How fast is Starlink? Starlink says the median download speed of its US customers during peak hours was nearly 200 Mbps in July 2025, with a median peak-hour latency of 25.7 ms in June 2025 (Starlink network update). Independent Speedtest data from Ookla puts the typical US result lower, at 129.6 Mbps download in Q3 2025, partly because Ookla counts tests people run on their own devices over Wi-Fi (Via Satellite). Run the free test below to see what your own connection is doing.
Starlink Speed Test
Run this on a phone or computer connected to your Starlink. The test tells you whether the device is actually on Starlink before you start, then measures download, upload, latency and jitter, and compares your result with Starlink’s published figures. For the cleanest reading, use Ethernet or stand near the router, and pause big downloads on other devices.
Checking which network you are on…
Takes about 20–40 seconds.
The test measures this device’s connection to Cloudflare’s nearest server, using Cloudflare’s open-source speed test engine. It uses roughly 50–150 MB of data on a fast connection (the exact amount is shown after each test), so skip it if you are near a data limit. Your result and IP address are not stored by Dishy Central, and results are not sent to Cloudflare’s results log. The “are you on Starlink?” check compares your IP address with Starlink’s published address list inside your browser. Not affiliated with SpaceX or Starlink.
How Fast Is Starlink Internet in 2026?
Starlink and Ookla publish the two best-known sets of figures. They measure in different ways, so they don’t match:
| Measure (US) | Starlink’s own data | Ookla Speedtest data |
|---|---|---|
| Median download | Nearly 200 Mbps at peak hours (July 2025) | 129.6 Mbps (Q3 2025) |
| Median upload | Not published; the 100 Mbps tier is described as 100 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up | 14.8 Mbps (early 2025) |
| Median latency | 25.7 ms at peak hours (June 2025); under 1% of measurements above 55 ms | 45 ms (Q1 2025) |
Starlink collects measurements from millions of its routers every 15 seconds, so its figures leave out Wi-Fi and the limits of your own device (Starlink network update). Ookla’s figures come from tests people run on their phones and computers, which include Wi-Fi (Via Satellite; Benton Institute, citing Ookla). A test on your own device over Wi-Fi will usually look more like Ookla’s numbers than Starlink’s.
Starlink Speeds by Plan
Your plan sets both your speed limit and your priority when the network is busy:
- Residential Max: Starlink’s top home plan, with the highest network priority among Residential plans (Starlink: What are the Residential plans?).
- Residential 200 Mbps (formerly Residential Lite): Starlink lists typical downloads of 80–200 Mbps and uploads of up to 15–35 Mbps. It is deprioritized compared with Max, so evenings can be slower (Starlink: Residential 200 Mbps plan).
- Residential 100 Mbps: capped at 100 Mbps. Starlink describes its lower tier as serving 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload in most US states and territories (Starlink network update).
- Roam plans: lower network priority than Residential, so speeds drop more at busy times. On Roam 100GB and 300GB, data continues at low speed after the high-speed allowance. See our Starlink data caps guide.
More detail: Residential Lite (now 200 Mbps) explained and Starlink Roam vs Residential.
Starlink Mini vs Standard: Which Is Faster?
Starlink does not publish separate speed figures for the Starlink Mini on its specifications page. The Mini trades a much smaller antenna and built-in Wi-Fi for portability, and it is often used on Roam plans, which have lower network priority. If top speed at a fixed home matters most, compare the two in our Standard vs Mini guide before buying.
What Affects Your Starlink Speed?
1. View of the Sky
Trees, roof edges and walls that block part of the dish’s view cause slowdowns and short dropouts. Starlink’s troubleshooting advice includes checking the app for obstruction alerts and making sure nothing is blocking the dish, including heavy dirt or debris on its face (Starlink: Slow speeds outside or during peak hours). Our dish placement guide covers how to find a clear spot.
2. Network Congestion and Peak Hours
Starlink says peak hours, when many users are online at once, are typically 6 pm to 11 pm local time, and speeds can vary or drop then (Starlink: Slow speeds outside or during peak hours). It also notes that Roam plans are deprioritized compared with other plans, so they slow down most when the network is busy (Starlink: Slow speeds troubleshooting). Testing at different times of day shows whether congestion is your problem.
3. Weather
Heavy rain and snow can slow or briefly interrupt the signal, and snow build-up on the dish can block it. See does Starlink work in bad weather for what to expect.
4. Your Router and Wi-Fi
Starlink’s published speeds are measured at the router. Walls, distance and older devices can make Wi-Fi the real bottleneck. The Starlink app can test from your device to the router to show this (Starlink: How do I run a speed test?). If Wi-Fi is the problem, a wired connection or mesh Wi-Fi usually helps; some people use their own router in bypass mode.
5. Your Plan’s Priority
As covered above, Max traffic is served ahead of the 200 Mbps and 100 Mbps plans, and Residential is served ahead of Roam, when the network is busy.
How to Test Your Starlink Speed Properly
- Start with the Starlink app’s own test. By default it measures from your router to the internet, so Wi-Fi doesn’t affect it. The app also offers device-to-internet and device-to-router tests (Starlink: How do I run a speed test?).
- Then test on your device, with the tool above, next to the router or on Ethernet. If your device result is much lower than the app’s router result, your Wi-Fi is the bottleneck.
- Test at different times of day. One evening result tells you little. The tool keeps your last six results in your browser so you can compare.
- Pause big downloads, backups and streams on other devices while you test.
- Turn off any VPN before testing; Starlink lists it as a common cause of slow results (Starlink: Slow speeds troubleshooting).
- Compare with Starlink’s availability map. Starlink considers speeds within about ±10 Mbps of the figure listed for your area normal (Starlink: Slow speeds troubleshooting).
- If speeds are low all day, check the app for obstructions and outages before anything else.
Is Starlink Fast Enough for Streaming, Video Calls and Gaming?
| Activity | What it needs | Compared with Starlink’s US medians |
|---|---|---|
| 4K streaming (Netflix) | 15 Mbps per stream (Netflix) | Room for several streams at once |
| 1080p streaming (Netflix) | 5 Mbps per stream (Netflix) | Comfortable |
| 1080p video calls (Zoom) | 3.8 Mbps up, 3.0 Mbps down (Zoom) | Comfortable; upload is usually the tighter side |
| Online gaming | Low, steady latency matters more than speed | 25.7 ms median peak-hour latency; see Starlink for gaming |
These are medians. Your result depends on your plan, your view of the sky and the time of day, which is why testing your own connection is worth a minute.
Starlink vs Other Internet Types
Fiber and good cable connections are generally faster and have lower latency where you can get them; Starlink’s advantage is that it works almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Compared with older satellite services such as HughesNet and Viasat, Starlink’s latency is far lower because its satellites orbit a few hundred kilometers up rather than about 35,786 km (how Starlink works). Side-by-side comparisons: Starlink vs fiber, Starlink vs Xfinity, Starlink vs Spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Starlink internet?
Starlink says its US customers’ median download at peak hours was nearly 200 Mbps in July 2025. Ookla’s Speedtest data, which includes Wi-Fi, put the US median at 129.6 Mbps in Q3 2025.
What is Starlink’s average latency?
Starlink reported a median peak-hour latency of 25.7 ms in the US in June 2025, with fewer than 1% of measurements above 55 ms. Ookla measured a 45 ms median in Q1 2025.
What is the fastest Starlink plan?
Residential Max has the highest priority among home plans. Residential 200 Mbps lists typical downloads of 80–200 Mbps, and Residential 100 Mbps is capped at 100 Mbps.
Does Starlink throttle speeds?
Starlink deprioritizes rather than throttling to a fixed speed: lower-priority traffic is served after higher-priority traffic when the network is busy. See our Starlink data caps guide.
Why is my Starlink slow?
The most common causes are obstructions, evening congestion, weak Wi-Fi and a lower-priority plan. Compare the Starlink app’s router test with a device test, then see fixing common Starlink problems.
How much data does this speed test use?
Roughly 50–150 MB on a fast connection, less on a slow one. The tool shows the exact amount after each test.
How fast do Starlink satellites move?
About 7.6 km/s, over 27,000 km/h, circling the Earth roughly every 94 minutes. See them move on our live Starlink satellite tracker.
Speed test engine: Cloudflare speedtest (MIT license), measuring against Cloudflare’s network. Figures on this page were checked on September 24, 2026.
