Best Internet Providers in Iowa – CNET

What is the best internet provider in Iowa?

Mediacom is the best internet provider for most Iowa households due to its high availability and low introductory pricing. The largest cable internet provider in the state, Mediacom, is available to nearly two-thirds of Iowa residences, according to the Federal Communication Commission. It also has one of the cheapest internet plans of any major provider, with service starting at $35 per month for download speeds up to 100 megabits per second.

Mediacom won’t always be the best option for every person. Fiber internet from providers, such as Metronet, Google Fiber or Quantum Fiber, will often present better speeds, reliability and overall value than Mediacom, although availability is more limited in Iowa. Metronet, for example, offers the cheapest internet in Iowa, starting at $30 per month, while Google Fiber has the fastest plan with speeds up to 8 gigabits per second (8,000Mbps) starting at $150 per month.

Wireless internet is also a practical choice for broadband, especially throughout Iowa’s many rural areas. Speeds and pricing may rival Mediacom, depending on the providers in your area.

Our methodology

Speed range

100 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$25 – $80 per month

Our take – Availability is a significant advantage in a state like Iowa, with large rural areas between each city and town. Mediacom’s cable network has the greatest wired internet coverage of any major ISP in Iowa.

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Check with Mediacom

Speed range

100 – 1,000 Mbps

Price range

$25 – $80 per month

Connection

Cable Show more details

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Connection

Fiber

Connection

Fiber

Speed range

100 – 3,000 Mbps

Price range

$30 – $115 per month

Speed range

1,000 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$70 – $100 per month

Our take – Google Fiber recently expanded to West Des Moines and quickly became the fastest major internet provider in the state. All plans are of the gigabit variety, including the newly released 8Gbps speed tier.

. . .

Check with Google

Speed range

1,000 – 2,000 Mbps

Price range

$70 – $100 per month

Connection

Fiber Show more details

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Connection

Fixed wireless

Connection

Fixed wireless

Speed range

72 – 245 Mbps

Price range

$50 per month

Plan Starting price Max download speed Monthly equipment fee Metronet 100 $30 100Mbps None ($12 monthly tech service fee) Mediacom Prime Internet 100 $35 100Mbps $14 modem rental Kinetic 100 $40 100Mbps $10 (optional) Rise Broadband 25 Unlimited $45 25Mbps $10 Quantum Fiber 500 $50 500Mbps None CenturyLink 100 $50 100Mbps $15 (optional) US Cellular Home Internet $50 25-100Mbps Varies Nextlink Next25 $50 25Mbps $9 T-Mobile Home Internet $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans) 72-245Mbps None Verizon 5G Home Internet $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) 50-300Mbps None

Provider Starting price Max download speed Max upload speed Data cap Connection type Google Fiber 8 Gig $150 8,000Mbps 8,000Mbps None Fiber Metronet 2 Gig $100 2,000Mbps 2,000Mbps None Fiber Kinetic 2 Gig $180 2,000Mbps 2,000Mbps None Fiber Mediacom 1 Gig $55 1,000Mbps 50Mbps 3,000GB Cable Quantum Fiber 940Mbps $75 940Mbps 940Mbps None Fiber Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet $70 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) 85-1,000Mbps 50-75Mbps None Fixed wireless

Mediacom is the best internet service provider for most Iowa households due to the high availability, decent speed range and low introductory pricing. That said, in areas where fiber internet is available, I would recommend considering it first over Mediacom.

Is fiber internet available in Iowa?

Fiber provider Metronet offers the cheapest internet plan in Iowa, starting at $30 per month for symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 100Mbps. There are no added equipment fees, but a $12 tech service fee will add to your monthly cost.

Mediacom has the second cheapest internet plan in Iowa, with service starting at $35 per month for download speeds up to 100Mbps (upload speeds up to 10Mbps). Router rental is included, but the modem rental fee will add $14 to your monthly bill.

Which internet provider in Iowa offers the fastest plan?

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