What is the best ISP in Iowa City, Iowa?
ImOn Communications is the best ISP in Iowa City. Local company Iowa offers service throughout most of the city, and while it's not cheap, it provides excellent value. Unlike many other options in the area, ImOn is refreshingly customer-friendly and free of things like hidden fees and data caps.
If you want to pay the lowest possible prices, Mediacom offers the cheapest internet in Iowa City. Prices start at just $20 a month, though Mediacom charges $15 a month for modem rental, and all of its plans go up in price after a year or two.
Metronet is the fastest ISP in Iowa Citywith symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps — five times faster than any other provider in town. Another good option for fast internet is T-Mobile Home Internetwhich offers wireless internet for $50-$70 per month. T-Mobile cell phone users can save $10 to $20 per month by bundling with home Internet service.
The best internet in Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City ISP Comparison
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | 55 dollars | Up to 100 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| ImOn Communications | Hair | $49-$69 | 200-1,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | N/A |
| Mediacom Read the full review |
Cable | 20-60 dollars | 250-1,000 Mbps | 15 dollars | 350 GB-Unlimited | No one | 6.4 |
| Metronet Read the full review |
Hair | $35-$110* | 150-5,000 Mbps | None (but all plans include an additional $13 monthly Tech Assure fee) | No one | No one | 6.9 |
| Quantum fibers | Hair | 50-75 dollars | 500-940 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 6.7 |
| The Rise of Broadband Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | 55 dollars | 25-50 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 6.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with cellular plans) | 87-415 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 100-300 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Iowa City?
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet Read the full review |
35 dollars | 150 Mbps | None (but there is an additional monthly Tech Assure fee of $13) |
| Mediacom Internet 250 Read the full review |
20 dollars | 250 Mbps | 15 dollars |
| Mediacom Internet 500 Read the full review |
45 dollars | 500 Mbps | 15 dollars |
| Metronet Read the full review |
45 dollars | 500 Mbps | None (but there is an additional monthly Tech Assure fee of $13) |
| Quantum fibers | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | No one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 100 Mbps | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Iowa City
The best online deals and top promotions in Iowa City depend on what discounts are available at that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Iowa City ISPs, such as Mediacom, Verizon 5G Home Internet and ImOn Communications, may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Metronet and Quantum Fiber, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
The fastest internet plans in Iowa City
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet 5 Gb Read the full review |
110 dollars | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Metronet 2 Gb Read the full review |
70 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Metronet 1 Gb Read the full review |
50 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Mediacom 1 gig Read the full review |
60 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 64 Mbps | 3,000 GB – unlimited | Cable |
| ImOn Communications 1Gig | 69 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Quantum fibers | 75 dollars | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No one | Hair |
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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, streaming video, or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here's an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only — and that Internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics—browsing the web, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- From 5 to 40 Mbps, you can enjoy higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a person enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Iowa City
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smart phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching price, availability and speed information based on our historical data from ISPs, provider locations and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn't end there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on supplier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account factors such as price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and look at real-world speed data from sources like Okla and The FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Iowa City Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Iowa City?
ImOn Communications is the best internet service provider in Iowa City. At a starting price of $49 per month, you'll get fast, symmetrical speeds, and ImOn doesn't nickel and dime you with hidden fees and price increases.
Is fiber optic internet available in Iowa City?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 69% of Iowa City residents, according to FCC data. ImOn Communications, Metronet and Quantum Fiber operate in the city.
What is the cheapest ISP in Iowa City?
Mediacom is the cheapest ISP in Iowa City, with plans starting at $35 per month. Mediacom is noted to include a $14 per month modem rental, and all of its plans go up in price after a year or two.
Which ISP in Iowa City offers the fastest plan?
Metronet offers the fastest plan in Iowa City, with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps.