You can watch ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and more without a cable subscription. Here are the five ways to do it, from free with an antenna to streaming services, and the setup we recommend for most homes.
The best way to watch local channels without cable is a TV antenna. It's free after the one-time cost, works with any TV, and the picture is often sharper than cable. Find your towers on our free antenna pointing map, then choose an antenna by distance.
Add an HDHomeRun network DVR to record shows and watch on every TV. If you're out of antenna range or want cable channels too, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV carry local stations in most markets for roughly $80 or more a month.
| Option | Monthly cost | Local channels | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV antenna | Free after the antenna | ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and more in most areas | Almost everyone within range of the towers |
| Antenna + network DVR | Free (optional guide plans) | Same as antenna, on every screen, with recording | Households with several TVs or that record shows |
| Live TV streaming service | Roughly $80+ for full local coverage | Most markets, varies by service | People who also want cable channels |
| Network streaming apps | Varies | One network each, live in many markets | Filling a gap for one network |
| Free news apps and FAST channels | Free | Local news only, not the full network feed | Keeping up with local news |
An antenna is the only way to get your local channels free and in full quality. Broadcast TV is less compressed than cable or streaming, so local sports and news often look sharper over the air. Every modern TV has a tuner built in: connect the antenna to the TV's antenna/cable input and run a channel scan.
Not sure which band your stations use? The map shows each station's RF channel. If any are on VHF (RF 2 to 13), make sure your antenna lists VHF support.
An over-the-air DVR records antenna TV the way a cable box does, and a network DVR streams it to every TV, phone, and tablet in the house, so you only need one antenna cable. Our pick is the SiliconDust HDHomeRun: it connects to your antenna and router and streams to the free HDHomeRun app on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV, and more. Tablo is the simpler alternative with built-in storage. See our best OTA DVR guide and Tablo vs HDHomeRun comparison.
If you're out of antenna range or also want cable channels like ESPN and CNN, a live TV streaming service carries your local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX stations in most markets. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are the most complete options for local channels, at roughly $80 or more a month. Cheaper services like Sling TV carry only some local networks, and only in certain markets, which is why many people pair them with an antenna.
Before you subscribe, enter your ZIP code on the service's website to confirm which local stations it carries where you live. Prices and channel lineups change often.
Some network streaming services include a live feed of your local station in many markets. Paramount+'s premium plan carries live local CBS stations, and Peacock's top tier includes live local NBC stations in many areas. These are useful for filling the gap if one network is hard to receive with an antenna, but you'd need several subscriptions to replace all your local channels.
Many local stations stream their newscasts free on their own websites and apps, and free services carry local news from stations around the country. These are fine for news and weather, but they don't include network prime-time shows or live sports. For those, an antenna is still the free option.
For most homes, the best combination is a good antenna for free local channels, a network DVR so every TV can watch and record them, and one or two streaming services for everything else. You'll get better picture quality on local channels than cable, keep live sports and news, and skip the cable bill.
Watch or record four channels at once on any TV, phone, or tablet in the house, with no subscription required for live TV or recording. Two tuners also receive NextGen TV where your stations offer it.
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