Amazon Leo vs. Starlink: which is better?
Two low-orbit satellite internet services, one available today. Here is how they compare so far.
For now, Starlink, because it's the only one you can buy: it's available across the U.S. from $55 a month with no contract. Amazon Leo plans to launch by the end of 2026 and targets a dish under $400, but hasn't announced monthly prices. If you're happy to wait, join Amazon's waitlist and compare once prices are out.
The two services in one minute
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet. It has sold to homes for years and has more than 10 million customers worldwide. Amazon Leo, formerly Project Kuiper, is Amazon's version. Both put a dish at your home that talks to satellites in low-Earth orbit, which keeps lag far lower than older satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat.
Side by side
Starlink wins on what you can buy today. Amazon Leo can't win any row yet: its prices, contract and real-world speeds aren't public.
Starlink from starlink.com, checked Oct 11, 2026. Amazon Leo from Amazon's site and announcements, Oct 2026. Rows without a winner can't be compared until Amazon publishes prices and real-world speeds.
Speed and lag: what Amazon claims
Amazon says Leo will be about 3× faster than Starlink on downloads and 8–10× faster on uploads. In an interview with Ars Technica, it put Starlink at roughly 350 Mbps down and 40 Mbps up. These are Amazon's own figures; there are no independent tests of Leo at homes yet.
Leo's satellites fly higher than Starlink's, so each one covers more ground. The trade-off is a slightly longer trip for the signal, about a millisecond, which you won't notice on video calls. Both should land in the same lag range, low enough for gaming, unlike older satellite internet.
One caution for early sign-ups: with about 400 of 3,232 planned satellites up, Leo's coverage and capacity will be thinner at launch than they will be later, as The Verge notes. Starlink went through the same stage in its 2020–2021 beta.
Which to pick
Which one makes sense really depends on two things: what already reaches your home, and how soon you need to get online.
- you need internet this month
- nothing wired or 5G reaches you
- you want a 30-day refund to try it
- you can wait a few months
- price matters most to you
- you have Prime and want a bundle
Start with the first. If cable, fiber or 5G home internet reaches your address, you probably don't need either satellite service. Those plans are usually faster and cheaper, so it's worth taking a minute to check your address before anything else.
If satellite is your best option and you need internet now, Starlink is the practical choice, because it's the only one of the two you can actually sign up for today. You're not locked in, either: there's no contract and a 30-day refund, so if Amazon Leo arrives with a better deal, you can switch.
If you can wait a few months, it's worth holding off on a decision about price. Amazon has said it wants Leo to be affordable and plans Prime and other bundles, but it hasn't published a single monthly price yet. The same goes for speed: Leo Pro advertises up to 400 Mbps, and Starlink advertises up to 400+ Mbps on Residential Max, so on paper they're close. Nobody will know how Leo performs at real homes until it launches.
More on each: Amazon Leo: price, launch date and availability · Is Starlink worth it?
Related guides
- Starlink plan pages, checked Oct 2026 (via our Starlink review)
- Amazon Leo website (leo.amazon.com): terminals and waitlist, checked Oct 11, 2026
- Ars Technica (Oct 2026): service by end of year, Amazon's 3× download / 8–10× upload claim and its Starlink estimate (350 Mbps down, 40 up); RCR Wireless News (Apr 2026) and Orbital Radar (Sep 2026): orbit heights and Starlink satellite count; SatelliteInternet.com (Feb 2026): Leo Nano vs. Starlink Mini; The Verge (Oct 2026): early-coverage caveat; KSL News and FlightGlobal (Oct 2026): Delta and American Airlines Wi-Fi choices; Broadband Breakfast (Oct 2026): Prime and other bundles
We'll update this comparison when Amazon publishes prices. How we research
Questions
Is Amazon Leo better than Starlink?
It's too early to say. Amazon Leo isn't open to homes yet and hasn't published prices or real-world speeds. Starlink is the one you can buy today.
Is Amazon Leo cheaper than Starlink?
Unknown. Amazon targets a dish under $400 (Starlink's is $349) but hasn't announced monthly prices. Starlink starts at $55 a month.
Should I wait for Amazon Leo or get Starlink now?
If you need internet now, get Starlink: there's no contract and a 30-day refund. If you can wait, join Amazon's free waitlist and compare once prices are out.
Are Amazon Leo and Starlink the same thing?
No. Both are low-orbit satellite internet, but Starlink is run by SpaceX and Amazon Leo by Amazon.
How many satellites do Amazon Leo and Starlink have?
Starlink has about 11,000 satellites in orbit. Amazon Leo has about 400, has built 1,000, and plans 3,232 for its first constellation.
Amazon Leo Nano vs. Starlink Mini: which is better?
Too early to say. The Leo Nano is smaller (about 7 inches square) and reaches up to 100 Mbps, but its price isn't announced. The Starlink Mini is available now and has a Wi-Fi router built in.
Which has lower latency, Amazon Leo or Starlink?
Both are low-orbit services with similar lag. Leo's satellites fly a bit higher, which adds about a millisecond, but home latency for Leo hasn't been measured yet.
Why did Delta choose Amazon Leo over Starlink?
For in-flight Wi-Fi, Delta has said Amazon Leo can bring extras Starlink doesn't, such as Amazon Prime, video and gaming, at a lower price. Installs start in 2028 on 500 planes. American Airlines went the other way and is putting Starlink on its whole fleet. Neither deal changes home internet plans.