A daily data budget for your Starlink or any internet line, a little lower every day
Last updated: 25 October 2026
Data budget is a bandwidth management tool for a MikroTik router. You set how much less data the line should use each day, how low the budget may fall and the slowest speed allowed once a day's budget is used. RadiusNest does the counting and the switching - nothing is pasted on the router.
Why a budget helps
- Steady speeds for everyone. A line that is allowed to run flat out all day is slow for everyone at the busy hour. A budget that comes down gently keeps use predictable.
- No surprises. If your internet plan has a monthly allowance or a fair-use level, bringing daily use down a little each day is kinder than hitting a limit in one step.
- Home and shop networks too. Phones, TVs, consoles, cameras and automatic updates add up. A daily budget keeps the whole household's internet usable and avoids unexpected interruptions.
- Works with any internet source. Starlink, fibre, wireless links or mobile data - it manages the bandwidth on your own MikroTik, whatever the connection behind it.
- You stay in control. You choose the numbers, you can see each day's use, and you can turn it off at any time.
How it works
- Open the router in RadiusNest and press Data budget.
- Tick the internet port or ports to count. The ones the internet comes in on are ticked for you.
- Set less each day (for example 2%), never lower than (for example 50% of the first day) and the slowest speed (for example 10 Mbps).
- Optionally type your normal daily data in GB so the cuts start today. Leave it empty and RadiusNest measures the next full day.
- Turn it on. The page shows today's use against the budget and the last 14 days.
Using Data budget with Starlink
Many ISPs, shops and homes get their internet from Starlink. Data budget works the same way as with any other connection: connect the Starlink router (or its Ethernet adapter) to a port of your MikroTik, then tick that port in Data budget. RadiusNest counts the data on that port, lowers the daily budget a little each day and, if a day's budget is used, holds the line at the slowest speed you chose until midnight.
- Know where your data goes. The page shows each day's use next to its budget, so you can see how much data your Starlink line really carries.
- Share one line fairly. If many customers or many devices share a Starlink connection, a budget keeps one busy hour from slowing everyone down.
- Steady, predictable internet. Bringing daily use down gently helps you avoid unexpected interruptions.
Starlink is a trademark of its owner. RadiusNest is an independent product and is not affiliated with Starlink.
Example
Day 1 uses 200 GB. Day 2's budget is 196 GB, day 3's is 192.08 GB, and so on, never under 100 GB (50% of the first day). When a day's budget is used, the line is held at 10 Mbps until midnight, then it is free again.
What it puts on the router
- It uses the router's "Allow changes" login. No script is pasted.
- The only thing added is one simple queue called RadiusNest-budget, and only while a day's budget is used.
- It is removed at midnight, when you turn the feature off, or if the router refuses a step.
- Data budget is in beta. Try it on one router first.
Questions
Does it block the internet?
No. Nothing is blocked. When a day's budget is used, the line is held at the slowest speed you chose until midnight, then it is free again.
Do I need to paste a script on the router?
No. Turn it on per router from the dashboard. It uses the router's "Allow changes" login that RadiusNest already has for live view and automatic setup.
What does it put on my router?
One simple queue called RadiusNest-budget, only while a day's budget is used. It is removed at midnight, when you turn the feature off, or if the router refuses a step. Nothing else on the router is touched.
How does the first day work?
Either type the data your line normally uses in a day (GB) and the daily cuts start at once, or leave it empty: the rest of the day you switch it on is skipped, the next full day is measured, and the cuts start the day after.
What if a day is quiet?
The next budget is worked out from what was actually used, so a quiet day lowers it further. A heavy day does not raise it. It never goes under the floor you set.
Does it work with Starlink and other internet connections?
Yes. Connect your Starlink router (or its Ethernet adapter) to a port of your MikroTik and tick that port in Data budget. It counts the data on that port, so it works the same whether the internet comes from Starlink, fibre, a wireless link or a mobile connection. It is a bandwidth management tool on your own router and does not change anything with your internet provider.
How do I manage data use on a Starlink connection with a MikroTik?
Put a MikroTik behind your Starlink router, add the MikroTik to RadiusNest, open Data budget, tick the port the Starlink router is connected to, and set the daily cut, the floor and the slowest speed. RadiusNest then keeps each day's data a little lower than the day before.
Who is it for?
Internet providers who share one line between many customers, and also shops, offices and busy homes with many phones, TVs, consoles and cameras who want steady, predictable internet instead of a sudden slow-down.
What happens to customers' own speed packages while the limit is on?
While a day's budget is used, all customers share the slowest speed you chose and their own package speeds do not apply until midnight. It is a beta feature: try it on one router first and turn it off at any time.