Get free TV and save money by installing an over-the-air antenna. Here are our top recommendations for the best indoor TV antennas.
What to consider
Coverage
In some areas, the TV signal may be nonexistent, but it doesn’t cost much to find out if an indoor antennas is for you
Cost
The sweet spot for an indoor antenna is between $20 and $40.
Form factor
Most modern antennas are flat and window-mounted, and while you can opt for a large desktop model, the reception won’t be as good.
Cable
Look for a model which allows a detachable cable for added flexibility.
There has never been a better time to cut the cord and replace it with free TV. All you need to do before buying an affordable TV antenna is make sure that you’re living in an area with a good signal. You don’t even need to climb on your roof, as the best indoor antennas can be hung in a window.
An over-the-air, or OTA, antenna is great for live events such as sports and the evening news, plus the next evolution of OTA called NextGen TV, You can receive oodles of free content for as little as $20 shipped. Here’s the best indoor antennas we’ve tested.What’s the best overall TV antenna?
The best indoor antenna, based on dozens of CNET’s tests, is the Mohu Leaf. It gathered the most stations in two different locations, and it can be yours for $35. Its sibling the Mohu Gateway was also a strong performer, and it has the advantage of tabletop use. However, if you’re curious about the other options that are out there, or are interested in features such as signal boosters or detachable cables, the following are the best indoor OTA antennas right now. See at
The Mohu Leaf has undergone a recent upgrade — a new look and some under-the-hood improvements — and the results speak for themselves. The Leaf was the best antenna of our current crop — beating out several more expensive models. It worked well in both of the testing environments and was able to receive the most channels. While the Channel Master Flatenna is almost half the price, the Mohu Leaf is undoubtedly worth the $15 upgrade.
My only quibble with the new Leaf is that it has lost the detachable coaxial cable in the process, and this means you’ll need another cable and a male-to-male adaptor if you want a longer run to your TV.See at
Maybe you don’t have a window or an out-of-the-way wall you can stick an antenna on, and if so the Mohu Gateway can help. This tabletop antenna was neck and neck with its Leaf stablemate on both reception quality and price. But what clinched it for us was that the Leaf was better suited for window placement, and with its integrated stand the Gateway was understandably too awkward to be attached to a window. The reception on the Gateway was also worse when sitting on an AV unit instead of in a window, but if you have nowhere else to put an antenna than on a stand the Gateway is the best choice.See at
In my years of testing antennas, the Gesobyte is still one of the only amplified models which has an attenuator switch. This feature allows a flexibility which none of the other models have. Live close to a broadcast tower? Turn the switch to Low. Or, if you live further away, switch it to High for an added signal boost. $20 at Channel Master
The Flatenna 35 has been upgraded with a removable cable since our original test. This antenna is great for people who simply want to test the waters, and while it wasn’t the best performer, it’s good for the money. If you want to find out if an indoor antenna is right for you, this is a great option.Factors to consider when choosing a TV antenna
Coverage: In some places, the TV signal of some channels can be spotty or nonexistent due to faraway broadcast towers or obstructions that break up the signal. Also, unlike a live TV streaming service, OTA TV is usually restricted to a single television, and the broadcast signal from an OTA TV antenna won’t work on phones or other devices. Unless, that is, you kick it up a notch with an OTA DVR that has networking capabilities.
