Top 9 Internet Providers in Des Moines, IA

Find Des Moines Internet Providers with the Best Deals

Life in Des Moines offers big city amenities with the affordability of a small town. We Iowans know where to hang out in our busy downtown scene to have fun. Even our canine buddies feel right at home in their own dog bar that spreads over 33,000 s.f. Our  kids have a blast at the Science Center of Iowa. And we’re proud that over 50% of our power comes from wind energy. The Des Moines Civic Center hosts top touring concerts and shows, and we have one of the largest urban parks in the country at the Des Moines Water Works Park. But despite our many entertainment options, there is the little matter of winter. When the deep cold and snow arrives, we need reliable internet for the days when we just want to stay cozy and warm inside!

This guide will give you everything you need to know about internet providers in Des Moines, IA.

On this page, you’ll find detailed information on plans, pricing and internet speeds from Des Moines internet providers. Explore different internet technologies and which is right for you. Discover how much internet speed you actually need, so you won’t waste money on a plan that’s way beyond your requirements. Read on to learn more about the best home internet providers in Des Moines.

Types of Internet Services in Des Moines

First, you’ll need to know which type of internet services are available and which serve you best. Des Moines internet providers can offer several different technologies, depending on your neighborhood. So whether you live in Linden Heights, Arbor Peaks, Beaverdale, Downtown, or in Sherman Hill will affect your potential choice of ISP. That’s also true for suburbs in the Greater Des Moines area such as Ankeny, Clive, Indianola and Polk City.

Knowing which internet technologies are available may even affect where you want to put down roots. Here are the internet types to consider.

DSL Internet

DSL is an older internet technology and first emerged back in the 1990s. DSL internet service runs through the same copper wiring as landline telephone signals. DSL is much slower than cable and fiber. Most DSL customers choose DSL because no cable or fiber infrastructure serves their homes. Still, DSL is ten times faster than dial-up internet.

Cable Internet

Cable internet transmits your internet data along the same cables that carry cable television. Cable technology has greatly advanced in recent years. Today, cable internet providers can sometimes offer download speeds as fast as fiber internet providers. Cable’s upload speeds, however, will always be much slower than upload speeds for fiber.

Fiber Internet

Fiber internet sends data through fiber optic lines. Fiber signals are much faster than previous types of internet signals because fiber uses pulses of light to send data.

Fiber internet is unique because its upload speeds and download speeds are the same, or symmetrical. By contrast, all non-fiber internet types are very asymmetrical, with download speeds much faster than their upload speeds.

Fiber’s faster upload speeds mean that high-data tasks such as videoconferencing and multiplayer gaming will be smoother on fiber than on almost any other technology. But the fastest fiber plans are more expensive, and most people don’t need that much speed. So consider carefully how much speed you actually require before you choose a plan. Fiber internet providers in Des Moines offer a range of plans at different price points.

Satellite Internet

If you’re on the fringes of Des Moines or farther out in Polk County, you may want to consider satellite service. Satellite service is much slower than most cable or fiber. But it can sometimes compete with DSL, depending on the speeds of each. You can still do most common internet activities through satellite internet.

Satellite service is known for good coverage and reliability. Any home in America that has a clear view of the southern sky can get satellite internet service.

Satellite internet will involve some latency, or a small delay in signal. Latency doesn’t affect most internet activities but can cause lags in videoconferencing or gaming. WIth recent innovation, HughesNet has created the first low-latency satellite service with HughesNet Fusion. But satellite internet will come with monthly data allowances, so make sure you understand how data caps work.

Top Internet Providers in Des Moines

Overall Best Internet Provider in Des Moines

CenturyLink Fiber takes the top spot as best overall provider in Des Moines for its combination of speed (up to 940 Mbps) and pricing ($30 for up to 200 Mbps). The only problem is that CenturyLink’s fiber coverage is not universal, and many areas of the city only have access to CenturyLink’s DSL-based service.

Fastest Internet Provider in Des Moines

CenturyLink Fiber is fastest among Des Moines internet providers, offering up to 940 Mbps for $70/month. You can also get fast download and upload speeds from fiber provider Earthlink, but their top tier plan of up to 1000 Mbps will cost you $99.95/month.

Most Affordable Internet Provider in Des Moines

Again, CenturyLink Fiber takes the prize for cheapest internet with its $30/month plan for up to 200 Mbps.

Best Satellite Provider in Des Moines

If you don’t have cable or fiber infrastructure, you might want to consider choosing HughesNet satellite internet. HughesNet’s speed meets the minimum FCC requirement for high-speed internet at 25 Mbps download, 3 Mbps upload. In some cases, this may be faster than the speed you can get with DSL service. Talk to neighbors who have DSL and see if they have tested their real internet speed. That will give you a better idea of whether to choose HughesNet.

FAQs: Internet Choices in Des Moines

How fast should my internet speed be?

Two questions will help you understand how much speed you need. First, what are your primary internet activities? Second, how many internet users are there in your home?

The more users you have doing high-data activities like gaming or HD streaming, the faster your speed should be. Test your current internet speed here.

If you live alone or with one or two others, and all of you mostly like to browse the web, 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload will support you pretty well. If you work remotely and do a lot of video meetings, aim for 50-100 Mbps download speed and 12 Mbps or more upload speed. If you have multiple devices videoconferencing, gaming, and HD streaming, you may want to consider cable and fiber speeds of at least 100-300 Mbps.

What internet speed do I need for remote work?

Speed requirements for remote work also depend on what kind of tasks you usually do. For frequent videoconferencing, get at least 100 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. Large file uploads will be smoother with higher upload speeds, so consider fiber if you work with video or graphics.

If your remote work consists of audio calls, you won’t need nearly as much speed. As long as you have a reliable connection, 25 Mbps download/3Mbps upload speed should be sufficient. Check with your employer, because some employers have even lower speed requirements for customer service work.

How fast should my internet be for multiplayer gaming?

Both your upload and download speed need to be fast if you want optimal gaming sessions. Multiplayer gaming also requires low latency (under 40 milliseconds). Fiber internet is far and away your best bet, especially if you have multiple gamers in the household. Many cable internet providers can also provide a good gaming experience.

How can I get low-cost or free internet in Des Moines?

Sometimes, people want the opportunity that comes with high-speed internet, but they cannot afford a home subscription. Lack of home internet is becoming a serious issue called the digital divide, now that so many jobs and educational opportunities depend on a good internet connection. According to the U.S. Census, only 85% of Des Moines households had a high-speed internet subscription in 2021.

The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) of 2022 helps more people get high speed internet at home.

The Affordable Connectivity Plan offers qualified applicants relief of $30/month on an internet plan. Learn more here at the Iowa.gov information page for the ACP. Internet costs in Des Moines are low enough that some plans would be completely covered by this program subsidy.

If you need free access to a computer and the internet immediately, such as for a job search, try the Des Moines Public Library. The library offers free use of computers, tablets, and free Wi-Fi. They will even give one-on-one assistance with learning how to use the internet for digital job searches.