Starlink Roam vs Residential in Canada: Which Plan Should You Choose?
A practical Canadian comparison for rural homes, cottages, RVs, campers, and anyone deciding whether portability is worth paying for.
Updated August 2026 | No affiliate linksQuick Answer: Residential for One Place, Roam for Travel
Choose Starlink Residential when the dish will stay at one rural home, farm, cabin, or cottage. Choose Starlink Roam when you plan to carry the dish between campsites, RV parks, seasonal stops, or different properties.
The plans can cost the same at the entry level, but they solve different problems. Residential 100 and Roam 100GB were both $75 per month during this check. Residential gives a fixed address unlimited household data with a 100 Mbps plan ceiling. Roam gives portability, but only 100GB of fast data at that price.
The simplest rule: Pay for Roam because you need to move Starlink, not because the name sounds more flexible. If the dish will stay at one property, start with Residential.
New to the service? Read our complete Starlink satellite internet guide. Current prices and offer details are also tracked in the Starlink plans and pricing guide.
Starlink Residential and Roam Compared
Starlink used names such as RV, Mobile, and Mobile Regional for earlier travel plans. The current consumer name is Roam. When an older guide says Starlink Mobile, it is usually describing a previous version of Roam rather than a separate service you can still order.
| Feature | Starlink Residential | Starlink Roam |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Household internet at one registered address | Portable internet at changing locations |
| Canadian prices | $75, $115, or $150 per month | $75, $110, or $200 per month |
| Data | Unlimited standard data | 100GB, 300GB, or Unlimited options |
| Expected download speed | 80 to 100, 80 to 200, or 150 to 350 Mbps depending on tier | 65 to 260 Mbps while fast data is available |
| After the data allowance | No monthly data allowance on these tiers | About 500 Kbps on Roam 100GB and Roam 300GB |
| Use while moving | Not permitted | Up to 160 km per hour in authorized locations |
| Travel outside Canada | Not a travel plan | Rules depend on the selected Roam tier and regional group |
| Standby Mode | May be available on eligible accounts | May be available on eligible accounts |
| Best fit | Rural home, fixed cottage, farm, or cabin | Camping, RV travel, mobile work, or moving between properties |
Plan limits can look like a technical problem: A Residential 100 result near 100 Mbps may mean the connection is working correctly. The same is true near 200 Mbps on Residential 200. If a capped Roam plan drops near 500 Kbps, check the account data meter before moving the dish or replacing hardware.
What Starlink Residential Is Best For
Residential is the normal household choice. It is meant for personal or family internet at one registered address. That could be a rural house, farm home, cabin, or cottage where the dish stays installed.
Residential 100
Residential 100 costs $75 per month and is capped at 100 Mbps. Starlink lists an expected range of 80 to 100 Mbps download and 15 to 35 Mbps upload. It is enough for many couples and smaller households, but the limit can become noticeable when several people stream, download, and join video calls at once.
Residential 200
Residential 200 costs $115 per month. The expected download range is 80 to 200 Mbps, with uploads of 15 to 35 Mbps. This tier gives a busy household more room without paying for Residential Max.
Residential Max
Residential Max costs $150 per month. Starlink lists expected downloads of 150 to 350 Mbps and uploads of 20 to 40 Mbps. It is the tier to compare when several heavy users share the connection or when the lower plan ceilings are genuinely limiting the household.
Rural home
Choose Residential for everyday streaming, school, work, and calls when fibre, cable, or good fixed wireless is unavailable.
Fixed homeBest valueCottage or cabin
Choose Residential when the dish will remain at one cottage for the season or throughout the year.
CottageOne addressFarm or acreage
Use Residential for the household connection. A commercial operation may need a Priority or business plan instead.
Farm homeHouseholdWork from home
Residential is suitable when work happens from the household connection rather than a separate commercial site.
Remote workDaily useResidential is not a travel plan: Old articles may mention a portability option added to Residential service. New customers should not rely on that advice. Choose Roam when regular travel is part of the plan.
Our Starlink for Cottages guide covers seasonal setup and tree problems in more detail.
What Starlink Roam Is Best For
Roam is the portable service. Choose it when the dish needs to travel with you. It suits RVs, vans, campsites, fishing trips, temporary stops, and people who move the same kit between more than one property.
Roam 100GB
Roam 100GB costs $75 per month. It fits occasional trips, basic browsing, messages, maps, and some streaming. Once the 100GB allowance is used, service continues at about 500 Kbps until the next billing cycle. That is far too slow for normal video streaming or reliable remote work.
Roam 300GB
Roam 300GB costs $110 per month. This is often the sensible middle choice for families, longer cottage stays, and regular video calls. It also falls to about 500 Kbps after the 300GB allowance is used.
Roam Unlimited
Roam Unlimited costs $200 per month. It is expensive, but it removes the monthly fast data allowance. This is the safer option for full time RV travel, frequent remote work, heavy streaming, and households using the dish for weeks at a time.
Roam speed: Starlink lists 65 to 260 Mbps download and 15 to 35 Mbps upload while fast data is available. Actual results depend on local congestion, trees, weather, the hardware connection, and time of day.
Use while driving or boating
Roam supports use while moving up to 160 km per hour in authorized locations. The dish needs a safe mount and open sky. Tunnels, bridges, trees, and nearby buildings can interrupt service. Residential is not permitted for use while moving.
Travel outside Canada
The current rules are narrower than many old Roam guides suggest. Capped Roam plans are limited to the registered country or an allowed regional group. Roam Unlimited can include travel outside the home country for up to 30 days at a time. Check the current coverage map and travel terms before crossing a border because regional groups and authorized locations can change.
For portable hardware details, read our Starlink Mini Canada guide. The RV Wi Fi guide covers the connection inside a trailer or motorhome.
Simple Starlink Plan Chooser
Select the situation closest to yours. The result is a starting point, not a quote. Your account may show different offers or hardware terms.
Real Canadian Use Cases
Remote home with no fibre or cable
Start with Residential. A fixed household should not pay $200 for Roam Unlimited just to keep the dish in one yard. Pick the Residential speed tier that fits the number of users.
Cottage used all summer
Start with Residential if it is available. If the dish stays mounted from May through October, Residential usually offers better value. Standby Mode may help between seasons on an eligible account, but it is not normal broadband.
One dish moved between home and cottage
Choose Roam. It gives the same kit permission to operate at changing locations. Remember that the place without the dish will have no Starlink connection.
Home must stay online while you are camping
You need two connections. Keep the home on its normal internet service and use a separate Roam line for travel. One dish cannot serve two locations at once. This may mean home cable or Residential service plus a Mini on Roam.
Weekend camper or occasional RV user
Compare Roam 100GB first. It can cover light use for a few trips. Choose Roam 300GB if several people will stream, join calls, or stay away for longer periods.
Full time RV traveller or remote worker
Roam Unlimited is usually the safer fit. A small data allowance becomes stressful when work, streaming, updates, and multiple devices all depend on the connection.
Commercial site or lodge
Compare Priority or business service. Customer Wi Fi, payment systems, work camps, cameras, and staff connections create different support and data needs. Read our Starlink Business Canada guide before choosing a household plan.
Current Canadian Prices and Expected Speeds
The table below uses Canadian plan information checked on August 26, 2026. A plan can be unavailable at a particular address or account. Promotions may also change the final price.
| Plan | Monthly price | Expected download | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 | $75 | 80 to 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps plan ceiling |
| Residential 200 | $115 | 80 to 200 Mbps | 200 Mbps plan ceiling |
| Residential Max | $150 | 150 to 350 Mbps | Fixed address and local network conditions |
| Roam 100GB | $75 | 65 to 260 Mbps | About 500 Kbps after 100GB |
| Roam 300GB | $110 | 65 to 260 Mbps | About 500 Kbps after 300GB |
| Roam Unlimited | $200 | 65 to 260 Mbps | Different network treatment during congestion |
| Standby Mode | Check account | Up to 500 Kbps | Basic stationary connectivity only |
Residential does not automatically mean faster: Roam can test above 100 Mbps while Residential 100 cannot. The real advantage of Residential is its fixed service fit, unlimited standard data, and usually better value at one address. Pick the speed tier separately from the service type.
How much can 100GB or 300GB handle?
Starlink says standard definition video can use about 0.7GB per hour, while high definition video can use 1GB or more. At those rates, 100GB may cover plenty of light browsing but disappear quickly with nightly streaming. Game downloads and cloud backups can use even more in a short period.
Use the Starlink account meter during the first month. It gives a better picture than guessing. If a family regularly approaches 100GB, the $35 step from Roam 100GB to Roam 300GB may be worthwhile. Roam Unlimited is another $90 above the 300GB tier, so it makes sense mainly when the larger allowance still feels restrictive.
What Standby Mode really means
Standby Mode keeps an eligible line connected at up to 500 Kbps in each direction. It is useful for basic messages, light monitoring, and keeping the account ready. It is not a cheap version of Residential or Roam. Streaming, normal video calls, gaming, and large downloads are poor fits.
Use our Starlink speed guide if your result is below the correct range after plan limits have been ruled out.
Can You Switch Between Residential and Roam?
Many customers can change plans from the Starlink account. Do not assume every switch is available immediately. Residential capacity at the new address, the hardware, current account status, and the original promotion can all change what appears.
Residential to Roam
This can make sense when travel becomes part of your routine. Check the new data allowance, effective date, and any promotion term before confirming.
Roam to Residential
This can save money when travel ends and the dish settles at one address. Residential must be available at that service location.
Standby or cancel
Standby keeps basic service active. Cancelling avoids the monthly holding cost, but later reactivation and the same promotion may not be guaranteed.
Rental or discounted hardware
A free, rented, or discounted kit can carry return requirements, commitment terms, or fees when the attached plan changes.
Before pressing confirm: Read the effective date, prorated charge, hardware status, and any minimum term. Take a screenshot of the offer. Starlink plan names and account choices can change faster than an article can be updated.
Standard Kit or Starlink Mini?
The service plan and the hardware are separate decisions. The Standard kit is usually better for a permanent home or cottage. The Mini is easier to carry, uses less power, and includes its Wi Fi router inside the dish.
| Hardware | Best fit | Important difference |
|---|---|---|
| Standard kit | Home, fixed cottage, farm, or cabin | Larger setup with a separate router and stronger indoor coverage |
| Starlink Mini | Camping, RV travel, portable backup, or temporary stops | Compact 1.10 kg dish with integrated Wi Fi 5 and lower power use |
| Performance hardware | Commercial, marine, or demanding mobile use | Higher cost and usually unnecessary for a household |
A good installation matters more than buying the most expensive plan. Trees and roof edges can interrupt any Starlink service. If a permanent mount is difficult, compare our Starlink installer directory.
Related Starlink Guides
Starlink Plans and Pricing
See the full Canadian price table and current plan details.
Starlink Mini Canada
Compare Mini pricing, power, speed, and portable setup.
Starlink for Cottages
Plan a seasonal connection around trees, mounting, and winter use.
Complete Starlink Guide
Learn how the service works and what new buyers should expect.
Still comparing Starlink with regular home internet?
Check fibre, cable, and good fixed wireless first. Starlink becomes most valuable where those choices are unavailable or unreliable.
Explore Home Internet GuidesQuestions About Starlink Roam and Residential
Usually. Starlink now uses Roam for its portable consumer plans. Older names such as Starlink RV, Mobile, and Mobile Regional generally refer to earlier versions of the travel service. Current prices and rules should be checked under Roam.
Choose Residential when the dish will stay at one home, farm, cabin, or cottage. Choose Roam when you will move it between campsites, RV parks, travel stops, or properties. Residential buys fixed service. Roam buys portability.
On August 26, 2026, Residential 100 cost $75 per month, Residential 200 cost $115, and Residential Max cost $150. Roam 100GB cost $75, Roam 300GB cost $110, and Roam Unlimited cost $200. Availability and promotions can vary by account and address.
It can be more consistent at a fixed address because Roam has different network treatment during congestion. The selected Residential tier also matters. Residential 100 is capped at 100 Mbps, Residential 200 at 200 Mbps, while Residential Max has a higher expected range.
Yes, especially when you visit occasionally or take the dish to other places. If Starlink will stay at one cottage for the season, Residential is usually the better starting point when it is available at that address.
Yes, but it is usually poor value if the dish never moves. Residential costs less than Roam Unlimited and is designed for a fixed address. Roam makes sense at home only when portability or plan availability justifies the extra cost.
Roam supports use while moving up to 160 km per hour in authorized locations. Residential does not. The dish needs a secure installation, open sky, compatible service, and compliance with vehicle or marine rules.
Roam 100GB suits occasional light trips. Roam 300GB gives families and regular travellers more room. Roam Unlimited is the safest choice for frequent remote work, heavy streaming, or full time RV travel.
No. Standby Mode is capped at 500 Kbps in each direction. It can handle basic messages and very light browsing, but it is not suitable for streaming, gaming, large downloads, or normal remote work.
Many customers can change plans from the Starlink account, but the available choices depend on address capacity, hardware, account status, and promotion terms. Check the effective date, any prorated charge, and any rental or commitment rule before confirming.
Last checked: August 26, 2026
Sources checked: Starlink Canada plans, Starlink service specifications, Starlink plan descriptions, and Starlink support guidance for Roam data, travel, plan changes, and use while moving.
About this guide: InternetAdvice.ca is independently operated and receives no compensation from Starlink or SpaceX.
What is the best package to have for internet when our son is at home and we are at camp?
Larry
Hi Larry, if your son needs internet at home while you are at camp, you would likely need internet at both locations. The best setup is usually to keep a regular home internet package for the house, then look at a separate camp option such as Starlink if wired internet is not available there. If you only need Starlink in one place at a time and plan to move it back and forth, a Roam plan may be worth comparing.
You can start with our Starlink cottage guide here:
https://internetadvice.ca/starlink-for-cottages/