Starlink has changed the internet game in Canada, offering high-speed satellite internet access to every inch of the country, including the rural areas of the Great North. In addition to their residential service, Starlink offers mobile internet access with Starlink Roam, formerly known as Starlink RV, which promises low-latency internet for digital nomads, campers, and anyone else who’s constantly on the go.

Starlink’s plans come with a number of options and add-ons, which can make for a confusing experience if you’re unfamiliar with the tech-specific terminology. That’s where we come in.

In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about Starlink Residential and Starlink Roam, including cost, equipment, and speeds. If you’ve already got Starlink and want to switch plans, we’ll also explain how to do that in just a few quick steps.

Plan options

Starlink’s satellite internet can be delivered in a number of different packages, with three main connection types available:

• Residential, for stationary internet
• Roam, for mobile internet
• Boats, for high-speed internet at sea

If you’re planning on using Starlink at a single location, you should use Starlink Residential. If you’re planning on traveling–whether it’s for camping, roadtripping, or hopping from one Airbnb to the next–you should select Starlink Roam.

Whether you choose Starlink Residential or Starlink Roam, you have the ability to select a base level plan (Standard for Residential, Mobile for Roam) or a Priority plan (simply called Priority for Residential and called Mobile Priority for Roam).

As the name implies, Priority plans receive prioritized data and speeds, leading to an overall faster internet connection. The Standard and Mobile plans, in turn, are deprioritized.

Cost

Starlink’s monthly price is rather affordable, especially considering its impressive speeds in remote areas. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that the cost of Starlink’s equipment is a hefty upfront cost that outweighs what you’d pay a more typical ISP.

The standard Starlink hardware, which costs $99–$499 in Canada, is recommended for the base level Residential and Roam plans. The device is effectively a dish on a tripod that can be affixed to the roof of a house, placed on a deck, or set in any spot with a clear view of the sky. The hardware is weather-resistant and even heats up during snow storms, protecting your internet connection from being interrupted by the elements. We're hopeful that the Mini Roam, a more compact dish and router that's already available in the U.S., eventually makes its way up to Canada.

The Flat High Performance hardware, which costs $3,170, is recommended for the Residential and Roam Priority plans. Unlike the standard hardware, the Flat High Performance piece is aerodynamic and can be installed on the top of an RV, allowing for internet connectivity while you’re in motion.

If you’re hoping to pull a fast one and bring your Starlink Residential on the road with you and set it up when you stop to camp, we don’t recommend it. Starlink states that the portability for Residential plans is fixed. They might not realize you’re using your Residential plan to Roam, but if they spot your loophole you could have your service disconnected.

Coverage

Starlink now offers coverage throughout all of Canada. Yes, all of Canada–even the stretches of the northern wilderness that are mostly unoccupied. Whether you’re signing up for Starlink Residential or Starlink Roam, you can count on coverage so long as you stay on the continent.

If you’re looking to take your Starlink Roam outside of North America, you’ll need to sign up for Starlink Roam Global, which allows you to use your Starlink internet wherever SpaceX has satellites and the ability to provide service. Starlink claims they provide high-speed internet that’s “available almost anywhere on Earth” and it’s not hyperbole: Starlink is available through North America, Australia, and much of Europe and South America. It’s also listed as “Coming Soon” in Africa and Asia.

The service is unavailable in Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela.

Speeds

Starlink offers high-speed satellite internet, though the exact speeds largely depend on the plan you select. Priority plans, whether it’s the Starlink Residential Priority or the Starlink Roam Mobile Priority, offer faster speeds than their base level counterparts, with downloads up to 220Mbps.

All Starlink plans promise unlimited data, though that definition comes with an important asterisk: while base level plans feature unlimited data, they’re deprioritzed (or slowed) in favor of users who pay for Priority plans, which offer prioritized, full-speed data.

Starlink suggests that single family households don’t need anything faster than what Starlink Residential Standard offers. Likewise, the company says Starlink Roam Mobile is ideal for campers and RVs. The Priority plans, meanwhile, are recommended for businesses and travelers looking for ultra-reliable internet connectivity. Still, if you want to experience the full power Starlink’s satellite internet, without any slowdowns or interruption, then you should purchase a Starlink Residential Priority or Starlink Roam Mobile Priority.

Starlink Mini

Starlink recently announced Starlink Mini, a mobile dish and Wi-Fi router combination that's slightly thicker than an iPad (298.5 x 259 x 38.5mm) and weighs only 1.1kg. Despite its small size, it can deliver speeds over 100Mbps.

The Mini will be an add-on to Residential plans, like a more compact version of Starlink Roam. As its name implies, it's much more portable than the typical Roam dish, which means it's ideal for backpackers and campers. The biggest difference is in data: Starlink Mini will only provide up to 50GB of mobile data per month compared to the standard Roam's unlimited allotment. We're hopeful that will change as time goes on.

Starlink Mini is not yet available in Canada, though it is available in beta stages in select US markets. We're excited to see it make its way north.

Switching from Roam to Residential

Before Starlink was widely available for households in Canada, more than a few Canadians purchased Starlink Roam and then, er, parked it. If you’re now looking to convert your Starlink Roam to a Residential plan so you can save on your monthly bill. Luckily, doing so only takes a few quick steps.

1. Open the Starlink app.
2. Click on Account.
3. Scroll to the bottom.
4. Click on Manage Subscription.
5. Click on Change Service Plan.

From there, you’ll be able to select a new plan.

Starlink internet speed test

Starlink Residential promises faster speeds than Starlink Roam. Want to check to see if Starlink is holding up their end of the deal? If you want to check your current internet Starlink internet speed before converting your plan, you can do that with our Starlink internet speed test.

Rural internet providers in Canada

Starlink isn’t the only rural internet provider in Canada. Xplore, Bell, Telus, and SaskTel also offer options for those living outside of the country’s major metropolitan areas. You can check out some of the best of those plans below.

Rural internet plans in Canada

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#1	Xplore	Xplore LTE 25 Truly Unlimited Data Fixed Wireless 25/5 Mbps $49.99/mo Go	$49.99/mo	Go
#2	Bell	Bell Wireless Home Internet 25 Fixed Wireless 25/5 Mbps $50/mo Go	$50/mo	Go
#3	Telus	Telus Smart Hub 50 Fixed Wireless 50/50 Mbps Contract (24 mths) $99/mo Go	$99/mo (plan + modem)	Go

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Xplore is the other satellite internet provider in Canada. Xplore’s plans offer lower prices, but they also feature slower speeds and less data: the provider’s best plan, the Satellite 350, offers 25Mbps downloads and 350GB of data for $79.99/month.

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