The Best Indoor TV Antennas

WIRED

06-02-2025

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Plug into free TV with these convenient and affordable indoor antennas.
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If you Like free stuff, an indoor TV antenna should be high on your list. For a small upfront fee you get free, high-quality digital broadcasts like local and national news, sports, movies, and tons of TV shows from past and present. Today's digital antennas already provide multiple high-definition channels, and thanks to support for ATSC 3.0 we can expect even more features in the future, from HDR to 4K UHD and beyond. To find the best indoor TV antenna for your money, we tested multiple models over several months in both rural and metro areas.
One thing we learned? While there are some notable differences, most digital antennas performed pretty similarly in our test areas. As such, a lot of it comes down to design and cost. Below, we've outlined our favorites along with a few to avoid. Just as importantly, we've added tips, tricks, and links to help you find what you need and get the most out of your purchase. For related info, check out our Best TVs and Best Soundbars lists, as well as our guide on How to choose the right TV.
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How Do I Know Which Channels I Can Get? AccordionItemContainerButton
So much about indoor antenna use comes down to location, from where you place the antenna in your home to where your home is geographically located and which broadcasts are available in your area. Before purchasing an antenna, I highly recommend checking out AntennaWeb.org, which can help determine which channels and what kind of broadcast quality and features you can expect.
If you live in a rural location, you may want to consider a high-powered outdoor antenna or other digital alternatives, as even the best indoor antennas may not help. Many smart TV systems from brands like Samsung, Roku, LG, and others offer free digital channels online, including news, sports, and reruns—lots and lots of reruns—from across the TV landscape.
What Channel Quality Is Available? What About ATSC 3.0? AccordionItemContainerButton
For most areas, local channels are available in a mix of SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition) at 720p or 1080i. All digital antennas also support the latest ATSC 3.0 standard which allows for 'NextGen' TV channels, including support for modern features like 4K UHD resolution, HDR and Wide Color Gamut, and audio formats like Dolby Atmos. To take advantage of ATSC 3.0 broadcasts from an antenna, you'll need a TV with an ATSC 3.0 tuner (most new TVs have one) or an adapter like this one, as well as a local broadcaster that supports the standard.
ATSC 3.0 is still in its nascent stages, and has been rolling out slowly. In our Oregon, test area ATSC 3.0 is available only in a limited fashion, and only a modest number of national broadcasts support features like HDR or 4K UHD resolution at present. To see if ATSC 3.0 is available in your area, you can peruse this map and check out the NextGen TV website for more info.
Where Should I Set Up My Antenna? AccordionItemContainerButton
Your indoor antenna success rate and channel availability depend not only on your broadcast area, but also your home's local terrain, layout, and other circumstances. After you've discovered which channels are technically available in your area, you'll want to locate your home's antenna sweet spot. This will take some trial and error, but a good rule of thumb is to set your antenna at or near a window facing your primary broadcast transmitters, as walls and other objects can cause interference.
When in doubt, raise your antenna higher. All the antennas we tested come with around 10-12 feet of reach, and you can easily extend that by purchasing some cheap coaxial cable. While some antennas are 'unidirectional' all the antennas we chose are multi-directional, designed to pick up signals from multiple stations and areas.
Does an Amplified Antenna Help? AccordionItemContainerButton
The short answer is: maybe? We tested both amplified and older plug-and-play reference antennas in multiple areas, including in the middle of a moderately sized metro area and several miles outside it. Overall, we found little difference in the available channels or broadcast quality. That might change if you live 30+ miles outside a broadcast area, or it might not, depending largely on geography. That said, most antennas currently available (and all of the ones on our current list) come with amplification.
Most amplified antennas we tested claim a 50-60-mile range from transmitters, but your mileage may vary. In some cases, amplification may even distort signals if you're too close to the broadcast area, though we didn't notice any such issues. Amplification can be turned off, but we got fewer channels when turning off amplified antennas than when using non-amplified antennas in the same area. As noted above, your first step is to check for what's available in your area with a site like AntennaWeb. AccordionItemContainerButton
One of the most notable findings in our testing was that the number of channels each antenna picks up may vary wildly between channel scans with (and sometimes without) a modest change in antenna position. That was especially true when it came to the NextGen channels available as a secondary option to some local channels in our test area. This was an odd discovery since all digital antennas should technically be able to receive NextGen channels when tested with a TV/tuner that supports ATSC 3.0 tuner. In any case, to borrow a childhood idiom, if at first you don't succeed on your channel-scanning journey, try, try, and try again. AccordionItemContainerButton
If you start going down the antenna rabbit hole, you may find broadcast channels and antenna models listing UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) support. Essentially, all broadcast channels are separated into either the higher frequency UHF band (where most modern digital channels reside) or VHF. VHF is generally a stronger signal over longer distances, but UHF is better for obstructions like buildings, and UHF channels are better optimized for the digital era. While some transmitters still use VHF, the majority of today's channels broadcast over UHF. For most people it's not something to worry about. While most of the models on our list technically support both bands, they're likely to be optimized for UHF. You can find out more about UHF vs VHF here. I've used the same Mohu Leaf digital antenna since I started testing TVs nearly a decade ago. The Mohu Leaf 50 Amplified offers the same paper-thin design and stable performance as my aging reference model at a still affordable price, making it a clear choice as the best option for most people. The Leaf 50 stood tall against the competition, picking up all the major channels available in my primary home testing area. It wasn't quite as stable as the Mohu Arc Pro on some of the weakest (and most boring) channels, but it came through crystal clear for most options. Its USB input (wall adapter not included), is designed to amplify signals at up to 60 (not 50) miles from transmitters. Best of all, its reversible design helps it disappear on your wall or window sill, even allowing you to paint the white side to blend in. For most folks, this is all the antenna you'll ever need.
Mohu Arc Pro Amplified Antenna
The Mohu Arc Pro isn't cheap, but it offered the clearest and most stable performance of any model we tested. It provided near-perfect transmission for all available channels, with only a couple of minor blips over multiple hours of testing. Like all amplified antennas we tested, it easily plugs into your TV's USB input, though at this price a wall adapter would have been a nice addition.
One other minor point against the Arc is that its stand can be awkward to place and feels a little janky during setup. Otherwise, this antenna was a rockstar across multiple TVs, and a solid upgrade if the Leaf 50 doesn't do the job for you. Antennas Direct Clearstream Eclipse The Clearstream Eclipse was one of the top-performing antennas I tested for its price. It immediately locked in all major channels and offered notably stable reception. Its design further helps it stand out from the crowd, with a rounded, ultra-thin profile in black or white that adds a few style points compared to the rectangular profile of so many competitors. The Eclipse's amplification is designed for up to 50 miles of range, with a USB input for your TV but, like most models we tested, there's no included wall adapter. It's worth noting that this antenna doesn't technically include a VHF element (or at least it's not in the specs) so it may struggle to pick up some channels in that older frequency range, but it picked up all the channels in my area with no trouble. If you're concerned, Antennas Direct offers this handy guide to tell you which channels are in which frequency range in your area.
Other Antennas We Tested
One For All Amplified (16662) Photograph: Ryan Waniata
One For All Amplified (16662) for $100-120: This sphere-shaped antenna isn't bad, just surprisingly expensive. The first time I scanned for channels it found nearly all available including multiple NextGen channels, and offered clear and stable reception. It proved slightly inconsistent upon channel rescan, but its main limitation is the high price.
Antennas to Avoid
Clearstream Flex Amplified Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Clearstream Flex Amplified for $45: This massive antenna struggled some with channel reliability in scanning, even after multiple rescans. It was the only model we tested that failed to pick up our local ABC affiliate and a few other channel bands.
One For All Suburbs Ultimate (14426) Photograph: Ryan Waniata
One For All Suburbs Ultimate Antenna (14426) for $50-60: This thin black bar has stylish looks but it was among the least consistent models we tested. It repeatedly pulled in fewer channels than similar models, leaving out wide channel bands including major station affiliates.
One For All Suburbs Ultimate (14450) Photograph: Ryan Waniata
One For All Suburbs Ultimate (14450) for $30: Another rather stylish and unique-looking model from One For All, this antenna is a bit janky to set up (especially its stand legs) and had trouble bringing in multiple channels, including some major affiliates, than the top antennas we tested.