Best Internet Providers in West Des Moines, Iowa
Our Experts
What is the best internet provider in West Des Moines?
Mediacom’s Xtream home internet service is the best internet provider in West Des Moines, Iowa, due to its wide coverage and offering of one of the cheapest plans in the area -- at least in the first two years. According to the latest data from the FCC, Mediacom serves 98% of households in West Des Moines, so most residents can expect their address to be eligible for service. This cable internet provider offers download speeds between 100 megabits per second to 1,000Mbps. Some areas can expect faster speeds, depending on your location.
On the flashy side, Google Fiber's swift multi-gigabit plans may knock you off your feet! Its symmetrical speeds reach up to 8,000Mbps in some areas. Residents with the most coverage will be along Valley Junction and the neighboring areas near Ashworth Park and Western Hills Greenway. Google Fiber won't win any prizes for having the cheapest plan -- the lowest monthly price is $70 for its 1-gigabit plan -- but you can expect excellent value. The cost per Mbps of its gigabit plan is a very cheap 7 cents per Mbps, but its most expensive tier (the 8 Gig plan at $150 per month) is an outstanding 2 cents per Mbps, one of the best rates you'll find anywhere in the country.
Besides Mediacom, if you’re looking for more affordable plans, one of the cheapest plans in West Des Moines is US Cellular’s $50-a-month fixed wireless plan for 300Mbps in download speeds. However, expect additional fees and possible equipment installation charges included in your plans.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in West Des Moines across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what's available in West Des Moines. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in West Des Moines, Iowa
Mediacom
Best internet provider in West Des Moines, IA
Our take - Mediacom's Xtream home internet service has the widest coverage of any internet provider in the West Des Moines area, serving 98% of households with a cable internet connection.
Google Fiber
Best fiber internet in West Des Moines, IA
Our take - Google Fiber offers one of the most affordable multi-gigabit plans in the US. Its 8 Gig plan, featuring symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 8,000Mbps, has a sparklingly low cost per Mbps of just under 2 cents. On top of that, the service includes equipment rental, unlimited data and no term agreements -- so customers won't get dinged with a bunch of hidden fees.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Best fixed wireless in West Des Moines, IA
Our take - If cable or fiber is unavailable at your address, then a 5G fixed wireless connection from T-Mobile is a good alternative. While it might not be the fastest internet provider in the area, T-Mobile does offer unlimited data and features no contracts or equipment fees.
West Des Moines internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment cost | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CenturyLink Read full review | DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | $15 modem | None | None | 6.7 |
|
Google Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $70-$150 | 1,000-8,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.5 |
|
Mediacom Read full review | Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | $14 | Varies | None | 6.4 |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$165 | 500-8,000Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $60 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| US Cellular | Fixed wireless | $50 | Up to 300Mbps | Varies | 600-900GB | Equipment installation plan may apply | N/A |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What's the cheapest internet plan in West Des Moines?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mediacom Read full review | $30 | 100Mbps | $14 |
| US Cellular | $50 | 300Mbps | Varies |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| Quantum Fiber | $50 | 500Mbps | None |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Sunrise at a West Des Moines, Iowa pond
How to find internet deals and promotions in West Des Moines
The best internet deals and top promotions in West Des Moines depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
West Des Moines internet providers, such as Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including CenturyLink and Google Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in West Des Moines
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review | $150 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Quantum Fiber 8 Gig | $165 | 8,000Mbps | 8,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 5 Gig Read full review | $125 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Quantum Fiber 3 Gig | $100 | 3,000Mbps | 3,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps (varies by location) | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
|
Mediacom Xtream 1 Gig Read full review | $70 ($115 after 12 months) | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | 3,000GB | Cable |
| Quantum Fiber 1 Gig | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | None | Fiber |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What's a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in West 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 consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as 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. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in West Des Moines FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in West Des Moines?
Mediacom's Xtream is the best internet service provider in West Des Moines. This cable internet provider has the widest coverage of all providers in the area. According to data from the FCC, Xtream covers 98% of West Des Moines households.
Is fiber internet available in West Des Moines?
Yes, fiber is available, but to less than half (47%) of West Des Moines residents, per the latest data from the FCC. Google Fiber, which covers about 32% of West Des Moines households, is our choice for the best fiber internet provider in the area, but you can also get fiber-optic service from Quantum Fiber.
What is the cheapest internet provider in West Des Moines?
The cheapest internet provider in West Des Moines is Mediacom's $30-a-month plan for speeds of 100Mbps. After your promo period, expect a hike in the price by an additional $10 monthly. Another cheap alternative is US Cellular's fixed wireless plans, starting at $50 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet matches that price point, but if you're an eligible mobile customer, you can bump down that monthly cost to $35.
Which internet provider in West Des Moines offers the fastest plan?
Two internet providers in the area offer the fastest speeds: Quantum Fiber and Google Fiber. Both providers offer multi-gigabit plans and symmetrical speeds ranging from 1,000Mbps to 8,000Mbps. The difference is the speed tiers. Quantum Fiber offers 1-, 3- and 8-gigabit plan tiers. Google Fiber offers four tiers at 1, 2, 5 and 8 gigabits.
Home Internet Guides
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