About Globalstar vs Starlink: First, as a rural dweller, you need satellite or wireless internet now that cable is mostly in cities.
Secondly, the two are rivals regarding satellite internet, and you need to know which one suits your needs most.
To clarify, let’s start our comparison by making a detailed comparison of Globalstar vs Starlink.
What is Globalstar?
Globalstar is a satellite communication company that came onto the scene in 1991. The company specializes in message and voice calls.
However, in 1998, it launched its first satellite, aiming to offer satellite phones that can browse the internet.
Today, Globalstar features many IoT devices and a satellite modem that offers internet services.
While discussing Globalstar, we cannot forget to say Starlink is a satellite company offering the internet and its associated devices.
Starink uses a constellation of small satellites in LEO to ensure super speeds and low latency compared to traditional satellites.
A Starlink dish placed on the ground
Globalstar vs Starlink: Coverage Details
While Globalstar is older than Starlink, one common thing you should know about them is that they both use LEO satellites.
However, Starlink has made several strides in launching these satellites more than Globalstar has.
Starlink had about 5000 satellites when compiling this piece, while Globalstar had only 25. The more the satellite launched into space, the better the coverage.
As such, it is correct to say Starlink has the best coverage compared to Globalstar and many other satellite ISPs.
To be precise, Starlink has its service in 52 countries globally and continues to launch more to cover the entire world.
In contrast, Globalstar phone and messaging covers less than 42 states in North America. You may also find it in Europe, Iraq, and some parts of Africa and South America.
I recommend visiting the respective company website to know its availability and coverage information in your region.
A coverage illustration
Globalstar vs Starlink: Hardware Costs
Cost is an important aspect and one of the main considerations when choosing an ISP.
As I said earlier, Globalstar features many devices you need to access their internet.
Its main internet device, the Globalstar satellite modem, goes for between $50 to $100, but the phones may cost more.
The good thing is that these devices are plug-and-play without requiring and professional technician.
In contrast, Starlink hardware costs depend on the service you choose. For example, the residential and RV Starlink hardware cost $599 for the standard kit.
The Starlink business hardware is $2,500 since it includes a specialized flat high-performance dish. Its most expensive hardware is the aviation, which costs a whopping $150,000.
While Starlink optimizes its hardware for self-installation, note that you may need a technician for a specialized setup.
In addition to the technician fee, you must buy mounts, which adds to the hardware cost. As you can see, Starlink hardware is costly compared to Globalstar.
However, the good news is that you can lower this price by renting or purchasing second-hand equipment.
Globalstar vs Starlink: Speed
When considering speed, Starlink Internet stands out as the winner when you compare it with Globalstar. Not even Viasat or HughesNet can rival Starlink in the speed area.
With that said, expect Starlink to have download speeds of up to 220 Mbps and 25 Mbps for uploads.
When on the business plan or with priority access data, the speed may be up to 350 Mbps. For the latency, you can experience between 20 to 40 ms enough for mostly online tasks.
However, this performance can be lower due to bad weather and network congestion, especially if you have the standard hardware.
On the other hand, Globalstar’s speed is not that much. With the internet not being its staple, expect a very low speed of 720 Kbps from its dedicated modem.
As you can see, this speed is not even rough for any kind of low-quality streaming.
Checking the Internet performance
GlobalStar vs Starlink: Subscription Costs
Both Globalstar and Starlink’s monthly costs depend on your chosen plan. Starting with Globalstar, expect to pay $99.99 for its cheapest plan, Orbit 150.
Its next plan is Orbit Unlimited, which costs $199.99 per month. You also have the option for annual plans with Galaxy 1800 costing $1200 and Galaxy Unlimited going for $2400.
I think these plans look very expensive because the internet is very low. However, you can opt for them if calling and messaging is your main goal.
In comparison, Starlink is the most expensive of the two services. Its residential, known as the standard plan, costs $120 monthly.
Other plans are the Stalink Roam for $150, Starlink business and marine for $250, and aviation for $12500 per month.
There is also another Starlink plan for the military known as Starshield, which is way more expensive.
Wrap up
The above comparison shows Starlink is miles ahead if you seek reliable internet. However, every company looks to improve, and it’s unsurprising to see Globalstar improve with time.