SpaceX has quietly withdrawn its lowest-cost Starlink residential internet plan from the United States, only weeks after the offering appeared in select locations. The plan, which carried a monthly price of $40 and capped download speeds at 100Mbps, is no longer visible on Starlink’s website or mobile application for U.S. customers.
The sudden removal has drawn attention because it marked Starlink’s most affordable residential option ever introduced in the American market. While SpaceX has not publicly explained the change, the move appears to be tied to capacity limitations in the regions where the plan was briefly available.
Despite its disappearance in the U.S., the same $40 residential tier remains accessible to customers in Canada and Australia, indicating that the decision is likely driven by regional network constraints rather than a broader shift in pricing strategy.
Customers Spot the Change Before Any Announcement
The removal of the Residential 100Mbps plan first came to light through customer observations rather than an official update. Starlink users noticed that the option was no longer selectable when attempting to sign up for new service or manage existing subscriptions.
Reports from users suggest that the plan vanished without warning, catching some subscribers off guard—particularly those who had recently upgraded to higher-priced tiers. Once removed, the $40 option could no longer be reselected, even by customers who had previously been eligible.
The plan had been available only in limited geographic pockets, including parts of Nebraska, Illinois, and Nevada. In each case, availability appeared briefly before disappearing, reinforcing the impression that the rollout was experimental and tightly controlled.
A Targeted Plan Designed for Spare Capacity
Unlike Starlink’s core residential offerings, the 100Mbps plan was never intended for nationwide availability. Instead, it appeared only in areas where Starlink’s satellite network likely had unused or excess capacity.
Starlink’s system relies on low-Earth orbit satellites that divide coverage into geographic cells, each with a finite amount of bandwidth. When subscriber numbers rise quickly in a given cell, congestion can occur, leading the company to restrict access or adjust service options.
Industry watchers and customers alike believe the discounted plan was a way for SpaceX to fill underutilized capacity without compromising performance for higher-tier subscribers. However, once the lower price became visible, demand likely surged faster than anticipated, filling available bandwidth in those regions.
Why the $40 Plan Attracted Attention
The Residential 100Mbps plan stood out primarily because of its price. At $40 per month, it significantly undercut Starlink’s other U.S. residential offerings and brought satellite internet closer to the cost of traditional broadband services.
While the plan capped download speeds at 100Mbps, that level of performance is sufficient for most everyday uses, including video streaming, video calls, online gaming, and remote work. For customers in rural or underserved areas with limited alternatives, the plan offered an appealing balance of price and performance.
Its brief availability fueled interest among potential customers who had previously found Starlink’s pricing out of reach, making its disappearance particularly noticeable.
Remaining Residential Options in the U.S.
With the removal of the 100Mbps tier, Starlink’s U.S. residential lineup now consists of higher-priced options.
The standard Residential plan, which typically costs $120 per month, advertises download speeds exceeding 400Mbps. This plan is positioned as a premium option for users who need high throughput and are less sensitive to cost.
Starlink also continues to offer a Residential Lite plan in many suburban and rural areas. Priced at $80 per month, this tier advertises speeds of up to 250Mbps and serves as a middle ground between performance and affordability. While still more expensive than the discontinued $40 plan, it remains the most budget-friendly residential option currently available in the U.S.
Plan Continues Abroad
Outside the United States, the story is different. Starlink continues to offer the $40 Residential 100Mbps plan to customers in both Canada and Australia. The company’s customer support documentation also still references the plan, suggesting it has not been phased out entirely.
This ongoing availability supports the idea that Starlink is managing its service offerings based on regional demand and infrastructure readiness. Markets with lower subscriber density or more available satellite coverage may be better positioned to support lower-cost tiers without sacrificing service quality.
Silence From SpaceX Fits a Familiar Pattern
SpaceX has not issued an official statement explaining why the plan was removed from the U.S. market. However, the company has a history of making rapid, behind-the-scenes adjustments to pricing, availability, and enrollment based on network conditions.
In the past, Starlink has implemented waitlists, paused new sign-ups, and altered service tiers in response to congestion. The disappearance of the Residential 100Mbps plan appears consistent with that approach, prioritizing network performance over maintaining discounted pricing.
