The best over-the-air streaming box, according to CordCutters.com

Buying Guides
By Phil Nickinson
last updated

HDHomerun, Tablo and AirTV are great options — but one stands out above the others.

Clockwise, from bottom left: AirTV, Tablo, and HDHomerun.

Clockwise, from bottom left: AirTV, Tablo, and HDHomerun.

Whether you use Android TV or Apple TV, or Roku or Amazon Fire TV, or Xbox or PlayStation, one things remains true — streaming video often leaves a hole where your local channels used to be. While that's gotten a little better in recent years, streaming a local channels generally isn't as good, quality-wise (and certainly isn't as free) as using an over-the-air antenna.

And making these antennas even better is the ability to hook them up to an over-the-air streaming box. You plug in the antenna, plug the box into your network, and fire up an app. Then you can watch your local channels on your Android phone. Or your iPhone. Or your iPad or Fire TV or Apple TV or Xbox or ... You get the idea.

There are three main players in this space. HDHomerun, Tablo, and AirTV. Each has its merits. Each has its annoyances.

But in the end, one stood out above the others and is CordCutters.com's pick for the best over-the-air streaming box.

Read: The best OTA streaming box according to CordCutters.com

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Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson

Phil is the father of two beautiful girls and is the Dad behind Modern Dad. Before that he spent seven years at the helm of Android Central. Before that he spent a decade in a newsroom of a two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist newspaper. Before that — well, we don't talk much about those days. Subscribe to the Modern Dad newsletter!