Best Internet Providers in West Des Moines, Iowa

What is the best ISP in West Des Moines?

It covers almost 98% of households in West Des Moines. According to the latest data from the Federal Communications CommissionMediacom has the widest coverage and best broadband plans in town. With speeds up to 1000 megabits per second and affordable prices, Mediacom It’s CNET’s top pick for the best ISP in West Des Moines. This cable internet provider offering download speeds from 100 megabits per second to 1000 Mbps. Some areas may expect higher speeds depending on your location. Plans start at just $20 for a 250Mbps plan and go up to $85 per month.

On the bright side, Google Fibers fast multi-gigabit plans it can knock you off your feet. Its symmetrical speed reaches 8000 Mbit/s in some areas. Residents with the most coverage will be in neighboring areas along Valley Junction and near Ashworth Park and the Western Hills Greenway. Google Fiber won’t win any awards for having the cheapest plan — its lowest monthly price for a 1-gigabit plan is $70 — but you can expect great value. The Price per Mbps its gigabit plan is a really cheap 7 cents per Mbps, but its most expensive tier ($150/month 8 Gig plan) is a cool 2 cents per Mbps, one of the best rates you’ll find anywhere in the country.

If you are looking for more affordable plans other than Mediacom, this is one of them cheapest plans West Des Moines is US Cellular’s $60 per month fixed wireless plan for 300Mbps download speeds. However, expect additional fees and possible equipment installation costs to your plans. T-Mobile and Verizon If the above options don’t work for you, there are alternatives. The prices of the plans offered by both the providers are quite similar and you can get an additional discount by combining them with a compatible mobile plan.

Best internet in West Des Moines, Iowa

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in West Des Moines

The best internet deals and promotions in West Des Moines depend on what discounts are available at a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.

West Des Moines internet providers like Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet may offer lower access prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including CenturyLink and Google Fiber operate the same standard pricing year-round.

See our guide for a more extensive list of promotions best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What is a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an Internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, According to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only — and internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.

See our guide for more information how much internet speed do you really need?.

• 0 to 5Mbps lets you handle the basics — surfing the web, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming at the same time.
• 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How CNET picked the best ISPs in West Des Moines

Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impossible to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching price, availability, and speed data, using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and map data. FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We use the FCC’s website to verify our information and ensure that we review every ISP that provides service in the area. We also include local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied customers are with their ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to change frequently; All information provided is accurate as published.

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

1. Does the provider offer access to fast enough internet speeds?
2. Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
3. 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. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the lowest monthly fee plans, but also consider factors such as price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised download and upload speeds and review real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Visit our page to explore our process in more depth How we test ISPs page.

West Des Moines internet service provider frequently asked questions