Best Internet Providers in Palo Alto County, IA
All 11 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Palo Alto County, IA
Palo Alto County has 11 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 Palo Alto County.
Ranks compare Palo Alto County with the 99 Iowa counties.
The Best Internet in Palo Alto County, IA at a Glance
Palo Alto County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Mediacom
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Windstream
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Starnet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Northwest Communications
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
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 Palo Alto County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Palo Alto County, IA?
T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet provider in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. T-Mobile Home Internet is an option for 84.47% 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County
- Windstream - fiber coverage map
- Mediacom - cable coverage map
- Nextlink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Northwest Communications - fiber coverage map
- Northwest Communications - fixed wireless coverage map
- Starnet - fiber coverage map
- GigFire - fixed wireless coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Mediacom - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- Windstream - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Fenton - fiber coverage map
How Palo Alto County Compares to the Rest of Iowa
Palo Alto County's report card score is tied 61st of 99 and its connectivity index is tied 34th of 99.
| Measure | Palo Alto County | Rank among Iowa counties | Iowa | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 77.9% | 59th of 99 | 84.3% | 71.5% | Worth County (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 1,112 Mbps | 60th of 99 | 3,256 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Black Hawk County (7,750 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 5.5 | Tied 56th of 99 | 6.8 | 7.1 | Dallas County (8.6) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.3 | Tied 62nd of 99 | 2.4 | 2.7 | Davis County (2.9) |
| Workers who work from home | 6% | Tied 86th of 99 | 12% | 15% | Dallas County and Jefferson County (21%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 96% | Tied 8th of 99 | 95% | 96% | Dallas County and Story County (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 90% | Tied 15th of 99 | 89% | 91% | Bremer County and Buena Vista County and 3 more (93%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 73% | Tied 14th of 99 | 72% | 76% | Johnson County and Linn County (79%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 78% | Tied 19th of 99 | 78% | 81% | Story County (90%) |
| Median household income | $75,375 | 41st 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 77.9% of homes in Palo Alto County, against 84.3% across Iowa. Households in Palo Alto County are smaller than the US average (2.3 people against 2.7); 6% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $75,375 (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 Palo Alto County Compares to Its Neighbors
Palo Alto County has 7 neighbors. Among them, Dickinson County has the most homes with fiber (98.6%) and Buena Vista County the fewest (23.2%); Palo Alto County has 77.9%.
Map of Palo Alto County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Palo Alto County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto County (this page) | 8,996 | 77.9% | 1,112 Mbps | 5.5 | C+ | 48/100 |
| Buena Vista County | 20,823 | 23.2% | 1,146 Mbps | 7.7 | C+ | 58/100 |
| Dickinson County | 17,703 | 98.6% | 1,214 Mbps | 8.5 | B+ | 51/100 |
| Clay County | 16,384 | 98.5% | 1,008 Mbps | 7 | B | 50/100 |
| Kossuth County | 14,828 | 56.7% | 902 Mbps | 6.1 | C | 42/100 |
| Humboldt County | 9,597 | 71.6% | 967 Mbps | 5.8 | C | 43/100 |
| Emmet County | 9,388 | 96.6% | 1,034 Mbps | 7.7 | B+ | 38/100 |
| Pocahontas County | 7,078 | 55.2% | 775 Mbps | 5 | C- | 37/100 |
Internet in Palo Alto County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 70.6% of homes in Emmetsburg to 99.5% in Graettinger; by ZIP code, from 69.3% in 50536 (Emmetsburg) to 100.0% in 51342 (Graettinger). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Palo Alto County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmetsburg | 4,083 | 70.6% | 1,608 Mbps | 7.3 | B- | 46/100 |
| Ruthven | 1,192 | 97.7% | 507 Mbps | 3.5 | C | 47/100 |
| West Bend | 1,178 | 97.0% | 986 Mbps | 5.3 | C+ | 55/100 |
| Graettinger | 1,105 | 99.5% | 501 Mbps | 2.8 | C | 56/100 |
| Mallard | 400 | 71.0% | 906 Mbps | 5.3 | C | 45/100 |
| Cylinder | 304 | 8.6% | 825 Mbps | 5 | D+ | 55/100 |
| Ayrshire | 298 | 85.9% | 887 Mbps | 4.3 | C | 55/100 |
| Curlew | 249 | 56.2% | 743 Mbps | 3 | D+ | 44/100 |
| DePew | 127 | 66.9% | 553 Mbps | 4.1 | C- | 56/100 |
| Osgood | 126 | 54.8% | 479 Mbps | 4.9 | C- | 40/100 |
| Rodman | 106 | 32.1% | 755 Mbps | 4.4 | D+ | 56/100 |
ZIP codes in Palo Alto County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50536 (Emmetsburg) | 4,324 | 69.3% | 1,552 Mbps | 7.2 | B- | 46/100 |
| 50597 (West Bend) | 1,288 | 93.3% | 970 Mbps | 5.1 | C+ | 55/100 |
| 51358 (Ruthven) | 1,272 | 99.7% | 524 Mbps | 3.6 | C | 48/100 |
| 51342 (Graettinger) | 1,220 | 100.0% | 510 Mbps | 2.9 | C | 56/100 |
| 50562 (Mallard) | 473 | 65.8% | 859 Mbps | 5.1 | C- | 46/100 |
| 50528 (Cylinder) | 372 | 20.2% | 749 Mbps | 4.4 | D+ | 56/100 |
| 50515 (Ayrshire) | 254 | 87.4% | 909 Mbps | 4.2 | C | 56/100 |
| 50527 (Curlew) | 187 | 64.2% | 815 Mbps | 2.6 | D+ | 44/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Palo Alto County?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the county comes from Windstream.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Palo Alto County
| Windstream | 2,000 |
|---|---|
| Northwest Communications | 1,000 |
| Nextlink | 1,000 |
| Mediacom | 1,000 |
| Starnet | 500 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| GigFire | 150 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| Fenton Cooperative Telephone Company | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Palo Alto County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Palo Alto County Internet Providers
Based on 37 reviews from Iowa internet customers, T-Mobile Home Internet is the best internet service provider for Palo Alto 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 59.9% coverage in Palo Alto County.
At a national level, based on 2438 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 Palo Alto County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Palo Alto County, Iowa, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Palo Alto 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 | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Northwest Communications | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Fenton | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Starnet | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Palo Alto County
Based on data reported by Palo Alto County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Windstream. The company offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in Palo Alto County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,245 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 Windstream. This indicates Windstream reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Palo Alto County Speed | Iowa Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windstream | (0) | (3) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Northwest Communications | (0) |  (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Fenton | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Starnet | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Palo Alto County?
Of the providers in Palo Alto County, customers rate T-Mobile Home Internet the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County, Iowa, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Palo Alto County
| ISP / Tech Type | Palo Alto County Affordability | Iowa Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Northwest Communications | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) | (3) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Fenton | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Starnet | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Palo Alto County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Palo Alto County?
Windstream Fiber in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
30.7%
Customer Rating:
(40)
Avg. Download Speed
1,963 Mbps
Windstream offers Fiber service to 30.7% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Windstream Fiber has speeds up to 1,963 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 Palo Alto County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
Starnet Fiber in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
26.1%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
500 Mbps
Starnet offers Fiber service to 26.1% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Starnet Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 500 Mbps
Northwest Communications Fiber in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
19.6%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Northwest Communications offers Fiber service to 19.6% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Northwest Communications Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Mediacom Fiber in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
7.6%
Customer Rating:
(7)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Mediacom offers Fiber service to 7.6% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Mediacom Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Fenton Fiber in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
1.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
100 Mbps
Fenton Cooperative Telephone Company offers Fiber service to 1.4% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Fenton Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 100 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Palo Alto County?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
84.5%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
77 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 84.5% of Palo Alto 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 77 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 county.
GigFire Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
73.4%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
137 Mbps
GigFire offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.4% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, GigFire Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 137 Mbps, with speeds from 100 Mpbs up to 150 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 20 and as high as 130, with an average of 102 Mbps throughout the county.
Northwest Communications Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
71.2%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
220 Mbps
Northwest Communications offers Fixed Wireless service to 71.2% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Northwest Communications Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 220 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 500 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 30 Mbps throughout the county.
Nextlink Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
61.4%
Customer Rating:
(14)
Avg. Download Speed
482 Mbps
Nextlink offers Fixed Wireless service to 61.4% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Nextlink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 482 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 1,000, with an average of 200 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
59.9%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
163 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 59.9% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 163 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 13 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
19.3%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
63 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 19.3% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 63 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 12 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
19.3%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
63 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 19.3% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 63 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 12 Mbps throughout the county.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Palo Alto County?
Mediacom Cable in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
42.2%
Customer Rating:
(82)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Mediacom offers Cable service to 42.2% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Mediacom Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Palo Alto County?
Windstream DSL in Palo Alto County, IA
Availability:
33.7%
Customer Rating:
(52)
Avg. Download Speed
55 Mbps
Windstream offers DSL service to 33.7% of Palo Alto County homes. Across the county, Windstream DSL has speeds up to 55 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 200 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 6.5 Mbps throughout the county. Windstream DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Palo Alto County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- The fastest internet provider should be Windstream. 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 Palo Alto County is T-Mobile Home Internet.
- Viasat, T-Mobile Home Internet, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Palo Alto County, available to 84.5% 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.