A $20 Antenna Pays for Itself in 1 Week
A typical live TV subscription runs about $75/month after fees. An over-the-air antenna costs $20 once and then literally nothing, forever. This might be the fastest payoff we've ever calculated.
Payoff Time
9 days
Over-the-Air Antenna vs Live TV subscription (if local channels are enough)
Product cost
$20
one-time
Annual savings
$900
vs Live TV subscription (if local channels are enough)
The Setup: You're Renting Channels That Are Free
Here's something the cable and streaming companies would prefer you not think too hard about: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and a bunch of other local channels are broadcast over the air, for free, in high definition, right now. They've been doing it since before your grandparents had a TV. No login. No subscription. No app. Just radio waves, flying through the air, waiting for an antenna to catch them.
And yet, tens of millions of households pay $73–$77/month (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or basic cable after all the sneaky fees) largely to watch those same local channels — plus ESPN and a bunch of networks they flip past. If local news, sports broadcasts, network shows, and PBS are the bulk of what you actually watch, you're paying a premium for access to something that's already free.
The Math
A solid indoor OTA antenna costs around $20. Your live TV subscription costs around $75/month. The antenna has zero ongoing costs — no subscription, no fees, no "introductory rate" that doubles after six months. So your monthly savings is the full $75/month, which means the antenna pays for itself in about 0.27 months. That's roughly 8 days. Call it 1 week to be generous.
After that first week, every single dollar you would have spent on live TV stays in your account. That's $900 in the first year, $1,800 after two years, and $4,500 over five years — from a one-time purchase that costs less than a large pizza.
| Over-the-Air Antenna | Live TV subscription (if local channels are enough) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $20 | $0 |
| Monthly ongoing | $0 | $75 |
| ★ Breakeven (~1 weeks) | $20 | $75 |
| Month 2 total | $20 | $150 |
| Year 1 total | $20 | $900 |
| Year 3 total | $20 | $2,700 |
| 5-year total | $20 | $4,500 |
* All figures are estimates. See methodology for assumptions.
Cumulative Cost Over Time
The lines cross at the breakeven point — that's when the savings zone begins.
When This Does NOT Pay Off
Let's be honest: an antenna is not a full cable replacement for everyone. If you watch a lot of ESPN, CNN, HGTV, or any cable-only channel, an antenna won't get those. You'd need a separate streaming service (or a few) to fill the gap, which eats into that $900/yr savings. For many people the real play is antenna + one or two cheap streaming services, which still saves a fortune — but it's not the clean $900 the headline math suggests.
Geography matters too. OTA reception depends on how close you are to broadcast towers, your elevation, and what's between you and the signal (hills, tall buildings, thick walls). If you live in a rural area or a basement apartment, you might get fewer channels or need a more expensive outdoor antenna. Sites like AntennaWeb.org let you check your address before buying.
And finally, there's the convenience factor. Cable and live TV apps give you a built-in guide, DVR, and on-demand library. With an antenna, you're watching live — or you're adding a separate DVR device. If your household is used to pausing, rewinding, and recording, that's an adjustment worth thinking about before you cancel.
Sensitivity Analysis: Your Results May Vary
Payoff time changes based on how much you currently spend.
Premium cable ($100/mo)
You're on a full cable package with fees and equipment rentals — the antenna pays off in under 2 days and saves $1,200/yr.
6d
$1200/yr
Typical subscription ($75/mo) (our base case)
You're paying standard pricing for YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or basic cable after fees — the antenna pays off in about 1 week.
9d
$900/yr
Cheaper plan ($50/mo)
You're on a lower-cost live TV plan or a discounted cable bundle — still saves $600/yr with a breakeven under 2 weeks.
12d
$600/yr
"A $20 antenna replaces a $75/month TV subscription in 1 week — then saves you $900 every year with zero monthly fees."
What We Recommend
Below are three OTA antennas at different price points — all under $30, all with zero monthly fees. Our payoff math assumes the $20 value pick, but honestly, even the premium option pays for itself in under two weeks. Pick the one that fits your setup.
Rabbit Ears TV Antenna Indoor for Smart & Old TVs – Long Range Digital HDTV Antenna, Adjustable Dipoles, VHF/UHF Reception, Supports 4K 1080p, Free Local Channels, Easy Setup, No Monthly Fees (Black)
$12
upfront
0.2mo
payoff
$900
/ year
The classic rabbit ears design at just $12 — hard to beat on price. Adjustable dipoles let you dial in VHF and UHF signals manually, which is great if you're near broadcast towers. No frills, no amplifier, but for most suburban and urban setups it gets the job done. Pays for itself in about 4 days.
Check current price →Price shown is approximate. Click for current price. Affiliate link.
HIDB TV Antenna for Smart TV Indoor, Digital Indoor HD Antennas with Strong Magnetic Base, Easy Installation, Long Range Reception for Local Channels 4K 1080P, 10ft Long Cables (Black)
$20
upfront
0.3mo
payoff
$900
/ year
Our base-case pick at $20. The magnetic base keeps it stable on top of your TV or any metal surface, and the included 10ft cable gives you flexibility to position it near a window for better reception. A solid middle ground between price and signal quality.
Check current price →Price shown is approximate. Click for current price. Affiliate link.
Philips Hover Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna, Long Range Smart TV Antenna, Easy Mount on Top of TV Design, Supports 4K 1080P HD VHF UHF, Signal Booster, Coax HDTV Cable/AC Adapter, SDV7219N/27
$30
upfront
0.4mo
payoff
$900
/ year
At $30, the Philips Hover mounts directly on top of your TV for a clean look and includes a built-in signal amplifier — helpful if you're farther from broadcast towers or fighting through walls. Still pays for itself in under two weeks, and the amplifier can mean the difference between 20 channels and 50+.
Check current price →Price shown is approximate. Click for current price. Affiliate link.
What we didn't account for
- → Reception varies by location Our math assumes you can receive the major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS). Actual channel availability depends on your distance from broadcast towers, terrain, and building materials. Check AntennaWeb.org before buying.
- → Cable bundles may include internet If your live TV is bundled with internet, canceling TV alone may not save the full $75/month — your internet-only rate could be higher than expected. Call your provider to get the real unbundled price before you celebrate.
- → No cable-only channels included An antenna only receives free over-the-air broadcasts. Sports on ESPN, news on CNN, and shows on cable networks require separate streaming subscriptions, which would reduce your net savings.
- → DVR costs not included If you want to pause, rewind, or record live TV from your antenna, you'll need a separate OTA DVR device ($30–$250+), which we did not factor into the breakeven math.