How fast is Starlink really? Based on 225 real user tests, Starlink averages ~73 Mbps download, ~15 Mbps upload, and ~72 ms ping. Test yours and see if it's normal — plus how it compares to cable.
Starlink brought real broadband to places cable and fiber never reached — but how fast is it actually? We pulled 225 real Starlink speed tests from our users. Here's what Starlink genuinely delivers, and how to tell if yours is performing normally.
→ Run your free Starlink speed test now
| Metric | Starlink average | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Download | ~73 Mbps | Comfortable for 4K on 1-2 screens, browsing, work |
| Upload | ~15 Mbps | Fine for video calls and cloud sync |
| Ping | ~72 ms | Higher than cable (satellite hop); OK for most, not ideal for competitive gaming |
These are real user measurements, not advertised numbers. Starlink's real-world speed varies more than cable because it depends on satellite congestion, your view of the sky, weather, and time of day.
Run the test above and compare:
→ Test your Starlink and compare to the average
Starlink is satellite internet: your data travels up to low-earth-orbit satellites and back down, which adds latency no cable connection has. Our tests show ~72 ms average vs ~30 ms for cable. For streaming, browsing, and most video calls this is invisible. For competitive online gaming, that extra latency can matter.
Based on our real test data:
| ISP | Avg download | Avg ping | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink | ~73 Mbps | ~72 ms | Rural / remote — anywhere cable can't reach |
| Xfinity (Comcast) | ~349 Mbps | ~33 ms | Urban/suburban cable |
| Cox | ~344 Mbps | ~28 ms | Cable markets |
| Spectrum (Charter) | ~320 Mbps | ~35 ms | Cable markets |
Cable is far faster on paper — but Starlink's advantage is availability. If you're rural or off-grid, Starlink often beats the alternative (slow DSL or nothing). Compare directly: Cox vs Starlink, Starlink vs Xfinity.
Around 73 Mbps download / 15 Mbps upload / 72 ms ping is the real-world average. A good result is roughly 50-150 Mbps download with ping under 80 ms.
Compare your test to the ~73 Mbps / ~72 ms average. 40-120 Mbps download is normal. Much lower usually means an obstruction, congestion, or a router issue.
It's satellite — data goes to orbit and back, adding latency (~72 ms vs ~30 ms for cable). Fine for streaming/browsing; can affect competitive gaming.
Usually not on raw speed (cable averages 340-350 Mbps vs Starlink's ~73). But Starlink wins where cable isn't available.
→ Run your free Starlink speed test →
Averages based on 225 real user tests. Last updated: July 2026.