Best DVR for cord-cutters: Tablo vs Zapperbox vs Channels vs the rest

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.

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
No visual preview to help skip over commercials
Can’t sort series recordings by season

Why we like the Bitrouter ZapperBox M1

The ZapperBox M1 is a simple, plug-and-play DVR whose list of features is steadily growing. It connects directly to your TV’s HDMI port and uses your choice of MicroSD or external USB drive for storage. The $30 per year DVR subscription provides a 14-day grid guide and series-based recordings.

As of February 2025, it’s the only over-the-air DVR on the market that can record encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, which a growing number of broadcasters are adopting. It also supports other ATSC 3.0 features such as Dolby dialog boost, HDR video, and additional broadband-based channels.

Who should buy the ZapperBox M1

The ZapperBox M1 is ideal for folks who want to future-proof their DVRs for ATSC 3.0 and avoid the vagaries of in-home streaming, which some other over-the-air DVRs require. It’s pricey at $275 for a dual-tuner model (plus the subscription fee), but dependable.

Still, those who want more advanced features such as out-of-home streaming and automatic ad skipping should look elsewhere.

Read our full ZapperBox M1 review

Channels DVR — Best OTA DVR for power users

Pros

Records both over-the-air and live streaming channels
Slick software with lots of DVR creature comforts
Excellent audio and video quality for broadcast channels

Cons

Complicated setup
No Roku or game console support
Subscription fee is higher than other over-the-air DVRs

Best Prices Today:

Retailer

Price

Channels

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Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide

Product

Price

Price comparison from Backmarket

$8 at Channels

Why we like Channels DVR

Channels DVR is a software solution that runs on a desktop computer, NAS box, or Raspberry Pi. You must also supply an HDHomeRun tuner to capture over-the-air channels and relay them to your server device.

For those who bother setting it all up, the result is a deeply rewarding media center experience with automatic ad-skipping, out-of-home viewing, custom channel categories, and more. You can even bring in video from other sources—such as DVD rips and online M3U streams—giving you one app in which to view everything.

Who should buy Channels DVR

Between the hardware requirements and the subscription price of $8 per month and $80 per year, Channels DVR is not for everyone. But if you seek an over-the-air DVR solution that allows for customization and extensibility—while still being a joy to actually use—this is as good as it gets.

Read our full Channels DVR (2020) review

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                        Plex DVR — Best OTA DVR for power users, runner-up                      </h2>
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Creato 3d | 10 feb 2025, 21:20:06

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