Best TV antennas: Reviews and buying advice for indoor and outdoor options
Image: Ben Patterson/Foundry
TV antennas aren’t just for cord-cutters looking to save money on TV entertainment. A good TV antenna will bring in anywhere from 20 to 100 or more channels, depending on where you live. The stations are free, don’t require a broadband connection (with the exception of some ATSC 3.0 channels using encryption), and boast higher resolution and picture quality than cable or streaming options like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
But not all antennas are created equal, and there are big differences between indoor and outdoor models. Indoor antennas are supremely convenient, if not always aesthetically pleasing, but a rooftop antenna is always better than one in your home’s attic, which is always better than one that’s installed indoors.
Our picks below are based on extensive testing, using each antenna as its intended over an extended period of time. Scroll below our product recommendations to learn more about our testing process and for guidance on choosing an antenna.
Channel Master Flatenna 35 – Best budget-priced indoor TV antenna
Pros
- Very low price
- Well made
- U.S.-based customer support
Cons
- Won’t do much for your living-room décor
Why we like the Channel Master Flatenna 35
The Channel Master Flatenna 35 TV antenna delivers good performance at a low price, provided you live in an area with good local TV signals. It’s a simple matter to install and connect it, so the only thing you need to do is find a good location for it.
Who should buy the Channel Master Flatenna 35
If you live close to TV broadcast towers, want to watch the major networks, and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Channel Master Flatenna 35 TV antenna is a good choice.
Read our full
Channel Master Flatenna 35 (model No. CM-4001HDBW) review
Winegard FlatWave Amped – Best flexible amplified indoor TV antenna
Pros
- Strong reception, clear picture quality
- Amplifier contributes to good range
- Amplifier can be powered by a wall wart or your TV’s USB port
Cons
- Not the best-looking thing to have on your wall or window
- Excess cable can get messy quick
Why we like the Winegard FlatWave Amped
Winegard’s FlatWave Amped delivers great performance for an indoor antenna. It’s small, lightweight, and includes an amplifier, so should work well in areas that enjoy good local TV signals.
Who should buy the Winegard FlatWave Amped
If you live in an urban area with TV broadcast towers nearby, the Winegard FlatWave Amped is a good choice for indoor TV reception.
Read our full
Winegard FlatWave Amplified (model FL-5500A) review
Televes Bexia – Best rigid amplified indoor TV antenna
Pros
- Internal amplifier boosts signal level
- Stable reception
- Amplifier can be powered from one of your TV’s USB ports
Cons
- Lower performance with VHF frequencies
- Larger design could make it difficult to hide
Why we like the Televes Bexia
The Televes Bexia is one the best indoor TV antennas we’ve tested, capable of pulling in signals from medium-power broadcast towers whether resting on its fold-out stand on a piece of furniture or mounted to a wall. Its onboard antenna can be powered by one of the USB ports on your TV or with a USB wall wart if your TV doesn’t have a free port.
Who should buy the Televes Bexia
If you live in an apartment or just don’t want to install a TV antenna on your roof, the Televes Bexia will do an excellent job of pulling in live TV signals. You won’t even need to aim it as it will automatically adjust its level of amplification for each channel as needed.
Read our full
Televes Bexia review
RCA Multi-Directional TV Antenna (model ANTD8E) – Best rigid indoor TV antenna runner-up
Pros
- Good reception of most local channels
- Inline amplifier to boost reception
- Attractive industrial design for indoor use
Cons
- The antenna’s wide base gives it a large footprint (the stand can be removed if you prefer to hang the antenna)
- Poor reception of low-power and distant channels
Why we like the RCA ANTD8E Multi-Directional TV Antenna
Here’s more proof that indoor TV antennas don’t need to look hideous. The RCA ANTD8E features an inline amplifier that helps it pull in strong broadcast signals, and its cloth-covered form factor will help it blend with your home’s furniture.
Who should buy the RCA ANTD8E Multi-Directional TV Antenna
If you don’t like the plastic design of the Televes Bexia, RCA’ fabric-wrapped device is an excellent alternative. And it can be placed on an entertainment credenza or mounted to a wall.
Read our full
RCA Multi-Directional TV Antenna (model ANTD8E) review
Ultra-Vizion Transparent – Least visually intrusive indoor antenna
Pros
- Less-intrusive see-through design
- Reliable reception of local TV channels
- Long antenna cable
Cons
- Not effective for weaker signals, even with its amplifier
- Older design could suffer interference from 5G signals
Why we like the Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified antenna
The Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified antenna works well for local TV reception in areas of strong signals, and its transparent design is much more pleasing to the eye than the competition.
Who should buy the Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified antenna
The Ultra-Vizion Transparent will work well in areas with strong signals, but it’s mostly for people who want to watch over-the-air broadcasts without don’t seeing a TV antenna taped to their wall or window.
Read our full
Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified TV Antenna review
Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) – Best roof-mount TV antenna
Pros
- Strong, sensitive reception
- Built-in 5G filter
- Built-in amplifier and indoor distribution amp
Cons
- Large physical size
- Assembly can be confusing
- Not designed to tune in low-VHF signals
Why we like the Televes Dat Boss Mix LR
The Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) is the best outdoor TV antenna we’ve tested, and a year after our initial test, it remains on my house thanks to its consistently reliable and strong performance. It delivered an excellent performance, pulling in strong signals from local and distant TV towers where reception ranges from good to poor.
Who should buy the Televes Dat Boss Mix LR
If you’re able to install an antenna on your roof, the Televes Dat Boss Mix LR is an excellent choice. It should provide strong, interference-free reception for years to come.
Read our full
Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) review
Antennas Direct DB8e – Best roof-mount TV antenna runner-up
Pros
- Good reception of weak signals
- Antennas can be pointed in two different directions
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Large size requires a strong mount
- Not designed to receive VHF TV stations
Best Prices Today:
£252.61
Why we like the Antennas Direct DB8e
The Antennas Direct DB8e’s reception is as impressive as its looks. This is a large, heavy antenna that’s cleverly designed to receive weak signals with two antenna arrays. In areas of better reception, in can point to towers located in different directions.
Who Should Buy the Antennas Direct DB8e
The Antennas Direct DB8e is particularly suited for people in areas where TV stations are available from two locations far apart, as each reception array can be pointed in a different direction.
Read our full
Antennas Direct DB8e review
Winegard Elite 7550 – Best attic/outdoor TV antenna
Pros
- Good reception of strong to medium level signals on UHF and VHF-High
- Inline amplifier helps boost signals
- Suitable for attic or outdoor mounting
Cons
- Plastic mounting bracket feels a little cheap
Why we like the Winegard Elite 7550
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.
Who Should Buy the Winegard Elite 7550
The Winegard Elite 7550 is a good choice for anyone who cannot have a rooftop antenna but wants to pull in the maximum number of channels in their area. It will work well mounted on the side of a house, on a balcony, or in an attic.
Read our full
Winegard Elite 7550 review
Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max – Best attic/outdoor TV antenna runner-up
Pros
- Good reception of strong to medium level signals on UHF and VHF-High
- Multidirectional reception for areas with transmitters in different locations
- Sturdy mount with mounting hardware for attic or outdoor installation
Cons
- No built-in amplifier, so you might need one for weaker channels
Why We Like the Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max
The Clearstream 4 Max is a little larger than our top-ranked choice and wasn’t quite as good at pulling in stations, but it’s still a solid antenna. We liked its distinctive double figure-eight design and that it can receive signals from different directions, which is useful if you live in an area with broadcast towers in multiple locations.
Who Should Buy the Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max
The Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max will work well in areas where TV signals are strong to moderate and come from more than one direction.
Read our full
Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max review
Other notable TV antennas we’ve reviewed
- Mohu Curve: This antenna is prettier than many, and it’s very inexpensive; unfortunately, it’s just not very powerful.
- Antennas Direct 91XG: This UHF-only rooftop antenna is great at pulling in weak signals.
- Televes Ellipse Mix: This is a great choice for areas with medium strength signal reception. In our tests it brought in TV stations with a strong, stable signal and is a good choice for anyone looking for a smaller antenna.
- Channel Master Pro-Model CM-1776: Here’s a very well-made device that will look good on any house or apartment and is suitable for use in areas of high to medium signal strength.
- Channel Master Smartenna+: This in-home TV antenna features a built-in tuner that adjusts to pull in the maximum number of channels possible.
- Clearstream Horizon: A good-looking indoor TV antenna with a companion signal amplifier. It performed well in our tests and should work in areas of good to moderate signals.
- GE Enlighten HD Antenna with Bias LED Lighting: This antenna neatly combines an indoor antenna and bias lighting in a single package, but one feature limits the utility of the other.
How we test TV antennas
Our reviewers test TV antennas in a location in Northern Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metro area. (Until 2020, we tested in the San Francisco Bay Area, so you might see references to that location in older reviews). This location receives strong signals from local TV stations, but presents several challenges: There are a large number of trees around to influence reception; some of the independent D.C. TV stations are weak and difficult to receive; and channels from the distant Baltimore market can only be received with good antennas.
Indoor antennas are tested indoors, and outdoor antennas are tested mounted out of doors. Each time we test a new antenna, we retest our current top pick to ensure a fair benchmark based on current reception conditions.
We use a HD HomeRun set-top box to scan for channels and record the number of RF channels received by each antenna, their strength, and quality. Each RF channel carries a number of digital stations, but the number is different per channel and can change, so just counting the number of stations received isn’t a reliable measurement. We scan several times and adjust the direction of the antenna on some rescans.
Our top picks are the antennas that receive the largest number of stations with the highest signal level in both the UHF (channels 14 through 51) and VHF-High (channels 7 through 13) bands, which are the primary TV broadcast bands.
Why you should trust us
PCWorld’s editors and writers have been using and testing TV antennas for decades. Our antenna evaluations are performed in a real-world location and rely on signal level and quality measurements across all TV stations. Each time we test a new antenna, we retest a competitor to ensure our comparison takes current reception conditions into consideration.
Who curated this article?
Martyn Williams has relied on broadcast TV since he cut pay TV more than 12 years ago. He is a licensed amateur radio operator and understands the principles of antenna design, reception, and interference.
How to choose an antenna
The following are important things to consider when buying an antenna.
What can you tune in with a TV antenna?
To figure out what TV channels are even available in your area, visit the Rabbit Ears Search Map, which lets you enter your address for a prediction about what channels and estimated signal strength you can expect.
Should you get an indoor or outdoor antenna?
While an outdoor antenna will provide better performance than an indoor antenna, it can be a bigger investment in terms of cost and setup. Installing a large roof-mounted antenna is not for everyone.
Even if you decide to go the indoor route, you can choose among sizes and even opt for an amplified model for stronger reception.
By determining your location’s proximity to stations (see above), you can assess what kind of antenna will suffice.
Take range claims with a grain of salt
Reception depends on a multitude of factors, including the transmitter frequency and power, the location of the transmitter, the immediate environment around your house, and more. This is where hands-on reviews, such as those on PCWorld, come in.
Options for renters
Under the FCC’s “OTARD” regulations, U.S. federal law gives you the right to install a TV antenna for reception of local broadcast signals in an area you rent or have exclusive access to.
Connection to your TV
Most TV antennas will come with the cable/s to connect with your TV, but in some instances you may have to buy your own. The standard for TV antennas is called an RG-6 coaxial cable.
For more guidance, see our article on how to choose the right TV antenna for your needs.
A word about NextGen TV
All the antennas we test are suitable for reception of NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) signals. In fact, the new broadcast standard promises more reliable reception, which should help antenna users. In our Northern Virginia location, there are three NextGen TV transmitters within reach at differing power levels, so these add to the depth of our tests.
The new format also promises some interactive and streaming functionality, and many channels employ digital rights management (DRM) encryption, so you’ll also need an broadband connection if you want to enjoy many of the channels. Most TVs and some set-top boxes support encryption and interactive functions; verify the one you’re considering has that feature before you buy it.
Author: Martyn Williams, Contributor
Martyn has been reporting on the tech industry for more than 30 years. He started in the U.K, writing for European publications, and then spent 16 years in Japan. For most of that time, Martyn was a correspondent for IDG News Service, covering the consumer electronics industries in Japan and South Korea. He relocated to the U.S. in 2011, where he maintains his passion for technology. Martyn is a licensed amateur radio operator and, in addition to authoring TechHive’s TV antenna reviews, he can often be found designing his own antennas and communicating with people around the world.
