Which Starlink Plan Should You Buy? Mini, Standard, Roam, and Residential Explained

Starlink is simple once you stop comparing every plan at once. The right answer depends on where you need internet: one fixed home, a home plus occasional travel, or everywhere you go.

Use case	Best starting point	Why
Home internet	Standard dish + Residential	Best speed and coverage at one fixed address
Home plus travel	Residential Max	Home service plus travel flexibility in one setup
Full-time travel	Starlink Mini + Roam	Portable, lower power, not tied to one address
Backup internet	Starlink Mini + standby	Easy to store and reactivate when parked, but not meant for in-motion use

Start with your use case

Do not start with the pricing table. Start with the way you need internet. If the dish will live at one fixed address, you are a home internet user. If you have a house but travel often, you are a home-plus-travel user. If your home is an RV, van, boat, truck, or job site, you are a mobile user.

The Standard dish is for fixed setups

The Standard dish is the workhorse. It is larger, uses more power, and pairs with a separate router. That makes it a better fit for houses, cabins, fixed RV sites, shops, or any location where power is not a major concern and you want the strongest everyday home setup.

Starlink Mini is for mobility

Starlink Mini is smaller, lighter, and has the router built into the dish. It usually uses far less power than the Standard dish, which is why travelers like it. You can run it from vehicle power, USB-C, portable batteries, or a small off-grid power system.

Residential is for one address

Residential plans are built for fixed service at a registered address. They are usually the better fit when you need reliable internet at home and are not trying to move the dish from place to place. Starlink currently lists multiple Residential tiers, including lower-speed tiers in some areas and a higher-end Max option.

Roam is for travel

Roam plans are built for using Starlink in different locations. They make sense for RVs, vans, boats, weekend travel, remote work, and full-time mobile life. Starlink currently lists Roam tiers by data amount, including 100GB, 300GB, and Unlimited options.

Pricing changes, but the decision does not

This video was recorded in February 2026, and Starlink has adjusted some plan names and prices since then. The exact monthly number may change again. The decision logic is the important part: fixed home users should think Residential, occasional travelers should look at Residential Max perks, and full-time travelers should look at Mini plus Roam.

The sweet spot for most travelers

If you have a home base and travel often, Residential Max may be the plan to compare first. It can combine home internet with travel benefits, including discounts on Roam service. That can be cleaner than trying to manage two separate setups.

The best setup for full-time travel

If you live on the road, buy the Mini outright and pair it with the Roam plan that matches your usage. Weekend users may not need unlimited data. Full-time workers, families, streamers, and heavy users should compare Roam Unlimited first.

Power matters more than people think

The Standard dish makes sense when you have steady home power. The Mini is built for a more flexible setup. It is easier to run from batteries, solar, vehicle power, or a small mobile electrical system when you are away from a wall outlet.

Once you choose the dish, build the setup

Starlink is only step one. If you are traveling, the included kickstand is not enough for real movement, rough roads, weather, heat, or theft concerns. You still need a mount, attachment method, power plan, cable protection, and a way to store the dish safely.

The bottom line

Pick Standard plus Residential if Starlink is replacing home internet. Pick Residential Max if you want home internet and travel flexibility. Pick Mini plus Roam if you need internet wherever you go. Then build the mount, power, and protection around that choice.

Questions We Get A Lot

If you need internet at one fixed address, start with Residential. If you travel full-time, start with Roam. If you need both home internet and travel access, compare Residential Max first.

Buy the Standard dish for fixed home internet and stronger stationary performance. Buy Starlink Mini if portability, low power, and travel are more important.

Roam is worth it when you need Starlink in different locations or while traveling. Weekend users can compare lower-data Roam tiers, while full-time travelers should compare Roam Unlimited.

Yes. Starlink changes plan names, features, availability, and pricing. This guide explains how to choose the right type of plan, but you should confirm final pricing on Starlink before buying.

After the dish, start with the Veritas Mini Mount. From there, add the right attachments, power, cable protection, and travel case so your setup is secure, powered, and easy to move. The dish is just one part of a complete internet-anywhere setup.

Build the right setup with Veritas

Internet anywhere gets easier when the dish, mount, power, protection, and support all fit together. Veritas helps you choose the complete Starlink setup for how you travel, work, or stay connected.

Shop Starlink products or keep reading the guides below.

Complete setup

Which Starlink Plan Should You Buy?