Roam and Residential are Starlink's two main consumer plan types — and the difference matters significantly for how and where you can use your service. Choosing the wrong plan means either paying more than you need to or operating outside your plan's terms. Here's the clear breakdown.

The Core Difference in One Sentence

Residential: Tied to a fixed service address. Optimized for stationary home use. Lower cost.

Roam: No address restrictions. Designed for users who move. Supports in-motion use on Mini.

Full Plan Comparison

FACTORRESIDENTIALROAM REGIONALROAM GLOBAL
Monthly cost$50–$120~$150~$200
Service addressRequiredNoNo
In-motion use (Mini)Not officialYes — officialYes — official
CoverageAssigned regionOne global regionWorldwide
Portability add-on$25/monthNot neededNot needed
Priority dataStandardDeprioritized vs Res.Deprioritized vs Res.
Pause/unpauseYesYesYes

When Residential Is the Right Choice

You have a fixed primary home address. You use Starlink primarily at home. You don't need in-motion use. You occasionally travel and want to use Starlink away from home — the $25/month Portability add-on handles this without upgrading to Roam.

The Portability add-on on Residential: adds the ability to use your Starlink at locations other than your registered service address, within your region. It does NOT enable in-motion use or priority access at non-home locations. It simply lifts the geographic restriction.

When Roam Is the Right Choice

Full-time van life or mobile living: You have no fixed address to register. Roam is designed for you.

RV travel: Frequently moving between states or regions — Roam handles this cleanly without needing to change your service address or manage Portability add-ons.

Overlanding and off-road travel: In-motion Mini use on Roam is officially supported.

Seasonal property users: If you split time between two widely separated locations, Roam simplifies the plan management vs Residential with Portability.

International travel or sailing: Roam Global covers worldwide Starlink coverage areas — the correct plan for transoceanic passages and international vehicle travel.

Speed Difference — Does Roam Get Deprioritized?

Yes — Roam plan users are deprioritized relative to Residential users during network congestion at a given location. In uncongested areas (rural, low-density), Roam speeds often match Residential. In congested suburban areas during peak hours, Roam users may see meaningfully lower speeds.

Practical implication: For van lifers in rural areas, this rarely matters. For Roam users parked in suburban neighborhoods during evening peak hours, speeds may be lower than the Residential users around them.

PRO TIP: If you have a Roam plan and are experiencing slow speeds while stationary at a location you'll stay at for an extended period (weeks to months), consider whether switching to a Residential plan with Portability for that period makes sense — Residential users get priority access at fixed locations.

Pausing and Switching Between Plans

Both Residential and Roam can be paused for months when not in use. You can switch between plan types through the Starlink app — though hardware compatibility should be checked when switching. Switching between Roam Regional and Roam Global allows adjusting cost based on whether international coverage is needed that month.

Verdict

// VERDICT

RESIDENTIAL is right for: Fixed home users, users who occasionally travel with the Portability add-on, users who want the lowest monthly cost for stationary use.

ROAM is right for: Full-time mobile users, van lifers with no fixed address, RV travelers, overlanders who need in-motion Mini use, international travelers.

THE PORTABILITY MIDDLE PATH: Residential + $25 Portability add-on covers most part-time travelers without the Roam price premium. Only upgrade to Roam when you need in-motion use or true address-free operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

> Can I switch from Residential to Roam without buying new hardware?
Yes — the dish hardware is plan-agnostic. You switch plans in the app; the same dish and router work on both.
> Does Roam support in-motion use on the standard dish?
The standard Gen 3 dish is not officially designed for in-motion use on any plan. Mini is the dish officially supported for in-motion use on Roam. Standard Gen 3 technically functions in motion for many users but without official support.
> I'm using Starlink at a vacation cabin — do I need Roam?
No — Residential with the $25/month Portability add-on covers occasional use at a vacation property. Only activate Portability during the months you're at the cabin and pause it when you're not.

Residential is the right default for most users. Roam is for genuine mobile living and international travel. If you're unsure, start with Residential — you can always add Portability or upgrade to Roam later. Use our referral link to get started with 1 free month.

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