Whether you’re new to the world of cord-cutting or have been living the cable-free life for a while, having access to free, over-the-air (OTA) channels is likely something that is an important part of your viewing diet. Streaming services make it easy to access your favorite shows and movies from anywhere, but that comes at a cost. However, getting set up with a great TV antenna could be all that you need to access your favorite broadcast channels, depending on what you want to watch and where you live.

Using an OTA antenna is a great way to be able to tune in and watch local broadcasts as they happen live. There’s a one-time upfront cost for the antenna, but then you can get access to tons of free content every day. We’ve rounded up the best antennas that are worth your purchase, so be sure to check them all out below.

Best TV Antennas in 2024:

Best Overall TV Antenna: Mohu Leaf

If you’ve looked at antennas in the past, Mohu is a brand that you’ve likely come across. The company introduced its first paper-thin Leaf antenna all the way back in 2011 and has been releasing great products ever since. Mohu makes 14 different indoor options, along with an outdoor antenna, but for most people, the Leaf is the way to go.

There are a few different variations of the Leaf, each with a slightly different range. For most people, the 40-mile option is the way to go as it balances having a long enough range to work in most areas and an affordable price. For about $15 more, you can upgrade to the Mohu Leaf Stitch, which has a 60-mile range. The Leaf has a 12-foot cable included, but unlike the previous model, it’s not removable. It’s a multi-directional UHF and Hi-VHF antenna, meaning that it can use both the front and back of the antenna to maximize its reception.

Getting started is as simple as connecting it to your TV and running a scan to find the channels. The Mohu Leaf is compatible with full HD 1080p, 4K, 8K UHD, and NEXTGEN TVs.

Best Budget Antenna: Best Buy Essentials Thin Indoor Antenna

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a high-quality indoor antenna these days. Best Buy’s Essentials brand has a great option that can be yours for just $20 (or even less if it’s on sale!). This thin antenna has a unique design in that one side of it is black while the other side is white. This makes it even more versatile and helps it blend in better regardless of what your room looks like.

You may be wondering what you sacrifice with this option, but it’s not a lot, to be honest. It has a 35-mile range, which is on par with most of the competition. There’s a built-in 10-foot coaxial cable and it comes with two-sided foam tape to help you mount it to the wall. The Best Buy Essentials antenna receives both VFH and UHF signals to deliver HD playback on your TV of choice.

Best Long-Range TV antenna: Jokklokk TV Antenna

Depending on where you live, you may not have a lot of local channel options that are able to be picked up with some of the standard antennas. If you’re in a remote location, or just want to be able to dial into channels from a larger radius, a long-range antenna is the best bet. This option from Jokklokk is a great model to consider, especially if you want to keep the cost relatively low.

This antenna has a range of over 400 miles and thanks to its upgraded Smart IC Chip it can receive signals from 360 degrees. It has a built-in signal booster to help with range and picture quality. It also comes with a thick, 20-foot coaxial cable that helps it deliver a stable 4K video feed.

Unlike some of the other options on the market, you can use this antenna either indoors or outdoors — even in bad weather. You can set it on a table, mount it on a wall, or hang it in a window depending on your situation.

Best Outdoor Antenna: Antennas Direct ClearStream 4V

In most situations, an indoor antenna is more than strong enough. The technology has improved significantly over the last few years, lessening the need to mount an outdoor antenna to your home, but it’s still what some people prefer. If you’re looking for an outdoor antenna that’s not massive or absurdly expensive, the ClearStream 4V from Antennas Direct is the way to go.

The ClearStream 4V comes with all of the hardware and supplies that you’ll need to safely mount it to your home without worrying about leaks or damage. This model comes in a few different range options, including 35 miles, 60 miles, and 70 miles. Unlike some of the other outdoor antennas, it has a relatively small overall footprint, which is helpful when trying to find the perfect spot to mount it. The ClearStream 4V uses two reflectors to help ensure that it brings in the highest quality signal and protects against interference which can cause pixelation or loss of picture.

Why Should You Trust Us?

The Streamable is made up of a team of streaming experts who have been covering the industry for years. From covering breaking news to attending industry events and testing all of the best streaming services, we’ve got our fingers on the pulse of the industry at all times.

Jared DiPane has been in the tech space for more than 10 years. He got started writing about BlackBerry and has since covered everything from laptops to TVs. He ditched cable seven years ago and has tried almost every streaming platform and several different antenna options along the way.

How We Picked the Best TV Antennas

There are a ton of antenna options on the market right now and there’s no shortage of good ones to be found. To find the best antennas available, we spent hours looking through the top-rated options, combing through their individual specs, and reading user reviews to find everything good and bad about each one.

We used the user reviews and paired them with our team’s knowledge to come up with a list of the best antennas in each category. We took into account every model’s price, features, size, range, and more when selecting our list.

FAQs

What should you look for in a TV antenna

• Range: Depending on where you’re located, you may need an antenna that has a longer range in order to pick up the broadcast channels that you want to watch. The FCC has a great site to check local coverage which can help you determine what antenna you need for your specific location.
• Form factor: Most indoor antennas have a flat design that is meant to be mounted or stuck to a flat surface, like a wall or a window. For most situations, this is ideal, but if you need something that is freestanding, you’ll want a desktop standing model. It is worth noting that these might not offer the same quality of reception as mounted versions.
• Cable length: Depending on where your TV is located in relation to where you plan to set up your antenna, you may need a cable that is longer than the one that the manufacturer includes. You can find antennas with different cable lengths, but it’s best to look for one with a removable cable so you can add one that is the specific length that you need in your space.

Do you need an antenna for a smart TV?

if you are a cord-cutter, you don’t need an antenna for a smart TV, but adding one can help increase the channels that your TV is able to find. Televisions have OTA tuners built-in, though most people opt to use live TV streaming services instead of using them. The “smart TV” features are designed to help make streaming platforms easier to use on the TV, but they require subscriptions and many of the best ones have recurring fees. If you want to just watch the channels you can get for free, you can try using the built-in tuner first and if it doesn’t pull in the channels you are looking for, then you can add an antenna.

Should you get an indoor or outdoor antenna?

There isn’t a blanket answer that makes one or the other a better option here. You’ll want to consider how and where you plan to use the antenna before making the purchase, though. If you need something that has a longer range or is a bit more powerful, you may be better suited to an outdoor antenna, as long as you have a place to mount it.

Indoor antennas can be a great option as well, but may not work as well for everyone. Depending on what type of walls you have, where your TV is placed, and many other factors, an indoor antenna may be limited in what it can pick up.