The 8 Best Internet Providers in Des Moines

Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines, is a great place to live, raise a family, and career pursuit. People flock there for its combination of big-city life and a small-town vibe. While Iowa isn’t exactly known for fast internet speeds, ranking as the 43rd fastest state, the city offers decent options for internet connectivity. Let’s look at the best internet providers in Des Moines and what to expect.

Key Points:

• Rise Broadband isn’t the fastest wireless provider, but they do offer the cheapest wireless plans, even with unlimited data included.
• Overall, EarthLink offers the fastest internet speeds of up to 5 Gbps, but these are naturally expensive plans.
• Mediacom technically offers the cheapest fiber plans, but prices typically jump substantially after the first year. Fixed prices are available from CenturyLink, so it will work out cheaper in the long term.

1. CenturyLink

A popular ISP in Des Moines and around the country, CenturyLink provides contract-free plans and unlimited data. Even the lowest speed plan of 100 Mbps is suitable for most people’s needs, but you can get up to 940 Mbps with their wired Fiber plan. It’s good news that their fiber plans are available in the area since their basic fiber plan is cheaper than their DSL plan. An installation fee of $49 to $99 is waivered if you order a fiber plan online.

CenturyLink is also well known for its outstanding customer service, available 24/7 via email, live chat or phone. Customers can sign up for a fixed-rate plan without worrying about price increases. CenturyLink is one of the best internet providers in Des Moines, primarily for its affordable prices, customer service and reliable connection.

2. Rise Broadband

Rise Broadband offers a wireless plan and a few fiber plans. Their wireless plan is only available in Des Moines. This plan delivers up to 50 Mbps, depending on the pricing, and unlimited data is an option. You can also get 50% off the $150 installation fee by purchasing through their website. While their connectivity won’t be as fast as fiber internet, it can provide sufficient speeds and reliable service. The plan is $10 cheaper during the first 12 months, and the speed can be upgraded from 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps for $14.95 more per month. Unlimited data can also be added on for just $20.00/month.

3. HughesNet

HughesNet was one of the first companies to offer a reliable satellite internet service. Their internet is ideal for customers who prefer consistent connectivity over fast speeds. Download speeds are around 25 Mbps, which is suitable for everyday use. It’s likely cable, DSL and fiber options are available in your location in Des Moines, but HughesNet remains a top choice. They have one of the largest networks in the city.

Customers pay a $99 installation fee if buying the satellite dish and equipment. While this option isn’t the cheapest, it may be appropriate if fiber isn’t an option or your connection keeps cutting out. You can also get an additional 50GB/month of data between 2 am and 8 am, which is a plus. HughesNet is easily one of the best internet providers in Des Moines, particularly concerning satellite providers.

4. Verizon 5G

Verizon does have a fiber internet plan, but unfortunately, this doesn’t cover Des Moines. However, they have a 5G home internet option available in the area. Touted as the most reliable 5G network in the U.S., Verizon uses the 5G Ultra Wideband network to deliver download speeds from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

This ISP offers two plans; 5G Home and 5G Home Plus. The Plus plan provides an extra year of price guarantee and access to Verizon Cloud Unlimited for storing your files. You also get a $200 Grubhub or DoorDash gift card and $300 off a Verizon soundbar, so for some, this plan will be worth it. The introductory prices are $60.00/month and $80.00/month, respectively, but these can go as low as $25/month depending on whether you pay your bills automatically and have a Verizon mobile plan. All in all, Verizon is an affordable and high-speed option for mobile users.

5. Viasat

Viasat is another satellite internet provider with good coverage in Des Moines. They offer a 2-year price lock guarantee and download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. This speed is great for emails, browsing, working from home and some online gaming. A higher speed is best for uninterrupted sessions, though. Installation is most free, but sometimes you may incur a $99 fee.

Customers can choose from several plans. As the data allowances and speeds increase, so does the price, and rather drastically. You could pay anywhere from $84.99 to $249.99/month for your plan. More affordable internet providers exist, but if you’re after a satellite plan with generous data allowances, Viasat is one to consider.

6. Mediacom

Mediacom provides a fiber internet service covering all of Des Moines and has four plans. While they don’t have unlimited data like many fiber providers, they still offer a lot of data and work out cheaper than some alternatives. You get a self-installation kit, and they won’t tie you down with a contract so you can avoid a lot of pesky fees. However, price hikes are a common complaint, so expect your bill to go up substantially after the first year. Those looking to connect multiple devices, stream and game will want to go with the 600 or 1 GIG plan. A lower speed plan will work fine if you only want to connect a couple of devices, mainly for internet browsing, social media and email.

7. T-Mobile Home

Surprisingly, T-Mobile offers a cellular home internet service and mobile communications solutions. While its plans aren’t the cheapest, they’re more affordable than most satellite internet providers and deliver a similarly reliable connection in most areas. Only one plan is available, so there isn’t much flexibility. T-Mobile’s internet plan comes with unlimited data at a fixed rate and no long-term commitment.

8. EarthLink

EarthLink hasn’t been around all that long, but they offer a great variety of internet plans in Des Moines. Customers can choose from fiber internet, LTE/4G wireless or a satellite plan. Download speeds range from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps for fiber and up to 100 Mbps for both wireless and satellite.

While their fiber plans have unlimited data, there are caps with satellite and wireless. Installation fees are required for satellite and vary based on whether you purchase or lease the equipment. For fiber, there’s a $79.95 installation fee and a router fee of $14.95/month, so this is something to consider when comparing prices. The benefit of their wireless plan is that there’s no need to buy or rent satellite equipment. Most of their plans offer suitable speeds for casual use, but for intensive use, it’s best to go with their fiber plans. While EarthLink is expensive, it’s still one of the best internet providers in Des Moines,s if only for its high speeds.

Summary of the Best Internet Providers in Des Moines

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The image featured at the top of this post is ©ANDRANIK HAKOBYAN/Shutterstock.com.