Starlink Mini on Sale for $499

The Starlink Mini is on sale for $100 off, bringing the price down to $49 before monthly service charges and power supply solutions.

The deal first appeared at Home Depot, but it’s now showing up on the Starlink site itself.

You can get a standard Starlink dish and router for $349, which is lower than Starlink’s initial price. In some areas, you can knock another $100 off that price, but in others, you’ll see an additional $100 added to your bill. The price differences depend on whether you live in a congested area.

What is the Starlink Mini?

The Starlink Mini is a compact version of the standard Starlink dish. It sends signals to and from a constellation of satellites in low-earth orbit. Once the satellites receive your signal, they communicate with ground stations on Earth that connect to the rest of the internet.

The Starlink Mini is small enough to fit in an everyday commuter backpack and has a built-in router. It weighs about 3.5 pounds, including the kickstand and a power cable. That’s less than my 14-inch Macbook Pro and about the same as a half gallon of milk.

You can get a 50GB plan for your Mini for $50 per month or jump up to unlimited data for $165 per month. You can pause or cancel the plan anytime, but there’s no guarantee the same prices will be available when you need service again.

Shop Starlink plans

You can use any dish with any plan, but the standard dishes are commonly used for the Unlimited Residential plan, which must be tied to a fixed address. Mini dishes are commonly used with the 50GB plan, which allows you to use it from anywhere (even in motion).

Both dishes are commonly used with the Roam plan, which includes unlimited data.

What do I need to know before ordering a Starlink Mini?

The Starlink Mini works well whether you’re stationary or driving around with it mounted to your vehicle. However, it will work best if you have a fully unobstructed view of the northern sky. If you don’t, you may be able to browse the internet, but you’ll run into problems with video calls or live gaming.

You’ll also need a way to power your Mini if you want to use it on the go. The kit comes with a power cord and a charger block that requires a two-prong plug, but you can get a Mini USB-C cable adapter or Mini Car Adapter in the Starlink shop.

Learn more about getting the right power bank to charge your Mini.

Finally, the Mini needs frequent updates. You’ll need to plan for 10 to 20 minutes to get it set up, talking to satellites, and updated before you can actually connect to the internet.

How long will the sale be in effect?

Starlink hasn’t said how long the sale will last or whether it’s available everywhere, but Home Depot’s sale on the Mini lasts only through March 31, 2025.

Are there any good Starlink alternatives?

Starlink is in a class of its own when it comes to providing high-speed, low-latency data from virtually anywhere. But it’s expensive, even with upfront equipment discounts.

It’s not the only way to get great backup internet service, either.

You’ll probably save money if you can get any other kind of reliable internet service. The first step is finding out what’s available at your address.

Learn more about Starlink

It’s nice to see a deal for $100 off a premium piece of equipment, but it pays to do your research before you decide whether Starlink is right for you. The following resources are a helpful jumping-off point:

• Starlink Internet Review
• Starlink Deals and Promotions
• We Tested Direct-to-Cell Texting from Starlink and T-Mobile
• Do Starlink Waiting Lists Mean Slowdowns Are on the Way?
• Same Starlink Service, Different Starlink Price?

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