Cord-cutting has become synonymous with dropping cable and satellite subscriptions in favor of video streaming services. That leaves a lot of live television on the table, much of which you can get for free. All you need is an antenna to tune into TV stations the old-fashioned way (in high-definition with digital signals, of course). If you want to keep up with local programming or just want some more variety beyond what you can stream, setting up an antenna for your TV is the way to do it. Here are the products we recommend along with how to choose the best antenna for your needs.
Recommended by Our Editors
Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse Indoor HDTV Antenna
Antennas Direct is a popular brand that offers a wide selection of indoor and outdoor antennas. The Eclipse Indoor HDTV Antenna is a simple, flat, disc-shaped model with a stick-on design. You can slap it on any smooth surface, like a window, without using tape or any other adhesive. It’s a multidirectional antenna and features a 35-mile range.
Antennas Direct ClearStream Flex Amplified UHF/VHF Indoor HDTV Antenna
The ClearStream Flex is larger and pricier than the ClearStream Eclipse. Because of its bigger size and included amplifier, this indoor antenna sports a more impressive 50-plus-mile range.
Antennas Direct DB8e 8-Element Bowtie Attic/Outdoor HDTV Antenna
The decidedly retro Antennas Direct DB8e 8-Element Bowtie Antenna is powerful. It features two panels (each with four elements and a reflector) that you can angle toward clusters of nearby stations to get the best results. It’s still a multidirectional antenna, but it has a useful range of around 70 miles.
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Best Buy Essentials Ultra-Thin Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna
We typically don’t recommend grabbing store-brand electronics because they tend to be overpriced, but the Best Buy Essentials ultra-thin antenna seems like a solid value. This antenna is just $25, has a powered amplifier with a range of up to 50 miles, and comes with a little stand.
“No-Name” Amazon Digital Antenna
Of course, Amazon has TV antennas, though the AmazonBasics indoor TV antenna is no longer available new. Fortunately, there are plenty of no-name, $20 indoor TV antennas like this Amazqi model that appears to be similar. These are simple, flat antennas with a typical range of around 35 miles. They don’t offer many features and likely aren’t as reliable as brand-name alternatives, but at least most of them qualify for Prime shipping.
Mohu Leaf 50 Amplified Indoor Antenna
The Mohu Leaf 50 might look unassuming as a flat, indoor multidirectional antenna, but its USB-powered amplifier adds 15dB of signal strength, giving it a range of over 60 miles. Its reversible design (one side is black and the other is white) means you can match it to your decor, too.
Your Location Matters
Before you start shopping for an antenna, you should check to see which channels are available near you. AntennaWeb has a helpful tool that lets you enter your location to see what the nearest TV stations are. It even provides a map that shows the distance from each station and the type of antenna you need to get a strong signal. Once you know what stations you can pick up, then you can figure out the best antenna to buy.
AntennaWeb’s TV station tool categorizes nearby stations based on the sort of outdoor antenna you need. That’s because indoor antennas are highly dependent on the architecture of your home and the presence of any structures that can interfere with signals. This doesn’t mean the map is useless for indoor antennas, though; yellow and green stations work with small- and medium-sized multidirectional antennas mounted outdoors, which means you can probably get a signal from them using an indoor multidirectional antenna. For stations that require directional antennas or a preamp, you likely need an outdoor model.
(Credit: AntennaWeb)
Multidirectional vs. Directional Antennas
Multidirectional antennas can pick up signals from any direction. They’re typically flat, rectangular, or circular sheets that you can mount on a window. With a proper setup, they can tune into any station within range, regardless of their relative position to you.
Multidirectional antennas are the most common kind of TV antenna. Almost all indoor antennas are multidirectional, and many outdoor antennas are as well. They’re easy to set up and don’t require you to know the exact location of each station. They tend to be weaker than directional antennas, however.
Directional antennas are, well, directional. They usually look like fins, arrows, or tubes and require you to point them directly at a station’s broadcast center. As such, you need to plan ahead before mounting them. They offer a much greater range than multidirectional antennas and thus let you tune into more distant stations.
Directional antennas typically require an outdoor setup, so they are better for houses than apartments. Pointing an antenna toward a station isn’t nearly as effective if an adjacent building blocks its signal, after all.
NextGen TV, ATSC 3.0, and 4K Broadcasts
(Credit: René Ramos, Shutterstock/Alberto Masnovo)
You might think you can only get 4K video from a streaming service. That’s still the case for most people, but the situation is steadily changing because of a new broadcast standard. The vast majority of channels you can receive over the air transmit 1080p, 720p, or even lower-resolution video using the ATSC 1.0 standard, which has been used since the digital TV switchover in 2009. But, a few years ago, the ATSC 3.0 standard arrived (ATSC 2.0 never rolled out). This latest version introduced the ability for broadcast stations to transmit in 4K.
The good news is that you don’t need a completely different antenna to watch NextGen TV like you did with the switch from analog to digital transmissions. The bad news is that you might need a completely different TV. You need an ATSC 3.0 tuner, and they’ve started appearing only recently and mostly in higher-end models. ATSC 3.0-equipped TVs typically mention that standard or have the NextGen TV logo on their packaging, marketing materials, or technical specifications. Separate ATSC 3.0 tuners are becoming available as well, but they generally cost a few hundred dollars.
You also probably won’t be able to watch NextGen TV for a while unless you live in a specific metropolitan area. A few dozen large cities, including Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, have NextGen TV stations, along with some relatively smaller cities. However, the rollout is happening unevenly, and NextGen TV still isn’t available in Chicago, Cleveland, New York, and San Diego (though they are listed as coming soon). You can check on the NextGen TV website for markets where channels are available and where they’re planned.
The Ultimate Cord Cutter’s Guide
(Credit: Andrey Popov/Shutterstock )
Antennas are not the only considerations before cutting the cord. Here are the streaming services and devices you need to get started.
