Satellite internet for travel and off-grid use
A satellite internet dish gives you full internet (video calls, streaming, email, any app) instead of short texts. The trade-off is power: a dish draws tens of watts the whole time it's on, while a satellite messenger runs for days on a small battery. In the US the main option for consumers is Starlink.
We compiled these values from dated third-party coverage (news sites and reviews). Starlink's own pages load their content with scripts, so we couldn't read prices or specs from them. Every value links to its source. Anything we couldn't confirm is marked unverified.
Hardware
| Kit | Price (US) | Weight | Power draw | Waterproof | 12 V DC | USB-C power | In motion | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink Mini Cheapest Portable: camping, RV, van, backpack; Roam or Residential plans No second-generation Mini has been announced (name, price or date), per TeslaNorth, Oct 21, 2026. |
$149.00 Sale price on Starlink's US site since Oct 2, 2026; typically $249; no end date given. Engadget (Oct 4) still listed $199. TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 · checked 2026-10-30 | 1.10 kg (2.43 lb); 1.16 kg with kickstand TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 | 25–40 W average (Engadget lists 20–40 W) TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 | IP67 TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 | Yes: 12–48 V DC input TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 | Yes, with a 100 W USB-C PD source and Starlink's USB-C-to-barrel cable accessory (sold separately) TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 | Supported on Roam plans 5Gstore blog, 2026-09-11 | Built-in Wi-Fi 5 TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 |
| Starlink Standard (V4, Standard 4 X kit) Fixed home or parked use; larger dish with a separate router |
$349.00 Listed at $349 (SatelliteInternet.com, Jul 2026). 5Gstore reports US residential hardware moved to a rental model in June 2026, so upfront cost varies by address. SatelliteInternet.com, 2026-07-21 · checked 2026-10-30 | 2.9 kg (6.4 lb) Engadget, 2026-10-04 | 75–100 W average Engadget, 2026-10-04 | unverified | No native 12 V input: AC power supply feeds the dish over PoE (third-party DC-to-PoE converters exist) 5Gstore blog, 2026-09-11 | unverified | unverified | Router 3 (tri-band Wi-Fi 6) SatelliteInternet.com, 2026-07-21 |
| Starlink V5 (newest home dish, launched Jul 14, 2026) Fixed home only; Residential plans in select US areas Not for Roam. Standby Mode is not yet supported on the V5 (5Gstore, Sep 2026). |
unverified Varies by address: reported as rental, from $0 upfront to $349 plus a $10/mo kit fee (5Gstore, SatelliteInternet.com). 5Gstore blog, 2026-09-11 · checked 2026-10-30 | 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) Engadget, 2026-10-04 | 35–50 W average Engadget, 2026-10-04 | IP67 Type 4 5Gstore blog, 2026-09-11 | No native 12 V input: AC power brick with PoE, same as V4 5Gstore blog, 2026-09-11 | unverified | No: not intended for in-motion use Engadget, 2026-10-04 | Router Mini (dual-band Wi-Fi 6) Engadget, 2026-10-04 |
Prices are US prices and can vary by location and promotion. Each price shows its source and the date we checked it. Check starlink.com for the price at your address.
Roam plans (for travel)
Roam is the plan type for use away from a fixed address. Residential plans are tied to one address.
| Roam plan | Monthly (US) | Data | Where it works | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roam 100GB Cheapest monthly | $55.00/mo | 100 GB high-speed, then unlimited low-speed | US and Canada | TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 · US Mobile Help Center checked 2026-10-30 |
| Roam 300GB | $80.00/mo | 300 GB high-speed, then unlimited low-speed | US and Canada | TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 · US Mobile Help Center checked 2026-10-30 |
| Roam Unlimited | $175.00/mo | Unlimited high-speed (may slow when busy; Residential has priority) | US and Canada, plus international use in 160+ countries and territories (time limits abroad apply; exact limit unverified) | TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21 · US Mobile Help Center checked 2026-10-30 |
- Contract: Month-to-month, no long-term contract. (US Mobile Help Center)
- In-motion use: In-motion use up to 100 mph on land on all Roam plans (needs suitable hardware such as the Mini). (US Mobile Help Center)
- Pausing: Standby Mode: $10/mo, very low speed (about enough for messaging and firmware updates), stationary use only. It replaced free pausing in August 2025. (US Mobile Help Center · 5Gstore blog, 2026-09-11)
- Trial: 30-day trial with full refund. (TeslaNorth, 2026-10-21)
- Activation fee: unverified
Plan prices can vary by location and change often. Taxes and fees aren't included.
No dish at all: direct-to-cell texting
Starlink also runs direct-to-cell texting for ordinary phones, sold in the US by T-Mobile as T-Satellite. That needs no dish but is limited to texting and some apps. See T-Mobile T-Satellite and other phone satellite texting options.
Satellite internet or a satellite messenger?
They solve different problems. A dish is for getting online, and a messenger is for staying reachable and calling for help. Read Starlink Mini vs Garmin inReach: which do you need off-grid?
Official site: starlink.com
Starlink is a trademark of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; MeshCompare is not affiliated.