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Internet providers in Ames, IA
Shop the best Ames internet providers. Compare internet plan pricing and speeds from cable, DSL and fiber-optic providers in your area.
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Ames, IA internet providers
| Provider | ||||
CenturyLink  | $65.00 | 20 - 1,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 9.970% |
| CenturyLink | $45.00 | 20 - 100 Mbps | DSL | 80% |
| Windstream | $19.99 | 15 - 100 Mbps | DSL | 2.704% |
| Windstream | $75.00 | 15 - 100 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 0.385% |
| Mediacom | $29.99 | 60 - 1,000 Mbps | Cable | 99% |
| ICS Advanced Technologies | - | - | Wired | 31% |
| ICS Advanced Technologies | - | - | DSL | 19% |
| Minerva Valley Telephone Company | $55.00 | 5 - 10 Mbps | DSL | 2.319% |
| Woolstock Mutual Telephone Association | $45.00 | 10 - 8 Mbps | DSL | 1.369% |
| ICS Advanced Technologies | - | - | Fiber-optic | 1.222% |
| HughesNet | $59.99 | 25 - 25 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| Viasat | $50.00 | 12 - 12 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| Skybeam | - | - | Wireless | 98% |
| Breeze Broadband Communications | - | - | Wireless | 44% |
| ICS Advanced Technologies | - | - | Wireless | 12% |
| Woolstock Mutual Telephone Association | $45.00 | 10 - 8 Mbps | Wireless | 1.369% |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of Oct 13, 2021.
Need help?Ames internet service at a glance
Broadband availability
59037
people have access to broadband internet of any type
1 provider - 99.32%
2 providers - 96.12%
3 providers - 29.02%
4+ providers - 1.78%
Source: FCC
At 99%, broadband coverage in Ames is comparable to the rest of Iowa - 96%, and comparable to broadband coverage across the U.S. - 95%.
The vast majority of those living in the Ames area will have access to cable, which covers 99% of Ames residents. DSL internet is also an option for many, offering service to 96% of the area. Fiber-optic is less available but still a popular internet option for roughly 12% of those living in Ames.
There are 10 internet providers serving the Ames area, and 96.12% of households will have internet options from more than one provider. Among Ames's 10 internet providers, prices start at $19.99 and available download speeds reach up to 1,000 Mbps.
Top high-speed internet providers in Ames
The largest internet providers in Ames are CenturyLink, Mediacom, and HughesNet bringing DSL, cable, and satellite options to Ames.
DSL internet from CenturyLink is available to most Ames residents, covering 80% of households. Many will also have the option of cable from Mediacom, which covers 99% of the area. Ames’s third most-available internet provider, HughesNet, offers satellite to around 100% of Ames residents.
CenturyLink DSL internet
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*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of Oct 13, 2021.
DSL from CenturyLink offers broadband to nearly all households in Ames covering 80% of the area.
DSL internet from CenturyLink uses telephone lines in Ames to deliver service, which often leads to lower prices and higher availability, though download speeds are likely to be slower than cable or fiber-optic internet.
Internet prices for CenturyLink start at $45/mo.*, which is about the same as the average starting price for internet in Ames, $43.57.
CenturyLink customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 20 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $2.25 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Ames, $1.61.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, CenturyLink offers download speeds up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds up to 40 Mbps in Ames. These download speeds are available to 80% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all Ames's providers, 338 Mbps.
Mediacom cable internet
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*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of Oct 13, 2021.
Cable from Mediacom offers broadband to all households in Ames covering 99% of the area.
Mediacom’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but Ames residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Mediacom start at $29.99/mo.*, which is significantly lower than the average starting price for internet in Ames, $43.57.
Mediacom customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 60 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.50 per Mbps, lower than the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Ames, $1.61.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Mediacom offers download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds up to 50 Mbps in Ames. These download speeds are available to 99% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Ames's providers, 338 Mbps.
HughesNet satellite internet
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*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of Oct 13, 2021.
Satellite from HughesNet offers broadband to all households in Ames covering 100% of the area.
HughesNet satellite internet offers reliable connection in areas of Ames where other internet types may not be available, but service is likely to come with low monthly data allowances and high latency, making streaming binges and real-time online gaming impractical.
Internet prices for HughesNet start at $59.99/mo.*, which is significantly higher than the average starting price for internet in Ames, $43.57.
HughesNet customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 25 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $2.40 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Ames, $1.61.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, HughesNet offers download speeds up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds up to 3 Mbps in Ames. These download speeds are available to 100% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all Ames's providers, 338 Mbps.
Internet provider frequently asked questions
What’s the fastest internet provider in Ames?
CenturyLink is the fastest internet provider in Ames with download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. These speeds are available to 9.970% of households in Ames. The next fastest internet provider in Ames is Mediacom, offering download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps to 99% of the area.
What’s the cheapest internet provider in Ames?
Windstream offers the cheapest internet in Ames with plans starting at $19.99/mo. This is significantly less than the average starting price for internet in Ames, $43.57.
Is fiber internet available in Ames?
CenturyLink is the largest fiber-optic internet service provider in Ames, covering 9.970% of the city. ICS Advanced Technologies also offers fiber internet in Ames and is available to 1.222% of households.
Why aren’t there more internet options?
According to the FCC, 93% of households have access to three or more providers. In many areas, a cable, DSL, satellite and possibly fiber-optic provider may be available. You are unlikely, however, to find multiple providers of the same internet type, such as two cable providers, in the same location because operating expenses in an area already served by another provider can be too high to be profitable.
What’s a good speed for gaming?
Speeds of 10 Mbps and higher are good for gaming, but what you really want to consider when choosing an internet service for gaming is latency, or ping. Latency is the measure of how long it takes for your device to communicate with the server and is the main contributor to lag. The higher the ping, the more likely you are to experience lagging. Shoot for an internet service with latency below 100 ms.
How much speed do I need for streaming?
Each video streaming service has varying recommended speeds, but speeds up to 10 Mbps will often handle streaming on one device. For HD and 4K streaming, consider faster speeds of at least 25 Mbps to reduce buffering and maintain optimal picture quality.
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