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Best over-the-air DVR for cord cutters in 2025
Feb 11, 2025
You might not need a TV antenna to cut the cord, but one can be indispensable if you want to record over-the-air channels.
With an over-the-air DVR, you can record shows from an antenna, rewind live TV broadcasts, and even fast forward through commercials. Some DVRs can even stream video onto multiple TVs or let you watch from outside the home.
The over-the-air DVR field has narrowed considerably in recent years, but some smaller hardware and software makers are still putting up the good fight, providing a level of control you just don’t get from streaming services alone.
Why you should trust us
As TechHive’s resident cord-cutting expert, I’ve been reviewing over-the-air DVRs since 2017. These are remarkably complex products, and I do my best to understand what folks are looking for as they try to move on from the cable DVR experience they’re used to. Beyond just product reviews, I write a weekly column about streaming and over-the-air TV for TechHive, along with a weekly cord-cutting newsletter for more than 30,000 subscribers.
The OTA DVRs we recommend
BitRouter Zapperbox M1 — Best OTA DVR right now
Pros
Straightforward way to record over-the-air TV
Plays and records encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels
Product is regularly improving through software updates
Cons
Tuner management can get tricky
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