Watching TV — no matter how you do it — continues to get more and more expensive in 2024. Whether you’ve bought one of the best TVs out there (like I have), you subscribe to a ton of streaming services (like I do) or you own multiple streaming sticks (you betcha), then I bet you’re tired of the price hikes. Not only is cable still exorbitant, but more streaming services are cracking down on password sharing and making you pay to get rid of ads. Fortunately, the right TV antenna gives you free access to live TV channels, provided you can catch their signals. With a proper setup, you’ll watch live events such as sports games on major broadcast networks, the news and much more, all for free.
We reached out to Christine Hand, the VP of marketing at Antennas Direct, who answered some of the most common questions for us. Hand says you’ll probably want an indoor antenna because they’re “really easy to use, and outdoor antennas take a little more work — you need to be kind of a DIY person.”
Hand warned to avoid antennas that claim to receive signals from more than 200 miles away, as that’s extremely unlikely to work. She also recommended moving your antenna “a couple of feet” at a time during your initial setup, as that can make a large difference for the over-the-air (OTA) channel reception. Trying to figure out what channels you should have access to? Plug your zip code into the FCC’s database to find out. Hand also noted that her firm’s app Antenna Point (Android, iOS) can be used to figure out the right direction to point your antenna.
After considering these and other factors, such as popularity, ease of use and outstanding reviews, we’ve rounded up the best TV antennas you can buy.
At less than the price of a month of 4K Netflix, this HDTV antenna’s quality is something of a shock. Well regarded by reviewers, thanks to its consistent performance at pulling in channels, Best Buy’s antenna is a surprise worth trying out. Oh, and its passive consumption makes it easy to fit it into your setup, as there’s no need to plug it into power. Just check to see that your nearby channels are coming from towers within a 35-mile radius using the FCC tool mentioned above.
Mohu makes some of the most loved TV antennas, and the Leaf Supreme Pro is a reliable pick for streaming the big games in your region and much more. Its reputable performance and ease of setup combine with a 65-mile range that beats the Best Buy pick (naturally, since it costs a bit more). While there are some Mohu antennas that are much cheaper, we’ve noticed they’re marked as “Frequently returned” on Amazon, and we don’t want to put you through that process.
While many popular indoor antennas require you to mount them against a window, this tabletop favorite gives you another option. If things change, though, the keyholes in the base stand allow it to be hung up above said surface. This well-reviewed antenna offers a 60-mile radius and offers the same performance as Mohu’s Leaf antennas.
Some folks just don’t want another thing cluttering their interior, and they’re likely willing to pay a little more since the great outdoors requires more durability (which this model offers). Also known as the Elite 7550, this antenna picks up signals from up to 70 miles away, and it can even deliver channels to multiple TVs. You just need to get a splitter, sold separately.
