June 11, 2026 Starlink has started charging a $10 monthly rental fee for customer equipment, marking a significant shift from its longtime model of selling hardware through a one-time purchase. New residential customers now see an upfront hardware cost of $0 and a recurring $10 monthly kit fee instead.
The change applies to the hardware needed to access Starlink’s satellite internet service, including the satellite terminal and home router. The rental charge comes on top of monthly internet service fees, which Starlink recently increased by between $5 and $10 per month.
Current residential plans are priced at $55 per month for speeds of up to 100Mbps, $85 per month for up to 200Mbps, and $130 per month for the Max plan, which can reach speeds of up to 400Mbps. Starlink also offers professional installation for a one-time fee of $199, though Max subscribers can receive installation at no additional cost.
According to a Starlink support document, the rental option is currently available in select countries and is limited to residential service plans. Customers renting equipment cannot pause their service, a feature available to some existing Starlink users.
PCMag reported that the rental fee appears to be expanding globally, showing up for new customers in markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Mexico.
While Starlink’s ordering page currently emphasizes rentals, customers can still switch to ownership. The company says renters who want to purchase their equipment can submit a support request. Starlink hardware also remains available through retail stores.
The move represents a major departure from Starlink’s launch strategy. When the service debuted in 2020, customers paid $499 upfront for equipment. The hardware price later increased to $599 before moving to region-based pricing of either $499 or $299 depending on network demand.
Over the past year, Starlink has experimented with several promotional offers, including free hardware for customers willing to commit to long-term service contracts. Those deals often came with higher monthly subscription costs.
The company’s latest pricing change arrives as SpaceX prepares for a public listing. Starlink has become a major contributor to the business, generating $3.26 billion of SpaceX’s total $4.69 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2026.
Customers who already own Starlink equipment can avoid the rental fee when activating new service by entering their device identification number during the sign-up process.
