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Fast, reliable, and affordable internet is a must for most homes. To get it, you need to make sure you choose an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that can provide a stable Internet connection, without buffering or signal drops. We’ve done a lot of research to determine the best internet in the region, including… Our top pick for Des Moines, Mediacom.
Internet options in the city are growing rapidly. Metronet It first introduced fiber internet service to the city in the fall of 2022, and continues to offer symmetrical multi-network speeds (i.e., equal upload and download rates) to more neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Google Fiber is currently building its network to serve the Des Moines area.
according to Ookla data as of April 2024the average download speed for fixed broadband in the United States was 268 Mbps for download speeds and 40 Mbps for upload speeds. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Given national averages, multi-service Internet access in Des Moines is a big positive for residents.
Best Internet Options in Des Moines
Here are our top picks for internet service providers in Des Moines. We are staying Best Internet Service Providers Based on availability, pricing and plan speeds.
Note: Prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed on product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your Internet service options – including rates and speeds – depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Compare Internet Service Providers in Des Moines
| provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data ceiling | a contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century Link Read the full review |
DSL/Fiber | $55-$75 | 100-940 Mbps | $15 (optional) | no one | no one | 6.7 |
| Hughes Net Read the full review |
Satellite | $50 – $125 | 25 Mbps | $15 or $450 one-time purchase | 15-100 GB | Two years | 5.7 |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
cable | $15 – $60 | 100-1,000 Mbps | $14 | 400 GB – Unlimited | no one | 6.4 |
| Metronet Read the full review |
Fiber | $35 – $110 | 150-5,000 Mbps | $15 (optional) | no one | no one | 6.9 |
| High broadband Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $35-$70 | 25-250 Mbps | 12 | 250 GB; Nothing in some plans | no one | 6.2 |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 – $70 ($35 – $55 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 – $70 ($35 – $45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 85-1,000 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.2 |
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All available residential internet providers in Des Moines
The above list indicates the best Internet service providers available in Des Moines. You have some other options in this area, although you will need to check with the provider to see if it is available at your address.
- Century Link: Also known as Quantum Fiber in some regions, CenturyLink has fiber and DSL options. Fiber internet is the highlight as it reaches up to 940Mbps at a reasonable price of $75 per month. There is unlimited data, no annual contract and the modem is provided on a gigabit fiber plan.
- High broadband: This fixed wireless option starts at $35 per month. Although most plans have a data cap of 250GB, they also have unlimited data options. There is no fixed term contract required for the service.
- Satellite Internet: This type of internet connection offers slower speeds and is often at higher prices, so it tends to be a better choice for rural areas that don’t have other options. Hughes Net It gets first mention in the Des Moines area due to its low starting price. Viasat It’s also in the mix, with a starting price of around $70 per month but with a higher data allowance. Starlink It is a newer player in the satellite internet space and is more interesting with faster speeds and no contracts. However, the hefty initial cost of about $600 for the equipment is enough to make one stop.
- United States Cellular: Another fixed wireless option, plans cost $50 per month with autopay and paperless billing. There’s a $30 per month promotion when you link your home internet to your new mobile service.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon has a fixed wireless home internet option. It’s priced at $50 per month for speeds of 85 to 300 Mbps and $70 per month for 300 to 1,000 Mbps. Both plans have no equipment fees, data caps, or contracts. Additionally, Verizon Wireless customers can get 50% off the monthly price when you bundle home internet with select mobile plans.
Information on home internet service prices in Des Moines
Among the cities covered by CNET for broadband, starting prices range between $36 and $50, give or take. The average starting price for Des Moines is about $44, which is not as low as Brooklyn ($36 per month), Los Angeles ($38 per month) or Denver ($39 per month), but also not up to the range Charlotte, Vegas or street. Louis (about $50 per month).
Cheap Internet Options in Des Moines Metro Area
The lowest starting price in Des Moines is $15 per month through Mediacom for the Xstream Connect 100Mbps plan. CenturyLink offers a 100Mbps plan for just over $55 per month. Mediacom is the better value overall currently.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Des Moines?
| provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fees | a contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediacom X-Stream Connect Read the full review |
$15 | 100 Mbps | $14 | no one |
| Metronet Read the full review |
$35 | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) | no one |
| High broadband Read the full review |
$35 | 50 Mbps | $12 | no one |
| United States Cellular | $50 | 100 Mbps | A one-time router purchase of $14 or $400 | 3 years |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying phone plan) | 300 Mbps | no one | no one |
| Hughes Net Read the full review |
$50 | 25 Mbps | $15 or $450 one-time purchase | Two years |
| Century Link Read the full review |
$55 | 100 Mbps | $15 | no one |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 245 Mbps | no one | no one |
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Fastest Internet Service Providers in Des Moines
You can find many Internet service providers in Des Moines that offer gigabit speeds or more. This includes CenturyLink, Mediacom, and Metronet. However, according to Ookla data as of February 2024, The average download speed in Des Moines is just over 303 Mbpswhich would put the city somewhere in the top 15 cities in the United States.
You have quite a few High speed internet Options in Des Moines. Metronet has a capacity of 5 GB, while CenturyLink and Mediacom have a capacity of 1 GB. To see how this compares to providers in other cities, check out our guide to the best Multi party internet plans.
What are the fastest internet plans in Des Moines?
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What’s the final word for Des Moines ISPs?
You have several options if you want speeds of 1G or higher. In general, the plans offered by ISPs are also customizable to suit a wide range of budgets. Metronet is your answer if you’re looking for similar download and upload speeds, along with some multi-gigabit speeds. But for moderate speeds at reasonable starting prices, a Mediacom Internet cable will meet the needs of most families.
How CNET chose the best ISPs in Des Moines
ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest Smartphone, Laptop, Router or Kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider locations, and mapping information from the FCC at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To assess how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look to sources including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD 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 local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting adequate value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often multi-layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three questions are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our website How we test ISPs page.
Frequently Asked Questions for Internet Service Providers in Des Moines
Is there fiber internet in Des Moines?
Yes. Des Moines residents have two fiber internet options. CenturyLink and Metronet cover the Des Moines areas with fiber Internet, although CenturyLink only offers DSL options in some places. Metronet is fairly new to the area, so you’ll have to check your address with your ISP to see if it’s available for your home.
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Which internet provider in Des Moines offers the fastest plan?
Is Metronet or Mediacom better?
Metronet and Mediacom offer gigabit speed plans, although only Metronet offers multi-gigabit plans. However, Mediacom tends to be more expensive. Although there is no data cap for the cheapest and most expensive plans, ISP Metronet offers unlimited data for all plans, making it an even better value.
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