How many people use Starlink now?
SpaceX counted 13.6 million Starlink consumer subscribers as of September 30, 2026, plus "hundreds of thousands" of additional enterprise subscribers it does not break out. The 1.6 million added in Q3 works out to roughly 17,400 new subscribers a day, a slightly slower daily pace than the roughly 18,700 a day implied by Q2's numbers, but still close to a doubling of the base in twelve months (7.2 million in Q3 2025).
Growth came "primarily from developed markets," per the filing, which fits the US-heavy story of the past year: price cuts on entry plans, wider retail availability of the dish, and the referral program that pays existing customers to recruit new ones.
What does the average Starlink subscriber pay?
SpaceX now discloses consumer ARPU, the average monthly bill across all consumer subscribers: $69 a month in Q3. Two things stand out:
- It is up 5% from $66 last quarter, which SpaceX attributed to the subscriber mix shifting toward developed markets.
- It is down from $83 a year ago, reflecting a year of cheaper entry tiers and promotions pulling the average down even as the base exploded.
For context, $69 sits between Starlink's current US residential tiers of $55, $85 and $130 a month (see our October plans and prices guide). In plain terms: the "typical" Starlink household is on one of the cheaper plans, and the average bill has been falling, not rising.
How much money does Starlink actually make?
Starlink lives inside SpaceX's "Connectivity" segment, which also covers enterprise, government, aviation and maritime deals. Its Q3 numbers:
- Revenue: $5.25 billion, up 22% from Q2 and 69% year over year. Consumer plans generated $3.12 billion of that; enterprise and government brought in $2.13 billion, up 91% year over year.
- Operating income: $2.4 billion, up 99% year over year, a 45% operating margin.
- Capex: $1.54 billion in the quarter, funding the satellite constellation and dish manufacturing.
For the company as a whole, SpaceX reported $14.6 billion in revenue (up 161%, with its new AI segment contributing $7.6 billion) and net income of $4.4 billion versus a $1.1 billion loss a year earlier. On the earnings call, Elon Musk said the Starlink connectivity business could eventually generate "several hundred billion dollars a year." That is a company projection, not a forecast we can verify, but the current run rate is about $21 billion a year and growing.
What else did the report say about Starlink?
- Starship is now delivering Starlink satellites. Starship Flight 14, its first orbital flight, carried 26 Starlink V3 satellites, which SpaceX says added roughly 10 times the downlink capacity of a single Falcon 9 Starlink launch. More V3 capacity is what underpins the speed headroom behind current plans.
- More than 3,800 aircraft were equipped with Starlink as of September 30, across existing and new airline partnerships (we covered the US airline rollout dates here).
- The 800 MHz spectrum deal moved forward. After the quarter ended, SpaceX agreed to acquire FCC licenses for 800 MHz spectrum to advance Starlink Mobile, its direct-to-phone play. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval (background in our earlier report).
What does this mean if you're choosing satellite internet?
Three practical takeaways. First, Starlink's average bill is $69 and falling year over year, so the sticker price on the cheapest plan is closer to the norm than the exception. Second, the segment's 45% operating margin means the service is not being subsidized to buy growth; price cuts are a choice, not a desperation move. Third, the capex line ($1.5 billion in one quarter) and Starship's 10x capacity launches are what keep speeds improving as millions more join, which has been the main historical risk of a shared satellite network.
If you are weighing Starlink for your home, check the current plans and prices. If you order through our referral link, you and the site owner get the same reward, paid as cash or service credit after two months of subscription (Starlink's US example is $100; the amount shown in your Starlink account is what counts).
Frequently asked questions
How many Starlink subscribers are there in 2026?
13.6 million consumer subscribers as of September 30, 2026, per SpaceX's Q3 2026 earnings release, plus hundreds of thousands of enterprise subscribers. That is up from 12.0 million at the end of June and 7.2 million a year earlier.
How fast is Starlink growing?
Starlink added 1.6 million consumer subscribers in Q3 2026, about 17,400 a day, and has grown 89% in twelve months. The daily pace was slightly below Q2's roughly 18,700 a day.
What is the average monthly Starlink bill?
$69 a month (consumer ARPU) in Q3 2026, up from $66 in Q2 but down from $83 in Q3 2025. Current US residential plans are listed at $55, $85 and $130 a month.
Is Starlink profitable?
Yes. SpaceX's Connectivity segment, built around Starlink, posted $2.4 billion in operating income on $5.25 billion in revenue in Q3 2026, a 45% operating margin, up 99% year over year.
Did SpaceX say anything about Starlink Mobile?
Yes: after the quarter ended, SpaceX agreed to acquire FCC licenses for 800 MHz spectrum to advance Starlink Mobile, its direct-to-phone service. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approval.