost is the most noticeable difference between Starlink Residential and Roam Unlimited.
Starlink Residential is priced at $120 per month, making it relatively affordable compared to other satellite internet services.
On the other hand, Roam Unlimited costs $165 per month for the regional plan and up to $200 for the global plan.
This makes Starlink Roam significantly more expensive, with the worldwide plan almost doubling your monthly internet bill.
The equipment for Starlink Roam is also more expensive. While the standard dish for the Residential plan costs $599, the new Flat High-Performance dish, required for in-motion use, costs $2,500.
For many users, this price might be a hard pill to swallow, especially when considering it as a secondary internet service for travel.
Speed Comparison
Regarding speed, there are some critical distinctions between the different plans. Below is a comparison of the speeds you can expect with each option:
| Plan | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Latency |
| Starlink Residential | 20Mbps–150Mbps | 5Mbps–20Mbps | 20ms–50ms |
| Starlink Roam Unlimited | 30Mbps–100Mbps | 10Mbps–20Mbps | 30ms–60ms |
| Starlink Roam Regional | 5Mbps–50Mbps | 1Mbps–10Mbps | 50ms–100ms |
| Starlink Roam Global | 5Mbps–50Mbps | 1Mbps–10Mbps | 50ms–100ms |
Starlink Roam Unlimited’s global and regional plans are designed to be a more flexible and portable option for users who are constantly on the move.
Still, they come with trade-offs in speed and latency compared to the Residential plan.
Portability and Usage
The primary selling point of Starlink Roam Unlimited is its portability. You can take your dish anywhere, whether traveling within your continent or internationally.
With the regional plan, you can use the service anywhere within your continent, including traveling to nearby countries.
The global plan provides access to Starlink’s satellite network worldwide. However, there are some significant restrictions to keep in mind.
Key considerations:
- Service area:
- Regional plan: Available within your continent
- Global plan: Available worldwide
- Country transfer:
- Spending more than two months in a foreign country requires transferring your account to that country
- Reliability:
- Starlink’s satellite network is still expanding, and not all countries have ground stations, which may impact speed and reliability.
Service Plan and Prioritization
One of the more confusing aspects of Starlink’s Roam plans is its service plan and data prioritization.
While Starlink used to offer data caps, it has now switched to a three-tier system based on service plans.
Whether regional or global, Roam plans fall under the Standard Mobile service plan. This means that your connection may be deprioritized during times of high demand, resulting in slower speeds, especially during peak hours.
You can upgrade to the Priority Mobile plan if you need higher speeds and priority service. This plan guarantees higher speeds and in-motion use but comes at a significant cost.
Priority Mobile data isn’t unlimited, and you must purchase it in blocks (ranging from 50GB to 5TB).
This system is similar to how other satellite providers implemented data caps, but Starlink doesn’t explicitly advertise it, making the pricing structure a bit confusing.
Should You Switch to Starlink Roam Unlimited?
If you’re a current Starlink customer, switching to Roam Unlimited is relatively easy through your account.
However, once you switch to Roam, you cannot revert to your residential plan, which is a significant consideration.
Roam Unlimited may be suitable as a secondary internet service for travel. Still, it’s not an ideal replacement for a stable home internet connection due to slower speeds and deprioritized traffic.
For those who only need internet while traveling, Roam Unlimited offers flexibility that is hard to beat.
However, it may not be worth it for those relying on high-speed internet for work or streaming, especially considering the higher cost and the additional investment in equipment.
Conclusion
Starlink Roam Unlimited is a cutting-edge service that offers impressive portability. Still, its downsides—slower speeds, higher costs, and deprioritized traffic—make it a less attractive option for primary home internet.
However, it could be a worthwhile investment for those needing reliable internet while traveling.
Consider your needs and budget carefully before switching, as the service is better suited for occasional use than your primary connection.
