Best Internet Providers in Davenport, Iowa [CNET]

What is the best internet provider in Davenport?

When choosing fiber internet suppliers, we look at affordability and widespread availability. Metronet ticks both boxes. With some of the best fiber connectivity in the region, Metronet is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Davenport. The ISP offers plans starting at 100 megabits per second and reaching 1,000Mbps in eight out of 10 homes.

Service plans start at just $30 for 100Mbps, making Metronet one of Davenport’s most affordable high-speed internet options. Its 1,000Mbps plan ties other local ISPs for the fastest internet speeds in Davenport.

Quantum Fiber and local ISP Geneseo Communications also offer fiber internet in Davenport and are worth considering if they’re available at your address. Quantum Fiber’s coverage is limited in Davenport, although fellow Lumen Technologies brand CenturyLink offers DSL service throughout much of the area. Geneseo has greater availability, but pricing is a bit higher than Metronet for comparable speeds.

If your Davenport address isn’t serviceable for fiber internet, or you’re eager for alternatives, cable internet from Mediacom or fixed wireless internet may be available. Mediacom is known for its cheap internet and is ideal for bundling internet and TV. A few fixed wireless ISPs are available in Davenport, but T-Mobile Home Internet is the top choice when it comes to availability, speed and overall value.

Best internet in Davenport, Iowa

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Davenport

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Davenport depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Davenport internet providers, such as Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Others, including Metronet and Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Davenport, Iowa

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Davenport, Iowa, FAQs