Mobile Coverage & Cell Phone Plans in Des Moines, IA

In the Des Moines area, you’ll select from 4 mobile wireless carriers listed below. 100.0% of the Des Moines area’s land area is covered by some kind of wireless service, as are 100.00% of Des Moines’s 634,202 residents. 5G reception covers up to 98.15% of people while they are sitting at home. Note that we may have a financial relationship with some of the Des Moines providers below. This does not influence what data we show, and helps us provide high-quality, detailed information for free.

 

Des Moines, IA Top Cell Providers

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   Des Moines, IA Cell Plans
   

Coverage percentages on this page are based on the percent of the Des Moines area homes that would be covered by cellular service of any kind, unless specified as Des Moines land area.

 

Fastest Cell Service Down to the Des Moines Neighborhood

The map below shows where Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile are faster in Des Moines, IA. Areas with no clear winner are shown as ties.
Overall, the Des Moines area ranks #679 out of 2378 cities for the fastest mobile internet network speeds in Iowa.

Best Des Moines Cell Provider Key

 

The northwestern parts of the city feature better overall coverage for faster data. The opposite is true in the northern areas of the Des Moines area where mobile data speeds are generally slower.

 

Best Coverage & Data Speeds in Des Moines, IA: T-Mobile

Among the largest cell phone companies in the United States, T-Mobile has the best speed and coverage in the Des Moines area. T-Mobile has 5G that covers 97.68% of the city. Cell service of any type reaches 100.00% of Des Moines homes.

 

Cheap Options for Mobile Service in Des Moines, IA

If the price of a Des Moines mobile plan is a major concern for you, cheaper mobile plans are available as well. There are several options available in the Des Moines area including pre-paid, no-contract plans that start as low as $15 per line. Many of these providers such as Mint, Boost, and Cricket partner with the three major carriers to provide excellent coverage nationwide. With these discount options, the price of your Des Moines wireless plan will quickly rise if you add additional lines or features such as a hotspot or unlimited data.

These providers all offer excellent coverage at a lower price compared to more well-known brands. Mint is generally regarded as the most affordable provider for unlimited data, with a high "throttle cap" of 35GB. Depending on where you live, you may prefer the AT&T network coverage offered by Cricket. Boost is a good option for international travelers.

Local Mobile Providers in Des Moines, IA

The companies below provide service to areas smaller than the entire United States. For example, they may have a cell tower in the Des Moines area, and then partner with larger national companies to provide national service for traveling customers. We display network partners to the best of our ability but cannot guarantee coverage or charges outside of the Des Moines area and the providers’ coverage areas.

 

Des Moines, IA Mobile Network Coverage Maps | Voice, 4G & 5G

Des Moines Fastest Speeds Key

Your mobile coverage in the Des Moines area may vary based on your provider and location. The map above shows the fastest mobile data speeds in and around the city. To see coverage for an individual provider, click the provider's availability maps above.

There are several types of mobile coverage to consider when evaluating a carrier’s geographic reliability. 5G is the fastest mobile data connection in the Des Moines area covering 98.15% of homes in the area while 4G covers 100.00% of the city. Overall, 100.00% of homes (634,363 people) and 100.0% of the land (2,882.3 square miles) are covered by some form of cell technology.

 

5G Coverage Map and Availability in Des Moines

Des Moines 5G Coverage Key

5G is currently the most advanced network available with speeds several times faster than 4G. 5G networks in the Des Moines area cover 98.15% of homes with 5G voice and data. In total 85.22% or 2,456.3 square miles of the Des Moines area are covered by 5G. The best 5G coverage in Des Moines comes from T-Mobile with 97.68% coverage.

 

4G Coverage Map and Availability in Des Moines

Des Moines 4G Coverage Key

4G/LTE networks have become one of the nation’s most common mobile coverage types for data, and in some locations, voice calls. In the Des Moines area, 100.00% of the area is covered by 4G data, and 100.00% is covered by 4G HD voice service. Verizon Wireless has the best 4G network in the Des Moines area with 100.00% coverage.

Mobile Service Near Des Moines

If you live near Des Moines but aren’t technically in the city, or you like to explore the region a lot, your coverage availability and speeds may vary.

Enter your zip code here to find more precise mobile numbers on your exact location. Here are our mobile and cell phone guides for several popular locations in and around the Des Moines area: