Starlink Global Roam | 8 critical facts before you buy
Starlink Roam is Starlink’s portable internet service designed for people on the move. Whether you are taking your RV across the Prairies, travelling internationally, camping at a backcountry lake, or working from a van, Roam lets you bring high-speed satellite internet with you. It works in 150+ countries, supports in-motion use up to 160 km/h, and you can pause it between trips for just $7/month.
This guide covers everything Canadians need to know about Starlink Roam and Global Roam in 2026, including current pricing, how the plans actually work, the two-month travel rule, and which plan is right for your situation.
Which Roam Plan Is Right for You?
Starlink offers three Roam tiers plus a Standby option, and the right choice depends on how you travel, how much data you use, and whether you leave Canada. Answer a few quick questions to get a recommendation.
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Roam Plans and Pricing (Canada 2026)
Starlink restructured its Roam plans significantly in January 2025 and again in January 2026. Here is the current Canadian lineup as of February 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Cost (CAD) | Data | Where It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roam 100GB | $70 | 100GB high-speed, then unlimited at under 1 Mbps | All Starlink-licensed countries, land + coastal waters |
| Roam Unlimited | $189 | Truly unlimited, no throttling | All Starlink-licensed countries, land + coastal waters |
| Global Roam | ~$289 (≈$200 USD) | Truly unlimited | Worldwide on land, including unlicensed countries |
| Standby Mode | $7 | Unlimited at ~0.5 Mbps | Home address only |
What changed in 2025 and 2026
If you have been following Starlink Roam since its early days (when it was called "Starlink for RVs"), a lot has changed. Here are the big updates:
- Roam 100GB replaces Roam 50GB (Jan 2026): Starlink doubled the data allowance from 50GB to 100GB at no extra cost. After hitting your cap, you now get unlimited low-speed data (under 1 Mbps) instead of being cut off. The old ability to buy extra high-speed data blocks was removed.
- All Roam plans work worldwide on land (Jan 2025): The old "continent restriction" on Regional Roam is gone. You can now use Roam 100GB or Roam Unlimited in any Starlink-licensed country, not just your home continent. The separate Global Roam plan is only needed for unlicensed countries.
- In-motion use now included (Jan 2025): All Roam plans support use while driving at up to 160 km/h (100 MPH). Previously this required a separate Mobile Priority opt-in at $2/GB.
- Free pause replaced by Standby Mode (Sep 2025): You can no longer pause your plan for free. Standby Mode costs $7 CAD/month and provides low-speed connectivity (~0.5 Mbps), enough for smart home devices and basic messaging.
- Roam 10GB plan discontinued (Jan 2026): The old $35 CAD/month Roam 10GB plan was officially ended. Existing subscribers received a two-month discount on Roam 100GB as a transition offer.
Ocean use requires a different plan. Roam plans only work on land and coastal waters (up to 12 nautical miles from shore). For open-ocean use on boats or ships, you need a Mobile Priority plan starting at $250 USD/month. The old option to "opt in" to Mobile Priority data while on a Roam plan has been removed. See our Mobile Priority / Maritime guide for details.
How Starlink Roam Works
Starlink Roam uses the same satellite network as Residential Starlink. Your portable dish communicates with SpaceX's constellation of 7,000+ low-earth orbit satellites, which relay your data to ground stations connected to the internet. The technology is identical, but with a few key differences for Roam users.
Network priority
Roam traffic is deprioritized compared to Residential users at their registered home address. In practice, this means that during peak evening hours (roughly 7 to 11 PM) in a congested area, Residential users get bandwidth first and Roam users may see reduced speeds. Outside of peak hours or in areas that are not congested, you will typically see the same 50 to 200+ Mbps speeds as Residential users.
How speeds compare to Residential
| Residential (at home) | Roam (travelling) | |
|---|---|---|
| Download speed | 100 to 400+ Mbps (plan dependent) | 50 to 200+ Mbps typical |
| Upload speed | 10 to 30 Mbps | 5 to 20 Mbps |
| Latency | 25 to 40ms | 25 to 60ms |
| Priority | Standard or Max priority | Deprioritized during congestion |
For most activities, including streaming, video calls, browsing, and even casual gaming, Roam speeds are more than sufficient. The deprioritization is rarely noticeable unless you are in a heavily congested Starlink cell during peak hours.
Hardware: Standard Kit vs. Mini
You can use either Starlink hardware option for Roam. The choice depends on how you travel and how portable you need the setup to be.
| Standard Kit (Gen 3) | Mini Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349+ CAD | $249+ CAD (as low as $199 on sale) |
| Weight | ~4.2 kg (dish + router) | ~1.1 kg (dish with built-in Wi-Fi) |
| Size | Rectangular, ~50 × 30 cm | Roughly laptop-sized, ~30 × 26 cm |
| Router | Separate Gen 3 (Wi-Fi 6, 2 Ethernet ports) | Built-in Wi-Fi 5, no Ethernet port |
| Power | 50 to 75 watts (AC wall outlet) | 20 to 40 watts (USB-C compatible) |
| Motorized mount | Yes, auto-aligns | No, manual pointing needed |
| Best for | RVs, permanent vehicle installs, cottages | Backpacking, car camping, travel bags |
Residential Max perk for travellers: If you have Starlink Residential Max ($140/month) at home, you get a free Mini Kit rental plus 50% off Roam plans. That means Roam 100GB drops to $35/month and Roam Unlimited drops to $94.50/month. This is an outstanding deal if you want internet at home and on the road. See our cottage and seasonal property guide for how to set this up.
The Two-Month Rule and International Travel
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of Starlink Roam, so let us break it down clearly.
How it works
Starlink allows you to use your Roam plan in any licensed country worldwide on land. However, if you stay in a country different from your registered service address for more than two consecutive months per trip, Starlink may require you to update your registered address to that country. This is for tax and regulatory compliance purposes.
What this means in practice
- Short trips are no problem. A two-week vacation to Mexico, a month-long cross-border RV trip to the US, or a six-week European tour all fall within the two-month window.
- Snowbirds need to plan ahead. If you spend four months in Arizona or Florida each winter, you may need to update your address after two months. If the monthly rate is lower in that country, great. If it is higher, your bill will increase to match the local rate.
- Returning "home" resets the clock. The two-month limit is "per trip," so coming back to Canada before heading out again starts a new two-month window.
- Global Roam relaxes this somewhat. Global Roam is designed for long-term international use and can work in unlicensed countries where standard Roam is blocked. If you travel to multiple continents for extended periods, this may be the better option despite the higher cost.
Important for Canadian snowbirds: If you winter in the US for three or more months, be aware that updating your address to a US location will change your billing to US rates. US Roam Unlimited is $165 USD/month (~$228 CAD), which is actually more than the $189 CAD you pay with a Canadian address. Consider whether it makes more sense to keep your Canadian address and manage the two-month rule, or switch and accept the rate difference.
Using Starlink While Moving
One of the best improvements to Roam in 2025 was the addition of in-motion support on all plans. Previously, you needed to opt into expensive Mobile Priority data ($2/GB) to use Starlink while driving. Now it is included.
What works while moving
- Supported speeds: Up to 160 km/h (100 MPH)
- Standard Kit: Can be permanently mounted on an RV roof or vehicle. The motorized dish auto-aligns as you drive. This is the better option for consistent in-motion connectivity.
- Mini Kit: Works in motion but has no motorized mount, so performance is less consistent. Best placed flat on a dashboard or mounted with a third-party bracket. Expect more signal interruptions than the Standard Kit while moving.
- Realistic expectations: Expect some brief dropouts when passing under bridges, through dense tree cover, or in mountain valleys. Streaming music, podcasts, and navigation work well. Video calls may have occasional hiccups. Competitive gaming while driving is not recommended (and hopefully you are not the one driving).
Mounting for RVs
For the best in-motion experience, permanently mount the Standard dish on your RV or vehicle roof. Starlink sells official mounting accessories, and third-party options from companies like Panorama and various Canadian retailers are also available. The Standard dish is rated IP54 for weather resistance and handles highway driving, rain, and wind without issues. For a list of Canadian installation services, see our Starlink installers directory.
Trip Cost Calculator
Planning a trip and wondering what Starlink Roam will actually cost? Use this calculator to estimate your total cost including hardware and monthly fees.
Roam Trip Cost Estimator
Standby Mode: Pausing Between Trips
When you are not travelling, you do not want to pay full Roam rates for a dish sitting in the garage. Standby Mode is Starlink's solution.
- Cost: $7 CAD/month ($5 USD)
- What it provides: Unlimited data at roughly 0.5 Mbps. Enough for basic messaging, smart home sensors, security cameras (low resolution), and keeping the dish firmware updated.
- Switching: You can switch between Standby and any Roam plan through the Starlink app at any time. Changes take effect immediately. Switching to a higher-priced plan triggers a prorated charge for the remainder of the billing cycle.
- What it replaced: Before September 2025, Roam users could pause their plans for free with no time limit. That feature is no longer available.
Alternative to Standby: cancel and reactivate. If you do not need any connectivity during the off-season, you can cancel your service entirely and reactivate later. However, there is a risk that your local cell may be at capacity when you try to reactivate, which could mean a wait or a demand surcharge. Standby Mode guarantees you keep your service slot.
Starlink Travel Packing Checklist
- Starlink dish (Standard or Mini) and base/mount
- Power cable or USB-C cable (Mini)
- Power source: wall outlet, 12V vehicle adapter, or portable battery
- Starlink app installed and logged in (for setup, obstruction check, plan switching)
- Ethernet cable if using Standard Kit with wired devices
- Mounting hardware for RV roof (if permanent install)
- Tripod or flat surface for temporary setups
- Check Starlink coverage map for your destination before departure
- Verify your plan: switch from Standby to active Roam in the app before you leave
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As of January 2025, all Roam plans (including Roam 100GB and Roam Unlimited) work in any Starlink-licensed country worldwide on land. The US, Mexico, and most of Europe, South America, and Oceania are all licensed. You only need Global Roam for countries where Starlink does not have an operating license but the satellites still provide coverage.
Yes. You can switch between any Starlink plan through the app or your account dashboard at starlink.com. If switching to a higher-priced plan, you pay a prorated amount for the rest of the billing cycle. If switching to a lower plan, the change takes effect at the next billing cycle. Many Canadians switch to Residential during the winter months and Roam during summer travel season.
Your speeds drop to under 1 Mbps for the rest of the billing cycle, but you are not disconnected. This low-speed data is unlimited and sufficient for basic tasks like messaging, email, and maps. Starlink sends notifications at 80% and 100% of your data cap. If you need high-speed data back immediately, you can upgrade to Roam Unlimited in the app (prorated charge applies). The old option to purchase additional high-speed data blocks has been removed.
Yes. The same Standard Kit hardware works for both Residential and Roam plans. Just switch your plan in the app. You can also use the Mini Kit on any Roam plan. This was changed in early 2025; previously the Roam 50GB plan was Mini-only.
For most remote work, yes. Video calls (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet), cloud apps, email, and even VPN connections work well on Roam with 50 to 200 Mbps speeds and 25 to 60ms latency. The main risk is deprioritization during peak hours in congested areas, which could briefly slow your connection. If reliable work connectivity is critical, Roam Unlimited provides a smoother experience than the 100GB plan (no risk of hitting your cap mid-workday).
On coastal waters (within 12 nautical miles of shore) and inland lakes and rivers, yes. On the open ocean, no. Ocean use requires a Mobile Priority plan starting at $250 USD/month ($357+ CAD) with different hardware. The old ability to temporarily opt into Mobile Priority data while on a Roam plan has been removed. See our Maritime / Mobile Priority guide for ocean-going options.
Visit starlink.com/roam and enter your shipping address. Choose your hardware (Standard Kit or Mini), select your Roam plan, and complete checkout. Billing starts 14 days after your order ships. You get a 30-day satisfaction guarantee with a full hardware refund if you are not happy with the service. If you already own Starlink hardware, just change your plan in the app.
No. All Roam plans are month-to-month with no contract and no cancellation fees. You can switch plans, switch to Standby Mode, or cancel entirely at any time through the Starlink app or website.
The Bottom Line
Starlink Roam has matured into a genuinely practical solution for Canadians who need internet on the go. The 2025 and 2026 updates removed most of the old frustrations: you can now use Roam worldwide on land, connect while driving, and get 100GB for $70/month. The Mini Kit at $249 makes it more affordable than ever to get started.
If you are an RV traveller, a seasonal snowbird, a cottage-goer, or a digital nomad, Roam gives you reliable high-speed internet in places where nothing else works. The only real downside is that pausing is no longer free ($7/month Standby), and heavy users will want the $189/month Unlimited plan to avoid hitting the 100GB cap.
For most Canadian travellers, Roam 100GB at $70/month is the sweet spot. For full-time road warriors, Roam Unlimited at $189/month is the way to go. And if you already have Starlink at home on the Residential Max plan, the 50% Roam discount makes portable Starlink an absolute no-brainer.
All pricing in Canadian dollars unless noted, verified from Starlink.com and Canadian sources
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