Best Internet Providers in Howard County, IA
All 10 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Howard County, IA
Howard County has 10 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and DSL internet are available in the county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Howard County.
Ranks compare Howard County with the 99 Iowa counties.
The Best Internet in Howard County, IA at a Glance
Howard County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Windstream
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Mediacom
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
Harmony Telephone Co
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Fixed Wireless
GigFire
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this county 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 Howard County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Howard County, IA?
T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet provider in Howard County based on Iowa customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, T-Mobile Home Internet had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Howard County, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. T-Mobile Home Internet is an option for 81.03% of the county.
Click here to get T-Mobile Home Internet
or call 1-833-601-2935
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Howard County?
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 Howard County
- OmniTel Communications - fiber coverage map
- Windstream - fiber coverage map
- Mediacom - cable coverage map
- Nextlink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Harmony Telephone Co - fiber coverage map
- GigFire - fixed wireless coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Windstream - dsl coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Windstream - fixed wireless coverage map
- Harmony Telephone Co - fixed wireless coverage map
- CenturyLink - dsl coverage map
- Frontier - dsl coverage map
How Howard County Compares to the Rest of Iowa
Howard County's report card score is tied 41st of 99 and its connectivity index is tied 57th of 99.
| Measure | Howard County | Rank among Iowa counties | Iowa | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 66.4% | 78th of 99 | 84.3% | 71.5% | Worth County (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 2,103 Mbps | 26th of 99 | 3,256 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Black Hawk County (7,750 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 6.1 | Tied 34th of 99 | 6.8 | 7.1 | Dallas County (8.6) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.5 | Tied 11th of 99 | 2.4 | 2.7 | Davis County (2.9) |
| Workers who work from home | 10% | Tied 32nd of 99 | 12% | 15% | Dallas County and Jefferson County (21%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 89% | Tied 92nd of 99 | 95% | 96% | Dallas County and Story County (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 86% | Tied 70th of 99 | 89% | 91% | Bremer County and Buena Vista County and 3 more (93%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 63% | Tied 72nd of 99 | 72% | 76% | Johnson County and Linn County (79%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 75% | Tied 39th of 99 | 78% | 81% | Story County (90%) |
| Median household income | $70,773 | 63rd of 99 | $82,468 | $93,246 | Dallas County ($117,487) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 12% | Tied 57th of 99 | 16% | 16% | Story County (36%) |
Fiber reaches 66.4% of homes in Howard County, against 84.3% across Iowa. Households in Howard County are smaller than the US average (2.5 people against 2.7); 10% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $70,773 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
How Howard County Compares to Its Neighbors
Howard County has 6 neighbors, 2 of them in Minnesota. Among them, Mower County, MN has the most homes with fiber (87.0%) and Winneshiek County the fewest (47.4%); Howard County has 66.4%.
Map of Howard County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Howard County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County (this page) | 9,469 | 66.4% | 2,103 Mbps | 6.1 | B- | 41/100 |
| Mower County, MN | 40,029 | 87.0% | 4,153 Mbps | 7.2 | B+ | 51/100 |
| Fillmore County, MN | 21,228 | 75.3% | 1,347 Mbps | 4.8 | C+ | 49/100 |
| Winneshiek County | 20,070 | 47.4% | 930 Mbps | 4.3 | D+ | 44/100 |
| Floyd County | 15,627 | 62.5% | 5,246 Mbps | 5.5 | B- | 35/100 |
| Chickasaw County | 12,012 | 75.2% | 1,120 Mbps | 7 | B- | 41/100 |
| Mitchell County | 10,565 | 56.3% | 4,328 Mbps | 5 | C+ | 50/100 |
Internet in Howard County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 28.6% of homes in Lime Springs to 97.5% in Riceville; by ZIP code, from 26.2% in 50628 (Elma) to 91.8% in 50466 (Riceville). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Howard County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresco | 4,512 | 83.5% | 1,674 Mbps | 7 | B | 49/100 |
| Riceville | 1,370 | 97.5% | 7,802 Mbps | 3.8 | B | 32/100 |
| Lime Springs | 1,243 | 28.6% | 874 Mbps | 6.4 | C | 41/100 |
| Elma | 952 | 20.4% | 1,150 Mbps | 5.2 | C- | 28/100 |
| Protivin | 537 | 37.4% | 569 Mbps | 3.6 | D | 55/100 |
| Vernon Springs | 467 | 95.3% | 971 Mbps | 6.5 | B- | 52/100 |
| Chester | 344 | 52.6% | 3,745 Mbps | 4.7 | C+ | 32/100 |
| Schley | 197 | 76.7% | 859 Mbps | 6.2 | C+ | 51/100 |
| Saratoga | 194 | 92.8% | 6,542 Mbps | 4.2 | B- | 35/100 |
| Lourdes | 123 | 14.6% | 542 Mbps | 6.6 | C- | 37/100 |
| Florenceville | 105 | 89.5% | 911 Mbps | 5 | C | 41/100 |
ZIP codes in Howard County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52136 (Cresco) | 6,031 | 82.9% | 1,475 Mbps | 6.6 | B- | 47/100 |
| 50466 (Riceville) | 1,843 | 91.8% | 7,360 Mbps | 3.7 | B- | 33/100 |
| 50628 (Elma) | 1,275 | 26.2% | 1,482 Mbps | 5.2 | C | 29/100 |
| 52155 (Lime Springs) | 1,259 | 32.8% | 1,573 Mbps | 6.2 | C+ | 39/100 |
| 52163 (Protivin) | 282 | 4.6% | 404 Mbps | 3.3 | D | 61/100 |
| 52134 (Chester) | 255 | 61.6% | 4,660 Mbps | 5.1 | B- | 33/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Howard County?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by Windstream. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Mediacom should have faster speeds at a local level. While we typically put more weight on real-world customer ratings, we display both satisfaction and technical maximum information for customers to decide for themselves.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Howard County
| OmniTel Communications | 8,000 |
|---|---|
| Windstream | 2,000 |
| Nextlink | 1,000 |
| Mediacom | 1,000 |
| Harmony Telephone Co | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| GigFire | 150 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| Frontier Communications | 90 |
| CenturyLink | 80 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Howard County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Howard County Internet Providers
Based on 47 reviews from Iowa internet customers, T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet service provider for Howard County residents. T-Mobile Home Internet was rated at an average of 4.40 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Verizon wins for second-place in Iowa, with 4.50 out of 5 stars and 41.3% coverage in Howard County.
At a national level, based on 1732 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.02 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Howard County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Howard County, Iowa, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Howard County Overall | Iowa Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) |  (5) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) | (3) |  (99) | View Plans | ||
| OmniTel Communications | (0) | (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (0) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (0) |  (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (0) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Harmony Telephone Co | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Howard County
Based on data reported by Howard County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Mediacom. The company offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in Howard County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,000 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
However, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Windstream. This indicates Windstream reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Howard County Speed | Iowa Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windstream | (0) | (3) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| OmniTel Communications | (0) |  (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (0) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (0) | (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (0) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Harmony Telephone Co | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Howard County?
Of the providers in Howard County, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Howard County 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.
T-Mobile Home Internet is rated 4.00 out of 5 for price, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. Verizon is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.75 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Howard County, Iowa, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Howard County
| ISP / Tech Type | Howard County Affordability | Iowa Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| OmniTel Communications | (0) | (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) | (3) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (0) | (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (0) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Frontier | (0) | (0) | (177) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Harmony Telephone Co | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Howard County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
Windstream Fiber in Howard County, IA
Availability:
34.2%
Customer Rating:
(40)
Avg. Download Speed
1,988 Mbps
Windstream offers Fiber service to 34.2% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Windstream Fiber has speeds up to 1,988 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Windstream Fiber. Windstream Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Howard County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
Harmony Telephone Co Fiber in Howard County, IA
Availability:
20.8%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Harmony Telephone Co offers Fiber service to 20.8% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Harmony Telephone Co Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
OmniTel Communications Fiber in Howard County, IA
Availability:
12.5%
Customer Rating:
(2)
Avg. Download Speed
8,000 Mbps
OmniTel Communications offers Fiber service to 12.5% of Howard County homes. Across the county, OmniTel Communications Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
GigFire Fixed Wireless in Howard County, IA
Availability:
99.3%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
150 Mbps
GigFire offers Fixed Wireless service to 99.3% of Howard County homes. Across the county, GigFire Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 150 Mbps
Nextlink Fixed Wireless in Howard County, IA
Availability:
83.5%
Customer Rating:
(14)
Avg. Download Speed
431 Mbps
Nextlink offers Fixed Wireless service to 83.5% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Nextlink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 431 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 20 and as high as 500, with an average of 116 Mbps throughout the county.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Howard County, IA
Availability:
81.0%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
51 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 81.0% of Howard County homes. Across the county, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 51 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 8.9 Mbps throughout the county.
Windstream Fixed Wireless in Howard County, IA
Availability:
73.4%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
49 Mbps
Windstream offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.4% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Windstream Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 49 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 4.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 6.0 Mbps throughout the county.
Harmony Telephone Co Fixed Wireless in Howard County, IA
Availability:
43.8%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
50 Mbps
Harmony Telephone Co offers Fixed Wireless service to 43.8% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Harmony Telephone Co Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 50 Mbps
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Howard County, IA
Availability:
41.3%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
268 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 41.3% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 268 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 county.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
Mediacom Cable in Howard County, IA
Availability:
54.5%
Customer Rating:
(82)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Mediacom offers Cable service to 54.5% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Mediacom Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Howard County?
Windstream DSL in Howard County, IA
Availability:
60.7%
Customer Rating:
(52)
Avg. Download Speed
99 Mbps
Windstream offers DSL service to 60.7% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Windstream DSL has speeds up to 99 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 12 Mbps throughout the county. Windstream DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Howard County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
CenturyLink DSL in Howard County, IA
Availability:
2.2%
Customer Rating:
(120)
Avg. Download Speed
57 Mbps
CenturyLink offers DSL service to 2.2% of Howard County homes. Across the county, CenturyLink DSL is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 57 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 80 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 6.9 Mbps throughout the county.
Frontier DSL in Howard County, IA
Availability:
1.1%
Customer Rating:
(58)
Avg. Download Speed
19 Mbps
Frontier Communications offers DSL service to 1.1% of Howard County homes. Across the county, Frontier DSL is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 19 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 90 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 5.0, with an average of 1.4 Mbps throughout the county.
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Iowa
Customer Reviews
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
Tim W
ImOn Communications Fiber
October 08, 2026 Poor signal strength intermittent speeds and I need the signal I pay for
Diane
Comelec Internet Services
September 01, 2026 Great so far. Brian Evans did a great job. Give him a 5
ISPReports User
Partner Communications Cooperative Fiber
July 01, 2026 awful. the key advantage of fiber technology is symmetrical upload and download speeds - fiber optic with pcctel is unreliable and awful. rarely have had symmetrical speeds with this service do NOT recommend pcctel
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Howard County?
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 Howard County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- The fastest internet provider should be Mediacom. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Windstream may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Howard County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, HughesNet, and GigFire has the broadest coverage in Howard County, available to 99.3% 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.