Tablo and SiliconDust's HDHomeRun are the two most popular network DVRs for antenna TV. Both stream live TV and recordings to every screen in the house without a monthly fee, but they suit different households.
Choose Tablo (~$160 for 4 tuners) if you want the simplest setup: Wi-Fi, more than 50 hours of built-in storage, and a free 14-day guide.
Choose the HDHomeRun Flex 4K (~$200) if you want NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0), use Plex or Channels, or watch on an Xbox or computer.
| Tablo (4th Gen) | HDHomeRun Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Models | 2-tuner, 4-tuner | Duo (2), Quatro (4), 4K (4) |
| NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) | No | Flex 4K only (2 tuners) |
| Built-in storage | Yes, 50+ hours of HD | No |
| USB drive for more storage | Up to 8 TB | Yes (required for DVR) |
| Connects to router by | Wi-Fi or Ethernet | Ethernet |
| Program guide | Free, 14 days | Free basic guide; $35/yr for extended guide and advanced series recording |
| Free streaming channels in the guide | Yes | No |
| Apps | Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Samsung, LG, iOS, Android | Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Xbox, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac |
| Works with Plex, Channels, Emby | No | Yes |
| Price | ~$100 (2-tuner), ~$160 (4-tuner) | ~$110 to ~$200 |
Both are network DVRs: they take the signal from your antenna, connect to your home network, and stream live TV and recordings to an app on each TV, phone, or tablet. Neither has an HDMI port, and neither charges a required monthly fee. The differences are in storage, setup, NextGen TV, and how much control you want.
Choose Tablo if you want antenna TV and recording that just work, with nothing extra to buy and no yearly fee. The four-tuner model is worth the extra money for most households, since each live stream and each recording uses a tuner. The two-tuner version (~$100) suits one or two TVs.
Worth knowing: no NextGen TV, and Tablo says some older HD Roku sticks aren't compatible. If ATSC 1.0 broadcasts eventually end in your area, you'd need new hardware.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.Choose HDHomeRun if you want NextGen TV, already use Plex or Channels, or watch on an Xbox or computer. The Flex 4K is the most future-proof network tuner you can buy. If you don't need NextGen TV, the Flex Quatro (~$150) has the same four tuners for less.
Worth knowing: you'll need to add a USB hard drive to record, and some broadcasters' encrypted NextGen channels may not play yet; the Flex 4K falls back to the standard broadcast when that happens. Our OTA DVR guide compares all three HDHomeRun models.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A DVR can only record what your antenna receives. Find your towers and their distances on our antenna pointing map, then choose an antenna in our TV antenna guide or indoor antenna guide.