Best Internet Providers in Des Moines, Iowa
Finding a decent internet service provider can be a way to save on your monthly budget. A good internet provider can also make sure you have stable internet connectivity. Nobody has time for endless buffering or routinely dropped signals. We've outlined the best internet in the area, including our top pick for Des Moines, Mediacom.
Faster internet services are becoming more widely available in Des Moines. Metronet connected the first customers to its fiber optic internet in the fall of 2022 and continues to expand in the area. The service offers multi-gig symmetrical speeds, meaning the upload and download speeds are the same. Google Fiber is also coming to the Des Moines area, and the infrastructure is in the building stage.
According to Ookla data from April 2023, the average download speed for fixed broadband in the US was 202 megabits per second for download speeds and 23Mbps for upload speeds. Given national averages, accessing multi-gig internet in Des Moines is a huge positive for residents.
Best internet options in Des Moines
Here are our top picks for internet providers in Des Moines. We rate the best internet providers based on availability, pricing and plan speeds.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options -- including prices and speeds -- depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Mediacom
Best internet provider in Des Moines, IA
Our take - Mediacom stood out for its fast speeds and affordable rates. You might also see this ISP listed as Xtream powered by Mediacom.
Metronet
Best fiber internet in Des Moines, IA
Our take - As mentioned earlier, Metronet is a new service to Des Moines. We picked it as one of the best due to the multi-gig speeds.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless internet in Des Moines, IA
Our take - T-Mobile is a no-fuss wireless option with fairly affordable pricing and no fees or contracts.
Des Moines internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CenturyLink Read full review | DSL/fiber | $30-$70 | 10-940 Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
|
HughesNet Read full review | Satellite | $50-$125 | 25Mbps | $15 or $450 one-time purchase | 15-100GB | 2 years | 5.7 |
|
Mediacom Read full review | Cable | $25-$55 | 100-1,000Mbps | $13 | 200GB-6000GB | None | 6.4 |
|
Metronet Read full review | Fiber | $55-$115 | 200-3,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.9 |
|
Rise Broadband Read full review | Fixed wireless | $35-$70 | 25-250Mbps | 12 | 250GB; none on some plans | None | 6.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 (50% off with eligible mobile plans) | 85-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
All available Des Moines residential internet providers
The list above notes the top available internet providers in Des Moines. You have a few other choices in this area, though you will need to check with the provider to see if it is available at your address.
- CenturyLink: Also known as Quantum Fiber in some areas, CenturyLink has fiber and DSL options. The fiber internet service is the highlight because it goes up to 940Mbps at a reasonable $70 a month. There is unlimited data, no annual contract and the modem is provided on the gigabit fiber plan.
- Rise Broadband: This fixed wireless option starts at $35 a month. Though most plans have a data cap of 250GB, it also has unlimited data options. There's no term contract required for service.
- Satellite internet: This internet connection type offers slower speeds, often at higher prices, so it tends to be a better pick for rural areas that don't have other options. HughesNet gets the first mention in the Des Moines area due to its lower starting price. Viasat is also in the mix, with a starting price of around $70 per month but a higher data allowance. Starlink is a newer player in the satellite internet space and is a bit more intriguing with faster speeds and no contracts. However, a steep upfront cost of nearly $600 for equipment is enough to make one pause.
- UScellular: Another fixed wireless option, plans are $50 a month with AutoPay and paperless billing. There is a promotion for $30 monthly when you pair home internet with a new mobile service.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon has a fixed wireless home internet option. It runs $50 a month for speeds of 85 to 300Mbps and $70 monthly for 300 to 1,000Mbps. Both plans have no equipment fees, data caps or contracts. Plus, Verizon Wireless customers can get 50% off the monthly price when home internet is bundled with select mobile plans.
Pricing info on Des Moines home internet service
Of the cities CNET has covered for broadband, starting prices are between $36 and $50, give or take. The average starting price for Des Moines is approximately $42, which is not as low as Brooklyn ($36 per month), Los Angeles ($38 monthly) or Denver ($39 a month), but also not up in the range of Charlotte, Las Vegas or St. Louis (all around $50 a month).
Cheap internet options in the Des Moines metro area
The lowest starting price in Des Moines is $25 a month through Mediacom for its 100Mbps plan. CenturyLink offers a 200Mbps plan for just a bit more at $30 a month. While it's a touch more expensive, it's a better value at 15 cents per Mbps than Mediacom's 25 cents per Mbps.
Additionally, low-income households should check into the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal subsidy set up to help all Americans be able to get online. In some cases, you may be able to get connected for free.
What's the cheapest internet plan in Des Moines?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mediacom 100 Read full review | $25 | 100Mbps | $13 | None |
|
CenturyLink Read full review | $30 | 200Mbps | $15 | None |
|
Rise Broadband Read full review | $35 | 50Mbps | $12 | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| UScellular | $50 | 100Mbps | $14 or $400 one-time router purchase | 3 years |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($25 with eligible phone plan) | 300Mbps | None | None |
|
HughesNet Read full review | $50 | 25Mbps | $15 or $450 one-time purchase | 2 years |
|
Metronet Read full review | $55 | 200Mbps | None | None |
Fastest internet providers in Des Moines
You can find several Des Moines internet providers that offer gigabit speeds or more. That includes CenturyLink, Mediacom and Metronet. That said, according to Ookla data from April 2023, the median download speed for Des Moines is just over 145Mbps, which would put the city just a notch above Chicago, which is in the bottom ten of the top 100 cities in the US.
You have a decent number of high-speed internet options in Des Moines. Metronet goes up to 3 gigs, while CenturyLink and Mediacom go up to 1 gig. To see how this compares to providers in other cities, check out our guide on the best multi-gig internet plans.
What are the fastest internet plans in Des Moines?
| Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Metronet 3 Gigs Read full review | 3,000Mbps | 3,000Mbps | $115 | None | None |
|
Metronet 2 Gigs Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $95 | None | None |
|
Metronet 1 Gig Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $75 | None | None |
|
Mediacom 1 Gig Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | $60 | 6,000GB | None |
|
CenturyLink Gigabit Read full review | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | $70 | None | None |
What's the final word on internet providers in Des Moines?
You have several options if you want 1 gig or higher speeds. In general, plans from the ISPs are also customizable to fit a wide range of budgets. Metronet is your answer if you're looking for symmetrical download and upload speed, along with some multi-gigabit speeds. But for midrange speeds at decent starting prices, the cable internet of Mediacom will meet most households' needs.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Des Moines
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Des Moines FAQs
Is fiber internet available in Des Moines?
Yes. Des Moines residents have a couple of fiber internet options. CenturyLink and Metronet cover areas of Des Moines with fiber internet, though CenturyLink supplies only DSL options in some places. Metronet is fairly new to the area, so you'll have to check your address with the ISP to see if it's available for your home.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Des Moines?
Currently, Mediacom has the cheapest price at $25 a month. However, it's important to note that it is for a 100Mbps speed. If you need faster speeds, CenturyLink offers a 200Mbps fiber plan for just a little bit more at $30 a month, a better value at 15 cents per Mbps.
Which internet provider in Des Moines offers the fastest plan?
The fastest plan currently offered comes from Metronet, with 3 gigs of speed. It's also worth noting that Google Fiber is expanding into Des Moines and started construction in the fall of 2022. Residents of West Des Moines already have Google Fiber. The service offers download speeds of up to 2 gigs.
Is Metronet or Mediacom better?
Metronet and Mediacom offer gigabit speed plans, though Metronet is the only one offering multigigabit plans. Metronet tends to be more expensive, however. Cable provider Mediacom offers cheaper rates but has data caps, whereas the fiber ISP Metronet boasts unlimited data.
Home Internet Guides
- Sometimes a provider is available in your Zip code, but not at your exact address
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