Despite the advent of Wi-Fi enabled TVs and online streaming services, indoor TV antennas are still a wise purchase. For anyone looking to cut the cord to their cable TV subscription or if you want to reliably access TV channels without a strong Internet connection, an indoor TV antenna is just the thing to get free, over-the-air channels into your home. You won’t get Netflix, but it is possible to tune in to major broadcasters like NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox without paying a dime.
But not all indoor TV antennas are created equal, and you’ll want to make sure your specific model has the range to pick up a signal from your nearest TV tower. To help you find the right model, I’ve put together a list of the best indoor TV antennas with insight and advice from industry professionals and technology experts.
How we chose the best indoor TV antenna
When selecting our top picks, we took into account the advice of hardware and computing experts as well as our experience as tech journalists and took into account the following criteria:
- Category: Off-the-shelf TV antennas cannot catch signals thousands of miles away. Instead it’s important to try and use models that cover TV towers in your vicinity, ideally less than 50 miles away.
- price: An indoor TV antenna is a good way to cut costs by getting rid of expensive cable TV subscriptions (or by acting as an affordable supplement to existing subscriptions and services). Therefore they should not put any pressure on themselves. Our picks range in price between $30 and $80.
best indoor tv antenna
The best indoor TV antennas come from a few select brands: namely Channel Master and Mohu. We list key specifications such as range and dimensions under the “What to Know” dropdown below each recommendation.
Expert-Choose
This HDTV antenna is recommended by gadget expert and technology reporter Christian de Looper, who praised its “fantastic range and slim design.” The Channel Master Flatenna is as flat as the name suggests and has a black or white side that you can choose from to help it blend in with your decor more easily. This base model has a range of up to 35 miles with a 12-foot coaxial cable, though you should place it near a window to maintain a strong connection.
best tabletop
De Looper says the Mohu Gateway is a better choice for people who want something that can stand upright on a flat surface. Unlike our other picks, you don’t have to attach this antenna to a window or wall – it can easily sit on a table, countertop, or windowsill. This boosted version can also reach a 60-mile range at the flip of a switch.
This antenna attaches to the top of your TV, meaning it won’t take up shelf, wall, or window space. It has a range of 50 miles, and it connects to your TV via the included coaxial cable. With a 4-star average rating from over 10,000 reviews on Amazon, it has the highest rating of all our recommendations.
This Mohu antenna is the thinnest and smallest on the list. It’s lightweight and flexible, and you can easily attach it to your window or wall with the included mounting kit. It has a 60-mile range and a 16-foot long cable, which is the longest of all our picks. It is also slightly more affordable than the Mohu Gateway Plus model.
How to Shop for the Best Indoor TV Antenna
Indoor TV antennas can be very similar to each other, but our experts say keep the following points in mind when shopping, no matter which brand you’re considering:
range is important
The first thing to check is the range of your potential TV antenna. Indoor TV antennas are typically able to reach a range of 40 to 50 miles, says Richard Schneider, founder and president of Antennas Direct, while outdoor antennas can reach 80 or 90 miles. But depending on your environment, you may not get the maximum range of your TV antenna. If you live in a densely populated city, where there are tall buildings and lots of radio frequencies around, you may get less range than advertised, says Schneider.
Plan your cable length
Consider the length of the cable that comes with the antenna. You usually want to place the antenna near or on a window, says Schneider, but you might not have a window close to your TV. If that’s your case, consider purchasing an extension cable ahead of time.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are given independently and without unknown financial conflicts of interest.
- Christian De Looper Tom’s is a consumer technology reporter for Guide, Digital Trends, and TechRadar with years of experience testing and reporting on home gadgets.
- Richard Schneider is the president and founder of Antennas Direct, an HDTV antenna business launched in 2003. (Schneider did not comment on individual products or make product recommendations for this guide.)
Why Trust NBC Select?
Henri St. Leger has been a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, including smart TVs, soundbars, and photo scanners. He also reports on games for GamesRadar, The Times, and IGN.
Harry Rabinowitz is a technology reporter for NBC Select, covering technology and fitness, including stories on smartwatches, wireless earbuds and point-and-shoot cameras. He has covered TVs and TV accessories for years, including guides for streaming devices.
Leger and Rabinowitz interviewed TV and TV antenna experts to better understand how they work and who should be shopping for them.
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