Which? Don't Buy indoor aerials

Poor TV reception is frustrating enough - make sure you don't compound your misery with a Don't Buy indoor aerial. They could have any number of things wrong with them, from poor reception to being an absolute pain to use. 

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure: you'll regret buying one. Make sure you opt for our best indoor aerials instead.

Join Which? to find out which indoor aerials we've named as Don't Buys. 

What makes a Don't Buy indoor aerial?

There are some great Best Buy indoor aerials available - but be careful to avoid the Don't Buy models. Instead of enjoying your favourite digital channel, you could be left missing out on everything Freeview has to offer. 

We test indoor aerials from all manner of brands and review all of the most popular and biggest selling models. This includes affordable aerials under £10 as well as more expensive options.

• The worst indoor aerials we've seen struggle to pick up signals - so you won't get access to every Freeview channel unless you're fortunate enough to have a strong signal.
• We've uncovered indoor aerials where the 4G filter cuts in too early, which means you could have problems getting a clear Freeview picture if you live in an area affected by 4G mobile interference.
• Our lab experts have decades of experience testing all manner of electronics, including indoor aerials. They know what separates a Best Buy from a Don't Buy.

Which? is independent – we work for you, the consumer, so you can be sure that our product recommendations are influenced only by our test results. We're not influenced by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. We buy all the products that we test ourselves, so our advice helps you to make the right choice first time and avoid costly mistakes.

How we test indoor aerials

Every indoor aerial we test goes through a mix of technical lab tests and real-world assessments in actual homes. This means you can trust our results. We test leading brands including One For All, SLX and Total Control.

• We put indoor aerials through their paces in in both strong and weak signal areas, so our Best Buy aerials will suit all homes.
• Using specialist equipment, we measure the bandwidth and response over the UHF TV band so we will know how well the aerial covers all the frequencies required for digital TV.
• If a model has an amplifier, we check it really helps - we've found some that disrupt the picture.

You can use our test results to make sure you don't waste your money on an indoor aerial that doesn't do the job. Instead, we'll help you pick the right model for your budget that gives you a great TV experience.

To find out which indoor aerials are Don't Buys and which are Best Buys, join Which? today.