Starlink review
Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Starlink is the outlier on this list: it runs on satellite rather than the wired lines most of the field uses, and it suits households set on that link type. The trade-off is speed, with a quoted band of 150 to 500 Mbps against a site median of 1,000 Mbps.
Key facts
- Best for
- Households after a satellite link instead of fibre to the premises or cable.
- Top download speed (Mbps)
- 150 to 500 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Starlink Services, LLC (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Technology
- Satellite
- Official website
- starlink.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- The technology is unambiguous, satellite, where EarthLink mixes fttp, 5G and satellite across wired and wireless.
- The legal entity behind the brand is named, Starlink Services, LLC, so there is a specific company behind the service and the bill.
- Speeds are given as a band, 150 to 500 Mbps, so the entry package and the top package are visible in the same figure.
- Satellite is a small category at 6.8% of listings, which leaves Starlink standing apart from the wired field at cable and fttp and fttp rather than in a crowded group of like plans.
Cons
- The quoted download band is 150 to 500 Mbps, under the site median of 1,000 Mbps, so it is weak on the biggest headline number.
- Only 6.8% of listings run on satellite, against 90.6% on fibre to the premises, so there are fewer like-for-like plans to weigh against satellite.
- Starlink is listed under satellite alone, so a household that later wants a wired line has no route with the same provider, unlike EarthLink with fttp, 5G and satellite and Astound with cable and fttp.
Ready to try Starlink?
Who it suits
- Households that want a satellite connection and are content with a download band of 150 to 500 Mbps.
- Readers who want a named counterparty behind the brand, Starlink Services, LLC, rather than an anonymous reseller.
- People cross-checking a satellite option against the wired field at fttp and cable and fttp.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for households that lead on headline speed and want the wider wired field, where the site median download is 1,000 Mbps and Abissnet runs fttp.
- Not for people who want more than one kind of link from a single name: EarthLink lists fttp, 5G and satellite and Astound lists cable and fttp.
- Not for buyers who want the widest spread of packages, since satellite holds 6.8% of listings against 90.6% for the wired routes Abissnet uses.
The company behind it
Starlink trades under a consumer brand, but the contract runs with Starlink Services, LLC, a company founded in 2015 and based in the United States. Those three points tell you who issues the bill, how long the business behind the service has been trading, and which country it operates from. Read the terms against the legal name rather than the brand, since the entity named on the bill is the one that carries the service obligations.
How Starlink compares
Combines cable and fttp, so cable and fibre to the premises sit under one provider instead of the single satellite Starlink lists.
Budget Thuis Mobile
Frequently asked questions
What technology does Starlink broadband use?+
Starlink connects over satellite, and that is the only technology listed for the provider. Compare it with Abissnet on fttp and Astound on cable and fttp, which is where most of the wired field sits. Satellite is a small category across the site, at 6.8% of listings.
How fast is Starlink compared with other broadband?+
The published download band is 150 to 500 Mbps. Across the site the median maximum download is 1,000 Mbps, with the lower quartile at 1,000 Mbps, so Starlink sits under the typical listing on headline speed. Buyers who care mainly about the biggest number should weigh the wired providers first.
Who is behind Starlink and where is it based?+
The service is provided by Starlink Services, LLC, founded in 2015 and based in the United States. It is a company trading under a single consumer brand rather than a network reselling other providers' lines, so the terms, the equipment and the support all point at the same legal entity. Check that name on any quote you receive.
What does Starlink broadband cost and is there a contract?+
Check the current price and contract terms shown for your area before you commit. For context, entry prices across the site centre on €9.30, post contract prices on €43 and setup fees sit at €0. Contract billing is the norm, with 60.1% of broadband listings against 39.2% that roll monthly.
How common is satellite broadband against fibre to the premises?+
Satellite is a minority option, at 6.8% of listings on the site and 7.4% in the broadband ranking, against 90.6% for fibre to the premises. The category exists, but the pool of comparable plans is thin, so read the specific terms rather than assuming a wide market.
Who does Starlink suit?+
Starlink suits households that want a satellite connection and are content with a download band of 150 to 500 Mbps rather than the 1,000 Mbps median across the site. It is a poor fit for buyers who prioritise the highest headline speed, or who want a provider that also sells wired lines, such as EarthLink with fttp, 5G and satellite.
Is EarthLink a fair comparison, given it also lists satellite?+
Yes, and the difference is scope rather than link type. EarthLink lists fttp, 5G and satellite, so a fixed line, wireless and satellite sit under the same name, while Starlink is listed under satellite alone. A household that may want to move to a wired line later can do so in one move with EarthLink.
Which providers should I weigh against Starlink instead?+
Two wired names are worth the comparison: Abissnet on fttp and Astound on cable and fttp, with Astound pairing cable and fibre to the premises. Both operate in the mainstream category that accounts for 90.6% of listings, so you can price the same household against a wired quote without leaving this comparison.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Top download speed (Mbps), Technology
“Founded January 2015”
Compiled from 1 source page, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Upload speed (Mbps), Price from, Reference plan prices, Contract length, Setup fee.
Related by the facts
Starlink
Households after a satellite link instead of fibre to the premises or cable.