Starlink's $1 trial comes with a catch

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 07 May 2024

This might be the best time to take Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink for a spin.

The company is offering a 30-day trial of its Standard plan for households for just $1. Kind of.

What Starlink is actually doing is deferring the cost of the hardware by 30 days. Instead of paying $599 upfront, you'll pay $1 now and the remaining $598 will be automatically charged 30 days after activation unless you cancel the service and start the process of returning the undamaged kit to Starlink.

You also still have to pay the $139 service fee however this is refundable if you cancel before 30 days. At the same time, Starlink has slashed the shipping and handling fee which is usually $30.

Any mount you purchase will need to be purchased separately and is non-refundable, mounts start at $90 and go up to $230.

Realistically aside from the lack of fee for getting the kit to you, you'll be paying about as much as usual. It's not a bad proposition if you're in regional Australia and have been curious about the service. Starlink even says it will provide a pre-paid return label for the kit which makes the return process easier.

In our review of Starlink, we found Starlink isn't quite as easy to install as it might seem, the modem needs to be positioned outside while the dish needs a clear view of the sky outside. This means for most people you'll need at the very least a ladder and some jury rigging. Anything more permanent, say, in a wall, roof, or under the floor will require a registered cabler. It's illegal to do your own fixed cabling in Australia. It's something to keep in mind if you want to try the service out.

Satellite internet via Sky Muster NBN has cheaper plans (and the option of unlimited data now with Sky Muster Plus) although Starlink offers speeds up to 220Mbps. One provider, SkyMesh is itself even offering free setup and first month for free.

Here's a look at some Sky Muster Plus NBN plans for comparison:

#1	Pivotel	Pivotel Sky Muster Plus Premium 25 nbn® Satellite 21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $4/mth off for first 6 months, $55/mth for first 6 months, then $59/mth ongoing. Ends 31.10.26 $55/mth for 6 mths, then $59/mth Min. cost $55 Link not supplied	$55/mth for 6 mths, then $59/mth Min. cost $55	Link not supplied
#2	Activ8me	Activ8me Sky Muster Plus Premium 25 nbn® Satellite 21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: 2 months free! New residential customers only who sign up on an eligible plan with an RRP of under $85/mth. T&Cs apply $59/mth Min. cost $59 Go to Site	$59/mth Min. cost $59	Go to Site
#3	IPSTAR	IPSTAR Sky Muster Plus Entry nbn® Satellite 21 Mbps Unlimited Data $60/mth Min. cost $60 Link not supplied	$60/mth Min. cost $60	Link not supplied
#4	Skymesh	Skymesh Skymesh Ultra 25 Plan nbn® Satellite Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 months, then $74.95/mth. T&Cs apply. $64.95/mth for first 6 months, then $74.95/mth Min. cost $64.95 Link not supplied	$64.95/mth for first 6 months, then $74.95/mth Min. cost $64.95	Link not supplied
#5	Pivotel	Pivotel Sky Muster Plus Premium 50 nbn® Satellite 36 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $5/mth off for first 6 months, $70/mth for first 6 months, then $75/mth ongoing. Ends 31.10.26 $70/mth for 6 mths, then $75/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for 6 mths, then $75/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#6	Activ8me Editor's Pick	Activ8me Editor's Pick Sky Muster Plus Premium 50 nbn® Satellite 36 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: 2 months free! New residential customers only who sign up on an eligible plan with an RRP of under $85/mth. T&Cs apply $74/mth Min. cost $74 Go to Site	$74/mth Min. cost $74	Go to Site
#7	Skymesh	Skymesh Skymesh Ultra 50 Plan nbn® Satellite Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for first 6 months, then $94.95/mth. T&Cs apply. $79.95/mth for first 6 months, then $94.95/mth Min. cost $79.95 Link not supplied	$79.95/mth for first 6 months, then $94.95/mth Min. cost $79.95	Link not supplied
#8	IPSTAR	IPSTAR Sky Muster Plus Standard nbn® Satellite 38 Mbps Unlimited Data $80/mth Min. cost $80 Link not supplied	$80/mth Min. cost $80	Link not supplied
#9	Pivotel	Pivotel Sky Muster Plus Premium 100 nbn® Satellite 63 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 months, $89/mth for first 6 months, then $99/mth ongoing. Ends 31.10.26 $89/mth for 6 mths, then $99/mth Min. cost $89 Link not supplied	$89/mth for 6 mths, then $99/mth Min. cost $89	Link not supplied
#10	Activ8me	Activ8me Sky Muster Plus Premium 100 nbn® Satellite 63 Mbps Unlimited Data $99/mth Min. cost $99 Go to Site	$99/mth Min. cost $99	Go to Site

Telstra, which now offers Starlink as "Telstra Satellite Internet" isn't offering the $1 free trial. However, its monthly plan fees are cheaper at $125 per month and it similarly won't charge a delivery fee.

Starlink's $1 30-day free trial is only available to new customers. At the time of writing, there's no indication when this offer will be withdrawn.

Looking for a new internet plan?

These are the most popular Fixed Wireless NBN plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo Editor's Pick Fixed Wireless Plus Plan nbn® Wireless 70/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site*	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Speedy nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths - $67.90/month for first 6 months, then $92.90/month. $67.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $67.90 Go to Site	$67.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $67.90	Go to Site
#3	Dodo	Dodo Fixed Wireless nbn25 Plan nbn® Wireless 23/4 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $73.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $43.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $73.99/mth Min. cost $43.99 Go to Site*	$43.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $73.99/mth Min. cost $43.99	Go to Site
#4	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Superspeedy nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths - $79.90/month for first 6 months, then $104.90/month. $79.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $104.90/mth Min. cost $79.90 Go to Site	$79.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $104.90/mth Min. cost $79.90	Go to Site
#5	Activ8me	Activ8me Fixed Wireless Plus nbn® Wireless 50/6 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: 2 months free! New residential customers only who sign up on an eligible plan with an RRP of under $85/mth. T&Cs apply $84.95/mth Min. cost $84.95 Go to Site	$84.95/mth Min. cost $84.95	Go to Site
#6	Telstra	Telstra Upfront Internet Plan Basic (Fixed Wireless) nbn® Wireless 23/3 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get 50% off any home nbn plan for 2 months. Add code PROMO at checkout. Ends 05.10.26. T&Cs apply. $97/mth Min. cost $48.50 Link not supplied	$97/mth Min. cost $48.50	Link not supplied
#7	Origin Broadband	Origin Broadband Fixed Wireless nbn® 100/20 nbn® Wireless 80/12 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for 6 mths, $80/mth for 6 mths, then reverts to $110/mth + 2,500 Everyday Rewards Points + More! $80/mth for 6 mths, then $110/mth Min. cost $80 Link not supplied	$80/mth for 6 mths, then $110/mth Min. cost $80	Link not supplied
#8	Skymesh	Skymesh NBN Wireless Fast nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 months, then $99.95/mth. T&Cs apply. $79.95/mth for first 6 months, then $99.95/mth Min. cost $79.95 Link not supplied	$79.95/mth for first 6 months, then $99.95/mth Min. cost $79.95	Link not supplied
#9	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Value Plus nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $63.90/month for first 6 months, then $88.90/month. $63.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $88.90/mth Min. cost $63.90 Go to Site	$63.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $88.90/mth Min. cost $63.90	Go to Site
#10	Superloop	Superloop nbn Fixed Wireless Home Fast (250/20) nbn® Wireless 160/12 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $15/mth off 6 months! $83/mth for 6 mths, then $98/mth + Free eero 7 modem when you stay for 24 mths + Bundle & Save $83/mth for first 6 mths, then $98/mth Min. cost $83 Go to Site	$83/mth for first 6 mths, then $98/mth Min. cost $83	Go to Site

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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