How Starlink billing works
When your first bill hits, how the monthly cycle runs on UTC time, what happens when you change plans mid-month, and why a charge sometimes looks bigger than you expected — in plain language.
When your first bill hits
Your first charge lands when you activate service, or 7 days after the kit is delivered — whichever comes first. So if the box sits unopened for a week, billing can start before you've plugged anything in. After that, you pay in advance for each month of service.
The monthly cycle runs on UTC
Your billing day is set in UTC, not your local time. Any change you want applied to the next cycle has to be made before midnight UTC on your billing day — which in US time zones is the evening before. Miss it and the change rolls to the following cycle.
Changing plans mid-cycle
| Action | When it takes effect | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade a plan | Immediately | Prorated amount for the higher plan for the rest of the cycle |
| Downgrade a plan | Start of the next cycle | Nothing extra now; new rate begins next cycle |
| Add a second kit | When it ships | Prorated service charge appears on the following cycle |
| Resume paused service | Immediately | Prorated charge for the rest of the current cycle |
See a charge before it posts
Your account page has a Preview Next Invoice button. Before you change a plan, add a kit, or resume service, open it — it shows the exact amount and date so there are no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
When does Starlink billing start? +
At activation, or 7 days after the kit is delivered — whichever comes first. Then you pay in advance each month.
Can I change my plan in the middle of a cycle? +
Yes. Upgrades apply immediately and are prorated for the rest of the cycle; downgrades apply at the start of the next cycle.
Why did I get an unexpected charge? +
Usually a prorated amount from a plan change, a charge for an additional kit, or a prorated charge from resuming service. Use "Preview Next Invoice" to confirm.
What time zone is my billing date? +
UTC. To change something for the next cycle, do it before midnight UTC on your billing day — in the US that's the evening before.
Can I pause instead of cancel to avoid charges? +
Yes — Standby Mode keeps the line active at about $10/mo instead of cancelling. See pausing Starlink & Standby Mode.
Will I be billed for replacing defective hardware? +
Under warranty, no — Starlink ships a replacement and you return the faulty unit. See replacement hardware & warranty.
New to Starlink? Grab a free month.
New customers get one month of service free through our referral — applied to the second month.
See the Free-Month Offer →When you choose local, you're supporting local
Support your local internet provider whenever you can, and save Starlink for where it's genuinely the only reliable option. Your money stays in your community — funding local jobs, local businesses, and the people who live and work in the same places they serve. Local and regional providers also usually beat satellite on latency and support where they reach.
Check who already covers your address before you buy a dish: the WISPA “Find a WISP” directory, the FCC Broadband Map, or a quick search for your county + “internet providers.” In our areas, On-Ramp Indiana (Indiana) and ETHX (Southwest Florida) offer local fiber and fixed-wireless: