News
When the free-month rules change
Dated, sourced notes on Starlink changes that touch the free month: prices, plans, ordering, returns and the network. Quiet months stay quiet.
Terms
Starlink republished its US Service Plan Descriptions on 2026-10-05: how they line up with the free-month plan list
Starlink's US Service Plan Descriptions now carry a 2026-10-05 date. All eight free-month plans appear in them, alongside several plans that aren't on the list.
Terms
Starlink republished its US referral terms on Oct 3: what they now say about the free month
Starlink republished its US Referral Program Terms on Oct 3. It doesn't list the edits, so we re-read the full text. Here's what it says for new customers now.
Billing and pricesPress report
Starlink offered the free Mini rental to all US Residential tiers in September 2026
In September 2026 Starlink began offering the free Mini rental, by email invite, to Residential 100 and 200 Mbps customers, not just Max. It isn't shown at sign-up.
NetworkPress report
Ookla: twice as many US Starlink users hit 100/20 Mbps in the first half of 2026
Ookla's H1 2026 US report found twice as many Starlink users reaching the FCC 100/20 Mbps benchmark as a year earlier, with 17 states above 50 percent.
OrderingPress report
Starlink announced Router 4 with Wi-Fi 7 on 2026-09-09, per press reports; no price or US date yet
Starlink announced Router 4, its first Wi-Fi 7 router, on 2026-09-09, Tesla North and Drive Tesla Canada reported. No price, country list or ship date was given.
EligibilityPress report
Starlink launched a Personal Maritime plan in August 2026; it isn't on the free-month plan list
Starlink began offering a Personal Maritime plan for small private boats in August 2026. The referral terms we read in October don't list it as eligible.
EligibilityPress report
Global Roam ended and the 30-day travel cap reached existing Roam customers on 2026-08-17
On 2026-08-17 Starlink's Global Roam plan stopped for existing customers and the 30-day abroad limit applied to every Roam account. The US-only picture is unchanged.
Billing and pricesPress report
Starlink brought back the free Mini rental for Residential Max in August 2026
The free Starlink Mini rental and half-price Roam for Residential Max were back on the US website by 2026-08-07, two months after being dropped.
Returns and trial
Starlink republished its US Terms of Service on 2026-08-06: the parts that touch the free month
Starlink's US Terms of Service carry a 2026-08-06 date. Starlink doesn't list the edits. We checked the billing and return clauses this site relies on.
NetworkPress report
Starlink passed 12 million active customers by mid-2026
Starlink had more than 12 million active customers in over 160 countries by the end of Q2 2026, per press reports. What that does and doesn't change for you.
OrderingPress report
Starlink dropped the monthly kit fee on new Residential rentals in July 2026
About a month after adding it, Starlink removed the $10 monthly kit fee on new Residential rentals, per a 2026-07-20 report. Rentals are back to $0 a month.
EligibilityPress report
Starlink limited Roam use abroad to Roam Unlimited and 30 days from July 2026
From 2026-07-14 only Roam Unlimited works outside your home region, for 30 days at a time; the US and Canada now count as one region. What it means for Roam orders.
Billing and pricesBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink pulled the free Mini perk from Residential Max in June 2026
In June 2026 Residential Max lost its free Mini rental and half-price Roam. It came back in August. What it meant for new Max customers.
OrderingBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink dropped the buy option on new Residential orders in June 2026
In June 2026 new Residential orders on starlink.com became rental-only, with a monthly kit fee at first. What that changed for returns and the free month.
Billing and pricesBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink raised US Residential and Roam prices in May 2026
Starlink raised most US Residential and Roam prices by $5 to $10 a month in May 2026. Since the free month is one month of your plan, it is now worth more.
EligibilityBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink added a Roam 300GB plan in May 2026, and it is on the free-month list
A Roam 300GB plan arrived in May 2026 between Roam 100GB and Unlimited. The referral terms we read in October 2026 list it as eligible for the free month.
Billing and pricesBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink doubled the Standby Mode fee in May 2026
Standby Mode doubled to $10 a month in May 2026. Standby still doesn't count toward the two billing cycles the free month needs.
Rules and regulatorsBackgroundPress report
Background: the federal click-to-cancel rule is vacated, and the FTC started over in March 2026
A court threw out the FTC click-to-cancel rule in 2025; in March 2026 the FTC asked for comment on a new one. What US Starlink customers can rely on today.
OrderingBackgroundPress report
Background: congestion charges on new Residential orders rose sharply in Alaska in early 2026
In January 2026 Starlink's one-time demand surcharge for new Residential customers reached up to $1,500 in Alaska. Why it doesn't touch the free month.
EligibilityBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink renamed its Residential plans in January 2026
In January 2026 Residential Lite became Residential 200 Mbps, Residential became Residential Max, and a 100 Mbps tier arrived. How that maps to the free-month list.
NetworkBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink had a short global outage on 2025-09-15
Starlink went dark briefly on 2025-09-15, with about 40,000 Downdetector reports. No cause was given. What it means for new customers in their first month.
Billing and pricesBackgroundPress report
Background: Starlink cut prices in lower-demand parts of the US in September 2025
In September 2025 Starlink cut plan and kit prices in some lower-demand US areas. Why that matters for what one free month is worth.
NetworkBackgroundPress report
Background: a 2.5-hour Starlink outage in July 2025 was blamed on core network software
On 2025-07-24 Starlink went down for about two and a half hours. What it means if an outage lands in your first month or your 30-day return window.
