Starlink Residential vs Roam: Which Plan Should You Get?
Residential vs Roam in 2027: fixed home internet vs portable data, pricing, Standby Mode, and which plan still qualifies for the $100 Starlink referral.
The two plans most people actually choose are Residential and Roam. One is built for a single address with unlimited data. The other travels with you, meters data on the lower tiers, and can pause when you do not need it. Both can qualify for Starlink’s $100 referral reward. Business plans cannot.
This comparison walks through who each plan is for, what you give up, and how to pick before you check out.
Order the right plan with our Starlink referral link
Quick Comparison
- Residential: one service address, unlimited data, household use, address-based pricing
- Roam: portable, works in motion with the right setup, 100GB / 300GB / Unlimited tiers, pause with Standby Mode
- Referral eligible: yes for both, on a personal account, when you order through a referral link on starlink.com
- Not referral eligible: Business, Priority, Enterprise, and company-named accounts
Starlink Residential: Best for a Fixed Address
Residential is the classic home broadband product. You register one service address. The dish stays there. Data is unlimited, which matters if your household streams, games, runs cameras, or uploads large files all month.
Choose Residential if you:
- Live or work at one address most of the year
- Need unlimited data without watching a gigabyte counter
- Want the closest thing Starlink offers to “set it and forget it” home internet
- Are replacing slow DSL, weak fixed wireless, or unreliable rural cable
Watch-outs:
- Pricing and available speed tiers depend on your address
- Moving the dish to a second property is not what this plan is for
- The 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps tiers are only offered in select areas
Recent U.S. Residential list prices (October 2026 publication): about $55, $85, and $130 for 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, and Max where those tiers appear. Confirm after you enter your address. More detail is in our Starlink pricing guide.
Starlink Roam: Best When the Dish Moves
Roam is the travel and portability plan. You can take the kit between sites, use it on the road, and (with a proper mount) keep connectivity while moving. Lower tiers include a monthly data allotment. Unlimited Roam removes that ceiling at a higher monthly price.
U.S. Roam prices for 2027:
- 100GB: $55/month
- 300GB: $80/month
- Unlimited: $175/month
Choose Roam if you:
- Travel in an RV, van, or trailer
- Need internet on job sites before utilities are live
- Work markets, festivals, or pop-ups where venue Wi-Fi is unreliable
- Want a portable backup dish you can store and redeploy
- Like the option to pause billing with Standby Mode in the off season
Watch-outs:
- 100GB and 300GB run out if you stream or upload heavily
- Unlimited Roam costs more than most Residential tiers
- Standby Mode is great for savings, but pausing before two billing cycles can void a pending referral
For RV, contractor, and travel setups, see Starlink Roam for RVs, job sites, and travel.
Which Plan Should You Pick?
- Working from home at one address: Residential.
- Primary internet that sometimes travels: Roam (size the data tier to your usage).
- Backup dish for storms while cable stays primary: Roam Mini or a Roam kit you can park and power, or Residential if the backup stays mounted at the shop. See our backup internet guide.
- Storefront that needs a public IP, SLA, and priority support: look at Business, and skip the referral math.
If you are torn between Residential and Roam Unlimited, ask one question: will this dish sleep at the same address every night for the next year? If yes, Residential. If no, Roam.
Referral Eligibility: Residential and Roam Both Count
Starlink’s referral program pays $100 to you and $100 to the referrer when a brand-new customer orders through a referral link, activates an eligible Residential or Roam plan, and stays subscribed for two full billing cycles. Cash or service credit are both options where Starlink offers cash.
That means your plan choice should follow how you use the internet, not which one “unlocks” the reward. Both unlock it. Business does not.
Full rules, cash setup, and timing: Starlink referral program 2027.
Start your order with our referral link
Residential vs Roam FAQ
Can I switch from Roam to Residential later?
Starlink lets many customers change plans in account settings, but availability depends on your address and product rules. Check your account before you assume a swap is instant.
Is Roam slower than Residential?
Both use the same satellite network. Priority and congestion can differ by product and location. Your local experience matters more than the marketing label.
Does Standby Mode stop my referral?
If you drop to Standby (or cancel) before two full billing cycles, the referral typically does not mature. Stay active through that window first.
Which plan is better for a small business?
Home-based owners often land on Residential. Mobile trades and event vendors usually land on Roam. Offices that need SLAs should evaluate Business even without the referral.
Related Guides
Order Residential or Roam
Enter your address, pick the plan that matches how the dish will actually be used, and order on starlink.com. If you are a new customer, use our link so the $100 referral can attach:
https://starlink.com?referral=RC-DF-13325570-49573-0
Disclaimer: This post includes a BaseLynk Starlink referral link. BaseLynk may receive a reward if a new customer signs up through it and qualifies. BaseLynk is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a reseller of Starlink or SpaceX. Reward amounts, eligibility, plans, and pricing are controlled by Starlink and can change without notice. Always confirm current terms and prices on Starlink’s site before you order. Starlink is a trademark of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
