Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Fast, reliable and affordable internet is essential for most homes. To get it, you need to ensure you pick an ISP that can provide stable internet connectivity, without buffering or dropped signals. We’ve done a lot of research to outline the best internet in the area, including our top pick for Des Moines, Mediacom. The city’s internet options are growing rapidly. Metronet first introduced fiber optic internet to the city in fall 2022 and continues to bring symmetrical multi-gig speeds (meaning 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 from April 2024, the median download speed for fixed broadband in the US was 268 megabits per second for download speeds and 40Mbps for upload speeds. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Given national averages, accessing multi-gig internet in Des Moines is a huge positive for residents.Best internet options in Des MoinesHere 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.Des Moines internet providers compared Provider Internet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costsData capContractCNET review score CenturyLink Read full review DSL/fiber$55-$75100-940 Mbps$15 (optional)NoneNone6.7 HughesNet Read full review Satellite$50-$12525Mbps$15 or $450 one-time purchase15-100GB2 years5.7 Mediacom Read full review Cable$15-$60100-1,000Mbps$14400GB-UnlimitedNone6.4 Metronet Read full review Fiber$35-$110150-5,000Mbps$15 (optional)NoneNone6.9 Rise Broadband Read full review Fixed wireless$35-$7025-250Mbps12250GB; none on some plansNone6.2 T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans)72-245MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4 Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans)85-1,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.2 Show more (3 items)
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All available Des Moines residential internet providersThe 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.
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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 $75 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. Monte Goodyk/Getty ImagesPricing info on Des Moines home internet serviceOf 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 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 areaThe lowest starting price in Des Moines is $15 a month through Mediacom for its Xstream Connect 100Mbps plan. CenturyLink offers a 100Mbps plan for just a bit more at $55 a month. Mediacom is the better value overall currently.What’s the cheapest internet plan in Des Moines? Provider Starting priceMax download speedMonthly equipment feeContract Mediacom Xstream Connect Read full review $15 100Mbps$14None Metronet Read full review $35 150Mbps$15 (optional)None Rise Broadband Read full review $35 50Mbps$12 NoneUScellular $50 100Mbps$14 or $400 one-time router purchase3 years Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible phone plan)300MbpsNoneNone HughesNet Read full review $50 25Mbps$15 or $450 one-time purchase2 years CenturyLink Read full review $55 100Mbps$15 None T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan)245MbpsNoneNone Show more (4 items)
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Fastest internet providers in Des MoinesYou 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 February 2024, the median download speed for Des Moines is just over 303Mbps, which would put the city somwehere in the top 15 cities in the US.You have a decent 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 on the best multi-gig internet plans. What are the fastest internet plans in Des Moines? Show more (1 item)
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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 MoinesInternet 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.
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Who is the cheapest internet provider in Des Moines?
Currently, Mediacom has the cheapest price at $15 a month. However, it’s important to note that it is for a 100Mbps speed.
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Which internet provider in Des Moines offers the fastest plan?
The fastest plan currently offered comes from Metronet, with 5 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.
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Is Metronet or Mediacom better?
Metronet and Mediacom offer gigabit speed plans, though Metronet is the only one offering multigigabit plans. Mediacom tends to be more expensive, however. While it has no data caps for the cheapest and most expensive plans, ISP Metronet boasts unlimited data for all plans, making it better value.
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