The Starlink referral program, fully explained.

Every rule, every edge case, every common mistake. The questions you actually have, answered without marketing fluff.

How does the referral program work?

When a new customer signs up using a referral link, both the new customer and the existing customer who referred them get one free month of standard service after the new customer has been active for 30 days. The referral applies automatically when the new customer clicks the link and completes signup in the same browser session. There is no code to enter manually.

How much is one free month worth?

Equal to your monthly plan price. So:

• Residential 100 ($50/mo): one free month = $50 saved
• Residential 200 ($80/mo): one free month = $80 saved
• Residential Max ($120/mo): one free month = $120 saved
• Roam Regional ($50/mo): $50 saved
• Roam Global ($165/mo): $165 saved

The credit is calculated against your local plan price, so the value scales to your country's pricing. A free month in the UK at £35/mo is worth £35; in Brazil at R$250/mo it is R$250.

Which plans qualify for the referral?

Eligible: Residential 100, Residential 200, Residential Max, Roam Regional, Roam Global, and Mini Roam plans.

Not eligible: Business plans, Priority plans, Mobile Priority plans (commercial vessels and vehicles), and Maritime plans. The free month does not apply to these tiers.

When does the free month appear on my account?

The credit lands on your account after you have been an active subscriber for 30 days. It typically shows up as a one-time discount on your second monthly invoice. You do not need to claim it manually.

If you cancel service before the 30 days are up, neither account gets the credit. Both sides need to remain subscribed through the qualification period.

Does the referral work in every country?

The referral link mechanically works in every country where Starlink offers consumer service. The program itself is officially active in most established markets (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, etc.) and most newer Tier 2 markets. In some recently launched countries, the program may not be fully active for a few months after country launch.

The reliable test: after activation, log into your Starlink dashboard. If you see a "Refer a friend, both get a free month" section, the program is active in your country and your referral worked. If not, the link still applies but credits may be delayed until the program goes live locally.

What if I forget to use a referral?

Once you place an order without a referral, the credit cannot be added retroactively. There is no support ticket that fixes this. You either ordered through a referral link or you did not.

Best practice: clear your browser, click any valid referral link fresh, and start the order over. If you have already paid, contact Starlink support to ask about cancellation and re-order, but expect them to say no.

How do I know the referral was actually applied?

During checkout, before you click pay, Starlink shows a banner near the top of the order page confirming a referral has been applied. It usually says something like "You and a friend will both get one month free." If you do not see this banner, the referral is not active in your session.

Do not place the order without seeing this banner. Close the browser, click the referral link fresh, start over, and confirm the banner appears before paying.

Can I refer myself?

No. Starlink uses name, address, payment method, and IP signals to detect self-referrals. Attempts to game the system can get both accounts flagged or suspended.

Can I use a referral if I bought from Best Buy or another retailer?

No. The referral applies only when ordering directly from starlink.com. Hardware purchased at Best Buy, Home Depot, Costco, or any other retailer activates without referral credit, regardless of which link you click first.

If you want the referral credit, order direct from starlink.com.

How many people can I refer?

Starlink has not published a hard cap. Sharing your link in normal community settings (forums, social media, personal blogs) is fine. Using the program as a paid business operation (selling referrals for cash, automated mass referral sites, etc.) is against the terms of service and grounds for account suspension.

Practically, individual users can refer dozens of people without issue. The line is around commercial-scale operations, not casual sharing.

Does the referral apply to Mini hardware purchases?

The referral applies to the service, not the hardware. The Mini-specific activation discount ($249 instead of full price) is a separate promotional offer for new customers. The referral free month stacks with the activation discount: you can get both.

What if my friend wants to refer me later, after I order?

Cannot be done. The referral has to be applied at order time. There is no retroactive transfer.

Solution: have them send the link before you order. Both of you benefit. Alternatively, use any valid referral link from a stranger on the internet, since they all work the same way (the credit goes to whoever owns the link, not based on prior relationship).

Can the referral be combined with promotional pricing?

Yes. The referral free month stacks with current promos. If Starlink is running a $35/month promotional rate for the first four months and you order through a referral, you get both: the promotional rate and the free month bonus on top.

What happens to the credit if I downgrade my plan?

The credit equals your plan's monthly price at the time it is awarded. If you sign up on Residential Max, qualify for the credit, then downgrade to Residential 100, the credit was already calculated at the Max price ($120). If you downgrade before qualifying, the credit gets recalculated to the lower price ($50).

Is there any catch I should know about?

The honest answer: no. Starlink runs the program because referrals are cheaper customer acquisition than ads. They benefit from new customers; existing customers benefit from a free month; new customers benefit from a free month. The program has no hidden costs, no extra fees, no auto-enrollment in anything else.

The only "catch" is that you have to remember to click a referral link before signing up. That is the entire mechanism. If you click first, you get the credit. If you do not, you pay full price like everyone else.

Should I always use a referral link, even from a stranger?

Yes. The new customer (you) saves a month of service. The referrer (whoever owns the link) gets a free month. Starlink charges you the same price either way. There is no reason not to click a referral link before ordering.

This is what "always order through any valid referral" means in practice. The math is simple: free is better than not free.