Two options come to mind regarding Satellite internet service plans by Starlink-Starlink vs Starlink Business.
These options offer notable price, performance, and support differences that potential customers might find interesting.
If you plan to switch to Starlink soon, knowing what these differences are could be key to the quality of service you enjoy.
This is particularly true if you run a business. You would most likely like to know if the Standard Starlink plan is enough to meet your business’s needs.
In this article, you’ll learn the key differences between these two options.
This is so that you can go for the option that is best suited to your specific conditions and internet connectivity needs.
Starlink Business
Starlink business is the special service plan created by Starlink for businesses and enterprise-grade applications.
It offers faster speeds and more reliable service than the Standard(Residential) plan but at a higher cost.
The browsing speed that Starlink business offers can reach up to 400 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads.
Other benefits it offers include round-the-clock priority support for its subscribers and support for Voice over IP calls, among others.
You’ll need Starlink Business if you own a business that brings several people in one place, carrying out several internet-based tasks.
Its quality of service is rarely seriously affected by a congested network or poor weather conditions.
Outrightly purchasing a Starlink business hardware kit will save you $2500. The monthly service fee is $500.
Many would agree that it is the price to pay for the quality of Satellite internet you enjoy.
( A fleet of Starlink satellites in orbit)
Starlink vs Starlink Business
The Starlink and Starlink Business plans offered by Starlink Satellite each have their uses and benefits.
To choose between both options, you would have to consider certain factors.
These factors will help you determine the suitability of both options for the purpose you have in mind.
We’ll compare both options using three different parameters.
(A man shown installing a Satellite dish)
Price
Starlink residential is Starlink’s standard offering for people who use Starlink for personal use.
Therefore, the hardware and monthly service fee cost is much less than that of Starlink business.
You can buy the Standard Starlink hardware and everything in the box for an outright $599 fee.
The monthly subscription charge for this standard plan is $120 at most, and that is for high-density areas.
The priority data charges after reaching the data cap also vary for both plans. With Standard Starlink, you start paying $0.25 per GB of data used when you reach your usage limit.
The cost rises to $1 per GB with Starlink Business, making it more expensive.
In contrast, Starlink Business’s hardware package will cost you $2500, while the monthly service fee costs $500.
( A Starlink dish on the top of a roof)
Performance: Speed and Latency
The marked performance difference between both options is the main reason why the plans differ in the first place.
With Starlink business, you get download speeds between 100-350 Mbps and upload speeds of 10-25 Mbps.
On the other hand, standard Starlink gives you download speeds of around 100-200 Mbps and 10-20 Mbps for uploads.
Latency is close for both options, with Starlink as 10-25 ms and the business plan as 10-20 ms.
These figures translate to noticeable differences between the performance both options give due to network delay issues.
With Starlink business, you can browse the Internet at faster speeds. Your web pages will open faster, and you can carry out different tasks over the internet much faster.
The lower latency also portends lesser potential for experiencing interruptions and outages.
This means you can expect fewer lags, stuttering, and outright signal loss with Starlink business than with standard Starlink.
Across the board, you can expect decent speeds for all your off-grid internet browsing activities.
( A man testing upload and download speed)
Quality of Service
(A Starlink Satellite dish in low earth orbit)
The internet browsing experience with Starlink Business will differ from what you can expect from Standard Starlink.
Starlink business benefits from a performance upgrade over standard Starlink, which translates to faster, more reliable internet.
This means you’ll enjoy better Quality of Service on the Business plan, much more than on the Standard plan.
Another area where the Business plan shines us in its access to Static Internet Protocol or publicly reputable DHCP.
Then, there’s the resulting provision for VPN connectivity and round-the-clock priority customer support.
What all of this means is that you can carry out more rigorous and sensitive internetwork with the Business plan.
In addition, the dish types employed by both plans have different build factors and capabilities that affect their performance.
Starlink provides the rectangular dish for all its Standard plan subscribers. This rectangular dish will not always have the capacity to withstand unfavorable weather conditions due to its structure.
In contrast, Starlink Business uses a high-performance satellite dish that can withstand harsh conditions better. It benefits from a durable design and a bigger size.
It has improved capacity for withstanding high winds and heavy rains when mounted. Also means it can communicate more seamlessly with overhead-orbiting Satellites.
(A Starlink dish is shown mounted)
Conclusion
The arguments around Starlink vs Starlink Business mostly revolve around the difference in pricing and performance.
Starlink Business offers faster, more reliable internet, but at a significantly higher cost than standard Starlink.
In choosing between both plans, it is important to factor in the type of work you mostly use your internet for.
This way, you can settle for the option you can make the most of.