15 Best Internet Providers in Ames, NE

Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings

Above are the top 4 providers in Ames, NE for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your city.

All Providers

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.

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3. Ames, NE Internet Service Providers
   

Who is the Best Internet Provider in Ames, NE?

Great Plains Communications is the best internet provider in Ames based on Nebraska customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, Great Plains Communications had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Ames, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. Unfortunately, Great Plains Communications is an option for 13.82% of the city.

The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in Ames, Nebraska, and customers throughout the country.

Top Rated Internet Providers in Ames

Local, State, and National Ratings for all Ames Internet Providers

Based on 28 reviews from Nebraska internet customers, Great Plains Communications is the best internet service provider for Ames residents. Great Plains Communications was rated at an average of 5.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in Nebraska, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 40.3% coverage in Ames.

At a national level, based on 2678 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, GigFire is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 3.00 out of 5.

Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Ames?

Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings in Ames, the fastest internet in the city comes from Great Plains Communications.

Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Ames

	ISP / Tech Type	Max Advertised Speed
	Great Plains Communications	2,000 Mbps
	WesTel Systems	1,000 Mbps
	Cox Communications	1,000 Mbps
	Verizon	300 Mbps
	Windstream	200 Mbps
	Nextlink	200 Mbps
	GigFire	150 Mbps
	Viaero Wireless	100 Mbps
	AT&T	100 Mbps
	EarthLink	100 Mbps
	Stealth Broadband	100 Mbps
	T-Mobile Home Internet	100 Mbps
	Viasat	100 Mbps
	Rise Broadband	50 Mbps
	Centurylink	40 Mbps
	US Cellular	25 Mbps
	HughesNet	25 Mbps

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 Great Plains Communications. The company offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in Ames. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,681 Mbps if they're willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.

However, actual customers in the city rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Great Plains Communications. This indicates Great Plains Communications reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.

Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Ames?

Nebraska customers rate Great Plains Communications as the cheapest internet service provider in state. Data comes from customers in the state rating their satisfaction with pricing. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.

Great Plains Communications received a local rating of 4.50 out of 5, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. AT&T is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Ames customers with an average price rating of 3.50 out of 5.

The chart and graph below show how customers in Ames, Nebraska, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.

Rated Affordability in Ames

Ames Internet Health Assessment

ISP Reports evaluates the technological infrastructure across the United States. This includes assessing a grade for ISP providers and infrastructure in the city and setting an index number for the digital connectivity of its residents. You can view the ISP Report Card and the Digital Connectivity Index for Ames below, including the metrics used and how Ames compares to the rest of Nebraska and nation.

Ames ISP Report Card: C+

	Metric (hover for details)	Ames	Nebraska	USA
	Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Ames that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home.	57.20%	80.93%	67.25%
	Average Download SpeedThe maximum download speed most households can get on average. This is measured by availability in a block group and weighted by the population in that area.	737 Mbps	2,206 Mbps	3,293 Mbps
	Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for Ames.	6.6	7.7	6.8

 

Ames Digital Connectivity Index: 36 / 100

	Metric (hover for details)	Ames	Nebraska	USA
	Average Household SizeA larger household size in a city indicates that there will be a greater need for bandwidth due to simultaneous usage, multiple devices, and network congestion.	2.5	2.5	2.7
	Work From Home PercentA higher percent of the population working from home indicates bandwidth requirements being more widely needed rather than consolidated to commercial portions of the city.	6%	10%	14%
	Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households.	95%	95%	95%
	Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives.	85%	90%	90%
	Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households.	52%	75%	75%
	Broadband Usage vs. AvailabilityThis measures what percentage of households who have a broadband connection to their home actually have an active subscription to that service.	52%	76%	76%

Ames ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index

The ISP Report Card in Ames is C+, which is worse than other cities. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Ames is high with a score of 36 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Ames have done a poor job meeting the needs of its residents.

The Ames ISP Report Card evaluates the city on availability and speed metrics compared to other cities in the United States. ISP Infrastructure can vary greatly and on its own isn’t a perfect measure of what a city needs. Please see our ISP Report Card along with the Digital Connectivity Index above to evaluate how well the connectivity demand is met by the existing infrastructure.

85% of Ames households have an internet connection despite having 100.00% availability. 52% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 18% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 1% of households have internet but don’t pay for a subscription because it’s subsidized by the Affordable Connectivity Program.

As you can see in the table above, while 52% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 52% subscribe to it. A low number of Ames residents are taking advantage of the available internet infrastructure.

For more details, please visit our ISP Report Card and Digital Connectivity Index pages.

How do Neighboring Cities Compare to Ames?

How Much Speed does a Ames Household Need?

Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Ames is 2.5, which is larger than the Nebraska average of 2.5 and smaller than the national average of 2.7. Ames's average household income is $89,930 which is higher than the Nebraska average of $84,618 and higher than the national average of $90,606. Homes with more people living in them and with higher incomes tend to indicate more devices being used more often.

Ames also has 16% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is lower than the Nebraska average of 17%. Additionally, 6% of residents work from home, which is lower than the 10% of residents in Nebraska who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Ames has a low need for internet connectivity and speeds.

Compared to the rest of the country, Ames households are more technology-engaged. 95% of households have some sort of computing device, 77% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 92% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.

Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Ames?

Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Ames?

According to the most recently submitted data by internet service providers to the FCC, there are currently no cable providers available in Ames, NE.

Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Ames?

Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Ames?

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 Great Plains Communications.
• The fastest internet provider should be Great Plains Communications. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Great Plains Communications may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
• The most affordable internet provider in Ames is Great Plains Communications.
• Viasat, T-Mobile Home Internet, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Ames, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what's available at your home, please use our address search tool.

How does Ames compare to other cities with a similar population?

To see how Ames stacks up on the national level, it's useful to look at some other cities with similarly sized populations. Below you can see a list of these cities and how they compare to Ames's C+ ISP Report Card and 36 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.