Best TV recorder with no subscription
With a rooftop aerial, the Manhattan T4-R records two programmes while you watch a third, with no subscription. The Humax AuraEZ records four at once and adds Freely; with a satellite dish, the Manhattan S4-R records free satellite channels.
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The picks
Best with an aerial
Manhattan T4-R Freeview Play recorder
Records two while you watch a third, up to 1,200 hours on the 2TB model, from £239.99.
Worth knowing: Needs a rooftop aerial for live channels (Manhattan advises against indoor aerials), and channels streamed over the internet can't be recorded. No Sky channels.
From £239.99 RRPDetailsSee it on AmazonMost recording, plus Freely
Humax AuraEZ 4K Recorder with Freely
Records four channels while you watch a fifth, 2TB, with Freely built in. No Netflix or Prime Video on it yet.
Worth knowing: Channels streamed through Freely can't be recorded, and Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube aren't currently available on it.
Best with a dish
Manhattan S4-R Freesat recorder
Free satellite channels, up to four recordings at once with wideband cabling, from £259.99.
Worth knowing: With an older dish setup it records two programmes at once, not four. Free channels only: no Sky Sports, Atlantic or Cinema.
From £259.99 RRPDetailsSee it on Amazon
Side by side
| Model | Freely (live TV over broadband) | Records live TV | Needs an aerial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan T4-R Freeview Play recorder | No | Yes | Yes |
| Humax AuraEZ 4K Recorder with Freely | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manhattan S4-R Freesat recorder | Not confirmed | Yes | No |
From Freely’s, NOW’s and the makers’ own lists. “Not confirmed” means they don’t say, so we don’t claim it.
How to choose
- Recorders record from an aerial or dish, not from Freely's streamed channels.
- Indoor aerials rarely work well for recorders; Manhattan advises a rooftop aerial.
- No Sky channels on any of these. For Sky's channels without a contract, NOW streams them month by month.
Rather someone did it for you?
Having a new TV set up at home usually costs £25 to £80: unpacked, connected to your aerial, Wi-Fi, box and soundbar, tuned, and shown how it works. Find a checked local fitter.
Questions
- Can I record Freely?
- No. Channels streamed through Freely can't be recorded. Record from an aerial instead.
Related guides
Manhattan T4-R Freeview Play recorderBest with an aerial
See it on AmazonDesk research by Tely from the makers’, Freely’s and NOW’s own pages, checked 4th November 2026. We haven’t tested these ourselves; each product page lists its sources. Prices are the makers’ listed starting prices; shops often charge less. How we check.