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If you’re a former Starlink subscriber, SpaceX might try to lure you back with a sizable discount.
On Thursday, the company sent emails to inactive customers in the US, Canada, and Australia, offering a 50% discount on monthly satellite internet service plans. “We’d love to have you back,” SpaceX wrote in one of the messages, which customers posted on Facebook and Reddit.
The deal is reportedly good for 24 months and reduces monthly costs from $120 to $60. Facebook users who got the email say they recently canceled or previously paused their Starlink service.
(Credit: Reddit user YankeesIT)
It’s not the first time SpaceX has reached out to inactive customers. Last month, it offered one free month of service to former subscribers in Australia, Europe, Canada, and the US.
The latest deal takes the bargain to a whole new level. But it might not be enough for some users, who report ditching Starlink after receiving fiber to the home. “They must be feeling the hurt from accounts like me getting fiber,” wrote one user on Facebook.
A few other subscribers who haven’t canceled also report receiving an email that says: “As a valued Starlink customer, you are receiving a 50% service discount for 6 billing cycles. No action needed, just keep enjoying your service, and the discount will apply automatically.” A user in Canada reported receiving the same offer, but at 75% off.
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SpaceX has been offering all kinds of discounts and freebies. Earlier this week, the company emailed select users in the US and Canada about receiving a “free” Starlink Mini dish, although it’s actually a rental. A month ago, the company also began discounting the Starlink residential plans to $49 or $59 per month in US areas where SpaceX has excess capacity.
The deals suggest SpaceX is trying to drive Starlink growth even more; it already serves over 2 million customers in the US. On Reddit, one former Starlink subscriber wrote, “Kind of saw this coming,” noting the influx of discount offers from SpaceX in recent weeks.
In other cases, the discounts are causing some resentment from existing users who’ve remained loyal subscribers for years. “All I get is payment reminders. SMH [shake my head],” wrote one user on Facebook.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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