Best Indoor TV Antenna (2025): Mohu, Clearstream, One for All
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If you Like free stuff, an indoor TV antenna should be high on your list. For a relatively small up-front 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 OTA (over-the-air) channels, and thanks to support for ATSC 3.0, we can expect an uptick in modern features in the future, from HDR (which some channels already offer) 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.
While most digital antennas pulled the bulk of available channels in our test areas, certain styles and brands tended to be more stable and receptive to the growing list of available broadcasts. 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.
Buying a Mohu or Antennas Direct model? Use the coupon code WIRED20 when you check out for 20% off your purchase in their online stores.
Updated June 2025: We’ve added the Mohu Gateway Plus and Clearstream Eclipse 2, added more antennas to avoid.
Indoor Antenna Tips and Tricks
How Do I Know Which Channels I Can Get?
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 TV antenna or other digital live TV alternatives and so-called cord-cutter options like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV, 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?
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 on your TV, you’ll need a model with an ATSC 3.0 tuner (many TV brands have begun dropping this excellent feature so check before you buy), 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?
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 TV stations 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 to 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 omnidirectional, designed to pick up signals from multiple stations and areas.
Does an Amplified Antenna Help?
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 mostly minor differences in the available channels or broadcast quality, though the pricier amplified antennas tended to get more channels (even if most weren’t super enticing). The difference may be more evident if you live 30-plus miles outside a broadcast area, or it might not, depending largely on geography and your position to broadcast towers. That said, most antennas currently available come with amplification.
Most amplified antennas we tested claim a 50- to 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.
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. We also noticed that an antenna’s onboard TV signal meters didn’t always equate to better reception. 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.
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 TV transmitters still use VHF, the majority of today’s over-the-air TV 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.
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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 (and most of the minor ones). It wasn’t quite as stable or receptive as the Mohu Gateway Plus and Eclipse 2 on some of the weakest (and most boring) channels, but it came through crystal clear for most. Its USB input 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 windowsill, even allowing you to paint the white side to blend in. For most folks, this is all the antenna you’ll ever need.
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Another Good Indoor Antenna
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.
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Best Premium TV Antenna
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
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Mohu Vibe Amplified for $50: I’ve had bad luck with the more stylish pad and wand-style antennas, and this rather pricey model from Mohu is no exception. It proved inconsistent in testing across multiple TVs, dropping major channels like my local CBS, NBC, and PBS affiliates, along with plenty of lesser-used channels.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Mohu Versa for $30: I wanted to like the stylish and simple Versa, one of the few antennas you’ll find these days that doesn’t include an optional amplifier. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst at pulling channels, including several that were scanned and listed on the TV but showed no signal.
Clearstream Flex Amplified
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Clearstream Flex Amplified for $60: This massive antenna struggled some with channel reliability in scanning, even after multiple rescans. It was one of the few models we tested that failed to pick up our local ABC affiliate, along with 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 more trouble bringing in multiple channels, including some major affiliates, than the top antennas we tested.
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