Starlink Mobile Roam Vs Starlink Residential Plans
Starlink Roam vs Residential: Which Plan Should You Choose? (2026)
New to Starlink? Read our complete Starlink guide first to understand how the service works. Also see our Rogers satellite service article to learn about Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology for emergency texting in remote areas.
Quick Answer
Choose Residential if: You have a permanent home/cottage address and want the best speeds at the lowest cost. Plans start at $70/month with speeds up to 400+ Mbps.
Choose Roam if: You travel with your RV, boat, or vehicle and need internet anywhere in North America (or globally). Plans start at $70/month for 50GB or $189/month unlimited with in-motion capability.
Starlink Residential Plans (2026)
Residential service is designed for fixed-location use at a permanent address. As of January 2026, Starlink offers three tiers with different speed capabilities:
| Plan | Speed | Monthly Cost | Data | Network Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | Up to 100 Mbps | $70/month | Unlimited | Standard |
| Residential 200 | Up to 200 Mbps | $110/month | Unlimited | Standard |
| Residential MAX | 400+ Mbps (no cap) | $140/month | Unlimited | High (network priority) |
Residential Key Features
- Fixed service address: Service tied to one physical location
- Unlimited data: No data caps or throttling on any tier
- Best speeds: MAX tier can exceed 400 Mbps with network priority during congestion
- Lowest latency: 25-40ms typical for gaming and video calls
- Hardware: Standard dish ($499 – see our Gen 3 router guide) or $0 rental (return when you cancel)
- Portability option: Add $35/month to use at different address temporarily (up to 2 months)
Starlink Roam Plans (2026)
Roam service (formerly called “Mobile” or “RV”) is designed for users who travel. Major changes in 2025-2026 simplified the structure:
| Plan | Data Allowance | Monthly Cost | Coverage | In-Motion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roam 50GB | 50 GB priority (then unlimited at 1 Mbps) | $70/month | Global | Up to 10 MPH |
| Roam Unlimited | Unlimited full-speed | $189/month | Global | Up to 100 MPH |
Roam Key Features
- Use anywhere: North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and more (expanding)
- In-motion internet: Browse while driving, sailing, or traveling (up to 100 MPH on Unlimited)
- Coastal coverage: Up to 12 nautical miles from shore (great for boaters)
- No fixed address: Use at campsites, parking lots, anywhere with clear sky view
- Works with any hardware: 50GB plan now compatible with Standard dish, not just Mini
- Standby mode: $7/month for unlimited slow internet (replaces old “pause” feature)
What Happened to Regional vs Global?
Starlink eliminated the confusing “Mobile Regional” ($150/month) and “Mobile Global” ($250/month) tiers in late 2025. The new structure is simpler:
- Both Roam plans work globally (no more regional restrictions)
- 50GB plan: Same price as old Regional ($70 vs $150 – huge savings!)
- Unlimited plan: Cheaper than old Global ($189 vs $250 – $61 savings!)
- All Roam users can travel internationally with 2-month trip limits
Complete Comparison Table
| Feature | Residential (All Tiers) | Roam 50GB | Roam Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $70 / $110 / $140 | $70 | $189 |
| Download Speed | 100 / 200 / 400+ Mbps | 5-50 Mbps typical | 5-100 Mbps typical |
| Upload Speed | 10-40 Mbps | 2-10 Mbps | 2-20 Mbps |
| Data Cap | Unlimited | 50GB (then 1 Mbps) | Unlimited |
| Network Priority | Standard / Standard / High | Lowest | Low |
| Fixed Address Required | Yes | No | No |
| Portability | $35/mo add-on (2 months) | Included (unlimited) | Included (unlimited) |
| In-Motion Use | No | Yes (up to 10 MPH) | Yes (up to 100 MPH) |
| International Travel | No | Yes (2 month trips) | Yes (2 month trips) |
| Coastal Coverage | No | 12 nautical miles | 12 nautical miles |
| Latency | 25-40ms | 50-100ms | 40-80ms |
| Hardware Compatible | Standard dish | Standard or Mini | Standard or Mini |
| Standby Mode | Not available | $7/month (slow internet) | $7/month (slow internet) |
| Best For | Permanent homes, cottages | Light travelers, backup | Full-time RVers, digital nomads |
Hardware Options
Standard Dish
- Cost: $499 purchase, or $0 rental (return when cancel)
- Weight: ~15 lbs including mount
- Setup: Requires clear sky view, permanent or temporary mount
- Works with: All Residential plans, all Roam plans
Starlink Mini (Portable)
- Cost: $399-599 purchase (promos common)
- Weight: ~5 lbs (backpack-sized)
- Setup: Kickstand included, ultra-portable
- Works with: Roam 50GB ($70/mo), Roam Unlimited ($189/mo)
- Note: Cannot be used with Residential plans (Roam only)
Optimizing Performance: Once you have Starlink set up, check out our guide on 8 tricks to speed up your Starlink internet to maximize your speeds and reduce latency.
Decision Framework: Which Plan Is Right for You?
Choose Residential If…
- ✓ You have a permanent address (house, cottage, cabin)
- ✓ You rarely travel or only take short trips
- ✓ You want the fastest speeds (up to 400+ Mbps)
- ✓ You need low latency for gaming or video calls
- ✓ You use a lot of data (streaming, downloads, work)
- ✓ You want the best value (lowest $/Mbps)
Recommended tier:
- → 100 Mbps for basic use (email, browsing, 1-2 HD streams)
- → 200 Mbps for families (multiple devices, 4K streaming)
- → MAX for power users (WFH, gaming, large households)
Choose Roam If…
- ✓ You live in an RV, van, or boat
- ✓ You travel frequently to different locations
- ✓ You need internet while driving/sailing
- ✓ You split time between multiple properties
- ✓ You travel internationally
- ✓ You want portability more than speed
Recommended plan:
- → 50GB for light use (email, maps, social media while traveling)
- → Unlimited for full-time travelers (streaming, work, constant connectivity)
Real-World Use Cases
Scenario 1: Permanent Home in Rural Area
Recommendation: Residential 200 ($110/month)
You live in a fixed location year-round with a family of 4. You stream Netflix, work from home occasionally, and kids do online school.
Why: Residential 200 provides 200 Mbps unlimited for $110—plenty for your household. You don’t need mobility, so paying $189 for Roam would waste money.
Scenario 2: Full-Time RV Living
Recommendation: Roam Unlimited ($189/month)
You live in an RV and travel across North America full-time. You work remotely, stream TV every evening, and move locations weekly.
Why: Unlimited Roam gives you internet everywhere with in-motion capability up to 100 MPH. The 50GB plan would run out in days with your usage.
Scenario 3: Weekend Camper
Recommendation: Roam 50GB ($70/month) with Standby
You have home internet but take your RV camping 8-10 weekends per year. You want to check email and maps, but don’t stream much.
Why: 50GB covers your light weekend use. During weeks you’re home, activate Standby mode ($7/month) for huge savings. Total cost: ~$100-120/month average vs $189 Unlimited.
Scenario 4: Cottage + City Home
Recommendation: Residential 200 + Portability ($110 + $35 = $145/month)
You have a city home with cable internet and a remote cottage you visit monthly for 2-3 days at a time.
Why: Install Residential at cottage (faster speeds), add Portability option ($35/mo) to bring it to city home when needed. Cheaper than two separate plans and better speeds than Roam.
Bonus tip: If your cottage has no cell coverage, add Rogers satellite service ($15/month) as backup for emergency texting.
Scenario 5: International Digital Nomad
Recommendation: Roam Unlimited ($189/month) + Mini
You work remotely while traveling through Europe, South America, and Asia. You move cities every 2-3 weeks.
Why: Roam works globally with 2-month trip limits (just return to home country briefly between trips). Mini dish fits in your backpack for maximum portability.
Cost Comparison: First Year
| Plan | Hardware | Monthly | Year 1 Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | $499 | $70 | $1,339 |
| Residential 200 | $499 | $110 | $1,819 |
| Residential MAX | $499 | $140 | $2,179 |
| Roam 50GB (Standard dish) | $499 | $70 | $1,339 |
| Roam 50GB (Mini) | $399 | $70 | $1,239 |
| Roam Unlimited (Standard) | $499 | $189 | $2,767 |
| Roam Unlimited (Mini) | $399 | $189 | $2,667 |
Note: Hardware can also be rented at $0 upfront (Standard dish only, return when you cancel). Prices in CAD, exclude taxes.
Can You Switch Between Plans?
Yes! Starlink allows plan switching with these rules:
- Residential → Roam: Can switch anytime (changes take effect next billing cycle)
- Roam → Residential: Can switch anytime, but must provide a service address
- Between Residential tiers: Switch instantly (100 ↔ 200 ↔ MAX)
- Between Roam tiers: Switch instantly (50GB ↔ Unlimited)
- No penalties: No early termination fees or switching charges
What Changed in 2025-2026? (Major Updates)
Residential Changes
- ✅ Introduced tiered speeds (100 / 200 / MAX) – previously single $140 plan
- ✅ Added $70/month entry-level option (50% cheaper than before!)
- ✅ MAX tier gets network priority during congestion
- ✅ Portability option expanded to 2-month limit (was 1 month)
Roam Changes
- ✅ Eliminated confusing “Regional vs Global” split (all Roam is now global)
- ✅ 50GB plan works with Standard dish (was Mini-only)
- ✅ Prices dropped dramatically ($70 vs old $150 Regional, $189 vs old $250 Global)
- ✅ Added in-motion support up to 100 MPH (Unlimited) and 10 MPH (50GB)
- ✅ Coastal coverage extended to 12 nautical miles
- ⚠️ Pause feature removed, replaced with $7/month Standby mode
Hardware Changes
- ✅ Starlink Mini launched in Canada (portable dish for $399-599)
- ✅ Free Mini promotion for existing Residential customers (must return if cancel)
- ✅ Standard dish rental option added ($0 upfront, return when cancel)
Compare Starlink to Traditional Canadian ISPs
Deciding between Starlink and traditional internet providers? Starlink excels in rural areas where cable and fiber aren’t available, but traditional ISPs may offer better speeds and value in urban areas with infrastructure. Compare Starlink to major Canadian providers:
- Bell Fibe vs Starlink – Which is better for rural Ontario and Quebec?
- Rogers vs Starlink – Cable internet comparison for Eastern Canada
- Telus PureFibre vs Starlink – Best options for BC and Alberta
- Shaw vs Starlink – Western Canada internet comparison
For business users running commercial operations from remote locations, see our detailed Starlink Business plans guide comparing Business vs Residential for commercial use, including priority data tiers and guaranteed uptime.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
Myth 1: “Roam is always slower than Residential”
Mostly true, but not always. Residential has higher network priority and faster typical speeds. However, in uncongested areas, Roam Unlimited can sometimes match Residential 100 speeds (50-100 Mbps). The difference is most noticeable during peak evening hours in populated areas.
Myth 2: “You can’t use Residential for RV if you have a service address”
False. You can install Residential at your RV’s “home base” address and add Portability ($35/mo) to use it while traveling for up to 2 months. This gives you better speeds than Roam for similar total cost ($110 Residential + $35 Portability = $145 vs $189 Roam Unlimited).
Myth 3: “50GB Roam plan is useless, you’ll run out immediately”
Depends on usage. 50GB supports: ~70 hours of web browsing, ~50 hours of Google Maps navigation, ~15 hours of HD video streaming, or ~200 hours of music streaming. For light travelers checking email and using maps, 50GB lasts all month. Heavy streamers will run out in days.
Myth 4: “Roam doesn’t work while driving”
False. Roam Unlimited works up to 100 MPH in vehicles. Roam 50GB works up to 10 MPH (parking lot speeds). You can browse, stream music, and use navigation while driving. Video streaming quality may vary with vehicle movement.
Myth 5: “Starlink has data caps now”
Only on Roam 50GB. All Residential plans (100, 200, MAX) have unlimited data with no throttling. Roam Unlimited also has no cap. Only Roam 50GB throttles to 1 Mbps after 50GB is used.
Pros and Cons
Residential Advantages
- Fastest speeds (up to 400+ Mbps on MAX)
- Lowest latency (25-40ms)
- Unlimited data (no caps or throttling)
- Best value for fixed locations ($70-140/mo)
- Network priority on MAX tier
- Most reliable performance
- Best for gaming and video calls
Residential Disadvantages
- Requires fixed service address
- Portability costs extra ($35/mo, 2-month limit)
- No in-motion use (must be stationary)
- No international travel
- Speeds capped on 100 and 200 tiers
- Not ideal for frequent travelers
Roam Advantages
- Use anywhere (global coverage)
- No fixed address required
- In-motion capability (up to 100 MPH)
- International travel allowed
- Coastal coverage (12 nautical miles)
- Standby mode saves money ($7/mo)
- Works with portable Mini dish
- Perfect for digital nomads
Roam Disadvantages
- Slower speeds than Residential (5-100 Mbps typical)
- Higher latency (40-100ms)
- Lower network priority (congestion affects more)
- 50GB plan has data cap (then 1 Mbps)
- More expensive for unlimited ($189 vs $140)
- Performance varies by location
- 2-month international trip limits
Bottom Line
The choice between Starlink Residential and Roam comes down to your lifestyle. If you live in one place most of the time, Residential offers better speeds, lower latency, and better value ($70-140/month vs $70-189/month). The new tiered pricing makes Residential accessible at $70/month for basic users or $140/month for power users who want maximum performance.
If you travel frequently—whether in an RV, boat, or as a digital nomad—Roam is worth the trade-offs. The 2025-2026 restructuring made Roam significantly cheaper (down from $150-250/month to $70-189/month) and added global coverage to all plans. For full-time travelers, Roam Unlimited at $189/month with in-motion capability and global access is unmatched.
Our recommendation: Start with the cheapest plan that fits your situation (Residential 100 at $70/month for fixed homes, Roam 50GB at $70/month for light travelers, Residential MAX at $140/month for power users, or Roam Unlimited at $189/month for full-time mobile users). Starlink makes plan switching easy and penalty-free, so you can upgrade or downgrade anytime based on real usage. Test the service for 2-3 months before committing to hardware purchases—consider the $0 rental option initially.
