Written By:
Table Of Contents_
To find the best indoor TV antennas and cut the cord for good, you’ll need to examine a list of criteria to determine what is most important. We recommend the best indoor TV antenna with a minimum 25-mile range or 35+ mile range in rural areas for local channels, which are typically further from broadcast towers. Don’t forget easy installation with adhesives/mounting tabs, 10 FT+ coaxial cables, and omnidirectional/multi-directional capabilities to pull signals from all directions for the best reception.
After analyzing hundreds of reviews, we’ve determined that the Antop HD Indoor Antenna is the best indoor TV antenna you can buy. Keep reading about this and our other top picks to learn more about the best TV antenna options available.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna comes with a superb 80-mile range and a built-in adjustment dial, a great choice for people who want finer control of the reception range.
We love this indoor TV antenna’s focus on reception amplification and connecting to multiple devices. A Power Booster dial works to calibrate a reception range from 0 to 80 miles, easily achieved by toggling gain with a clockwise turn of the dial to increase it and a counter-clockwise turn of the dial to reduce it.
One of this indoor antenna’s biggest strengths is its interference killers. An integrated FM antenna and 4G LTE filter work to minimize cellular waves that disrupt antenna reception. On the design side, it is very versatile, with a long, slender half-moon-shaped antenna sitting horizontally or vertically on a mounting stand. In many ways, it looks like a miniature soundbar, which should blend well with your entertainment center.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna comes with a super-thin profile and reversible black and white surface, which makes it a great choice for mounting in tight spaces.
Although small, this indoor antenna is very formidable, boosting a 35-mile range for excellent over-the-air (OTA), pulling in popular broadcast stations such as NBA, FOX, and CW. Its slim profile is enough to move from room to room. Consider this a no-frills unit, with no extendable dipoles for signal toggling or a built-in amplifier to boost signals.
In terms of design, this indoor TV antenna is a winner. A reversible black and white finish allow it to be mounted on walls and windows to match the aesthetic. Installing this indoor TV antenna is also a breeze with double-sided adhesive tabs that stick onto flat surfaces really well without scuffing. No doubt you’ll want the best TV antenna amplifier to go with it.
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor antenna delivers an impressive 180-mile range and CleanPeak Filter technology to help minimum cellular network interference, a great choice as an all-around antenna.
We love this indoor TV antenna for its potent combination of range (180 miles) and CleanPeak Filter technology, which specializes in reducing FM and cellular interference for a less distorted signal. A separate intelligent Integrated Circuit (IC) chip also works to boost the signal. Depending on proximity to broadcast towers, a combination of or all of the more popular broadcast channels could be received, including CW, PBS, FOX, NBC, and CBS.
Installing this indoor TV antenna is very easy, only needing a quick plug into your TV’s coaxial cable port before conducting a quick scan of available channels. All in all, this indoor TV antenna is one of the more well-rounded units on our list, beating out even our best rabbit ear antenna options.
Award: BEST EASY INSTALL
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna delivers a 60-mile range and uses push-on coax connectors, a great choice for people who prefer not to deal with twisting thick and unruly coaxial cables.
We love this indoor TV antenna’s combination of features focusing on range and ease of use. Seven different antenna configurations and a built-in amplifier work overtime in finding UHF VHF channels with a separate push-button for fine-tuning. Built-in LTE filtering also works to prevent AFM and cellular interference that could distort signals.
On the design side, this indoor TV antenna is a winner. It uses four push pins and four adhesive tabs allowing for quick mounting on flat surfaces. It doesn’t look bad either, overly minimalist with a near paper-thin surface other than a bottom back panel for connecting a coaxial cable. Consider this a winner in tight spaces, making it a good option if you’re in the market for the best RV antenna. If you’re also considering outdoor antennas versus only indoor ones, we have another Channel Master outdoor TV antenna review for you to check out.
Award: BEST FOR LIVING ROOMS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna is rated at 50 miles and an extra-long 20-foot coaxial cable, a great choice for larger living rooms with televisions not close to windows.
Like many indoor TV antennas, this one employs a flat rectangular design with a separate built-in amplifier to help boost signal – up to 60 miles. Closer to broadcast towers with little to no obstructions, channels come in hot and varied, with the major broadcast channels such as CBS and PBS displayed in 1080i resolution for a neat, crisp picture.
Design and mounting options are relatively straightforward, using two back mount adhesive pads for easy sticking on a flat surface. A 10-foot coaxial cable also makes it easier to find spots. Our only critique with this unit is its less than average range (up to 60 miles) with spotty reception in densely populated areas with obstructions, where obtaining 20 channels at most is not uncommon.
Award: BEST FOR WINDOWS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna comes with a solid 40-mile range and paper-thin design using adhesive tabs, an excellent choice for mounting onto windows in homes a bit closer to broadcast stations.
We love this Mohu Releaf HDTV antenna for its excellent combination of range (40 miles) and multi-directional capabilities, which means no pointing is needed to obtain the best signal. All of the popular live TV broadcast networks and local channels could be pulled including ABC, CBS, NBC, and others.
This indoor TV antenna is super compact (1.75 x 12.5 x 11.5 inches ), reversible (white on one side; black on the other side), and paintable, allowing for an instant match to your decor, working equally well on walls and windows. All in all, this indoor TV antenna offers a neat combination of value, range, size, and customization. For a bit more oomph, you might also want to consider the best outdoor TV antenna.
Award: BEST CONNECTIVITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor amplified TV antenna comes with a generous 50-mile range and built-in USB socket, an excellent choice for people who would prefer to do away with AC adapters for easier connectivity.
This Winegard indoor TV antenna performs well in most areas. It uses Clear Circuit Technology and a low noise amplifier to produce a 1.0 dB noise figure, good for strong signals, especially in urban areas closer to broadcast towers. Kudos for an extra-long 18-foot coaxial cable, which allows for easy mounting in apartments where windows are further away from the television.
Installing this best indoor TV antenna for rural areas is a breeze. It only needs direct coaxial cable and USB connections before performing a quick scan of available channels using your televisions Scan mode. Its biggest draw is a USB-based power adapter, which connects the television to the television to do away with bulkier AC adapters. It’s got many features of the best omnidirectional TV antenna on the market.
Award: BEST CUSTOMIZATION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna is characterized by a sleek, ear-shaped 60-mile range antenna and features a paintable surface using Sure Grip technology, an excellent choice for people who have custom colored windows or walls.
This Clearstream amplified indoor TV antenna boasts a 20db in-line included amplifier for a respectable 60-mile range and Sure-Grip technology, which emphasize mounting options without the need for your adhesive or screws, One critique on this indoor TV antenna is that it is only compatible with UHF reception and does not capture VHF, which is popular with broadcast networks.
Installing this best indoor TV antenna for Los Angeles is a cinch. It uses two methods – a power adapter and USB for direct wall or TV connection. A separate sticky strip and 12 feet of coaxial cable provide ample mounting options and window clearance. One critique of this indoor TV antenna is that it is only compatible with UHF reception and does not capture VHF, which is more popular with broadcast networks.
Award: BEST FOR MODERN HOMES
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna comes with a 35-mile range and comes in a modern, basic black design, an excellent choice for modern home decor.
This best TV antenna for rural areas performs well across the board. It tops out with a 35-mile range, approaching the higher end for indoor TV antennas with closer proximity to broadcast towers. Supported formats include full 1080p and HD, multi-directional for greater signal strength. Kudos for an included 15-foot coaxial cable, which makes it easy to mount on televisions farther away from windows.
Arguably this best indoor TV antenna for San Francisco’s biggest strength lies in its design. It’s reversible, black on one side and white on the other to accommodate the most modern home decor. Plus, it is one of the simpler antennas to install, only needing a direct connection of the coaxial cable to the wall. And, if you want to massively improve your indoor TV signal, you might want to check out our best long-range TV antenna guide.
Award: BEST FOR KITCHENS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This indoor TV antenna is the smallest on our list, rated at 11.7 x 5 x 1.5 inches with a respectable 35-mile range, a solid choice for dorm rooms, kitchens, and smaller spaces.
This multidirectional indoor HDTV antenna does an excellent job of pulling signals for free HDTV from all of the popular broadcast networks, including CBS, FOX, and ABC. A small rectangular discreet design attached to a 10-foot coaxial cable fits snugly on kitchen countertop walls, tight dorm room spaces, and anything other area needing space-saving.
Like many indoor TV antennas on our list, this indoor TV antenna is reversible and paintable to match your space’s decor. Installation is just as easy with the provided hook and loop tabs and a quick coaxial cable connection before scanning for available channels using your televisions Scan feature. consider this indoor TV antenna a solid choice for its discrete size and a serviceable 25-mile range.
In determining the best indoor TV antenna to buy, we explored performance, ease of installation, and durability.
In terms of performance, look for indoor TV antennas to carry a minimum 25-mile range, which should fare well in high-density, urban areas closer to broadcast towers. For rural and suburban areas, shoot for 35 miles or more for a wider variety of air programming. They should be omnidirectional antennas and multi-directional antennas, capable of receiving extra channels with signals from multiple directions as close as it is reasonably perched high and close to a window.
Ease of installation is an important consideration. There are typically two styles of indoor TV antennas – mounted or adhesive-tab-based. Some indoor TV antennas resemble a soundbar, easily mounted and integrated with your entertainment center. Paper-thin antennas are typically mounted using pins or sticky adhesive tabs, reversible for the ideal placement on walls or windows. Outside of mounting, the best indoor TV antennas are powered by USB or power adapter. USB cables have their benefits, mainly around aesthetics, with a thinner and more discrete profile.
Lastly, look for durable indoor TV antennas that are made of harder plastic less prone to chipping. Ideally, coaxial cables should also be copper ended for greater conductivity. and surge protection.
