Can I get local channels without cable for free?

Yes. A $20-50 indoor TV antenna picks up ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS in HD for free over the air. No subscription required.

What channels can I get with an antenna?

Most areas receive ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, and several local stations in free HD. Signal strength varies by location — use AntennaWeb.org to check what's available at your address.

Which live TV streaming services include local channels?

YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV include local ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox in most markets. Sling TV does not include locals in most areas.

How to Watch Local Channels Without Cable in 2026 (Free & Paid Options)

Losing access to local channels is the number one reason people hesitate to cut cable. You want the local news, your team's games, and network shows — and you don't want to pay $70/month for a live TV subscription just to get them.

Good news: there are multiple ways to watch local channels without cable, and some of them are completely free. Here's every option, what it costs, and which one makes sense for your situation.

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The Quick Answer

| Method | Cost | Local Channels | Setup Difficulty | |--------|------|---------------|-----------------| | Indoor TV antenna | $25–$60 one-time | ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS + more | Easy (10 min) | | YouTube TV | ~$73/month | All locals in most markets | Easy | | Hulu + Live TV | ~$83/month | All locals in most markets | Easy | | Sling TV (Blue) | ~$40/month | NBC, Fox (ABC limited) | Easy | | DirecTV Stream | ~$65/month | All locals | Easy | | Paramount+ with Showtime | ~$12/month | CBS local affiliate only | Easy | | Peacock Premium | ~$8/month | NBC local affiliate (live) | Easy | | Network apps (free) | Free | ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox apps | Easy |

The fastest path to free local channels: An indoor antenna. In most suburban and urban areas, you'll get 5-10 local channels in HD with zero monthly cost. It takes 10 minutes to set up.

Option 1: Indoor TV Antenna (Best Free Option)

An indoor antenna picks up over-the-air (OTA) broadcast signals — the same signals that cable companies receive and resell to you for $80/month. The difference: you receive them directly from the broadcast tower, for free, in HD.

What Channels Can You Get?

In most urban and suburban areas within 50 miles of broadcast towers:

ABC — local news, NFL Monday Night Football, NBA Finals, Oscars, Dancing with the Stars
CBS — NFL AFC games, Super Bowl (alternating), March Madness, local news, daytime TV
NBC — NFL Sunday Night Football, Super Bowl (alternating), Olympics, local news
Fox — NFL NFC games, World Series (alternating), local news
PBS — Frontline, PBS NewsHour, children's programming, documentary series
CW — syndicated and original CW content
ION, MeTV, Antenna TV — classic TV, syndicated shows
Local independent channels — varies by market

To see exactly what's available at your address: Search for "antenna reception checker" and enter your zip code. The result will show signal strength for each channel.

Our Top Antenna Pick

Check Price: Indoor HDTV Antenna →

How to Set Up an Indoor Antenna

Setting up takes about 10 minutes:

Check your TV's back panel for a coaxial port (a round port with a threaded collar, labeled "ANT IN" or "RF IN")
Plug the antenna's coax cable into that port
Position the antenna near a window facing toward broadcast towers (check your zip code on an antenna checker for the direction)
Run a channel scan on your TV (Settings → Channels → Scan or similar)
Done — your local channels are saved to the channel list

If you're in a weaker-signal area, an amplified antenna adds a powered booster:

Option 2: Live TV Streaming Services (Best Paid Option)

If you need full local channel access and live TV across multiple TVs — or you're in a rural area where antenna reception is poor — a live TV streaming service is the cleanest solution.

YouTube TV (~$73/month)

The gold standard for cord cutters who want a complete cable replacement. Includes all four major networks in most markets, plus cable channels (ESPN, CNN, HGTV, etc.) and unlimited cloud DVR.

Locals included: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox — in most US markets. Check coverage at the YouTube TV website.

Best for: Households that want local channels plus cable channels in one subscription, with the best DVR in the business (unlimited storage, 3-year replay window).

Hulu + Live TV (~$83/month)

Bundles live TV with Hulu's on-demand library, plus Disney+ and ESPN+. More expensive than YouTube TV but adds significant streaming content.

Locals included: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox — same coverage as YouTube TV in most markets.

Best for: Families who want live TV plus a solid on-demand library and are interested in Disney+ and ESPN+.

Sling TV Blue (~$40/month)

The most affordable live TV option. Includes NBC and Fox in most markets, plus cable channels. Note: ABC is limited on Sling, so this isn't a full local channel solution in all markets.

Locals included: NBC, Fox in most markets. ABC and CBS availability varies.

Best for: Budget-conscious cord cutters who mainly need sports and a few cable channels. Not ideal if CBS and ABC locals are important to you.

Option 3: Free Network Apps (No Subscription Needed)

All four major networks have free streaming apps. The catch: they offer next-day or on-demand access to most shows, not true live TV.

ABC app — most ABC shows available next-day free
CBS app (Paramount+) — free tier has limited content; live CBS local requires Paramount+ with Showtime subscription
NBC app (Peacock) — some NBC shows free on Peacock; live NBC local requires Peacock Premium
Fox app (Tubi) — Fox content available via Tubi free tier

Best for: Viewers who watch network shows on demand and don't need live news or live sports. Zero cost.

The Best Strategy: Antenna + Streaming App

The most cost-efficient setup for most cord cutters:

Indoor antenna for live local channels (free — news, sports, network shows live)
Streaming device (Roku Express or Fire TV Stick) to access streaming apps
Netflix or Disney+ (~$8–$14/month) for on-demand entertainment
Optional: YouTube TV or Hulu Live only if you need cable channels

Total cost with antenna-only strategy: $0/month after the one-time antenna purchase Total cost with antenna + one streaming service: ~$8–$15/month

Compare that to basic cable at $60–$120/month.

For a deeper look at the math, see How Much Does Cord Cutting Actually Save?

Antenna vs. Streaming Service: Which Is Right for You?

Choose an antenna if:

You live in a suburban or urban area within 40 miles of broadcast towers
You want local channels for free with no monthly commitment
You mainly watch live news and network sports (not cable sports like ESPN)
You're okay with watching shows live or recording them with a DVR

Choose a live TV streaming service if:

You're in a rural area with poor OTA reception
You need cable channels (ESPN, CNN, HGTV) in addition to locals
You want a multi-room solution across multiple TVs without extra antennas
You want cloud DVR without buying a separate device

Combine both if:

You want free locals on your main TV and the flexibility of streaming on secondary TVs

What About Local Channels on Streaming Devices?

Streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast) don't receive OTA signals directly — they need an internet source for content. Your options on a streaming device:

YouTube TV or Hulu Live app for local channels over internet (~$40–$83/month)
Free network apps (ABC, Peacock, etc.) for on-demand content
HDHomeRun + Plex/Emby — connect an antenna to an HDHomeRun tuner, which streams live OTA channels over your home network to any device including Roku and Fire TV

The HDHomeRun setup (covered in our HDHomeRun review) is the most powerful option — you get live OTA TV on every device in your home from one antenna.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I watch live local news without cable?

Yes. An indoor antenna gives you live local news for free. Most live TV streaming services (YouTube TV, Hulu Live, Sling) also include local affiliates in major markets.

Q: Do I need the internet to use an indoor antenna?

No. An indoor antenna receives broadcast signals over the air — no internet connection needed. You only need the internet if you're using a streaming service for locals.

Q: What if my antenna can't pick up all local channels?

Try repositioning the antenna — higher and near a window facing towers helps. If you're still missing channels, check if an amplified antenna would help (useful in weaker signal areas, 35-60 miles from towers). For rural areas over 60 miles out, an outdoor or attic-mounted antenna is likely necessary.

Q: Can I record local channels without cable?

Yes. A DVR device like the Tablo or Channel Master DVR lets you record OTA channels. Connect an antenna to the DVR, and it records shows just like a cable DVR. Some also stream recordings to Roku or Fire TV over your home network.

Q: Does my streaming service include local channels in my area?

Coverage varies by market. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV cover locals in most large and mid-sized markets but some smaller markets have gaps. Check the service's website and enter your zip code to verify before subscribing.

Local channel availability changes. For live TV streaming services, always check current market coverage at the service's website before subscribing.