TV · Guide
Freeview: free TV channels, and what to add
Freeview is free with a TV aerial or broadband, with no monthly fee. The cheapest paid package to add on 25 Oct 2026 is NOW Entertainment (Saver, 6-month minimum) at £6.49 a month (Sky Originals and exclusive shows · 6 months).
Cheapest paid add-on
NOW Entertainment (Saver, 6-month minimum)
Sky Originals and exclusive shows · 6 months · £6.49 a month real cost
The lowest real cost here from a national provider on 25 Oct 2026, with fees and stated price rises counted.
The deals, best value first
Checked 25 Oct 2026| Provider and package | What you get | Contract | Monthly price | Real cost | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NOW Entertainment (Saver, 6-month minimum) Then £7.99 a month after the 6-month minimum term, unless cancelled · Includes ads; one ad-free month included at checkout | What you getSky Originals and exclusive shows · Biggest returning series from HBOStreams over your broadband | Contract6 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£4.99£7.99 after 6 months | Real cost£6.49 /mo£77.88 over 12 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Cinema Monthly Saver with 6-month minimum term, then up to £9.99 a month unless cancelled · Includes ads | What you getHundreds of movies, latest blockbustersStreams over your broadband | Contract6 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£6.99£9.99 after 6 months | Real cost£8.49 /mo£101.88 over 12 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Entertainment & HBO Max Monthly Saver with 6-month minimum term, then up to £9.99 a month unless cancelled · Includes ads | What you getSky Originals and exclusive shows · HBO Max Basic with AdsStreams over your broadband | Contract6 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£6.99£9.99 after 6 months | Real cost£8.49 /mo£101.88 over 12 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Essential TV No upfront fees · Streams over your WiFi, no dish | What you get100+ channels incl. Sky Atlantic · 90 free-to-air channels · Netflix and discovery+ includedStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£15.00Price may change | Real cost£15.00 /mo£360.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Entertainment TV Box Edge (no recording) · £0 upfront | What you getNetflix Standard with Ads · 21 channels from NOW Entertainment · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£17.00£19.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £21.00 | Real cost£19.00 /mo£456.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
NOW Sports Monthly Saver with 12-month minimum term, then up to £34.99 a month unless cancelled · Ads included on live sports and channels | What you getAll Sky Sports channels, liveStreams over your broadband | Contract12 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£19.99Price may change | Real cost£19.99 /mo£239.88 over 12 months | See deal at NOW (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Entertainment Plus TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getNetflix Standard with Ads · 21 channels from NOW Entertainment and HBO Max (Basic with Ads) · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£22.00£24.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £26.00 | Real cost£24.00 /mo£576.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
Sky Ultimate TV No upfront fees · Streaming apps worth over £20 a month included (Netflix Standard with Ads, Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic with Ads, discovery+) | What you get130+ channels incl. Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness · Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hayu and discovery+ included · 90 free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£24.00Price may change | Real cost£24.00 /mo£576.00 over 24 months | See deal at Sky (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Sport TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getAll TNT Sports HD channels and TNT Sports on HBO Max · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£27.00£29.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £31.00 | Real cost£29.00 /mo£696.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Sport Plus TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getAll TNT Sports HD channels and TNT Sports on HBO Max · Sky Sports channels with NOW Sports in HD · Free-to-air channelsStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£55.00£57.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £59.00 | Real cost£57.00 /mo£1,368.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
BT TV Full Works TV Box Pro (supports recording) · £0 upfront | What you getNOW Entertainment and HBO Max (Basic with Ads) · Netflix Standard · Sky Sports channels with NOW Sports in HDStreams over your broadband | Contract24 monthsNo setup fee | Monthly price£88.00£90.00 from 31 Mar 2027, then £92.00 | Real cost£90.00 /mo£2,160.00 over 24 months | See deal at BT (opens in a new tab) |
Ranked by real cost; commission never changes the order. Prices checked on each provider's own site on 25 Oct 2026.
What Freeview gives you
Freeview gives you free live TV channels, with no monthly fee and no subscription. It is the UK's free-to-air TV service, so you can start watching with just an aerial.
Free-to-air means you watch without paying a subscription. Plug your aerial into a Freeview TV or box, then scan for channels. Your live channels appear, with no contract to sign.
Freeview Play is the online version of the service. It adds on-demand shows and needs broadband instead of an aerial.
You need a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service. You also need one to use BBC iPlayer. Want more channels? See all TV deals.
What you need
You need only a TV aerial to get Freeview, or broadband if you want Freeview Play. A TV aerial picks up free channels from the air. It needs no internet connection and no monthly fee.
Freeview Play adds on-demand shows and catch-up through your broadband. Your broadband must be working and reach your TV or box.
Next, check that your TV can receive Freeview. Look for Freeview in the TV menu or on the box label. If your TV cannot, add a Freeview box instead.
Want paid channels as well? Compare TV deals and sort the table by price.
Add paid channels for less
Paid channels can cost less when you pick a flexible pass instead of a long contract. Freeview keeps your free channels, and you add only the extras you want.
NOW is Sky's flexible streaming brand, with Entertainment, Cinema and Sports memberships. Entertainment Saver has a 6-month minimum, so compare NOW and Sky TV before you join.
Our table shows today's cheapest options, with the date each price was last checked. Sort it by the channels you watch, then compare the real cost.
Straight answers
Questions people ask
- Is Freeview free?
- Yes, Freeview is free to watch, with no subscription and no monthly fee. You only need a TV aerial, or broadband for Freeview Play. Paid channels are optional extras that you can add later.
- Do I need a TV licence for Freeview?
- Yes. You need a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel, including Freeview, or to use BBC iPlayer. Freeview itself has no subscription and no monthly fee, but the licence still applies.
- Can I get Freeview without an aerial?
- Yes, if you have broadband. Freeview Play works over your internet connection instead of an aerial. Freeview has no subscription and no monthly fee, whichever way you watch it. Without an aerial or broadband, you cannot get Freeview.