Whether you go with cable, satellite, or a livestreaming service, pay TV providers are expensive. But subscriptions aren't your only option to get local broadcast channels. Instead of paying a hefty monthly bill, you can score an indoor TV antenna for as little as $20. As long as your area has solid reception, this cheap one-time investment lets you watch channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox for free. And who doesn't love free?

The best indoor TV antennas are affordable, paper-thin, and easily hidden. Our top picks include the Channel Master FLATenna, which is an inexpensive yet reliable option that sticks to your wall or window. We also like the Mohu Gateway, which has a tabletop base so it can rest on an entertainment console.

We also have TV antennas geared toward budget shoppers and people who want an option that's also suitable for setting up outside. Our picks are based on hands-on testing and in-depth research across popular brands.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

To use an indoor antenna, you need a TV with a digital tuner and a coaxial port. Built-in tuners are standard on all the best TVs sold today, but you might need to buy a separate digital tuner if you own an older TV purchased before 2009.

Once you've found your TV's tuner port, all you need is a coaxial cable to run from the TV to your antenna. Some antennas come with this cord, but you'll need to buy a separate one if it's not included. If you want to place your antenna in the window or a space away from your TV, you should measure the distance beforehand to see if the cord is long enough.

If your antenna uses an amplifier, you must also plug it into a power outlet. 

Antennas pick up over-the-air broadcast channels available in your area. This typically means local networks like NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and a few dozen other stations. However, channel availability varies depending on your location. 

One way to check available channels in your area is through the AntennaWeb tool. Just enter your address in the search bar, and a list of channels that can be picked up in your location will appear in the results.

Yes, TV antennas can pick up several channels that regularly broadcast sports, including Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC.

However, antennas do not support cable channels that broadcast sports, like ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, TBS, NFL Network, MLB Network, and NBA TV. To access those stations, you'll need a pay-TV or streaming subscription. Check out our guide to the best sports streaming services for top recommendations.

Not all TV antennas include amplifiers, and in most cases, you'll be fine without one. However, the farther away you live from a TV station tower, the more you may benefit from an amp. Amplified TV antennas are designed to help increase signal strength, so they're a better choice if you live in a rural area where reception isn't as good.

On the other hand, amplified antennas often require a power source, meaning more pesky cables around your TV. They can also amplify noise, which can sometimes make reception worse than it would be without an amp. If you live in an area closer to broadcast towers, a non-amplified antenna will often serve you just as well and reduce the number of wires you need to manage.

Unlike cable or the best live TV streaming services, antennas can only pick up local channels. If you want to see content from cable networks like ESPN, AMC, FX, Disney Channel, and more, an antenna won't work. 

Antenna reception can also be limited by external factors in your area. This means the number of trees outside your home or nearby buildings could impact your viewing. The location of broadcast towers in your city, the weather, and your room's shape can also impact reception. In other words, the performance you get from an antenna can be finicky compared to cable and streaming. 

And unlike pay-TV options, an antenna on its own won't let you record shows. Instead, you need to buy an external DVR that supports storing antenna broadcasts. Some TVs also lack the ability to display a full on-screen guide for antenna stations. This means you have to go through each channel manually. But some newer smart TVs now include integrated guides for antenna playback.

Most over-the-air antenna broadcasts are presented in high definition (HD) in either 720p or 1080i resolution. This matches the resolution that most cable and live TV streaming services provide. 

That said, antenna-based broadcasts can often look better than cable, even though they use the same resolution. Cable services tend to compress video and audio signals more than antennas, so over-the-air TV through an antenna will typically provide improved quality as long as your reception is strong.

Some over-the-air stations are also starting to broadcast in 4K (Ultra HD) resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) through the new ATSC 3.0 standard, also called NextGenTV. NextGenTV broadcasts are already available in several major cities and continue to enter additional markets.

Current digital TV antennas can pick up NextGenTV signals without issues, so you don't need to buy a specific 4K antenna. However, you will need an ATSC 3.0 tuner or a 4K TV with an integrated ATSC 3.0 tuner. Only select TVs released over the last few years have these built-in. You can find more information about ATSC 3.0 broadcast availability on the NextGenTV website.