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 that you choose an ISP that can provide stable internet connection, without buffering signals or drops. We’ve done a lot of research to outline the best internet in the area, including our top choice for Des Moines, Mediacom.

The city’s internet options are growing rapidly. Metronet first introduced fiber-optic internet to the city in the fall of 2022 and continues to bring symmetrical multi-gig speeds (meaning equal upload and download rates) to more neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Google Fiber is currently building out its network to serve the Des Moines area.

According to Ookla data from April 2024, the average download speed for fixed broadband in the US was 268 megabits per second for download speed and 40 Mbps for upload speed. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Given national averages, multi-concert Internet access in Des Moines is a big plus for residents.

Best internet options in Des Moines

Here are our top picks for internet providers in Des Moines. We appreciate the best internet providers based on availability, prices and plan speeds.

Note: Prices, speeds and features detailed in article text may differ from those listed on 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.

All available Des Moines residential internet providers

The list above highlights the top internet providers available in Des Moines. You have a few other choices in this area, though you’ll need to check with the provider to see if it’s available at your address.

• CenturyLink: Also known as Quantum Fiber in some areas, CenturyLink has fiber and DSL options. Fiber Internet service is the highlight because it goes up to 940 Mbps at a reasonable price of $75 per month. There is unlimited data, no annual contract and the modem is offered on the gigabit fiber plan.
• The rise of broadband: This fixed-wave option starts at $35 per month. Although most plans have a data cap of 250GB, it also has unlimited data options. No long-term service contract required.
• Satellite Internet: This type of internet connection offers slower speeds, often at higher prices, so it tends to be a better choice for rural areas that have no other options. HughesNet gets the first mention in the Des Moines area because of the lowest starting price. Vias is also in the mix, with a starting price of around $70 per month but with 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 hefty upfront cost of nearly $600 per device is enough to give you pause.
• Cellular: Another fixed wireless option, plans are $50 per month with AutoPay and paperless billing. There is a promotion for $30 per month when you pair home internet with a new mobile service.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon has a fixed wireless home Internet option. It costs $50 per month for speeds of 85 to 300 Mbps and $70 per month for 300 to 1000 Mbps. Both plans have no device charges, data caps or contracts. Plus, Verizon Wireless customers can get 50% off the monthly price when home internet is bundled with select cellular plans.

Price information for 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 $44, which is not as low as Brooklyn ($36 per month), Los Angeles ($38 per month) or Denver ($39 per month), but also not in the range of Charlotte, Las Vegas OR St (all about $50 a month).

Cheap internet options in the Des Moines metro area

The lowest starting price in Des Moines is $15 per month through Mediacom for its Xstream Connect 100 Mbps plan. CenturyLink offers a 100 Mbps plan for just a little more at $55 per month. Mediacom is the best value overall right now.

Fastest Internet Providers in Des Moines

You can find several Des Moines Internet providers that offer gigabit speeds or more. This includes CenturyLink, Mediacom and Metronet. That said, according to Ookla data from February 2024, the average download speed for Des Moines is just over 303 Mbps, which would put the city somewhere in the top 15 cities in the US.

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

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 ISPs are also customizable to fit a wide range of budgets. Metronet is your answer if you’re looking for symmetrical download and upload speeds, along with some multi-gigabit speeds. But for medium speeds with decent entry-level prices, Mediacom’s cable internet will meet the needs of most households.

How CNET picked the best Internet providers in Des Moines

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen appliance, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching price, availability, and speed information based on our historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our records and make sure we are reviewing every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. To gauge 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 are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct at the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
• Are customers getting good value for what they are paying for?
• Are customers satisfied with their service?

While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to saying “yes” to 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 Frequently Asked Questions