There has never been a better time to cut the cord and replace it with free TV. An over-the-air, or OTA, antenna is a cheap way to complement streaming services with live events such as sports and the evening news, plus the next evolution of OTA called NextGen TV. If you're living in an area with a good signal, you can install a TV antenna for less than a media streamer -- and with less hassle. Unlike outdoor antennas, you don't even need to climb on your roof, because the best indoor models can be hung in a window. Here are the best indoor antennas we've tested.
Our Picks
What's the best overall TV antenna?
The best indoor antenna, based on dozens of CNET's tests, is the Mohu Leaf, with great performance and an affordable price. Alternatively, you could also choose from its sibling the Mohu Gateway (which is even cheaper than the Leaf right now) or the previous winner, the Channel Master Flatenna. If you're curious about the other options, or are interested in features such as signal boosters, the following are the best indoor OTA antennas right now.
Best antenna overall
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Easy to install
Cons
- No detachable cable
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 CNET's current crop -- beating out several more expensive models. It worked well in both of the testing environments (NYC and LA) and was able to receive the most channels overall. While the Channel Master Flatenna is cheaper, the Mohu Leaf is undoubtedly worth the $6 upsell.
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-than-12 foot run to your TV.
Best TV antenna under $40
Pros
- The Channel Master Flatenna is a solid antenna at an incredibly low price. It outperforms more expensive designs in both the number of channels it can pick up and the strength of the signal.
Cons
- The antenna has a short, non-replaceable cable. There are no fasteners included in the box.
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 overall, it's still good for the money. If you want to find out if an indoor antenna is right for you, this is a great option. Notably, the Channel Master has increased from $20 to $35 in recent years, which means it's almost the same price as the leaders, and mostly loses its "budget" status.
Best tabletop antenna
Pros
- Attractive
- Great for rooms without windows
Cons
- Captive cable
- Not as good as window-mounted models
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. 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.
Best antenna with amplifier
Pros
- Affordable
- Longest cable of models tested
- Amp switch offers flexibility
Cons
- Amplifiers can make reception worse
- Captive cable
In my years of testing antennas, the Gesobyte is still one of the only amplified models that 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. If you live further away, switch it to High for an added signal boost. This antenna is currently listed as out of stock.
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 you kick it up a notch with an OTA DVR with networking capabilities. Thankfully, indoor antennas are affordable enough that you can find out for yourself how strong your signal is without a big outlay.
Cost: The sweet spot for an indoor antenna is between $29 and $40, and if you’re paying any more than this, it’s likely for features you probably don’t need. If you're looking to spend even more then consider installing an external antenna instead.
Form factor: Forget the old rabbit ears of days gone past, most modern antennas are flat and optimized to receive transmissions in a single plane. Almost every indoor antenna available is designed to be stuck to a surface like a wall or a window, and there are even clear models if you’re concerned about the antenna blocking your view. If you don’t want a long cable messing with your living space you can opt for a desktop standing model, but the tradeoff is that the reception won’t be as good.
Cable length: If your TV is close to the outer walls of your home then you won’t need a long run, but be aware that some of these models have short, attached cables and you may require more length. Look for a model that allows a detachable cable for added flexibility.
Amplifier: Nine times out of 10, a gain amplifier doesn’t offer any benefits and instead tends to muddy reception while also adding extra expense. Though an amplifier can boost the signal of some stations, it can also overload ones that you already receive well. The net result is fewer channels overall. If you do opt for an amp try it with and without it connected to see which you like best. The best advice we can give is to buy the cheapest, non-amplified model you can first. If you get too few or even no channels, then not even an amplified indoor antenna will change that. An external antenna is the next best option.
Top antennas compared
| Price | No. of channels (NYC) | No. of channels (LA) | No. watchable test channels (out of 14) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antennas Direct Clearstream Eclipse | 40 | 104 | 70 | 11 |
| Btfdreem Smart TV Antenna -- Amplified | 29 | 81 | 104 | 11 |
| Channel Master Flatenna | 29 | 98 | 86 | 11 |
| Gesobyte Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna -- Low | 30 | 92 | 116 | 13 |
| Mohu Gateway | 35 | 104 | 128 | 11 |
| Mohu Leaf | 35 | 102 | 131 | 12 |
| Ultra Vizion HD Digital TV Antenna | 44 | 104 | 69 | 10 |
Other TV antennas we tested
Antennas Direct Clearstream Eclipse
- Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse: With its ankh-shaped and multidirectional reversible compact design, the ClearStream antenna is unique. This multi-directional antenna comes with sticky tabs for attaching it to your window, which is handy. If you need more signal oomph, a $20 antenna amplifier is available as well. A previous winner in this category, the Eclipse didn't perform as well as the Mohu units -- especially in our LA location.
- Ultra Vizion HD Digital TV Antenna: The Ultra Vizion is one of the most striking antennas we've seen thanks to its Perspex construction. It's large, and while it performed well when presented with a line of sight to a broadcast antenna it came last when tested in suburban LA.
How we test TV antennas
We tested seven different indoor antennas with prices ranging from $29 to $50 (all much less than the most basic cable TV service). The best TV antennas were able to pull in more channels than the others and delivered stronger, clearer TV signals, even on "problem" channels. Here are the seven TV antennas we looked at:
- Antennas Direct Clearstream: $40
- Btfdreem Smart TV Antenna [unavailable]: $29
- Channel Master Flatenna: $35
- Gesobyte Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna: $22
- Mohu Gateway: $25
- Mohu Leaf: $40
- Ultra Vizion HD Digital TV Antenna: $50
While most of the antennas were made by "name" manufacturers, the Gesobyte and the Btfdreem were chosen specifically because they were two of the highest-selling antennas on Amazon, though the latter is currently unavailable as of March 2025.
Much like real estate, how well a TV antenna works is based on location, location and location. We tested the antennas in two main places: in uptown Manhattan, New York with a line of sight to a broadcast tower six miles away, and in Reseda California, at least 10 miles from the closest tower. Depending on your own location, you might receive broadcasts from multiple antennas. Hills or large buildings in the way will affect the frequency range and reception of TV channels.
We situated each antenna in the same spot each time and connected it to the TiVo Edge, which gives signal strength data as well as a total channel count. We used two different metrics to determine which TV antenna performed best. The first was a raw measure of the number of channels it could detect, while the second involved several predetermined "problem channels." For these, we consulted a list of channels culled from various forums, for both testing areas, and gauged how well the antennas pulled in each channel.
The TiVo Edge is an OTA recorder for cord-cutters.
Our list of "problem" channels in Manhattan was WABC 7.1 (ABC), WNET 13.1 (PBS), WPIX 11.1 (CW -- Manhattan only) and WNJB 58.1 (PBS -- New Jersey only). In addition, we added popular channels CBS 2.1, WNBC 4 (NBC), and WNYW 5 (Fox). Meanwhile, we compiled a list of channels in LA including KCBS 2.1 (CBS), KNBC 4.1 (NBC), KTLA 5.1 (CW), KABC 7.1 (ABC), KTTV 11.1 (FOX), KCOP 13.1 (MyNetwork) and KCET 28.1 (PBS).
While the outcome will vary depending on where you live and how far you are from TV towers, in our tests the best-performing models received the greatest number of popular channels as well as local channels, radio broadcasts and Spanish-language stations.
Most of the TV antennas were based on the same rectangular design, but there was one important consideration: the cable. Did the antenna have a long, high-performance coaxial cable or, even better, a detachable one? You'll be sticking one of these in your window, which could be a long way from your TV, so longer is better.
It's worth noting that some of these antennas -- the Btfdreem, Gesobyte and the Ultra Vizion Plus -- included gain-boosting amplifiers. Based on our experiences in several locations over the years, amplifiers can affect signal strength in wildly unpredictable ways. The Ultra Vizion wouldn't work at all with the amp attached, while the others did. The numbers printed above are the best results with or without amplification. If you can't get TV reception with an indoor antenna, a gain amp may not actually help you, and in other cases, it could make your reception worse by overloading channels that already have a strong signal.
Several antennas in our list include a powered amplifier, but use thoughtfully, as these may actually make a strong signal worse.