How to pause Starlink: Standby Mode
The old free pause is gone. Here's what replaced it — Standby Mode — what it costs, the data you still get, when it kicks in, and the catches that trip up snowbirds and RVers.
The free pause is gone
Starlink retired the old "pause service" option and replaced it with Standby Mode, which costs about $10/month (up from $5 at launch — Starlink raised it in mid-2026, so older guides may still say $5). Instead of fully stopping, your line stays alive at a trickle — so your account, hardware and address stay active and you can resume full speed anytime.
What Standby Mode gives you
| Item | Standby Mode |
|---|---|
| Cost | ~$10/month |
| Data | Unlimited, but capped around 500 Kbps |
| Good for | Messaging, the Starlink app, basic checks |
| Not good for | Streaming, video calls, real browsing |
| Starts | End of your current billing period |
| Resuming | Full service is billed prorated |
You keep full service through the time you've already paid for — Standby only kicks in at the end of the current period. When you come back, resuming full service is prorated for the rest of that cycle.
The catches
- No use in motion. As of March 2026, Standby can't be used while moving — so it's not a cheap way to keep an RV or marine line active on the road.
- Not available on everything. Promotional plans, some rental kits, certain Business/Enterprise accounts, and V5 hardware are excluded.
- Long pauses. Past about 12 months on Standby, Starlink may add a fee, require a plan change, or drop you to account-access only.
- Don't skip the $10. If the Standby fee goes unpaid, the line is cancelled — and coming back later means a new plan, possibly at current pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still pause Starlink for free? +
No — the free pause was replaced by Standby Mode at about $10/month, which keeps the line active with low-speed data (~500 Kbps).
When does Standby Mode start? +
At the end of your current billing period. You keep full service through what you've already paid for.
Can I use Standby Mode in an RV while traveling? +
No. Since March 2026 Standby can't be used in motion, so it won't keep a mobile line cheaply active on the road.
What happens if I don't pay the Standby fee? +
The line is cancelled. Returning later means starting a new plan, possibly at today's pricing.
How does pausing affect my bill? +
Standby replaces full service at the end of the paid period, and resuming is prorated. The full cycle and proration picture is in how Starlink billing works.
Can I pause a mobile or RV plan? +
Standby exists on most plans, but it can't be used in motion. For how mobility plans work on the road, see Starlink in an RV or van.
Coming back from a pause? 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: