Starlink charges $10 monthly hardware fee in move away from one-time purchases

Starlink introduced a $10 monthly hardware rental fee on March 18, 2024, marking a significant departure from its previous model of selling hardware outright. This new fee structure, displayed on Starlink's residential ordering pages, presents an upfront hardware cost of $0, accompanied by the recurring $10 kit fee. The Starlink hardware encompasses a satellite signal terminal and a home router. This monthly charge is separate from the internet service subscription costs, which Starlink recently increased by $5 to $10 per month. Current internet service plans are priced at $55 per month for 100Mbps, $85 per month for 200Mbps, and $130 per month for the "Max" tier, offering speeds up to 400Mbps. Additionally, Starlink offers a professional installation service for a one-time fee of $199, which is waived for subscribers of the Max plan.