Best Internet Providers in Waterloo, IA
All 14 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Waterloo, IA
Waterloo has 14 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 city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Waterloo.
Ranks compare Waterloo with the 749 US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people), the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Waterloo, IA at a Glance
Waterloo 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
Waterloo Fiber
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
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 Waterloo ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Waterloo, IA?
AT&T is the highest-rated internet provider in Waterloo based on 48 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 1-877-610-1219
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Waterloo?
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 Waterloo
- Waterloo Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Metronet - fiber coverage map
- Mediacom - cable coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Mediacom - fiber coverage map
- GigFire - fixed wireless coverage map
- Nextlink - fixed wireless coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- CenturyLink - dsl coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Rise Broadband - fixed wireless coverage map
- Quantum Fiber - fiber coverage map
- Alpine Communications - fiber coverage map
- Heartland Technology - fiber coverage map
- CenturyLink - fiber coverage map
How Waterloo Compares to Places Its Size
Waterloo's report card score is tied 6th of 749 and its connectivity index is tied 720th of 749.
| Measure | Waterloo | Rank among US small cities (50,000 to 99,999 people) | Black Hawk County | Iowa | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 98.4% | Tied 52nd of 749 | 95.1% | 84.3% | 71.5% | Aloha, OR and Shawnee, KS (100.0%) |
| Average top speed | 7,727 Mbps | 29th of 749 | 7,750 Mbps | 3,256 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Layton, UT (9,808 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 9.1 | Tied 85th of 749 | 8.5 | 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 | 8% | Tied 646th of 749 | 9% | 12% | 15% | Danville, CA and Potomac, MD and 2 more (39%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 94% | Tied 625th of 749 | 96% | 95% | 96% | Atascocita, TX and Eastvale, CA and 8 more (100%) |
| Homes with internet | 88% | Tied 646th of 749 | 90% | 89% | 91% | Centreville, VA and Danville, CA and 2 more (99%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 68% | Tied 697th of 749 | 75% | 72% | 76% | Flower Mound, TX and Johns Creek, GA and 1 more (93%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 70% | Tied 686th of 749 | 76% | 78% | 81% | Sammamish, WA (99%) |
| Median household income | $61,577 | 688th of 749 | $73,279 | $82,468 | $93,246 | Potomac, MD ($227,882) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 13% | Tied 624th of 749 | 18% | 16% | 16% | East Lansing, MI (58%) |
Fiber reaches 98.4% of homes in Waterloo, against 95.1% across Black Hawk County and 84.3% across Iowa. Households in Waterloo are smaller than the US average (2.3 people against 2.7); 8% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $61,577 (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 Waterloo
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
Metronet Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
91.4%
Customer Rating:
(74)
Avg. Download Speed
5,120 Mbps
Metronet offers Fiber service to 91.4% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Metronet Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,120 Mbps
Waterloo Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
57.3%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
10,000 Mbps
Waterloo Fiber offers Fiber service to 57.3% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Waterloo Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 10,000 Mbps
Mediacom Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
20.9%
Customer Rating:
(7)
Avg. Download Speed
1,047 Mbps
Mediacom offers Fiber service to 20.9% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Mediacom Fiber has speeds up to 1,047 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 94 Mbps throughout the city. Mediacom Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Waterloo from Mediacom in terms of customer satisfaction.
Alpine Communications Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
2.9%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
500 Mbps
Alpine Communications offers Fiber service to 2.9% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Alpine Communications Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 500 Mbps
Quantum Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
2.0%
Customer Rating:
(52)
Avg. Download Speed
947 Mbps
Quantum Fiber offers Fiber service to 2.0% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Quantum Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 947 Mbps, with speeds from 940 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Quantum Fiber.
Heartland Technology Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
1.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Heartland Technology offers Fiber service to 1.4% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Heartland Technology Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
CenturyLink Fiber in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
1.3%
Customer Rating:
(62)
Avg. Download Speed
832 Mbps
CenturyLink offers Fiber service to 1.3% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, CenturyLink Fiber has speeds up to 832 Mbps, with speeds from 200 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 200 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 805 Mbps throughout the city. CenturyLink Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Waterloo from CenturyLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
93.3%
Customer Rating:
(15)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Rise Broadband offers Fixed Wireless service to 93.3% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 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 5.1 Mbps throughout the city.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
88.0%
Customer Rating:
(341)
Avg. Download Speed
72 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 88.0% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 72 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 14 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
86.9%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
253 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 86.9% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 253 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 Waterloo, IA
Availability:
73.8%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.8% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 34 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 5.1 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
73.8%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
34 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 73.8% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 34 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 5.1 Mbps throughout the city.
GigFire Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
68.5%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
133 Mbps
GigFire offers Fixed Wireless service to 68.5% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, GigFire Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 133 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 93 Mbps throughout the city.
Nextlink Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
51.5%
Customer Rating:
(14)
Avg. Download Speed
143 Mbps
Nextlink offers Fixed Wireless service to 51.5% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Nextlink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 143 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 66 Mbps throughout the city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
Mediacom Cable in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
97.8%
Customer Rating:
(82)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Mediacom offers Cable service to 97.8% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, Mediacom Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
CenturyLink DSL in Waterloo, IA
Availability:
94.4%
Customer Rating:
(120)
Avg. Download Speed
48 Mbps
CenturyLink offers DSL service to 94.4% of Waterloo homes. Across the city, CenturyLink DSL has speeds up to 48 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 5.5 Mbps throughout the city. CenturyLink DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Waterloo from CenturyLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Internet in Waterloo by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 95.6% of homes in 50703 to 99.1% in 50701. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Waterloo
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Waterloo
How Waterloo Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Waterloo that have their own pages are all within 9 miles. Among them, North Cedar has the most homes with fiber (100.0%) and Hudson the fewest (11.9%); Waterloo has 98.4%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo (this page) | 67,349 | 98.4% | 7,727 Mbps | 9.1 | A | 44/100 |
| Cedar Falls | 41,713 | 94.8% | 9,966 Mbps | 8.2 | A- | 74/100 |
| Evansdale | 6,807 | 97.9% | 6,194 Mbps | 9.2 | A | 38/100 |
| Hudson | 2,901 | 11.9% | 1,259 Mbps | 9 | C+ | 76/100 |
| Elk Run Heights | 1,228 | 100.0% | 5,120 Mbps | 8.8 | A | 58/100 |
| North Cedar | 1,208 | 100.0% | 10,000 Mbps | 7.1 | A | 73/100 |
| Gilbertville | 1,094 | 99.3% | 1,098 Mbps | 6.3 | B | 57/100 |
| Raymond | 985 | 99.7% | 4,320 Mbps | 7.5 | A | 71/100 |
| Dewar | 351 | 100.0% | 1,766 Mbps | 6.7 | B+ | 42/100 |
| Orange | 324 | 93.5% | 3,972 Mbps | 6.9 | B+ | 55/100 |
| Raymar | 84 | 69.0% | 3,628 Mbps | 7.8 | B | 55/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Waterloo?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by AT&T. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Waterloo Fiber 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 Waterloo
| Waterloo Fiber | 10,000 |
|---|---|
| Metronet | 5,120 |
| Mediacom | 2,000 |
| CenturyLink | 1,000 |
| Nextlink | 1,000 |
| Quantum Fiber | 1,000 |
| Heartland Technology | 1,000 |
| Alpine Communications | 500 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| GigFire | 150 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 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 Waterloo. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Waterloo Internet Providers
Based on 48 reviews from Iowa internet customers, AT&T is the best internet service provider for Waterloo residents. AT&T was rated at an average of 4.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. CenturyLink wins for second-place in Iowa, with 2.60 out of 5 stars and 94.5% coverage in Waterloo.
At a national level, based on 2665 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 Waterloo Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Waterloo, Iowa, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Waterloo Overall | Iowa Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet | (1) |  (5) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (0) |  (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (2) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (52) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Alpine Communications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Heartland Technology | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Waterloo Fiber | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Waterloo
Based on data reported by Waterloo ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Waterloo Fiber. The company offers speeds up to 10,000 Mbps in Waterloo. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 10,000 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 AT&T. This indicates AT&T reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Waterloo Speed | Iowa Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronet | (1) |  (5) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (0) | (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) |  (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (2) | (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 | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Alpine Communications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Heartland Technology | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Waterloo Fiber | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Waterloo?
Of the providers in Waterloo, customers rate AT&T the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Waterloo 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.
AT&T is rated 3.00 out of 5 for price, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. CenturyLink is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 2.80 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Waterloo, Iowa, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Waterloo
| ISP / Tech Type | Waterloo Affordability | Iowa Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| CenturyLink | (0) | (10) | (183) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (341) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Metronet | (1) | (5) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (2) | (22) | (93) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (52) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Alpine Communications | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Heartland Technology | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Waterloo Fiber | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Iowa
Customer Reviews
An Iowa Customer
Metronet Fiber
February 04, 2026 I originally had a few hiccups with Metronet when we changed over. After services were installed, we were told someone would be over within two weeks to bury the line. That didn't happen and after contacting customer support, we were told it wouldn't be until later in the year because the ground was frozen. While the line was exposed, it was cut or tampered with twice which left me without service overnight. The techs came to bury the line and left even after being told the services were not back on. Someone had to come back out the next day, unbury the line to reinstate services. I then waited a couple weeks again for someone else to come out and bury the line. Since then, I haven't had any issues. I do think I experience slower speeds every once in a while with buffering while streaming shows, but all in the all, I'm ok with the service. I would prefer the price to be a little cheaper, but it's reasonable and comparable to other companies.
EN
Mediacom Cable
April 28, 2023 My internet service provider has always been and I think always will be terrible so long as they exist. They frequently cut out connection, have terrible pricing to speed, and the customer service boils down to resetting the modem which never works. And the reason for all of this I think is because they largely hold a monopoly in the area I live in and other ISP's aren't competition for them. So by holding that monopoly they have no incentive to improve because they're already making money off of us.
An Iowa Customer
Mediacom Cable
March 16, 2023 Sadly, living in the middle of the state leaves us open to dropping of our internet quite a bit during the spring time. There have been numerous days we've gone without internet, especially during the derecho of 2020.
An Iowa Customer
US Cellular Fixed Wireless
March 09, 2023 It is really the only option for a wireless provider in my area that works well outside of the city, so I don't have much to compare it to. I have an unlimited data plan and a limited amount of hotspot data that I can connect my laptop to. Overall, I am fairly satisfied with it, but it is expensive. It is less expensive than having a separate internet plan though, so I am sticking with it for now. I am hopeful that other providers will improve their networks around me, so that I can have more of a choice.
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.
Rate your provider
Share your experience to help others in your area choose.
Verified customer: we detected your connection is on this provider.
Reviews are independent and unedited. Published after a quick spam check.
Which ISP Should You Choose in Waterloo?
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 Waterloo is AT&T.
- The fastest internet provider should be Waterloo Fiber. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, AT&T may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Waterloo is AT&T.
- Viasat, Mediacom, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Waterloo, available to 98.8% 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.