Best Internet Providers in Des Moines, Iowa

Good internet is crucial, and it needs to be quick and affordable. A good internet provider can also make sure you have stable internet connectivity, without too much buffering or dropped signals. We’ve outlined the best internet in the area, including our top pick for Des Moines, Mediacom.  

Faster internet services are becoming more widely available in Des Moines. Metronet first brought fiber optic internet to the city in the fall of 2022 and continues to expand in the area. The service offers multi-gig symmetrical speeds, meaning the upload and download speeds are the same. Google Fiber is also coming to the Des Moines area, and the infrastructure is in the building stage.

According to Ookla data from April 2024, the median download speed for fixed broadband in the US was 250 megabits per second for download speeds and 33Mbps for upload speeds. Given national averages, accessing multi-gig internet in Des Moines is a huge positive for residents.

Best internet options in Des Moines

Here 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.

All available Des Moines residential internet providers

The 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.

• 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.

Pricing info on 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 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 area

The 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.

Fastest internet providers in Des Moines

You 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 265Mbps, 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’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 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’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