$5, $10, $15, or free? Search for the price of Starlink’s Standby Mode and you’ll find all four answers — often in the same forum thread. The reason is simple: the price has changed several times, and people are quoting what they paid in a different era. Here’s the current situation in Canada, how Standby actually works, and the two traps nobody mentions.
In Canada, Standby Mode is $15/month as of May 2026
Lower figures still circulating (free, $5, $7) are from earlier versions of the program. The increase applied to existing customers on June 18, 2026. Always confirm the exact amount shown in your Starlink app, as it can vary by plan type.
What Standby actually does
Standby isn’t simply switching the service off. You keep:
- Your account and dish active, without paying the full plan price.
- A very slow connection (a few hundred kbps), enough for messages, alerts and notifications.
- Fast reactivation, in a few taps in the app, with no reconnection fee.
The two traps nobody mentions
Plenty of people think “I’ll just cancel and re-subscribe in spring, it costs nothing.” That’s true on the billing side. But if your area becomes capacity constrained in the meantime, your return isn’t guaranteed — you can land on a waitlist where you previously had a spot. Standby protects your service address.
Standby reduces dish activity, but the router stays powered and keeps drawing electricity. If you’re closing a cottage for winter, physically unplug the equipment — Standby is a billing setting, not an off switch.
When it starts, exactly
This is the second common source of confusion. The change doesn’t take effect instantly: it applies from your next billing date. If your cycle runs the 9th to the 9th, switching to Standby on the 12th means you keep full service until the 9th, then drop to Standby.
In other words: plans work by the month, not by the week. You can’t go on Standby for ten days and come back.
Important: renting your dish changes this
If your dish is rented rather than owned, Standby Mode is generally not available to you. With a rental it’s all or nothing: pay the full plan, or cancel and return the equipment. Worth knowing before you plan a seasonal strategy. See hardware options →
The math for a seasonal cottage
5 months of service at $75 + 7 months of Standby at $15 = $480/year, versus $900 if you paid year-round. That’s over $400 saved — and you keep your spot.
Frequently asked questions
Is Standby monthly or weekly?
Monthly. Starlink plans run on monthly billing cycles and Standby follows the same logic.
Is there a fee to reactivate?
No. Reactivation happens in the app with no reconnection charge.
Can I stay on Standby indefinitely?
Yes, as long as you pay the monthly amount. That’s the point: keep your account and address without paying full price.
Do I still have internet on Standby?
A very slow connection remains, useful for messages and notifications. It’s not usable for video or work.
Why does my neighbour pay less?
Most likely they’re on an older pricing tier or a different plan type. Check the exact amount in your app.
Not a subscriber yet?
Contract-free, with Standby for the off-season, and 1 month free through our official referral link.
Pricing verified on starlink.com/ca, August 2026. The Standby amount can vary by plan type; confirm in your app. Last updated: August 2026.
*1 free month of Starlink service (equal to your plan) automatically credited 30 days after activation of your service, when you order through our official referral link RC-DF-7650727-61403-46. Official SpaceX program. No extra cost to you: same price as starlink.com. FastSat.ca receives a referral reward ($140 in cash or credit) for each referral, which funds the site.