Starlink just rolled out its most affordable internet plan so far, a new $40 per month option called Residential 100Mbps. The plan quietly appeared in the company’s documentation, as reported by PCMag.
At $40 per month, the plan comes in well below Starlink’s existing options in the US. Residential Lite costs $80 per month, and the standard Residential plan sits at $120. The catch is in the name: download speeds on the new tier are capped at 100Mbps. According to SpaceX, it’s meant for smaller households that don’t need the faster throughput available on higher tiers.
Starlink’s website already lists expected speeds for the other plans. Residential Lite is being advertised at around 250Mbps, while the main Residential plan is positioned at 400Mbps or higher. Real world speeds vary based on congestion, but the differences in each tier’s expectations are clear.
Even so, the new 100Mbps option comes with unlimited data and no cap on upload speeds. SpaceX says it’s ideal for homes with two or three people who mostly browse, take video calls, and stream in HD. It’s not aimed at heavy users, large families, or anyone who frequently downloads big games or streams in 4K.
SpaceX also plans to let existing customers switch to the new plan, but only if it shows up in their account as an available option. For now, availability is limited. PCMag tested dozens of addresses on Starlink’s site and only saw the plan appear in parts of Nebraska. A computer science professor at the University of Victoria shared a screenshot showing the plan offered there, while a few Reddit users spotted it in Minnesota and Nevada.
If the option expands nationwide, it could help Starlink reach more price sensitive users, especially as the company becomes more aggressive with discounts and promotions. Starlink recently crossed 2 million active customers in the US, and a $40 tier could accelerate that growth.
The plan could also help SpaceX compete with traditional ISPs, many of which charge around $80 per month for comparable speeds. Still, in regions where Starlink’s network is congested, the company appears to only offer its standard Residential tier, keeping capacity available for higher paying users.
