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Midco Internet: $39 Fiber, a Real 3-Year Price Lock, and the Modem Fee the Headline Skips
Updated on September 15, 2026
Midco internet starts at $39 a month in September 2026 for symmetrical 125 Mbps fiber, runs $79 for 1 Gig and $99 for 2 Gig, and every home plan carries a 3-Year Price Lock with no contract. The advertised price assumes AutoPay from a bank account plus paperless billing; without them it is $10 higher, and the modem is a separate $9–$11 a month. Midco runs two networks across its five-state Upper Midwest footprint — symmetrical fiber where it has built it, and DOCSIS cable with 20–50 Mbps uploads where it has not — and the plan name tells you which one you are buying.
Last updated: 7 September 2026. Prices and fine print verified against midco.com and Allconnect (June 2026); refreshed monthly. Midco’s online shop shows pricing only after a residential street address is entered.
TL;DR — Midco internet in September 2026
- Fiber ladder (symmetrical): 125 Mbps $39 · 250 Mbps $59 · 500 Mbps $69 · 1 Gig $79 · 2 Gig $99 · 5 Gig (bring your own modem, priced by address).
- Cable ladder (asymmetrical): 250/20 Mbps $49 · 500/30 Mbps $59 · 1 Gig/50 Mbps $79.
- Price lock: 36 months on the internet charge, no contract, cancel anytime. Requires AutoPay + paperless; changing plans can void it.
- What is not in the price: modem $9/mo or Midco Wi-Fi gateway $11/mo (Wi-Fi 6, Plume-powered), extenders $2/mo, taxes and fees, $100 pro install or $15 self-install kit.
- Discounts: $10/mo for bank-account AutoPay + paperless, $5/mo with a card. Up to $300 contract buyout, 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Footprint: South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas — 400,000+ households, Sioux Falls headquarters.
What are the Midco internet plans and prices?
Midco internet is sold as two parallel ladders, and the word “Fiber” in the plan name is the only thing that separates them. Fiber tiers are symmetrical and run from 125 Mbps to 5 Gig; cable tiers top out at 1 Gig down with 50 Mbps up. Both ladders get the same 3-Year Price Lock, the same no-contract terms and the same equipment fees. Here is the September 2026 rate card with AutoPay and paperless billing applied.
| Plan | Network | Speed (down / up) | Price (AutoPay + paperless) | Price without AutoPay | Price lock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midco Fiber 125 | Fiber | 125 / 125 Mbps | $39/mo | $49/mo | 36 months |
| Midco 250 | Cable | 250 / 20 Mbps | $49/mo | $59/mo | 36 months |
| Midco Fiber 250 | Fiber | 250 / 250 Mbps | $59/mo | $69/mo | 36 months |
| Midco 500 | Cable | 500 / 30 Mbps | $59/mo | $69/mo | 36 months |
| Midco Fiber 500 | Fiber | 500 / 500 Mbps | $69/mo | $79/mo | 36 months |
| Midco 1 Gig | Cable | 1,000 / 50 Mbps | $79/mo | $89/mo | 36 months |
| Midco Fiber 1 Gig | Fiber | 1,000 / 1,000 Mbps | $79/mo | $89/mo | 36 months |
| Midco Fiber 2 Gig | Fiber | 2,000 / 2,000 Mbps | $99/mo | $109/mo | 36 months |
| Midco Fiber 5 Gig | Fiber | 5,000 / 5,000 Mbps | Quoted by address | — | 36 months |

Two rows deserve a second look. Midco 1 Gig cable and Midco Fiber 1 Gig cost the same $79, so at any address where both are offered the fiber plan is simply the better product — 1,000 Mbps upload against 50. And Midco Fiber 125 at $39 is the cheapest symmetrical fiber plan on this site outside Brightspeed’s $29.99 tier, with the difference that Midco’s price is locked for three years rather than one.
How does the Midco 3-Year Price Lock actually work?
Midco internet rolled the 3-Year Price Lock out to every home internet and mobile plan in January 2026, and the mechanics matter more than the headline. The lock freezes the monthly internet service charge for 36 months from activation. It does not freeze equipment rental, installation, TV, taxes or regulatory fees, all of which are billed separately and can move. It is not a contract: you can cancel at any time with no early-termination fee.
The catch is in the conditions. In most markets you must stay enrolled in AutoPay and paperless billing for the full term, and Midco says that removing either, changing your service plan, or adding services during the promotional period “may result in rate adjustments or loss of eligibility.” When the 36 months end, standard rates apply.
In practice that makes Midco’s lock stronger than a 12-month cable promo and roughly comparable to Verizon’s 3-year and T-Mobile’s 5-year fixed-wireless guarantees — with the important difference that Midco’s headline price excludes taxes and the $9–$11 modem, while the carriers’ prices include both.
What fees does Midco add to the advertised price?
| Line item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard modem lease | $9/mo | Required unless you supply a DOCSIS 3.1 modem; 5 Gig requires your own retail modem |
| Midco Wi-Fi gateway (Plume, Wi-Fi 6) | $11/mo | Includes app-managed mesh, cybersecurity and parental controls; pods sync for whole-home coverage |
| Wi-Fi extender pods | $2/mo each | Optional |
| Professional installation | $100 one-time | Varies by address and existing wiring |
| Self-installation kit | $15 one-time | Where the home is already wired |
| AutoPay + paperless discount | −$10/mo (bank) or −$5/mo (card) | Already reflected in the advertised price; lost if either is removed |
| Contract buyout credit | Up to $300 | Switching from a provider with a contract; 12 months of service required or it is charged back |
| Taxes and regulatory fees | Varies | Not included and not price-locked |
Add it up and the real monthly cost of Midco internet at the Fiber 1 Gig tier with Midco’s gateway is about $90 plus taxes for three years, or $79 plus taxes if you own a compatible modem. That is still competitive with cable gig plans that reset after 12 months, and cheaper than most fiber providers once their promo ends, but the $39 headline on Fiber 125 is closer to $50 by the time the gateway and taxes land on the bill.
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Is Midco fiber or cable at your address?
Midco internet — Midcontinent Communications, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — serves more than 400,000 households across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas. It began as a cable operator and has been converting its footprint to fiber-to-the-home for several years, so a Sioux Falls, Fargo, Bismarck or Grand Forks street may be lit for symmetrical 5 Gig while a nearby small town is still on DOCSIS cable at 1 Gig down and 50 up. Midco calls the whole network “Midco Fiber” in its marketing because its cable plant is fiber-fed, which is true but not the same thing as fiber to your house.
The plan names are the honest signal: “Midco Fiber 500” is symmetrical fiber; “Midco 500” is cable.
The Midco internet shop will not show a rate card until you enter a residential street address, and commercial or public-building addresses are routed to Midco Business. Enter your address in our internet comparison tool to see Midco alongside every other provider that serves your home, then confirm with Midco which of the two ladders your street is on before you compare prices.
How fast is Midco internet really?
Midco internet marketing leans hard on Ookla data, and the claims are specific: based on Speedtest Intelligence for Q3–Q4 2025, Midco says its median download speeds in its serviceable areas run up to 1.39 times faster than 5G home internet during peak hours (7–11 pm weekdays), that Ookla ranked it first for speed, reliability and responsiveness in many of its markets, and that its fiber network averages better than 99.9% uptime. Those are Midco’s numbers from Ookla’s data, not independent reviews, but they line up with what a fiber-fed regional operator with little congestion should deliver.
On the fiber ladder, expect near-rated symmetrical speeds over Ethernet; on the cable ladder, the download will be close to rated and the upload will be the constraint.
| Option at a Midco address | Speed (down / up) | Price | Price hold | Taxes & equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midco Fiber 125 | 125 / 125 Mbps | $39 + $9–$11 modem | 36 months | Taxes extra |
| Midco Fiber 1 Gig | 1,000 / 1,000 Mbps | $79 + $9–$11 modem | 36 months | Taxes extra |
| Midco 1 Gig (cable) | 1,000 / 50 Mbps | $79 + $9–$11 modem | 36 months | Taxes extra |
| T-Mobile Rely | 170–354 / ~20 Mbps | $50 ($35 w/ voice line) | 5 years | Taxes and gateway included |
| Verizon 5G Home | Up to 100 / ~10 Mbps | $50 ($35 w/ mobile) | 3 years | Taxes and gateway included |
| AT&T Internet Air | 90–300 / 8–30 Mbps | $55 ($35 w/ wireless) | 12 months | Taxes extra, gateway included |
Against 5G, the Midco internet pitch is the right one: a wired connection with a three-year lock beats a deprioritized wireless signal for anyone who works from home or uploads anything. Against the carriers’ bundle prices, though, a $35 fixed-wireless plan with taxes and gateway included is about $15–$20 a month cheaper than Midco Fiber 125 all-in, so households with a Verizon or T-Mobile phone and light usage have a real decision to make.
Is Midco internet worth it?
Yes, on the fiber ladder. Symmetrical fiber from $39, a genuine 36-month price freeze with no contract, a Plume-managed Wi-Fi 6 gateway for $11, and local same-day support make Midco internet one of the better regional fiber deals in the country, and the 1 Gig-for-$79 price is fair even after the modem and taxes. The 3-Year Price Lock is the differentiator: most fiber promos on this site expire at 12 or 24 months and jump $10–$30.
Think harder about Midco internet on the cable ladder. Midco 250 at $49 for 250/20 Mbps and Midco 1 Gig at $79 for 1,000/50 are priced like fiber without the upload, and if T-Mobile or Verizon 5G reaches your address the wireless option may win on total cost. Ask Midco when your street is scheduled for fiber conversion; if it is on the plan, the 36-month lock on a cable tier may be a worse deal than waiting a few months for the same price on symmetrical fiber.
What comes with Midco Wi-Fi, Midco Mobile and the TV bundles?
Midco Wi-Fi is the $11-a-month gateway package for Midco internet customers, powered by Plume Home and managed through the Midco Wi-Fi app: Wi-Fi 6, syncing mesh pods, built-in malware and ransomware protection, device-level controls and usage tracking. Midco Mobile offers two phone plans to internet customers with the same 3-Year Price Lock and nationwide coverage. MidcoTV and MidcoStream carry live TV, locals and regional sports with streaming apps built in, and the current internet offer adds three months of HBO Max Standard. FCC Lifeline discounts are available to qualifying households, and Midco will credit up to $300 toward another provider’s contract when you switch, provided you keep service for 12 months.
Midco internet FAQ
How much is Midco internet per month?
Midco internet runs $39 (Fiber 125), $59 (Fiber 250), $69 (Fiber 500), $79 (Fiber 1 Gig or cable 1 Gig) and $99 (Fiber 2 Gig) a month with AutoPay and paperless billing in September 2026. Cable tiers are $49 for 250 Mbps and $59 for 500 Mbps. Add $9–$11 for the modem or gateway and taxes.
Does Midco have a contract?
No. Midco internet is month to month with no early-termination fee. The 3-Year Price Lock is a price guarantee, not a contract — you can cancel anytime, but removing AutoPay or paperless billing or changing plans can end the lock.
What does the Midco 3-Year Price Lock cover?
It freezes the monthly internet service charge for 36 months from activation. Equipment rental, installation, TV, taxes and regulatory fees are excluded and can change. After 36 months, standard rates apply.
Does Midco charge for a modem?
Yes. A standard modem leases for $9 a month and the Midco Wi-Fi gateway for $11 a month. You can supply your own DOCSIS 3.1 modem on most plans; the 5 Gig plan requires your own retail modem.
Is Midco fiber or cable?
Both. Midco sells symmetrical fiber-to-the-home tiers labeled “Midco Fiber” from 125 Mbps to 5 Gig, and DOCSIS cable tiers labeled simply “Midco 250,” “Midco 500” and “Midco 1 Gig” with 20–50 Mbps uploads. Which you get depends on whether your street has been converted.
Does Midco have data caps?
No. All Midco home internet plans include unlimited data.
Where is Midco internet available?
Midco serves more than 400,000 households in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas, including Sioux Falls, Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Rapid City and Lawrence. Availability and whether an address is fiber or cable are decided street by street.
What is the Midco installation fee?
Professional installation is a one-time $100; a self-installation kit is $15 where the home is already wired. Midco also offers up to $300 toward a contract buyout and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
That is Midco internet in September 2026: two ladders under one brand, a $39 symmetrical entry tier, $79 for a real gig, a 36-month lock that is stronger than most fiber promos, and a $9–$11 modem plus taxes that the headline price leaves out. Compare it against every provider at your address before you sign.
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Sources
- Midco, Internet Services — “plans starting at $39/mo,” 3-Year Price Lock, AutoPay/paperless discount ($10 bank / $5 card), modem $9 / Midco Wi-Fi $11, $100 pro install / $15 self-install, 5 Gig BYO modem, 400,000+ households, Ookla claims (verified 7 September 2026).
- Midco, Internet Offers — current 1 Gig+ offer terms, HBO Max three months, $300 contract buyout, 30-day guarantee.
- Midco, “Free Yourself from Uncertainty: The 3-Year Price Lock” (January 27, 2026) — what the lock covers, excludes and what voids it.
- Allconnect, Midco Internet Review (updated June 9, 2026) — tier-by-tier prices and speeds for the fiber and cable ladders, extender $2/mo, five-state list.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet, AT&T Internet Air and BroadbandNow, T-Mobile Home Internet — comparison-table pricing.
Keep going
- Bluepeak internet — Midco’s fiber rival in Sioux Falls and Rapid City — $55 symmetrical gig, eero included
- Best internet price-lock plans — where Midco’s 36 months sits against TDS, Verizon and T-Mobile
- TDS internet — the other Upper Midwest fiber builder, with a Price for Life option
- Brightspeed internet — $29.99 symmetrical fiber with a 12-month hold, for comparison
- Best 5G home internet — the wireless alternative at Midco cable addresses
- Xfinity internet speed tiers — how the big cable ladders compare on upload
- Best internet for rural areas — options beyond the Midco footprint
- Sparklight internet: the $40 gig that becomes a $95 bill