Best Internet Providers in West Des Moines, Iowa

What is the best internet provider in West Des Moines?

Mediacom is CNET's top pick for the best internet service provider in West Des Moines. With nearly 98% household coverage, according to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission, Mediacom has some of the best broadband plans in the city. This cable internet provider earns our top recommendation by delivering speeds from 100Mbps to 1,000Mbps at wallet-friendly prices starting at just $20 monthly for the 250Mbps plan and ranging up to $65 for the gig plan.

For those seeking speed, Google Fiber makes a compelling case with its multi-gigabit plans. Available primarily along Valley Junction and areas near Ashworth Park and Western Hills Greenway, Google Fiber offers symmetrical speeds up to 8,000Mbps in select locations. According to recent Ookla data, West Des Moines boasts a median download speed of 351Mbps, which means fast internet isn't uncommon throughout the city. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The $70 monthly rate for gigabit service isn't the lowest but the value proposition is solid with a cost per Mbps of just 7 cents -- dropping to an even better 2 cents per Mbps for the premium 8 Gig plan at $150 monthly, among the best rates nationwide.

If you need the cheapest plans that aren't from Mediacom, you can consider US Cellular's fixed wireless service delivering 300Mbps downloads for $60 monthly, though be prepared for additional fees and installation charges. T-Mobile and Verizon are also viable alternatives if you're outside the coverage area of the aforementioned providers. You get comparable pricing and potential discounts when bundled with qualifying mobile plans.

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 top promotions in West Des Moines depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

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

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What's 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 videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in West 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 FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We use the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

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

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. 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. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

West Des Moines internet provider FAQs