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Nov 05, 2024

The best TV antennas of 2024: Tested and rated | Tom's Guide

The best TV antennas deliver shows, sports, news and movies, with no monthly bills When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. I couldn't

The best TV antennas deliver shows, sports, news and movies, with no monthly bills

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

I couldn't live without a TV antenna. It's as important to me as any streaming service because it allows me to watch sports, sitcoms and news without having to pay a monthly fee. Digital antennas are the successors to bunny ears, sure, but they're better in almost every respect, from resolution to reception.

My top pick for the best TV antennas right now is the Mohu Leaf Amplified that comes in at $39. It's relatively affordable and pulled in the most channels during our testing. There are cheaper models, like the the 1byone Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna that can be found for $16, but reception was better with the Mohu.

If you need an outdoor antenna, I've listed one of those down below, and there are even more indoor amplified and non-amplified options both large and small down below. Tom's Guide has tested dozens of antennas over the years, and what you'll find below are the best in terms of reach, reception and versatility.

Best overall

Best TV antenna

The Mohu Leaf Amplified sits at the top of our list of the best TV antennas due to its solid performance and affordable sticker price. Like its predecessor, the Amplified uses a built-in amplifier to boost signal strength in suburban areas. It's not a replacement for an outdoor antenna, but it's easily the best indoor antenna for the money.

Read more below

Best In/Outdoor

Best indoor/outdoor antenna

Made for use inside and out, this 85-mile antenna was at its best out in the elements, where it pulled in 68 watchable stations. It's the best indoor/outdoor antenna we've tested, and well worth the premium price.

Read more below

Best Budget

Best budget TV antenna

For a simple indoor antenna that offers everything you need to cut the cord, the 1byone Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna offers a 50-mile range and included amplifier, all for around $17 on Amazon when it's on sale.

Read more below

Best outdoor

Best Outdoor TV antenna

The Winegard Elite 7550 is the smart option and the best TV antenna for outdoor installation. It may cost a little more, but the Winegard Elite 7550 pays dividends, delivering a whopping 73 channels in our tests.

Read more below

Budget In/Outdoor

Budget Indoor/Outdoor antenna

While its aesthetics may leave something to be desired, the ClearStream MAX-V is a very capable antenna that delivers more stations than even competing amplified antennas, even models costing much more.

Read more below

Biggest Indoor

Biggest Indoor antenna

The Gateway Plus is a slightly larger HDTV antenna that measures in 8.25" H x 11.75" W x 2.5" D. It can pull in dozens of channels with its 60-mile range and shows you how strong of a signal it’s receiving with its four front LEDs.

Read more below

Our expert review:

After testing a new batch of over-the-air TV antennas, the Mohu Leaf Amplified came out on top as the best TV antenna of 2024. It was able to pull in 69 channels — more than any other model in our testing — with many of those channels coming in clearer with less cutout.

You can often find it on sale for $39 on Amazon, which we've found to be right smack-dab in the middle in terms of pricing with some models costing upwards of $100 and others as low as $19. For the price, however, you're getting better performance than both high-end and low-end options.

The only issue we had with the Mohu Leaf is that the cable isn't detachable, which means if it accidentally cuts cut, snaps or breaks, you'll need to buy a whole new antenna rather than simply replacing the cord for a few bucks. If you're careful that shouldn't be a problem, but it's worth mentioning just in case you've had issues with these sorts of problems in the past.

Read our full Mohu Leaf Amplified Antenna review.

Our expert review:

Made for use inside and out, the Antop AT-800SBS HD Smart Panel offers some of the best performance we've seen, easily topping many of the indoor/outdoor models we've reviewed. And with an adjustable amplifier, included mounting hardware and optional FM connection for radio, it's a versatile best HD antenna option for anyone who's serious about cord-cutting.

The Antop AT-800SBS also has a table-top stand for indoor use, but this 85-mile antenna was at its best out in the elements, where it pulled in 68 watchable stations. A 40-foot cable is included for easy installation, and the adjustable amplifier lets you dial in the right amount of power boost to help you grab the stations you want. It's the best indoor/outdoor antenna we've tested, and well worth the premium price.

Read our full Antop AT-800SBS HD Smart Panel Antenna review.

Our expert review:

For a simple indoor antenna that offers everything you need to cut the cord, the 1byone Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna offers a 50-mile range and included amplifier, all for a fairly reasonable price. With slick packaging and a basic black design, it's not only an Amazon best-seller, but it's also one of the best TV antennas we've reviewed.

Measuring just 13.3 x 9.3 inches, the antenna includes everything you need to connect to the TV, with a 10-foot coaxial cable and included adhesive patches for mounting. The simple design and included amplifier delivered dozens of watchable channels and can plug into any wall outlet or USB port. There's a good reason the 1byone is a top Amazon seller: It performs well and doesn't cost a lot.

Read our full 1byone Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna review.

Our expert review:

Sometimes an indoor antenna just won't cut it. When you need an outdoor antenna with excellent reception, the Winegard Elite 7550 is the smart option, and the best TV antenna for outdoor installation. It may cost a little more, but the Winegard Elite 7550 pays dividends, delivering a whopping 73 channels in our tests. Whether you're in a crowded city or a rural community, this outdoor HDTV should get the job done, pulling in more channels with better signal than any indoor model can offer.

If you're having difficulty getting local stations you want — or you just want better, more consistent reception — the Winegard Elite 7550's $120 price tag is worth every penny, pulling in dozens of free channels for less than a month's cable subscription.

Read our full Winegard Elite 7550 Outdoor HDTV Antenna review.

Our expert review:

While its aesthetics may leave something to be desired, the ClearStream MAX-V is a very capable antenna that delivers more stations than even competing amplified antennas, even models costing much more. If you want to improve over-the-air TV reception, it's one of the best TV antennas we've reviewed.

Rated to capture stations as far away as 60 miles, the ClearStream MAX-V from Antennas Direct will work indoors or out and is competitively priced. Not only did it do better than many of our favorite indoor antennas, it also matched some of the best outdoor antennas, making it a great choice for mounting on a roof, hanging in an attic or just tucking it out of sight – which may be difficult given the bulky figure-8 design.

Read our full ClearStream MAX-V HDTV Antenna review.

Our expert review:

Like our favorite indoor antenna, the Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro, the Gateway Plus can pull in dozens of channels with its 60-mile range and shows you how strong of a signal it’s receiving with its four front LEDs.

Speaking of reception, the Gateway Plus is designed to be multi-directional, meaning it can be placed forwards or backwards and should be able to still receive a signal. That said, the front of the antenna has the LED signal indicator lights, so you’ll probably want those facing inside so you can see them.

For us, the Mohu Gateway Plus was incredibly solid. It picked up 41 channels with an astounding 34 of them playing flawlessly. Yes, there was still the occasional stutter — especially in the morning when there was inclement weather — but on a sunny day the Mohu Gateway Plus managed to surpass our top TV antenna, the Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro.

Read our full Mohu Gateway Plus review.

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If you're shopping for a TV antenna, you're in luck, because there's no better option for getting live TV for the lowest price possible: Free! But before you pick up the first TV antenna you see at the store, you want to make sure that you're getting one that will work for you.

Location and range: If you're in or near a city, there's a good chance you can make do with a small indoor antenna, since you'll have several stations within a 10 or 20 mile radius that can be pulled in without a big aerial or powered amplifier. If you're more than 30 miles from your local broadcast tower, you'll want to step up to an amplified model. Any antenna that's rated for 50 miles or more will either be a large outdoor unit, or come with an amplifier to boost the signal it gets, if not both.

Indoor or outdoor: Whether or not to get an outdoor antenna will largely depend upon the building you're in and the surrounding environment, since obstacles like house walls and even trees can prevent signal from getting through to an indoor antenna. Outdoor antennas are larger, and work better when positioned as high up as you can get it – a rooftop mast being the ideal installation.

Non-amplified or amplified: An amplified antenna uses an additional signal strength booster that can help weak signals come in clearly with a little extra juice. But that also means having another device to plug in, and another power outlet to give up. It also means a slightly higher price.

Non-amplified indoor antennas generally sell for between $20 to $40, but there are plenty of cheap TV antennas that sell for less than $20 that offer acceptable performance. An amplified antenna offers better performance, and will cost between $30 and $100. For the best performance, consider an outdoor antenna, which costs $100 or more.

Getting an antenna is the first step toward cutting the cord or pulling in free local channels. You don't need to spend a lot of money – the best cheap TV antennas do a great job, and even a $12 set of bunny ears might do the trick – and you don't even need a TV. (Check out I just discovered a new way to cut the cord — and there’s no subscription fee to learn about USB tuners that don't need a TV.)

But simply having an antenna won't automatically solve all of your over-the-air TV woes. Better antennas and optional amplifiers will go a long way toward bringing in more channels, but that's only part of the equation.

We recommend researching beforehand to determine what range of antenna you need, and whether you want an indoor model or an antenna made for outdoor installation. The best place to start is AntennaWeb.org, which lets you enter your address or ZIP code and see what stations are broadcasting in your area, as well as how far away the broadcast towers are.

Worried about future proofing for ATSC 3.0 as it rolls out to new cities? The good news is that your existing antenna will work, and may even pull in more channels under the new standard. The bad news is that you'll need to buy a new tuner or an ATSC 3.0-equipped TV, and these are only now coming to market.

And check out our other advice for TV antennas to help you get yourself properly equipped and set up for the best reception:

While streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max may be taking a more prominent place in the living room, there's still room for over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV. Whether you want free access to local news or just want to get more sports without shelling out for another subscription service, an HDTV antenna can still provide plenty of great stuff to watch, and having a smart TV or one of the best streaming devices doesn't prevent using an antenna.

All of the best smart TVs for streaming also have built-in tuners for pulling in broadcast channels, and getting your TV channels programmed is an automatic process, with the TV scanning for stations and putting together a browsable channel guide in just a few minutes.

And several streaming devices are built with OTA content in mind. The Amazon Fire TV Cube, for example, can switch over to your TV's built-in tuner seamlessly, without having to swap TV inputs or juggle extra remote controls. You can even get something like the Amazon Fire TV Recast, a DVR that lets you record OTA content, and enjoy it all using the same Fire TV interface your TV might already be using.

All of the TV antennas we review are tested in the same location. Each antenna is connected to the same TV, so the TV tuner remains consistent, and each one is placed in the same position to generate comparable results.

We're located just a few miles outside of a major metropolitan area, a location that provides an excellent testing location for antenna reception of any range, with more sensitive, long-range antennas pulling in a higher number of channels. It also gives us a chance to determine the quality of that reception, by seeing whether or not those channels are clear and watchable. The best antennas will pull in more channels, with a higher number of watchable results.

Your experience may differ from our test results. Depending upon how many stations broadcast in you area, and unique geographical impediments to over the air signal – such as buildings, trees and mountains – your own channel selection will vary considerably.

Mohu Leaf Supreme ProFor years, the Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro was the top offering when it came to the best TV antennas. These days, though, the Mohu Leaf Amplified offers slightly better performance for a lot less. It's still worth checking out the former if you can't find the Mohu Leaf Amplified in stock, but the Leaf is better both for you and the planet.

One for All Suburbs Indoor TV AntennaThis slick-looking antenna is an aesthetic masterpiece but only managed to pull in about 19 channels in our testing. It might be OK in some areas, but most folks will want the more powerful Mohu.

Televes Bexia Indoor Intelligent TV AntennaAnother good option is the Televes Bexia. It has a unique design and offers decent performance. The problem is that it's $75 when it's not on sale. That's a bit too pricey compared to our $40 top pick.

Check out some of the best accessories for your TV:

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Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!

Nick Pino heads up the TV and AV verticals at Tom's Guide and covers everything from OLED TVs to the latest wireless headphones. He was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar (Tom's Guide's sister site) and has previously written for GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade. Not sure which TV you should buy? Drop him an email or tweet him on Twitter and he can help you out.

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