Starlink Speed Test: How to Test Starlink and What Speeds Are Normal
By RSINC editorial team | Updated
A useful Starlink speed test separates the satellite service from your home Wi-Fi. Start with the Starlink app: its default test measures the router's connection to the internet. Advanced device tests include your phone or computer and can expose a Wi-Fi bottleneck. Compare results with the speed information for your address and current plan, rather than one nationwide target.
Compare the Starlink provider guide with our satellite internet comparison when weighing alternatives.
A plan with a stated speed cap cannot be judged against an uncapped plan. Review the broadband label and account details for your specific service.
How to run a Starlink speed test
- Open the Starlink app while connected to your Starlink Wi-Fi.
- Tap Speed Test, then Start, for the router-to-internet result. Open Advanced to test Device to Internet or Device to Router separately.
- Next, plug a laptop into the router with an Ethernet cable if you can. Newer Starlink routers have ports, and older ones need Starlink's Ethernet adapter.
- Run a browser test, such as our RSINC speed test, two or three times.
If the app's router result is good but your phone's result is poor, the problem is Wi-Fi, not Starlink. Our guide to Wi-Fi speed test results explains what each number means.
What's normal, and what's not
| Comparison | What to investigate |
|---|---|
| Router result is healthy but Device to Router is much slower | Wi-Fi range, interference or the device |
| Router and wired device results are both persistently low | Plan limits, obstructions, alerts or service congestion |
| Only one test is slow | Repeat under similar conditions before drawing conclusions |
Why Starlink speed test results swing
- Trees, roofs and chimneys block part of the sky and cause short dropouts. The app's obstruction checker shows where.
- Speeds often dip in the evening when more people in your area are online.
- Heavy rain and snow can slow the connection briefly. See our page on Starlink in heavy rain.
- Wi-Fi through walls and floors can cut speeds sharply, even when the dish is fine.
- Different test sites measure in different ways, so compare results from the same test.
When to contact Starlink support
Open a support ticket in the app if speeds stay far below the typical range for several days with no obstructions, the app shows alerts, or outages repeat at the same time each day. Restart the router and dish from the app first, and save screenshots of your test results. Our guide to where to put your Wi-Fi router can help with weak Wi-Fi.
If you live where cable and fiber don't reach, the three satellite internet options are Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet. Viasat speeds vary by plan, address and network conditions; advertised speeds are not guaranteed. Our Hughesnet vs. Viasat vs. Starlink comparison covers the trade-offs.
For help comparing internet at your address, call RSINC at 1-877-697-2926 or compare local providers.
Reviewed October 29, 2026. Availability, prices and terms can change.