The 10 best Freeview boxes to transform your home TV viewing in 2025

As tech experts, we know that Freeview is a fantastic and free way to watch television, so it's worth knowing which is the best Freeview box on the market. Freeview boxes provide Freeview Play, a service that combines digital terrestrial channels and catch-up television streaming all in one place. This enables you to browse and see what shows are coming up and backwards to see shows from the previous week. You can also pause, rewind, and even record live TV. This is the case whether you're watching on a small portable telly in a kitchen or a 43-inch TV in the living room or bedroom.

Freeview offers over 95 per cent of the nation's favourite TV and with 70 live TV channels to pick from; there is always something for you to tune into. Freeview also provides an easy-to-use seven-day TV Guide that allows you to schedule recordings and reminders or set series links.

It's different to streaming devices as it provides you with digital terrestrial channels, as well as streaming apps. Whereas streaming devices use wifi and provide you with apps that you can either stream your favourite shows or watch live, such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX or Disney+.

How we chose the best Freeview boxes

We selected the best Freeview boxes by weighing up various factors such as brand, value, ease of use and features. By examining specs such as the total storage, compatible apps, and recording capabilities, we're able to recommend the standout Freeview boxes. This also helps us identify the best use case for each product. When including the chosen boxes in this list, we also rate each one based on traits such as storage, value, design, and features. Our writers also choose products based on hands-on experience where we own or have reviewed them ourselves – find out more about how we test products for Yours. Retailers are selected based on price, availability and reputation as reliable and trusted sellers.

For a more detailed breakdown, including pros, cons and our overall ratings, read on. Plus, head to the bottom of this article for additional info on what to look for in a Freeview box, as well as our answers to some of the most frequently asked Freeview questions.

Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Best Freeview boxes of 2025

How to choose the right Freeview box for you: Buyer's guide

We have a fantastic guide to finding the best Freeview box for your preferences, taste in TV shows and more. Though the time has passed for us to be wowed at recording and pausing live TV, there are other features to consider:

Guides

Newer Freeview boxes will come equipped with a well-presented electronic programme guide, granting you access to the upcoming television schedule. This way, you can plan ahead by recording and setting reminders for shows. Plus, HD connectivity gives you an upgrade. Quite literally "high definition", HD means your picture you will be top-quality.

What does "Catch Up" mean?

Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, BBC and ITV have stepped up to the plate with Catch Up, to run alongside their usual daily programming.

To offer value and options, with Catch Up, you can scroll back over the previous week's schedule and watch anything you want with the touch of a button. Though you will need an internet connection for this, it's worth it if you missed something you really wanted to watch.

What is "On Demand"?

On Demand is an exciting addition to Freeview. But, what is it? Well, some Freeview boxes will come with internet connectivity, providing you with apps – like your phone – to access a multitude of on-demand streams and catch-up services, including BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV, Channel 4, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and more.

Your extra entertainment options are staggering. BBC iPlayer, ITV and Channel 4 are often free to stream (provided your TV license is paid) whereas Netflix and Disney+ require a subscription.

On-Demand can cater to all tastes – whether you want to reminisce about programmes of the past, from classic sitcoms like Birds of a Feather to police dramas that you missed first time around – or stream the latest films and TV releases. The choice is yours. And, there is a lot of choice, believe us.

Recording, rewinding and pausing

Some boxes will have enough memory to allow you to pause, rewind and record live TV, which still feels newfangled and impossible. But, if you need to pop to the loo or make a cup of tea, you can (without missing a second).

Even the smallest of Freeview boxes will be able to store hundreds of hours of television. If you don't want to miss a thing, you can even record as many as four channels at the same time with some boxes.

What to look for in a Freeview box

Recording storage – Recording anything takes up memory and space, and the longer the content, the more room it requires. This goes double for anything recorded on a higher resolution, such as HD or 4K. As such, if you plan to record a lot of shows, you're going to need to choose a Freeview box with ample storage. We recommend 500GB as a minimum, but 1TB or even 2TB will provide you with more than enough space.

Apps and streaming – If a Freeview box can use streaming services and similar apps, it usually has access to the main names you would expect, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. If you want to use a specific app, try to check before purchasing if it has access to it.

Connections – Not everything relies on cables nowadays, and that's true for Freeview boxes as well. Plenty are capable of connecting to your Wi-Fi and internet (usually necessary to use streaming services). For those not confident about relying on a wireless connection, you may prefer a Freeview box that supports an ethernet connection, allowing it to physically connect to your broadband.

4K support – While support for 4K resolution has become increasingly commonplace in recent years, you may still occasionally find a Freeview box that isn't compatible with it. If your TV supports 4K, you should aim to make the most of it with a 4K box.

Expert's choice: The best Freeview box of 2025

For those searching for the best Freeview box for general use, we recommend the Manhattan T4-R 500GB, which we like for its features, storage capacity, and ease of use. We also recommend the Manhattan T2-R 500 GB Freeview HD Recorder for anyone who wants to record their favourite shows.

Why should you trust us?

At Yours, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best technology products available. Anything less would undermine our commitment to being a trusted source of unbiased product information.

Our dedicated in-house writing team comprises experts with extensive experience and a genuine passion for technology. Collectively, we have spent decades testing and writing about tech, leveraging our expertise in all our articles, advice pieces and reviews. You can find out more about how we test products here.

We maintain complete editorial independence and do not accept payment for product reviews. Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this never affects our product choices. These links enable us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews.

Kyle Purves is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for a range of brands, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech. They have also written extensively for What's The Best as a tech expert.

They're well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They're also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.