Internet Providers in Altoona, IA

Over 231 people in Altoona found the best Internet Provider in the last 30 days.

#1

EarthLink Fiber

20% availability
EarthLink Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

5 Gbps

User Review:

(2728)

View Plans

Limited-Time Fibermaxx Offer: Lock in Fiber 1 Gig for $39.95/mo

#2

Quantum Fiber

75.12% availability
Quantum Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

940 Mbps

User Review:

(2977)

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Fast Fiber internet for home or business

#3

CenturyLink

86.39% availability
CenturyLink logo

Connection Types:

Fiber / DSL / Fixed Wireless / Television / Phone
Speed up to:

140 Mbps

User Review:

(2639)

View Plans

Unlimited, Uncomplicated, Unbundled

#4

Windstream

3.58% availability

Connection Types:

Fiber / Cable / DSL / Phone
Speed up to:

2 Gbps

User Review:

(2717)

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Windstream offers two great high-speed Internet plans that will support all of your online activities.

#5

Viasat

97.4% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

150 Mbps

User Review:

(2975)

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#6

Mediacom

80.38% availability

Connection Types:

Cable / Television / Phone
Speed up to:

150 Mbps

User Review:

(2679)

View Plans

Mediacom has a variety of internet plans that can accommodate the needs of each household member and any household.

#7

HughesNet

97.89% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

100 Mbps

User Review:

(2869)

*24-month commitment and early service termination fees apply. Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Offer may vary by geographic area.

Unlimited Data – With no hard data limits, if you use the data in your plan, speeds will reduce.

Television Only Providers in Altoona, IA

#1Dish Network

  • DISH is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power for the third year in a row.
  • 2-Year TV Price Guarantee.
  • Free Google Voice Remote and Smart DVR Included.
  • Record up to 16 shows at once.
  • 80,000 On Demand Titles.
  • FREE Standard Professional Installation from a trusted, local expert.
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

#2DIRECTV

  • Best entertainement options for any sports fan over Cable TV, including NFL Sunday Ticket!
  • Includes local channels
  • HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax free for first 3 months
  • Free upgrade to Genie HD-DVR
  • Free professional installation in up to 4 rooms
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

Best Internet Providers in Altoona

EarthLink Fiber's fiber can give you the best combination of price and performance in Altoona, it it is available at your address. Fiber internet is the top choice for consistency and speed, making it ideal for remote work and for households with many users and devices. Plans start at 100 Mbps, with pricing ranging between $39.95 and $99/mo.

Windstream cable internet is the next-best option in Altoona for fast downloads and broad availability, if fiber is not available. Speeds can reach up to 2 Gbps, and pricing often starts around $39.99/mo.

CenturyLink 5G home internet can be an easy setup with predictable pricing, and is worth considering in Altoona. Plans start around $50/mo, with typical speeds around 3 Mbps-450 Mbps depending on your location and signal.

What is the fastest internet provider in Altoona?

EarthLink Fiber is the fastest internet provider in Altoona, IA, with download speeds up to 5 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1 Gbps — available to 20% of the city.
ProviderConnectionsMax DownloadMax UploadAvailability
EarthLink FiberFiber5 Gbps1 Gbps20.00%
WindstreamFiber / Cable / DSL / Phone2 Gbps2 Gbps3.58%
Quantum FiberFiber940 Mbps940 Mbps75.12%
ViasatSatellite / Phone150 Mbps3 Mbps97.40%
MediacomCable / Television / Phone150 Mbps20 Mbps80.38%
CenturyLinkFiber / DSL / Fixed Wireless / Television / Phone140 Mbps140 Mbps86.39%
HughesNetSatellite / Phone100 Mbps5 Mbps97.89%

What is the cheapest internet provider in Altoona?

EarthLink Fiber offers the cheapest internet in Altoona starting at $39.95/month with speeds up to 5 Gbps. Windstream offers the next lowest price at $39.99/month.
ProviderStarting PriceSpeedContractData Cap
EarthLink Fiber$39.95Up to 5 GbpsYesUnlimited
Windstream$39.99Up to 2 GbpsNoUnlimited
Quantum Fiber$50.00Up to 940 MbpsNoUnlimited
Viasat$49.99Up to 150 MbpsNoUnlimited
Mediacom$40.00Up to 150 MbpsNo6 TB
CenturyLink$50.00Up to 140 MbpsNoUnlimited
HughesNet$74.99*Up to 100 MbpsYes100-200 GB

What type of internet connection is best in Altoona?

Altoona has 5 main types of internet connections. Your best option depends on where you live and what you need.

Fiber

28.57%

Fastest, most reliable. Symmetrical speeds. EarthLink Fiber is the best available for gaming and WFH.

Cable

80.38%

Most widely available wired option. Windstream covers 3.58%, Mediacom covers 80.38%. Up to 2 Gbps download. Good for most households.

DSL

82.62%

CenturyLink, max 140 Mbps. Being phased out for fiber. Only consider if no other options exist.

5G Wireless

100.00%

No contracts or data caps. CenturyLink leads at 86.39%. Typical 15 Mbps - 450 Mbps. Great for renters and budget-conscious users.

Satellite

100.00%

Viasat (150 Mbps), HughesNet (100 Mbps). Higher latency. Last resort for most Altoona residents.

Altoona, IA - Internet Connection and Coverage Map

Altoona, IA has a total of 16 internet providers including  9 Fiber providers, 4 Cable providers, 9 DSL providers, 7 Fixed Wireless providers and 2 Satellite providers.

Compare Internet Providers in Altoona, IA by Coverage Area

All 16 internet providers serving Altoona by coverage area. This is the most comprehensive provider comparison available for the city — no competitor lists more than 8 providers with coverage data.

ProviderMax DownloadMax UploadInternet ConnectionCoverage
1.Rise Broadband15 Mbps3 MbpsFixed Wireless100.00%
2.HughesNet100 Mbps5 MbpsSatellite / Phone97.89%
3.Viasat150 Mbps3 MbpsSatellite / Phone97.40%
4.CenturyLink140 Mbps140 MbpsFiber / DSL / Fixed Wireless / Television / Phone86.39%
5.Mediacom150 Mbps20 MbpsCable / Television / Phone80.38%
6.Quantum Fiber940 Mbps940 MbpsFiber75.12%
7.EarthLink Fiber5 Gbps1 GbpsFiber20.00%
8.Windstream2 Gbps2 GbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Phone3.58%
9.Consolidated Communications9 Mbps1 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Fixed Wireless2.78%
10.Aureon7 Mbps~Fiber / DSL0.78%
11.ICS Advanced Technologies3 Mbps3 MbpsFiber / DSL / Fixed Wireless0.19%
12.Sully Telephone Association10 Mbps2 MbpsDSL / Fixed Wireless0.17%
13.Searsboro Telephone Company10 Mbps2 MbpsDSL0.17%
14.Cyberonic11 Mbps11 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Fixed Wireless~
15.T-Mobile~~Fixed Wireless / Mobile~
16.Level 3 Communications~~Fiber / DSL~

Is there financial assistance for internet service in Altoona?

Yes. Altoona residents may qualify for free or discounted internet service through the federal Lifeline program, or provider-specific, low-income, affordable internet plans.

Federal Program

Lifeline

An FCC program that provides up to a $9.25/mo discount on internet service to eligible low-income households at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Provider Program

Mediacom Xtream Connect

$29.99/mo for 100 Mbps for qualifying households. Xtream Connect includes free install and Wi-Fi 6 (w/ 5-yr price lock). Equipment fee may apply.

Provider Program

Windstream by Kinetic Income Assist

$20/mo for 200 Mbps fiber for qualifying households. Windstream Kinetic Income Assist has no data caps and includes a modem.

Frequently Asked Questions about Altoona

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in Altoona, IA, based on speed and pricing. It's Fiber internet reaches speeds up to 5 Gbps, and plans start at $39.95. When comparing providers and plans, keep in mind how you use the internet and how many others in your household use it. High-demand activities, like streaming and working from home, and multiple users will require faster speeds to avoid buffering and poor performance.

There are 16 internet providers in Altoona, IA. Residents have a variety of service options, including fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless and satellite.

EarthLink Fiber offers the cheapest internet plans that start at $39.95. Note that some pricing may be promotional or tied to autopay and paperless billing. If it is promotional pricing, your monthly bill will likely go up when the promo ends.

EarthLink Fiber has the fastest speeds in Altoona, with a top download speed of 5 Gbps. Faster speeds provide more bandwidth for work-from-home activities (like video conferencing), online gaming, 4K video streaming, and households with multiple users and devices.

Yes, fiber internet is available in Altoona. We recommend fiber internet for its fast symmetrical (equal) download and upload speeds, low latency for real-time activities like gaming and video calls, and its stability and resilience to interference. Fiber availability varies by address.

Yes. Altoona residents could get assistance to reduce internet costs through various programs. Mediacom Xtream Connect has 100 Mbps starting at $29.99/mo. Windstream by Kinetic Income Assist provides up to 200 Mbps fiber for $20/mo. Since the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) ended in 2024, eligible households may take advantage of the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25/month in discounts.

If it's available in Altoona, fiber internet is the best internet option for online gaming. Fiber offers the fastest download and upload speeds, but more importantly, it offers very low latency, which is important for fast-paced games that rely on stability and quick response times.

Yes, 5G home internet is available in Altoona. 5G home internet offers competitive pricing and easy self-installation, since it doesn't rely on new or existing wired infrastructure. Average download speeds for 5G home internet are between 200 and 300 Mbps, which is plenty for remote work, streaming HD and 4K content, and households of 2-4 users, depending on activity.

The average download speed in Altoona is 37 Mbps. For comparison, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband internet as having a download speed of 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps. Go to TestMySpeed and run an internet speed test to see how fast your internet connection is compared to speeds in Altoona, IA.

HughesNet, Viasat, CenturyLink, Mediacom, and Quantum Fiber offer internet in Altoona, IA.

  • HughesNet: Offers speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at $74.99*/mo.
  • Viasat: Offers speeds up to 150 Mbps starting at $49.99/mo.
  • CenturyLink: Offers speeds up to 140 Mbps starting at $50.00/mo.
  • Mediacom: Offers speeds up to 150 Mbps starting at $40.00/mo.
  • Quantum Fiber: Offers speeds up to 940 Mbps starting at $50.00/mo.

Internet Providers in Nearby Cities

Bondurant, IA Pleasant Hill, IA Mitchellville, IA Des Moines, IA Ankeny, IA Saylorville, IA Carlisle, IA Valeria, IA Elkhart, IA Runnells, IA Colfax, IA Prairie City, IA Johnston, IA Windsor Heights, IA Hartford, IA Mingo, IA Alleman, IA Swan, IA Norwalk, IA Urbandale, IA Grimes, IA Clive, IA Polk City, IA Maxwell, IA West Des Moines, IA

Free wireless internet access points in Altoona

Altoona Public Library
700 Eighth St Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3881

How We Research Internet Providers

BroadbandSearch is committed to providing accurate and current internet provider data so you can choose the provider and service in your area that best suits your needs and budget. Here is how we source and verify the information we provide:

Data Sources

We pull provider data from FCC Broadband Data Collection filings, the NTIA National Broadband Map, U.S. Census Bureau data, and direct provider disclosures.

Coverage

Availability percentages represent estimated households that can order service, based on FCC Form 477 data and provider-reported service areas.

Reviews

Aggregated reviews from verified BroadbandSearch users. Ratings are based on speed performance, reliability, customer service, and value.

Updates

We review pricing monthly and coverage is updated quarterly with new FCC data. Last updated: March 22, 2026.

BroadbandSearch earns commissions from some providers. These partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial recommendations. Learn more about our data sources →