Best Internet Providers in Ames, IA
All 12 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Ames, IA
Ames has 12 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, DSL, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Ames.
Ranks compare Ames with the 749 US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Ames, IA at a Glance
Ames Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Mediacom
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
CenturyLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Metronet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
ICS Advanced Technologies
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this city are excluded from the list. To see if one of these providers is available at your home, please use the address search above.
Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local Ames ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Ames, IA?
Metronet is the highest-rated internet provider in Ames based on 50 Iowa customer reviews, and T-Mobile Home Internet has the highest rating nationwide. The provider information above and the information immediately below can help you decide. Compare provider ratings and review counts above.
or call 1-833-875-1366
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Ames?
Coverage changes block by block. Pick a provider and a technology to see where its service reaches: the darker the area, the larger the share of homes it covers. For your exact address, use the address search above.
Coverage map for each provider in Ames
- Metronet - fiber coverage map
- Mediacom - cable coverage map
- ICS Advanced Technologies - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Mediacom - fiber coverage map
- Quantum Fiber - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- CenturyLink - fiber coverage map
- CenturyLink - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Colo Telephone Company - fiber coverage map
- Nextlink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Rise Broadband - fixed wireless coverage map
- ICS Advanced Technologies - fixed wireless coverage map
How Ames Compares to Places Its Size
Ames's report card score is tied 310th of 749 and its connectivity index is tied 701st of 749.
| Measure | Ames | Rank among US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people) | Story County | Iowa | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 81.5% | 367th of 749 | 84.8% | 84.3% | 71.5% | Aloha, OR and Shawnee, KS (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 4,378 Mbps | 244th of 749 | 3,651 Mbps | 3,256 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Layton, UT (9,808 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 7.3 | Tied 405th of 749 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 7.1 | Guaynabo, PR (14.3) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.3 | Tied 635th of 749 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.7 | Pacoima, CA and Spring Valley, NY (4.3) |
| Workers who work from home | 13% | Tied 405th of 749 | 12% | 12% | 15% | Danville, CA and Potomac, MD and 2 more (39%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 99% | Tied 11th of 749 | 98% | 95% | 96% | Atascocita, TX and Eastvale, CA and 8 more (100%) |
| Homes with internet | 74% | 748th of 749 | 79% | 89% | 91% | Centreville, VA and Danville, CA and 2 more (99%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 66% | Tied 718th of 749 | 69% | 72% | 76% | Flower Mound, TX and Johns Creek, GA and 1 more (93%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 93% | Tied 51st of 749 | 90% | 78% | 81% | Sammamish, WA (99%) |
| Median household income | $69,727 | 599th of 749 | $77,114 | $82,468 | $93,246 | Potomac, MD ($227,882) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 46% | Tied 6th of 749 | 36% | 16% | 16% | East Lansing, MI (58%) |
Fiber reaches 81.5% of homes in Ames, against 84.8% across Story County and 84.3% across Iowa. Households in Ames are smaller than the US average (2.3 people against 2.7); 13% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $69,727 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Ames
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Ames?
Metronet Fiber in Ames, IA
Availability:
72.4%
Customer Rating:
(74)
Avg. Download Speed
5,120 Mbps
Metronet offers Fiber service to 72.4% of Ames homes. Across the city, Metronet Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,120 Mbps
ICS Advanced Technologies Fiber in Ames, IA
Availability:
35.9%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
727 Mbps
ICS Advanced Technologies offers Fiber service to 35.9% of Ames homes. Across the city, ICS Advanced Technologies Fiber has speeds up to 727 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for ICS Advanced Technologies Fiber.
Mediacom Fiber in Ames, IA
Availability:
16.5%
Customer Rating:
(7)
Avg. Download Speed
1,111 Mbps
Mediacom offers Fiber service to 16.5% of Ames homes. Across the city, Mediacom Fiber has speeds up to 1,111 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 50 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 156 Mbps throughout the city. Mediacom Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Ames from Mediacom in terms of customer satisfaction.
Quantum Fiber in Ames, IA
Availability:
7.4%
Customer Rating:
(52)
Avg. Download Speed
1,364 Mbps
Quantum Fiber offers Fiber service to 7.4% of Ames homes. Across the city, Quantum Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,364 Mbps, with speeds from 940 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 940 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 964 Mbps throughout the city.
CenturyLink Fiber in Ames, IA
Availability:
6.5%
Customer Rating:
(62)
Avg. Download Speed
942 Mbps
CenturyLink offers Fiber service to 6.5% of Ames homes. Across the city, CenturyLink Fiber has speeds up to 942 Mbps, with speeds from 100 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 50 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 876 Mbps throughout the city. CenturyLink Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Ames from CenturyLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Colo Telephone Company Fiber in Ames, IA
Availability:
1.7%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Colo Telephone Company offers Fiber service to 1.7% of Ames homes. Across the city, Colo Telephone Company Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Ames?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
87.4%
Customer Rating:
(341)
Avg. Download Speed
79 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 87.4% of Ames homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 79 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 15 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
84.9%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
263 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 84.9% of Ames homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 263 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 18 Mbps throughout the city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
73.1%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.1% of Ames homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 39 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 6.1 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
73.1%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
39 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.1% of Ames homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 39 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 6.1 Mbps throughout the city.
Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
5.0%
Customer Rating:
(15)
Avg. Download Speed
28 Mbps
Rise Broadband offers Fixed Wireless service to 5.0% of Ames homes. Across the city, Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 28 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 50 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 5.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 5.6 Mbps throughout the city.
Nextlink Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
4.0%
Customer Rating:
(14)
Avg. Download Speed
398 Mbps
Nextlink offers Fixed Wireless service to 4.0% of Ames homes. Across the city, Nextlink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 398 Mbps, with speeds from 300 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 100 and as high as 500, with an average of 156 Mbps throughout the city.
ICS Advanced Technologies Fixed Wireless in Ames, IA
Availability:
3.3%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
12 Mbps
ICS Advanced Technologies offers Fixed Wireless service to 3.3% of Ames homes. Across the city, ICS Advanced Technologies Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 12 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 50 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 50, with an average of 4.0 Mbps throughout the city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Ames?
Mediacom Cable in Ames, IA
Availability:
86.6%
Customer Rating:
(82)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Mediacom offers Cable service to 86.6% of Ames homes. Across the city, Mediacom Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Ames?
CenturyLink DSL in Ames, IA
Availability:
82.9%
Customer Rating:
(120)
Avg. Download Speed
44 Mbps
CenturyLink offers DSL service to 82.9% of Ames homes. Across the city, CenturyLink DSL has speeds up to 44 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 140 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 100, with an average of 6.6 Mbps throughout the city. CenturyLink DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Ames from CenturyLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Ames by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 19.7% of homes in Iowa State University to 100.0% in College Creek. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Ames
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | 9,859 | 19.7% | 2,019 Mbps | 5.4 | C | 46/100 |
| Crawford | 6,164 | 79.8% | 5,120 Mbps | 8.3 | B+ | 43/100 |
| College Creek | 3,779 | 100.0% | 5,120 Mbps | 7.1 | A | 37/100 |
ZIP codes in Ames
How Ames Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Ames that have their own pages are all within 11 miles. Among them, Huxley has the most homes with fiber (99.8%) and Gilbert the fewest (80.7%); Ames has 81.5%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames (this page) | 69,499 | 81.5% | 4,378 Mbps | 7.3 | B+ | 47/100 |
| Nevada | 8,047 | 89.8% | 4,153 Mbps | 5 | B | 59/100 |
| Huxley | 4,353 | 99.8% | 999 Mbps | 4.7 | B- | 80/100 |
| Gilbert | 1,911 | 80.7% | 3,611 Mbps | 8 | B+ | 73/100 |
| Slater | 1,714 | 97.3% | 977 Mbps | 5.8 | B- | 77/100 |
| Kelley | 1,110 | 98.2% | 987 Mbps | 5.2 | B- | 58/100 |
| Mackey | 495 | 16.6% | 267 Mbps | 3.7 | D | 39/100 |
| Jordan | 244 | 43.4% | 531 Mbps | 6.8 | C | 41/100 |
| Ericson | 236 | 37.7% | 533 Mbps | 7.1 | C | 57/100 |
| Shipley | 175 | 62.9% | 700 Mbps | 3.5 | D+ | 30/100 |
| Napier | 108 | 96.3% | 1,396 Mbps | 6.4 | B | 31/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Ames?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the city comes from Metronet.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Ames
| Metronet | 5,120 |
|---|---|
| Mediacom | 2,000 |
| Quantum Fiber | 2,000 |
| CenturyLink | 1,000 |
| ICS Advanced Technologies | 1,000 |
| Nextlink | 1,000 |
| Colo Telephone Company | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| Rise Broadband | 50 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Ames. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Ames Internet Providers
Based on 50 reviews from Iowa internet customers, Metronet is the best internet service provider for Ames residents. Metronet was rated at an average of 4.40 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in Iowa, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 73.1% coverage in Ames.
At a national level, based on 2666 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.01 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Ames Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Ames, Iowa, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Ames Overall | Iowa Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet | (1) |  (5) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Colo Telephone Company | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (1) |  (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (52) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Ames
Based on data reported by Ames ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Metronet. The company offers speeds up to 5,120 Mbps in Ames. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 5,120 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
Additionally, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Metronet. This indicates Metronet reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Ames Speed | Iowa Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet | (1) | (5) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Colo Telephone Company | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (1) | (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (52) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Ames?
Of the providers in Ames, customers rate Metronet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Ames where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across Iowa or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
Metronet is rated 5.00 out of 5 for price, which is much higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. AT&T is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Ames, Iowa, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Ames
| ISP / Tech Type | Ames Affordability | Iowa Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet | (1) | (5) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (1) | (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Colo Telephone Company | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (52) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Iowa
Customer Reviews
An Iowa Customer
Mediacom Cable
June 25, 2023 Overall, I'm satisfied with Mediacom. In the past, there was a period of time when there was an outage in my neighborhood at least 2x a month, but recently I haven't had any problems. The customer service agents are pleasant to talk to as well and are willing to fix your issues efficiently. Although, the service is costly for the speed that I am getting, which is disappointing. When I did have to get my internet fixed once, the technician wasn't very kind to me.
An Iowa Customer
Metronet Fiber
April 09, 2023 A Ames, IA Customer
CenturyLink DSL
March 27, 2023 Steve S.
ImOn Communications Fiber
November 04, 2026 Install was sloppy, wire hanging inside and outside. My main issue was the price kept increasing. The customer support took over a hour to speak to someone and then another hour of testing before they would isue replacement equipment.
ISPReports User
Metronet Fiber
October 14, 2026 great
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Ames?
The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:
- The best all-around internet service provider in Ames is Metronet.
- The fastest internet provider should be Metronet. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Metronet may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Ames is Metronet.
- Viasat, T-Mobile Home Internet, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Ames, available to 87.4% of homes, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what’s available at your home, please use our address search tool.