SpaceX has introduced a new budget-friendly internet option for US customers. The “residential lite” Starlink plan costs $80 per month, offering a significant reduction from the standard $120 residential package. New tier targets smaller households with more modest data needs, while providing the same satellite-based connectivity that has made Starlink popular.
The residential lite plan provides speeds between 50-100Mbps, compared to the 150-250Mbps available with the standard residential service. While slower, these speeds remain competitive with many traditional broadband options, especially in rural areas where high-speed internet access is limited.
Currently, the residential lite plan is only available in approximately 15 US states, including Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Minnesota, and New Mexico. These locations were likely chosen because SpaceX has additional network capacity in these regions.
Latest Starlink Residential Lite Map
The company describes the plan as featuring “unlimited deprioritized data,” meaning subscribers will receive “a lower network priority compared to other Starlink Fixed Service Plans.” In practical terms, residential lite users may experience slower connections during peak usage hours when network traffic is heaviest.
For customers in areas where the residential lite plan is available, SpaceX is also offering a substantial discount on equipment costs. The company has implemented a $200 “regional savings” discount on the standard Starlink dish, reducing the hardware price to $149 from its typical $349 cost. However, this promotion is only available until March 31.
Starlink announced reaching 5 million users globally, marking significant growth for the satellite internet service.
Customers who start with the residential lite plan can upgrade to the standard residential service “at any time,” according to Starlink. However, the company hasn’t clarified whether existing residential subscribers can downgrade to the lite option.
In regions not covered by the residential lite offering, SpaceX has implemented congestion charges and waitlists for the standard residential tier, which was previously the most affordable Starlink plan with unlimited data.
The introduction of this lower-cost tier represents a strategic move by SpaceX to expand its user base while managing network capacity. For many potential customers in eligible states, this lite plan may strike the right balance between performance and price, especially in areas where traditional internet options are limited.
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