14 Best Internet Providers in Waterloo, IA
Find internet availability by address in Waterloo, IA
Jump to: Best Internet Provider | Availability Maps | Customer Reviews | Waterloo ISP Report Card | Business Internet in Waterloo
| Waterloo ISP Report Card | A | |
| Download Speed for Most Households | 7,727 Mbps | |
| Number of Internet Service Providers | 14 | |
| Real Waterloo Customer Ratings | 4 |
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from September 03, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of December 31, 2025.
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from September 03, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of December 31, 2025.
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.
Waterloo overview
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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.
Compare 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
Above are the top 4 providers in Waterloo, IA for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your city.
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?
MetroNet is the highest-rated internet provider in Waterloo based on 46 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.
The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in Waterloo, Iowa, and customers throughout the country.
Top Rated Internet Providers in Waterloo
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Waterloo Internet Providers
| ISP / Tech Type | Waterloo Overall | Iowa Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetroNet | (1) | (4) | (75) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (2) | (21) | (90) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (782) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (322) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (0) | (10) | (179) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (24) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (50) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1006) | 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 |
Based on 46 reviews from Iowa internet customers, MetroNet is the best internet service provider for Waterloo residents. MetroNet was rated at an average of 4.25 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in Iowa, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 73.8% coverage in Waterloo.
At a national level, based on 2557 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.04 out of 5.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Waterloo?
a different provider.
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

Speeds and coverage vary within the city, and sometimes even from block to block. The map shows speeds per provider and where each provider is available.
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Waterloo?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers in the city, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by MetroNet. 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
| ISP / Tech Type | Max Advertised Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Fiber | 10,000 Mbps | ||
| MetroNet | 5,120 Mbps | ||
| Mediacom | 2,000 Mbps | ||
| Heartland Technology | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Quantum Fiber | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Nextlink | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Centurylink | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Alpine Communications | 500 Mbps | ||
| Verizon | 300 Mbps | ||
| GigFire | 150 Mbps | ||
| AT&T | 100 Mbps | ||
| EarthLink | 100 Mbps | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 Mbps | ||
| Viasat | 100 Mbps | ||
| Rise Broadband | 50 Mbps | ||
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Waterloo
| ISP / Tech Type | Waterloo Speed | Iowa Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetroNet | (1) | (4) | (75) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (2) | (21) | (90) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (782) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (322) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (0) | (10) | (179) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (24) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (50) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1006) | 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 |
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 in the city rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with MetroNet. This indicates MetroNet reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Waterloo?
Iowa customers rate AT&T 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.
AT&T received a local rating of 3.00 out of 5, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. Centurylink is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Waterloo customers with an average price rating of 2.80 out of 5.
The chart and graph below show 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetroNet | (1) | (4) | (75) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (2) | (21) | (90) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (5) | (322) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (4) | (782) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (0) | (10) | (179) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (19) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (24) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (50) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (1006) | 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 |
Waterloo 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 Waterloo below, including the metrics used and how Waterloo compares to the rest of Iowa and nation.
| Metric
(hover for details)
|
Waterloo | Iowa | USA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Waterloo that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home. | 98.37% | 84.32% | 71.53% | ||
| 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. | 7,727 Mbps | 3,256 Mbps | 3,583 Mbps | ||
| Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for Waterloo. | 9.1 | 6.8 | 7.1 |
| 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. | 8% | 12% | 15% | ||
| Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households. | 94% | 95% | 96% | ||
| Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives. | 88% | 89% | 91% | ||
| Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households. | 68% | 72% | 76% | ||
| 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. | 68% | 73% | 77% |
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Waterloo ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index
The ISP Report Card in Waterloo is A, which is comparable to other cities. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Waterloo is high with a score of 44 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Waterloo have done a average job meeting the needs of its residents.
The Waterloo 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.
88% of Waterloo households have an internet connection despite having 99.86% availability. 68% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 5% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 3% 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 68% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 68% subscribe to it. A moderate amount of Waterloo 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 Waterloo?
- ISP Report Card: A
- Digital Connectivity Index: 38 / 100
- ISP Report Card: A
- Digital Connectivity Index: 58 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 55 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 55 / 100
- ISP Report Card: A-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 74 / 100
- ISP Report Card: A
- Digital Connectivity Index: 71 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 76 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 42 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 57 / 100
How Much Speed does a Waterloo Household Need?
Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Waterloo is 2.3, which is smaller than the Iowa average of 2.4 and smaller than the national average of 2.7. Waterloo’s average household income is $61,577 which is lower than the Iowa average of $82,468 and lower than the national average of $93,246. Homes with fewer people living in them and with lower incomes tend to indicate fewer devices being used less often.
Waterloo also has 13% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is lower than the Iowa average of 16%. Additionally, 8% of residents work from home, which is lower than the 12% of residents in Iowa who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Waterloo has an average need for internet connectivity and speeds.
Compared to the rest of the country, Waterloo households are about average when it comes to technological engagement. 94% of households have some sort of computing device, 73% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 91% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
MetroNet Fiber in Waterloo, IA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Cable Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
Mediacom Cable in Waterloo, IA
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
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.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Waterloo?
Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless in Waterloo, IA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 MetroNet.
- The fastest internet provider should be Waterloo Fiber. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, MetroNet 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, 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 Waterloo compare to other cities with a similar population?
To see how Waterloo 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 Waterloo’s A ISP Report Card and 44 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 47 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 75 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 83 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 27 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 22 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 36 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 69 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 26 / 100
- ISP Report Card: D+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 35 / 100
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Waterloo
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Diane
Comelec Internet Services
September 01, 2026 Great so far. Brian Evans did a great job. Give him a 5
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