Amazon Leo vs Starlink: Satellite Internet Showdown for 2025

Comparing Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) vs Starlink (SpaceX) usually comes down to one question: what do you need low earth satellite internet to do—and how rugged does the install need to be for what you will be doing on a day to day basis?

This guide is intentionally practical: a side-by-side look at what’s publicly known so far, common use cases, and what early adopters should watch as Amazon Leo rolls out.

Quick comparison: Amazon Leo vs Starlink
What is Amazon Leo?
What is Starlink?
Use cases: home, business, mobility, remote sites
Rugged installs: what to think about early
How the market may adopt each (without guessing)
FAQ
Sources

Quick comparison: Amazon Leo vs Starlink

Important: Amazon Leo is newer and is ramping deployments; Starlink is already broadly commercialized. That means “best choice” often depends on availability, use case, and deployment conditions.

Category	Amazon Leo (Amazon)	Starlink (SpaceX)
Program / network	Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper)	Starlink
Constellation	Amazon states “more than 3,000” satellites; FCC authorization was for 3,236 satellites in the U.S.	Not covered here (Starlink constellation size changes over time; check Starlink/SpaceX sources if needed).
Published performance	Amazon has described three antennas: Leo Nano (7x7"): up to 100 Mbps down Leo Pro (11x11"): up to 400 Mbps down Leo Ultra: up to 1 Gbps down / up to 400 Mbps up Note: These are published targets; real-world performance at any location will depend on coverage, load, and rollout stage.	Starlink states users typically experience: 45–280 Mbps download 10–30 Mbps upload 25–60 ms latency on land (higher in some remote locations) Starlink notes speeds and uninterrupted service are not guaranteed; performance varies by plan, location, and network load.
Rollout status	Amazon states it began an enterprise preview in Nov 2025 and plans a wider rollout in 2026 as more satellites launch.	Commercial service is available in many countries/territories (availability varies by location; see Starlink’s map).

What is Amazon Leo?

Confirmed (Amazon): Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network (formerly Project Kuiper), aimed at extending fast, reliable internet access to locations lacking dependable connectivity.

Name: Amazon says Project Kuiper was renamed Amazon Leo (Nov 2025).
Deployment: Amazon says full-scale deployment began in April 2025 with 80+ launches secured across multiple providers.
Satellites: Amazon describes a constellation of more than 3,000 satellites; the FCC authorization in the U.S. was for 3,236.
Customer antennas: Amazon has published the Nano / Pro / Ultra lineup and target performance (up to 100 Mbps, 400 Mbps, and 1 Gbps down / 400 Mbps up).
Availability: Amazon states an enterprise preview began in Nov 2025 and service will roll out more widely in 2026.
Official updates: Amazon directs interested readers to sign up on its Amazon Leo website for updates.

Not yet confirmed (publicly): consumer pricing and country-by-country plan details for Amazon Leo.

What is Starlink?

Confirmed (Starlink): Starlink publishes typical user experience ranges and notes that performance varies by location, time of day, plan, and network load.

Typical speeds: 45–280 Mbps down and 10–30 Mbps up (published by Starlink).
Latency: 25–60 ms on land; 100+ ms in certain remote locations (published by Starlink).
Service caveat: Starlink states speeds and uninterrupted service are not guaranteed.

Use cases: which one fits what?

The right choice isn’t “Amazon vs SpaceX” so much as “what problem are you solving?” Here are common scenarios we see globally:

1) Rural & remote homes

Primary need: consistent connectivity where fiber/cable/5G is unreliable or unavailable.
What to compare: availability at your address, typical speeds, latency, and installation constraints (line of sight, mounting options, cabling path).

2) Small business & branch offices

Primary need: stable video calls, cloud apps, and POS/operations continuity.
What to compare: performance expectations, priority tiers (if available), and failover design (dual-WAN + LTE/5G backup).

3) Remote sites (construction, mining, utilities, agriculture)

Primary need: uptime and survivability—dust, vibration, temperature swings, and rough handling.
What to compare: mounting stability, cable protection, strain relief, and serviceability (how fast you can swap/restore).

4) Temporary deployments & mobility

Primary need: fast setup, portability, and predictable performance while moving between sites.
What to compare: plan terms for mobility, local regulations, and how robust your physical deployment is.

Rugged installs: what early adopters should think about

No matter which LEO network you choose, many “rugged” failures aren’t about the satellite link—they’re about the physical deployment. If you’re installing on rooftops, poles, vehicles, remote sheds, or industrial sites, here’s what typically matters most:

Mounting stability

Wind loading, vibration, and movement (especially on temporary structures or mobile platforms).
Mechanical locking, alignment retention, and corrosion resistance.

Cable routing & strain relief

Protecting cables from UV exposure, abrasion, pinch points, and repeated flexing.
Weatherproof pass-throughs, drip loops, and service loops for maintenance.

Environmental protection

Salt air, dust ingress, heat cycling, and water management.
Long-term serviceability: can you replace parts without redoing the whole install?

Note: This section is general deployment guidance and does not assume any specific provider’s included mounting/cabling is insufficient in all cases. Requirements vary by site and risk tolerance.

How the market may adopt each (without guessing)

It’s early to make hard predictions, but we can talk about what usually drives adoption in general—and what each provider is publicly emphasizing.

Adoption drivers (general)

Availability: can people buy it where they live/work?
Price + total cost of ownership: hardware, service plan, install complexity, and maintenance.
Confidence: published specs, real-world results, and support/partner ecosystem.
Fit-for-purpose hardware: consumer installs vs enterprise/rugged installs.

What Amazon has publicly said (confirmed)

Amazon has published three antenna classes (Nano/Pro/Ultra) and described an enterprise preview (Nov 2025) ahead of broader rollout in 2026.
Amazon states it’s deploying a constellation of more than 3,000 satellites and has secured 80+ launches for that initial build-out.

What Starlink has publicly published (confirmed)

Starlink publishes typical performance ranges and explicitly notes variability by plan, location, and network load.

Not yet confirmed (publicly): Amazon Leo’s consumer pricing and complete market-by-market plan details. Until those are published for your region, treat any “price vs Starlink” claims as speculation.

FAQ

Is Amazon Leo the same thing as Project Kuiper?

Yes. Amazon states Project Kuiper was renamed as Amazon Leo in November 2025.

When will Amazon Leo be available?

Amazon states it began an enterprise preview in November 2025 and will roll out service more widely in 2026 as more satellites launch.

What speeds can I expect?

Starlink: publishes typical download speeds of 45–280 Mbps, upload speeds of 10–30 Mbps, and 25–60 ms latency on land (with higher latency in some remote locations), and notes speeds aren’t guaranteed.

Amazon Leo: has published target downlink speeds up to 100 Mbps (Nano), 400 Mbps (Pro), and up to 1 Gbps down / 400 Mbps up (Ultra). Real-world results will depend on rollout stage and network conditions.

Sources

Provider information below is linked to official sources (Amazon / Starlink) and a U.S. regulator reference for the Project Kuiper authorization.