Fast, reliable and affordable internet is a must in many homes. In order to hear it, you need to make sure that you choose an ISP that can provide a stable Internet connection, without reservations or dropping signals. We’ve done a lot of research to find the best internet in the area, including our top pick for Des Moines, Mediacom.

The city’s internet options are growing exponentially. Metronet launched fiber optic internet in the city by the end of 2022 and continues to bring comparable speeds of gigs (meaning comparable downloads) to many areas. Meanwhile, Google Fiber is building its own network to serve the Des Moines area.

According to More about Ookla as of April 2024the average download speed of fixed broadband in the US was 268 megabits per second for download speed and 40Mbps for download speed. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Considering the number of countries, access to broadband Internet in Des Moines is a huge advantage for residents.

The best online deals in Des Moines

Here are our top picks for internet providers in Des Moines. We vote the best internet providers subject to availability, pricing and speed plans.

Note: Prices, speeds and other information described in the article may differ from those listed in the product detail cards that represent international offerings. Your Internet options — including rates and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those described here.

All available online for Des Moines

The list above shows the internet providers in Des Moines. You have other options in this area, although you should check with your service provider to see if they are available at your address.

• CenturyLink: Also called Quantum Fiber in some areas, CenturyLink has fiber and DSL options. Fiber internet service is the best option as it goes up to 940Mbps for as little as $75 per month. There is unlimited data, no annual contract and the modem is provided on a gigabit fiber plan.
• Rise Broadband: This wireless plan starts at $35 per month. While most plans have a data cap of 250GB, it also has unlimited options. There is no long-term contract required to use it.
• Satellite internet: This type of internet offers slower speeds, often at higher prices, so it’s a good choice for rural areas that don’t have other options. HughesNet it is named first in the Des Moines area because of its low cost. Viasat is also in the mix, with a starting price of about $70 per month but higher data charges. Starlink is the latest player in the satellite Internet and it is very impressive and fast and without contracts. However, the high up-front cost of about $600 for the equipment is enough to stop it once.
• UScellular: Another flexible wireless option, plans are $50 per month with AutoPay and paperless payments. There is a $30 per month promotion when you connect your home internet to the new mobile service.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon has a standard wireless Internet service. It runs $50 a month for speeds of 85 to 300Mbps and $70 a month for 300 to 1,000Mbps. Both plans have no device fees, data caps or contracts. Plus, Verizon Wireless customers can get up to 50% off their monthly home internet charges with select phone plans.

More on prices on the Des Moines home internet

In the cities CNET has covered for broadband, basic prices are between $36 and $50, give or take. The starting price for Des Moines is about $44, which is not that low Brooklyn ($36 per month), Los Angeles ($38 per month) or Denver ($39 per month), and not included in the Charlotte, vegas or St. Louis (about $50 per month).

Cheap internet options in the Des Moines metro area

The lowest price in Des Moines is $15 a month through Mediacom for its Xstream Connect 100Mbps plan. CenturyLink offers a 100Mbps plan for an additional $55 per month. Mediacom is the better value at this point.

The fastest internet service providers in Des Moines

You can find several Des Moines internet providers that offer gigabit speeds or higher. These include CenturyLink, Mediacom and Metronet. That said, according to Ookla’s data from February 2024, a The average speed in Des Moines is just over 303Mbpswhich would put the city in the 15th best place in the US.

You have a good number high speed internet options in Des Moines. Metronet goes up to 5 gigs, while CenturyLink and Mediacom go to 1 gig. To see how this compares to providers in other cities, check out our best guide multi-channel internet plans.

What is the final word on internet providers in Des Moines?

You have several options if you want 1 gig or more speed. In most cases, plans from ISPs can also be adjusted to fit most budgets. Metronet is your answer if you’re looking for consistent download and upload speeds, as well as multi-gigabit speeds. But with moderate speeds at reasonable starting prices, Mediacom’s cable internet will meet the needs of most families.

How CNET ranked the best internet providers in Des Moines

Online providers are numerous and local. Unlike the new ones a smart phone, laptop, router or a kitchen toolIt is not possible to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability and quick information on our ISP’s historical data, provider locations and map data from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our information and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in a particular area. We also include local addresses on the sponsor’s website to provide options for residents. To determine how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we look to sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; All information provided is correct as of the time of publication.

When we have local knowledge, we ask three main questions:

• Does the provider provide access to fast internet speeds?
• Are customers getting enough money for what they are paying for?
• Are customers happy with their service?

While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, providers who come closest to saying “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend.

To explore our policy in depth, visit our website How We Test ISPs page.

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