The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (2025)

Cord-cutting has become synonymous with dropping cable and satellite subscriptions in favor of video streaming services. That leaves a lot of live television on the table, much of which you can get for free. All you need is an antenna to tune into TV stations the old-fashioned way (in high-definition with digital signals, of course). If you want to keep up with local programming or just want some more variety beyond what you can stream, setting up an antenna for your TV is the way to do it. Here are the products we recommend along with how to choose the best antenna for your needs.

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The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (3)

Antennas Direct is a popular brand that offers a wide selection of indoor and outdoor antennas. The Eclipse Indoor HDTV Antenna is a simple, flat, disc-shaped model with a stick-on design. You can slap it on any smooth surface, like a window, without using tape or any other adhesive. It's a multidirectional antenna and features a 35-mile range.

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (4)

Antennas Direct ClearStream Flex Amplified UHF/VHF Indoor HDTV Antenna

$59.99 at Antennas DirectSee It

The ClearStream Flex is larger and pricier than the ClearStream Eclipse. Because of its bigger size and included amplifier, this indoor antenna sports a more impressive 50-plus-mile range.

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (5)

Antennas Direct DB8e 8-Element Bowtie Attic/Outdoor HDTV Antenna

$159.99 at Antennas DirectSee It

The decidedly retro Antennas Direct DB8e 8-Element Bowtie Antenna is powerful. It features two panels (each with four elements and a reflector) that you can angle toward clusters of nearby stations to get the best results. It's still a multidirectional antenna, but it has a useful range of around 70 miles.

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Best Buy Essentials Ultra-Thin Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna

$24.99 at Best BuySee It

We typically don't recommend grabbing store-brand electronics because they tend to be overpriced, but the Best Buy Essentials ultra-thin antenna seems like a solid value. This antenna is just $25, has a powered amplifier with a range of up to 50 miles, and comes with a little stand.

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Mohu Leaf 50 Amplified Indoor Antenna

$39.99 at AmazonSee It

The Mohu Leaf 50 might look unassuming as a flat, indoor multidirectional antenna, but its USB-powered amplifier adds 15dB of signal strength, giving it a range of over 60 miles. Its reversible design (one side is black and the other is white) means you can match it to your decor, too.

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (8)

"No-Name" Amazon Digital Antenna

$19.99 at AmazonSee It

Of course, Amazon has TV antennas, though the AmazonBasics indoor TV antenna is no longer available new. Fortunately, there are plenty of no-name, $20 indoor TV antennas like this Amazqi model that appears to be similar. These are simple, flat antennas with a typical range of around 35 miles. They don't offer many features and likely aren't as reliable as brand-name alternatives, but at least most of them qualify for Prime shipping.

Your Location Matters

Before you start shopping for an antenna, you should check to see which channels are available near you. AntennaWeb has a helpful tool that lets you enter your location to see what the nearest TV stations are. It even provides a map that shows the distance from each station and the type of antenna you need to get a strong signal. Once you know what stations you can pick up, then you can figure out the best antenna to buy.

AntennaWeb’s TV station tool categorizes nearby stations based on the sort of outdoor antenna you need. That's because indoor antennas are highly dependent on the architecture of your home and the presence of any structures that can interfere with signals. This doesn’t mean the map is useless for indoor antennas, though; yellow and green stations work with small- and medium-sized multidirectional antennas mounted outdoors, which means you can probably get a signal from them using an indoor multidirectional antenna. For stations that require directional antennas or a preamp, you likely need an outdoor model.

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(Credit: AntennaWeb)

Multidirectional vs. Directional Antennas

Multidirectional antennas can pick up signals from any direction. They’re typically flat, rectangular, or circular sheets that you can mount on a window. With a proper setup, they can tune into any station within range, regardless of their relative position to you.

Multidirectional antennas are the most common kind of TV antenna. Almost all indoor antennas are multidirectional, and many outdoor antennas are as well. They’re easy to set up and don’t require you to know the exact location of each station. They tend to be weaker than directional antennas, however.

Directional antennas are, well, directional. They usually look like fins, arrows, or tubes, and require you to point them directly at a station's broadcast center. As such, you need to plan ahead before mounting them. They offer a much greater range than multidirectional antennas and thus let you tune into more distant stations.

Directional antennas typically require an outdoor setup, so they are better for houses than apartments. Pointing an antenna toward a station isn’t nearly as effective if an adjacent building blocks its signal, after all.

NextGen TV, ATSC 3.0, and 4K Broadcasts

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (10)

(Credit: René Ramos, Shutterstock/Alberto Masnovo)

You might think you can only get 4K video from a streaming service. That's still the case for most people, but the situation is steadily changing because of a new broadcast standard. The vast majority of channels you can receive over the air transmit 1080p, 720p, or even lower-resolution video using the ATSC 1.0 standard, which has been in use since the digital TV switchover in 2009. But, a few years ago, the ATSC 3.0 standard arrived (ATSC 2.0 never rolled out). This latest version introduced the ability for broadcast stations to transmit in 4K.

The good news is that you don't need a completely different antenna to watch NextGen TV like you did with the switch from analog to digital transmissions. The bad news is that you might need a completely different TV. You need an ATSC 3.0 tuner, and they've started appearing only recently and mostly in higher-end models. ATSC 3.0-equipped TVs typically mention that standard or have the NextGen TV logo on their packaging, marketing materials, or technical specifications. Separate ATSC 3.0 tuners are becoming available as well, but they generally cost a few hundred dollars.

You also probably won't be able to watch NextGen TV for a while unless you live in a specific metropolitan area. A few dozen large cities including Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle have NextGen TV stations, along with some relatively smaller cities. However, the rollout is happening unevenly, and NextGen TV still isn't available in Chicago, Cleveland, New York, and San Diego (though they are listed as coming soon). You can check on the NextGen TV website for markets where channels are available and where they're planned.

The Ultimate Cord Cutter's Guide

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (11)

(Credit: Andrey Popov/Shutterstock )

Antennas are not the only things you need to consider before cutting the cord. Here are the streaming services and devices you need to get started.

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024 (2025)

FAQs

The Best Digital TV Antennas for 2024? ›

An HD antenna delivers the full signal for top-notch picture and sound. A TV using an HD antenna may never have compression-quality issues. An antenna works by picking up the signals broadcast by local and regional television stations.

What is the best digital antenna on the market today? ›

  • ClearStream 2Max | Best TV antenna overall. ClearStream 2Max. ...
  • Best Buy Essentials Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna | Best cheap TV antenna. ...
  • Channel Master CM5020 | Best outdoor TV antenna. ...
  • Mohu Leaf 50 TV Antenna | Best portable TV antenna. ...
  • Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A | Best indoor antenna.
Aug 28, 2024

What type of antenna is best for digital TV? ›

An HD antenna delivers the full signal for top-notch picture and sound. A TV using an HD antenna may never have compression-quality issues. An antenna works by picking up the signals broadcast by local and regional television stations.

What antenna will give me the most channels? ›

Top antennas compared
PriceNo. of channels (NYC)
Channel Master Flatenna2998
Gesobyte Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna -- Low3092
Mohu Gateway35104
Mohu Leaf35102
3 more rows
Jul 22, 2024

What is the new TV antenna technology? ›

carousel. NextGen TV, also known as ATSC 3.0 or NextGenTV, is the latest version of over-the-air antenna TV. This groundbreaking standard redefines the way we experience broadcast television. NextGen TV features many enhancements and innovations that go beyond the capabilities of previous digital televisions.

Is there a TV antenna that really works? ›

For the best overall TV antenna, it's hard to beat the capable Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro. It boasts a built-in amplifier for suburban areas that may need a boost to get the most channels and an integrated signal-strength meter that helps you find the optimal spot for pulling in channels.

What is the best TV antenna when cable goes out? ›

The Best Indoor HDTV Antenna

The Channel Master FLATenna is our top pick, the Best Buy Essentials antenna moves to runner-up, and the Mohu Curve is a tabletop-friendly alternative.

What is the difference between a digital antenna and a TV antenna? ›

There are huge differences between digital antennas and analog antennas. Analog antennas were specially designed to only pick up analog signals. On the other hand, digital antennas can receive and interpret digital signals. Analog antennas have lower frequencies while digital antennas have higher frequencies.

Where is the best place to put a TV antenna? ›

Structures such as floors, cabinets, and walls can impact signal, so placing your antenna high in a window is ideal, as long as it's free from exterior obstructions (trees, buildings, billboards, etc.).

Should digital TV antenna be horizontal or vertical? ›

Television signals are transmitted either horizontally (H) or vertically (V). This is called 'signal polarisation'. Your antenna should be installed so that its elements match the signal polarisation—that is, antenna elements should be installed horizontally to receive horizontally polarised TV signals and vice versa.

How many channels should I get with a digital antenna? ›

With digital over the air TV, not only will you get NBC, ABC and CBS, but you will likely get the CW Network and many other stations for free. On average, cord cutters who use an over the air antenna get about 48 channels for free.

How do I find the strongest antenna signal? ›

Use a signal-level meter to find the strongest signal

A signal-level meter responds in just a few seconds, rather than the 10 minutes that a TV channel scan typically takes, so you can evaluate all potential antenna positions in a minute or two rather than an hour or two.

Which antenna is more effective? ›

Really what it all boils down to is how much signal gain you need. If you are getting really good signal outside it's almost always best to simply get an omni antenna because it will pull in signal from multiple directions and towers, while also being easier to install.

What is the best TV antenna out? ›

In the tests near a window, the three indoor TV antennas that stood out for performance were the Winegard FlatWave FL5500A, the Winegard FlatWave Amped Pro TH-3000, and the ClearStream Eclipse Amplified TV Antenna.

What is the technology for 2025 TV? ›

However, by 2025, QD mini-LED backlight TVs are expected to skyrocket to 8 million units, surpassing OLED TVs for the first time. Industry giants such as Samsung, LG Electronics, Sony, TCL, and Hisense are all targeting double-digit growth in their QD mini-LED backlight TV display shipments in 2024 and 2025.

Are amplified TV antennas better? ›

But our tests showed that amplified antennas weren't always more effective than nonamplified models; they can also amplify noise and distortion, and overload reception from closer stations. If you have an amplified antenna, try it with the amplifier turned off. If reception is good, leave it off.

What is the best outdoor digital TV antenna to buy? ›

Winegard Elite 7550 — Best attic/outdoor TV antenna

Despite its smaller size, the Winegard Elite 7550 immediately impressed with its ability to pick up more broadcast channels than most of the competition at higher signal levels. It has a built-in amplifier and performed well on both VHF-High and UHF broadcast bands.

Where is the strongest signal for this antenna? ›

- Where is the strongest signal for this antenna? Above the antenna. (The strongest signals come from, or are received at, 90-degrees to the length of the antenna. There is no field generated off of the end of the antenna.)

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