Is Starlink Business Worth It in 2026? Complete Guide
Starlink business plans, they are here to stay. But is Starlink Business right for your business?
Are you just buying for your home? Check out our in-depth article for home-Internet at Starlink Internet Explained
Table of Contents
Starlink Business Pricing in Canada (2026)
Starlink Business offers three tiers of priority data with unlimited usage (throttled to 1 Mbps after priority data is consumed). All plans include unlimited standard data.
| Plan Tier | Priority Data | Monthly Cost (CAD) | After Priority Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority 40 GB | 40 GB priority | $185/month | Throttled to 1 Mbps |
| Priority 1 TB | 1,000 GB (1 TB) priority | $320/month | Throttled to 1 Mbps |
| Priority 2 TB | 2,000 GB (2 TB) priority | $635/month | Throttled to 1 Mbps |
| Overage Option: Purchase additional priority data at $0.50 per GB, or set up auto-purchase in 25 GB increments ($12.50) | |||
Once you exceed your priority data allocation, your speeds are throttled to 1 Mbps for the remainder of your billing cycle. This is effectively unusable for most business operations (video calls, cloud apps, file transfers). Budget your priority data carefully or purchase additional data at $0.50/GB.
Global Priority Plans (Advanced)
For businesses operating internationally or requiring guaranteed bandwidth:
| Plan | Priority Data | Monthly Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Global Priority 100 GB | 100 GB worldwide priority | $365/month |
| Global Priority 1 TB | 1 TB worldwide priority | $1,020/month |
| Global Priority 5 TB | 5 TB worldwide priority | $3,120/month |
Global Priority plans are designed for maritime, aviation, and international operations. Most Canadian businesses only need standard Priority plans.
Starlink Business Hardware Costs (2026)
Starlink Business requires the High Performance dish, which offers better weather resistance and faster speeds than the Residential dish. You have two purchasing options:
Option 1: Purchase Equipment Outright
| Hardware Component | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| High Performance Dish | $2,500 |
| Router (included) | Included |
| Cables & Mounting | Included |
| Shipping | ~$50-100 |
| Total Upfront Cost | ~$2,550-2,600 |
Pros: Own the equipment, no monthly rental fee, can sell if you cancel
Cons: High upfront cost, you’re responsible for repairs/replacement
Option 2: Rent Equipment (Lease Program)
| Fee Type | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Activation Fee | $250 (one-time) |
| Monthly Rental Fee | $130/month |
| First Month Total | $380 + service plan |
| 12-Month Total (rental + fees) | $1,810 |
Pros: Low upfront cost ($250 vs $2,500), Starlink handles repairs/replacement, can return if you cancel
Cons: Costs more long-term ($1,560/year vs $0 after purchase), don’t own equipment
Buying outright costs $2,500. Renting costs $130/month after activation.
Break-even point: 20 months (after which buying is cheaper).
Choose rental if: Testing Starlink, uncertain long-term commitment, need low upfront cost
Choose purchase if: Long-term user (2+ years), want to own equipment, save money long-term
Starlink Business vs Residential: Which Should You Choose?
With Starlink’s new tiered Residential plans (launched January 2026), many small businesses can now use upgraded Residential service instead of expensive Business plans. Here’s the complete comparison:
| Feature | Residential Plans | Business Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $70 (100 Mbps) $110 (200 Mbps) $140 (MAX priority) | $185 (40GB priority) $320 (1TB priority) $635 (2TB priority) |
| Hardware Cost | $499 (or $0 rental, return on cancel) | $2,500 (or $130/mo rental) |
| Speed Range | 100 Mbps (capped) 200 Mbps (capped) 400+ Mbps (MAX, network priority) | 40-220 Mbps typical (highest network priority) |
| Data Limit | Unlimited (no throttling) | Priority data limit, then throttled to 1 Mbps |
| Network Priority | Standard (100/200) High (MAX) | Highest priority (guaranteed bandwidth) |
| Uptime Guarantee | Best-effort (no SLA) | No formal SLA, but priority support |
| Customer Support | Standard ticket system | Priority support, faster response |
| Static IP | Available (extra cost) | Included |
| Terms of Service | Residential use only (personal) | Commercial use permitted |
| Best For | Home offices, small businesses, remote work | Critical business operations, high data usage, multiple locations |
When to Choose Residential (Even for Business Use)
Choose Residential MAX ($140/month) if you:
- Run a small business (1-5 employees) from home or small office
- Use less than 1TB/month of data consistently
- Can tolerate occasional slowdowns during peak hours (rare on MAX)
- Want to save $45-495/month vs Business plans
- Don’t need a static IP address
- Have backup internet available (LTE hotspot) for emergencies
Examples: Web designers, consultants, software developers, virtual assistants, small retail shops
When Business Plan is Necessary
Choose Business ($185-635/month) if you:
- Operate a business-critical service that CANNOT have downtime
- Use over 1TB/month of data regularly (cloud backups, video streaming, large file transfers)
- Require guaranteed bandwidth during peak hours
- Need a static IP address for servers, security systems, or VPNs
- Have multiple users (10+) relying on the connection simultaneously
- Need priority customer support for rapid issue resolution
- Want compliance with Starlink’s commercial use terms of service
Examples: Remote offices, manufacturing facilities, retail chains, healthcare clinics, construction sites, event venues
The Controversial Middle Ground
Many small businesses successfully use Residential MAX ($140/month) despite it being technically for “residential use only.” Starlink has not actively enforced this policy against small home-based businesses. However:
- Risk: Starlink could theoretically terminate service for TOS violation
- Reality: Enforcement is rare for small-scale use
- Recommendation: If your business is mission-critical, pay for Business plan for peace of mind and priority support
Total Cost Comparison: First Year
Here’s what you’ll actually pay in your first year of service:
| Plan | Hardware | Monthly | Year 1 Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential MAX | $499 | $140 | $2,179 |
| Business 40GB (purchase) | $2,500 | $185 | $4,720 |
| Business 40GB (rental) | $250 activation | $185 + $130 rental | $4,030 |
| Business 1TB (purchase) | $2,500 | $320 | $6,340 |
| Business 1TB (rental) | $250 activation | $320 + $130 rental | $5,650 |
Costs shown in CAD. Does not include taxes or optional accessories. Residential MAX offers the best value for most small businesses.
💰 Money-Saving Tip
Start with Residential MAX ($140/month) for your business. Monitor your usage for 3 months:
- If speeds are consistently good and you rarely hit congestion → stay on Residential
- If you experience slowdowns during peak hours → upgrade to Business
- If you exceed 1TB/month regularly → Business 1TB plan becomes cost-effective
Potential savings: $45-495/month vs jumping straight to Business plan
Features of Starlink Business
Starlink Business is more than just a high-speed internet service; it’s an enabler for businesses striving for effective digital operations. Let’s dissect some of the notable features:
The High Performance Dish
- Enhanced Antenna Capacity: Over twice the antenna capacity of standard dishes, facilitating better connectivity.
- Wider Field of View: Ensures a stable connection even in areas with obstructions.
- Higher Priority and Speeds: Promises a superior internet experience, crucial for real-time business operations.
Speed Ranges and Their Implications
- Speed Spectrum: Ranges from 40-220 Mbps, catering to varied business needs.
- High-Speed Data Transmission: Ideal for data-intensive operations like cloud computing and large file transfers.
Additional Benefits for Businesses
- Automatic Data Purchase: Option to auto-purchase additional data, providing a seamless internet experience.
- Transparent Pricing: Clear pricing with no hidden charges, aiding in budget management.
- Broad Coverage: Satellite-based service ensuring coverage even in remote areas.
The blend of speed, coverage, and pricing transparency makes Starlink Business a compelling option for businesses eyeing robust internet connectivity with a clear cost structure1.
Why does a business need Internet anyways?
It may seem like a basic question, but stick with me on this.
Internet for a business is a service that both reduces risk and creates opportunity. For every business there are similarities and differences to what that means.
For example, for any business that holds customer data, the Internet may be used to move that data to an off-site backup location (cloud or hosted) for risk reduction.
That same business may also move customer data to a database that helps make better decisions, adding customer value through artificial intelligence and data-mining.
Both are highly relevant and real scenarios that are enabled by the Internet, and there are endless other examples.
What you could take from this point is that each aspect of your Internet needs can be looked at through these two lenses.
- What risks are we reducing by making changes to the Internet infrastructure we have?
- What new opportunity is created through better Internet connectivity?
These lenses will help you assess if Starlink Premium is a smart investment…or not.
What is different about Starlink Internet?
Starlink Internet is Low Earth Orbit (LEO) residential Internet service provided by a USA based company owned by Elon Musk.
This is different from the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites that are commonly used by companies like Xplornet, ViaSat, HughesNet, and Telsat. (Although Telsat is moving to LEO as well)
The main difference in a LEO vs a GEO satellite service, is LEO is closer to the earth. If the communication does not have to travel as far, it’s inherently faster. You will see faster download speed, and faster upload speed.
Faster = better in in Internet world.
Is Starlink Good? Here’s the Good features of the technology
Is Starlink Internet fast?
According to PCMag the Current Starlink latency is averaging 39 milliseconds. The reported bandwidth varies, but can be expected to be 150 Mbps download speeds and 15 Mbps upload speeds, or better.
Is Starlink Scalable?
Customers expect service to continually get better with Starlink. My personal experience with Internet service providers (ISP’s) says that might not actually happen. More subscribers means less capacity available for existing customers, which is the oversubscription model, and how satellite/wireless ISP’s make money.
Some users we interviewed speculate the capacity will be used up for Tesla car software updates, and also for uploading the AI data from the cars to the core Tesla learning network.
With new satellites being launched every month, however, the total capacity should continue to increase. They also continue to add base stations, which increases capacity also.
Oversubscription is a choice, and it’s expected Starlink may choose a better experience over short term profits. This is good news if you’re considering it for your business.
Changes in Data Caps and Pricing Over Time
The transition from a single tier to three distinct tiers was a strategic move to cater to a broader business audience. The new tiers not only provide options based on data usage but also come with a reduced price for additional data – down from $1/GB to $0.50/GB. This change reflects Starlink Business’s commitment to providing value while maintaining high-quality service.
Is Starlink widely available?
When compared to a service like cable or fibre-optic based Internet, Starlink is more widely available.
Full availability is unclear. Some of the areas that really need the service do not yet have it, and some of the areas that can get it may have a long waiting list.
While it is technically available or eligible, that does not mean you can get it installed. As mentioned before, the wait lists can be into 2023.
Can I move my Starlink Internet?
Portability is a feature other services don’t have. Starlink has options to move your Internet wherever you go. This is a technology feature shared only by mobility or cell-based Internet – which has other limitations such as data caps.
For more information on Starlink Roam, Starlink Maritime, and Starlink Mobility, check out out recent articles.
Is Starlink affordable?
Compared to business satellite packages in rural and remote Canada, Starlink Business is still a good value compared to business packages from GEO Satellite providers.
If you are using the home Internet package for your business, it’s very affordable, just be mindful you may not get the premium service you expect as a business.
To learn more about how much Business Internet costs in Canada , read our full guide!
What do users think about Starlink Business Internet?
InternetAdvice conducted a survey on Reddit in August 2022 (starlink group) to gain some insight on how Starlink Business is working for some.
The method used was not conclusive or scientifically accurate, but aimed to get a temperature reading on how users like the service.
I come from the Internet Service provider world, and have talked with many business users who use GEO satellite Internet in the past.
In my opinion, the results below are extremely positive.
As a comparison, very few people I’ve ever met would say they are Extremely Happy about their GEO Satellite Internet, where’s Starlink is polling at 25% – I expect it could be even higher.
Below the results you’ll see some of the reasons why it may only be 25%.
Is Starlink Internet Bad? Here’s the bad aspects of the technology
Does Starlink have good customer support?
There is no phone number to call, but customers on Reddit report overall positive customer support…once you’re a customer. Before you are a customer, if you’re on the waiting list, good luck getting a response.
Is Starlink Internet Connectivity reliable?
The reliability of starlink is varied. Customers we spoke with report anything from frequent outages (every 8 minutes) to stable and reliable services (30 days without an outage)
In the spectrum of service reliability, this rates low. I expect this will improve over time.
Who can get a Starlink System today?
With the global demand for starlink service, it’s uncertain how long it will take you to get the service. Users in the Starlink Reddit group report 2022 and 2023 delivery dates, and some report their delivery dates moving out later.
Does Starlink include a Static IP Address?
Starlink business does include a Static IP address.
Home Starlink does not include a Static IP Address.
If you host anything (website, server, data) at your office, a static IP address helps remote connectivity. If you require Geo-based services, or other location based applications, a static address may be required.
Can I use Starlink with trees around?
Using their app you can choose a good location for your dish, but if your property has old tall trees, you might need to use a tower mount, and build a tower. This becomes more complicated and expensive.
Business considerations
Now that you understand the technology upsides and downsides, how does that relate to my (your) business?
Conclusion
The business fit for Starlink technology is simple in rural and remote Canada. This is an option to consider when looking for business high speed Internet.
Today, Starlink can replace or augment a rural business Internet connection, but with the frequent outages and uncertain wait times, it won’t be a good fit for everyone. Our simple advice is to look for a secondary provider to run in parallel, such as DSL, GEO Satellite, or cable Internet , to assure your business never is disconnected.
I hope this article helped you look at different aspects of the Starlink satellite Internet, and you are ready to make a decision for your business.
If you see any errors, or have experienced the service yourself, please leave a comment on your experience!
