13 Best Internet Providers in Iowa City, IA

Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings

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

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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 Iowa City ratings may vary and are shown below.

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Who is the Best Internet Provider in Iowa City, IA?

ImOn Communications is the best internet provider in Iowa City based on Iowa customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, ImOn Communications had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Iowa City, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. ImOn Communications is an option for 80.56% of the city.

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

Top Rated Internet Providers in Iowa City

Local, State, and National Ratings for all Iowa City Internet Providers

Based on 57 reviews from Iowa internet customers, ImOn Communications is the best internet service provider for Iowa City residents. ImOn Communications was rated at an average of 3.82 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Mediacom wins for second-place in Iowa, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 89.8% coverage in Iowa City.

At a national level, based on 2344 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, ICS Advanced Technologies is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 3.00 out of 5.

Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Iowa City?

According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers in the city, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by Verizon. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, MetroNet 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 Iowa City

	ISP / Tech Type	Max Advertised Speed
	MetroNet	5,120 Mbps
	Quantum Fiber	2,000 Mbps
	Sharon Telephone Company	1,000 Mbps
	ICS Advanced Technologies	1,000 Mbps
	ImOn Communications	1,000 Mbps
	Mediacom	1,000 Mbps
	Centurylink	1,000 Mbps
	Verizon	300 Mbps
	Rise Broadband	100 Mbps
	AT&T	100 Mbps
	EarthLink	100 Mbps
	T-Mobile Home Internet	100 Mbps
	US Cellular	100 Mbps
	Viasat	100 Mbps
	HughesNet	25 Mbps

Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Iowa City

Based on data reported by Iowa City ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through MetroNet. The company offers speeds up to 5,120 Mbps in Iowa City. 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 in the city rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Verizon. This indicates Verizon reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.

Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Iowa City?

Iowa customers rate ImOn 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.

ImOn Communications received a local rating of 3.33 out of 5, which is much lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. Verizon is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Iowa City customers with an average price rating of 3.00 out of 5.

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

Rated Affordability in Iowa City

Iowa City 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 Iowa City below, including the metrics used and how Iowa City compares to the rest of Iowa and nation.

Iowa City ISP Report Card: B+

	Metric (hover for details)	Iowa City	Iowa	USA
	Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Iowa City that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home.	85.35%	78.64%	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.	2,034 Mbps	2,759 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 Iowa City.	8.4	7.3	6.8

 

Iowa City Digital Connectivity Index: 63 / 100

	Metric (hover for details)	Iowa City	Iowa	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.	2.3	2.4	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.	11%	11%	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.	97%	94%	95%
	Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives.	87%	88%	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.	77%	71%	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.	84%	71%	76%

Iowa City ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index

The ISP Report Card in Iowa City is B+, which is much better than other cities. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Iowa City is high with a score of 63 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Iowa City have done a good job meeting the needs of its residents.

The Iowa City 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.

87% of Iowa City households have an internet connection despite having 92.66% availability. 77% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 6% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 8% 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 77% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 84% subscribe to it. A very large amount of Iowa City 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 Iowa City?

How Much Speed does a Iowa City Household Need?

Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Iowa City is 2.3, which is smaller than the Iowa average of 2.4 and smaller than the national average of 2.7. Iowa City's average household income is $70,205 which is about average for the Iowa average of $80,609 and about average for the national average of $90,606. Homes with fewer people living in them and with lower incomes tend to indicate fewer devices being used less often.

Iowa City also has 37% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is higher than the Iowa average of 16%. Additionally, 11% of residents work from home, which is higher than the 11% of residents in Iowa who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Iowa City has a high need for internet connectivity and speeds.

Compared to the rest of the country, Iowa City households are more technology-engaged. 97% of households have some sort of computing device, 93% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 94% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.

Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Iowa City?

Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Iowa City?

Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Iowa City?

Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Iowa City?

Which ISP Should You Choose in Iowa City?

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 Iowa City is ImOn Communications.
• The fastest internet provider should be MetroNet. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Verizon may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
• The most affordable internet provider in Iowa City is ImOn Communications.
• Viasat, US Cellular, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Iowa City, 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 Iowa City compare to other cities with a similar population?

To see how Iowa City 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 Iowa City's B+ ISP Report Card and 63 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Iowa