Best Internet Providers in Des Moines, Iowa
Fast, reliable, and affordable internet is essential for most homes. To get it, you need to make sure you choose an ISP that provides a stable internet connection that won’t buffer or lose signal. We’ve done a lot of research to outline the best internet in the area, including Mediacom’s top choice in Des Moines.
The city’s internet options are growing rapidly. Metropolis Network Fiber internet will be introduced to the city for the first time in fall 2022 and continues to bring symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds (meaning the same upload and download rates) to more communities. Meanwhile, Google Fiber is currently building out its network to serve the Des Moines area.
according to Ookla data for April 2024the median download speed for fixed broadband in the United States is 268 megabits per second, and the upload speed is 40 Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET Ziff Davis.) Considering the national average, having access to multi-gigabit internet in Des Moines is a huge positive for residents.
Best Internet Options in Des Moines
Here are our top picks for Des Moines internet providers. We rate best internet provider Based on availability, pricing and plan speed.
notes: Prices, speeds, and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed on the product detail card, which represents the provider’s country offering. Your specific Internet service options, including price and speed, depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Des Moines Internet Providers Comparison
provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21Vianet Read full review |
DSL/Fiber optic | $55-$75 | 100-940 Mbps | $15 (optional) | without any | without any | 6.7 |
hughes network Read full review |
satellite | $50-$125 | 25Mbps | One-time purchase of $15 or $450 | 15-100GB | 2 years | 5.7 |
mediacom Read full review |
cable | $15-$60 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 | 400GB-unlimited | without any | 6.4 |
Metropolis Network Read full review |
fiber | $35-$110 | 150-5,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | without any | without any | 6.9 |
Rise Broadband Read full review |
fixed wireless | $35-$70 | 25-250Mbps | 12 | 250GB; not available on some plans | without any | 6.2 |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
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All available Des Moines residential internet providers
The list above lists the top available internet providers in Des Moines. You have some other options here, but you’ll need to check with your provider to see if your address will work.
- 21Vianet: CenturyLink, also known as Quantum Fiber in some areas, has fiber and DSL options. The fiber optic internet service is a highlight as it offers speeds up to 940Mbps and is priced at an affordable $75 per month. There’s unlimited data, no annual contract, and the modem is included with the Gigabit Fiber plan.
- Rise Broadband: This fixed wireless option starts at $35 per month. While most plans have a data cap of 250GB, it also has unlimited data options. The service does not require a fixed-term contract.
- satellite internet: This type of internet connection has slower speeds and is generally more expensive, so it is often a better choice for rural areas where there are no other options. hughes network First mentioned in the Des Moines area due to its lower starting price. Via Satellite Also in there, prices start at about $70 per month, but data allowances are higher. Starlink is a new player in the satellite internet space, with faster speeds and no need for a contract, making it more attractive. However, the nearly $600 upfront cost of the equipment is enough to give you pause.
- US Cellular: Another fixed wireless option with a $50 per month plan that supports automatic payments and paperless billing. Get a $30 per month promotion when you pair your home internet with new mobile service.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon offers fixed wireless home internet options. Speeds from 85 to 300 Mbps are $50 per month; speeds from 300 to 1,000 Mbps are $70 per month. There are no device fees, data caps, or contracts with either plan. Additionally, Verizon Wireless customers receive 50% off monthly prices when home internet is bundled with select mobile plans.
Des Moines home internet service pricing information
In the broadband cities covered by CNET, starting prices range from $36 to $50, give or take. The average price in Des Moines starts at about $44, which is not low brooklyn ($36 per month), Los Angeles ($38 per month) or Denver ($39 per month), but not in this range either charlotte, las vegas or British stone. Louis (Approximately $50 per month).
Cheap Internet Options in the Des Moines Metro Area
In Des Moines, Xstream Connect 100Mbps plans start at $15 per month through Mediacom. CenturyLink offers a 100Mbps plan at a slightly higher price of $55 per month. Mediacom is the better value overall right now.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Des Moines?
provider | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee | contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
MediaCom Xstream Connect Read full review |
$15 | 100Mbps | $14 | without any |
Metropolis Network Read full review |
$35 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) | without any |
Rise Broadband Read full review |
$35 | 50Mbps | $12 | without any |
US Cellular | $50 | 100Mbps | A one-time purchase of the router for $14 or $400 | 3 years |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 300Mbps | without any | without any |
hughes network Read full review |
$50 | 25Mbps | One-time purchase of $15 or $450 | 2 years |
21Vianet Read full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | $15 | without any |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | without any | without any |
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Des Moines Fastest Internet Provider
You can find several Des Moines internet providers that offer gigabit or higher speeds. These include CenturyLink, Mediacom and Metronet. In other words, according to Ookla data in February 2024, The average download speed in Des Moines is just over 303Mbpswhich would place the city among the top 15 cities in the United States.
you have quite a few high speed internet Options in Des Moines. Metronet can accommodate up to 5 shows, while CenturyLink and Mediacom can accommodate up to 1 show. To see how it compares to providers in other cities, check out our best guide Multi-Gig Internet Plan.
What’s the Final Decision About Des Moines Internet Providers?
If you want 1 GB or higher speeds, you have several options. Generally, ISPs’ plans can also be customized to fit a variety of budgets. If you’re looking for symmetrical download and upload speeds and some gigabit speeds, Metronet is your answer. But for moderate speeds and a reasonable starting price, Mediacom’s Cable Internet will meet the needs of most households.
CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Des Moines
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. different from the latest cell phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolsit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a specific city. So what is our approach? We first looked at pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission. fcc.gov.
But it didn’t end there. We went to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To assess customer satisfaction with ISP services, we looked at sources including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the provider that comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions.
To explore our processes in more depth, visit our How we test ISPs Page.
Des Moines Internet Providers FAQs
Is there fiber optic internet in Des Moines?
Yes. Des Moines residents have several fiber optic internet options. CenturyLink and Metronet cover the Des Moines area with fiber optic internet, but CenturyLink only offers DSL options in some locations. Metronet is fairly new to the area, so you’ll have to check your address with your ISP to see if it works for your home.
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Which internet provider in Des Moines offers the fastest plans?
The fastest plan currently offered is from Metronet, with speeds of 5 GB. Also worth noting is that Google Fiber is expanding to Des Moines, with construction to begin in the fall of 2022. West Des Moines residents already have Google Fiber. The service offers download speeds of up to 2 GB.
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Which is better, Metronet or Mediacom?
Metronet and Mediacom offer gigabit speed plans, but Metronet is the only company offering multi-gigabit plans. However, Mediacom tends to be more expensive. While the cheapest and most expensive plans have no data caps, ISP Metronet offers unlimited data on all plans, making it even more valuable.
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