The Best Budget TV Antenna
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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An indoor TV antenna is a cheap product, regardless of what it costs. Some “As Seen on TV” antennas retail for $50, yet those same products sell wholesale for $1.25 on AliExpress. Meanwhile, stick antennas are little more than PVC pipe with copper wire inside. You can even use a paperclip as a TV antenna with pretty good results.
High-end TV antennas might include an amplifier or signal booster, but that doesn’t mean the antenna is better. In fact, amplifying a strong television signal can make reception worse. The “best TV antenna” is the one that receives the most channels for the least money.
How Much Does a Good TV Antenna Cost?
A good indoor TV antenna (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $18, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same HD antennas cost around $12 while on sale: an average discount of 33%. For most people, an inexpensive omnidirectional VHF/UHF antenna is a good choice. Those who live near mountains or skyscrapers, or inversely, in open plains, may need a specialty antenna.
DTV Color Codes and Reception Maps
The Federal Communications Commission publishes a DTV Reception Map on its website. Depending on a person’s address, the tool will list the signal strength of each channel: strong, moderate, weak or no signal.
Additionally, the Consumer Technology Association and the National Association of Broadcasters developed a system of color codes for digital-TV broadcasts and the antennas that receive them:
- Yellow — Small multi-directional antenna (10–15 mile range)
- Green — Medium multi-directional antenna or amplified indoor antenna (30 mile range)
- Light Green — Large multi-directional or small directional antenna (30 mile range)
- Red — Medium directional antenna (30–45 mile range)
- Blue — Medium directional antenna with preamplifier or large directional antenna (45–60 mile range)
- Violet — Large directional antenna with preamplifier (60+ mile range)
Enter your zip code into TitanTV’s AntennaWeb coverage map to find local TV stations by color code.
Be prepared: even the best indoor TV antennas are frustrating. A channel that looks great today may be pixelated tomorrow because of bad weather, interference, or the FCC’s multi-year channel repack.
Consumer Reports has a good guide on how to get better reception. It’s an art as much as it is a science. Here are the best budget indoor TV antennas:
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find indoor TV antennas with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any antenna with a price above the mid-point.
To find TV antennas with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Antennas with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, fewer than 5% of the analyzed products remain.
1byone Indoor Amplified HDTV Antenna
Good Value: $18 | Great Deal: $10
This flat-panel indoor TV antenna is easy to install, small enough to hide and it pulls in dozens of over-the-air channels, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that this unit is only effective when it is pressed flush against a window; others say that the included adhesive tape doesn’t support the antenna.
GE Ultra Edge Indoor TV Antenna
Good Value: $15 | Great Deal: $13
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This reversible TV antenna receives most major television networks as well as Spanish language channels, according to several online customers. Some reviewers advise placing this antenna away from metal.
Chaowei DVB66 TV Antenna for Digital TV
Good Value: $19 | Great Deal: $8
This small antenna is easily hidden, works well and has an extra-long cord, according to several Amazon customers. Some reviewers say they couldn’t get decent reception no matter where they placed it.
Philips Rabbit Ears Black Indoor TV Antenna
Good Value: $14 | Great Deal: $9
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Philips’ traditional TV antenna is excellent at attracting UHF channels with minimal adjustment, according to several online customers. Some reviewers returned this model and opted for an amplified antenna.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
Insignia Multidirectional HDTV Antenna
Good Value: $25 | Great Deal: $15
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This budget TV antenna has good reception and excellent range, especially when placed near a window, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that the antenna picks up interference.
Dynex Indoor Tabletop HDTV Antenna
Good Value: $10 | Great Deal: $5
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The Dynex DX-ANT1019 is a good “rabbit ear” antenna at a great price, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that this antenna is cheaply made; others caution that it tips over easily.
Mohu Leaf Metro Indoor TV Antenna
Good Value: $17 | Great Deal: $10
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The Mohu Leaf is a small, attractive TV antenna, according to several online customers. Many reviewers had to reposition their antenna to find the “sweet spot;” some say the wall-mount Velcro isn’t very strong.
Fosmon Indoor Rabbit Ear TV Antenna
Good Value: $11 | Great Deal: $8
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This budget TV antenna is easy to install and works better than expected in bad weather, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say this antenna is finicky and needs to be moved around; others had no luck getting the channels they wanted (and opted to return it).
About the Author: John DeFeo is a movie lover, a former A/V salesman, and more recently, was the head of editorial insights for Tom’s Guide.
