The UK is probably one of the best countries in the world for TV cord cutters – with Freesat, Freeview and YouView, it’s easier than ever to watch plenty of free channels, without any subscriptions.
Freesat is a satellite-based free TV solution. As such, it often offers the best reception, since you’re not relying on questionable signals in your area, but get your TV straight from… space. So if you’ve been struggling with Freeview reception and problematic aerials, Freesat might be the answer for you (plus, it offers more channels than Freeview.)
In this article, I’ll take a look at the things you need in order to watch Freesat, things to consider before you buy a Freesat box, and I rate the best Freesat boxes and recorders (PVRs).
Cord Busters’ Best Freesat Boxes 2023
Official 4K Freesat box with catch-up apps and advanced recording capabilities
Official Freesat box with 4K and catch-up apps (but without recording)
High-quality Freesat box, excellent value for money, but no recording capabilities
Great picture quality but slow and dated. No recording (Often out of stock)
Budget Freesat Receiver that can also record via a USB stick
Table of Contents
What Is Freesat?
Freesat started as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, and has been around since 2008. It offers more than 200 free-to-air TV channels and radio stations, all transmitted via digital satellite.
While similar to Freeview, Freesat was created as a solution for places where standard aerial reception is lacking. Instead of having to rely on aerial transmitters in your area, you just point your small satellite dish (usually placed outside your house, on a wall, or in some cases on the roof) to the sky, connect that to a tuner inside the house, and you’re good to go (There are some rare cases when your house might be blocked from facing the right direction in the sky.)
Because of the better reception and wider bandwidth, the Freesat service can offer more channels than Freeview – some of which are in HD. Those channels come with an easy to use Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), which shows you the TV schedule for up to 8 days in advance.
Additionally, some Freesat boxes also offer apps for the standard streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 – though you get these via your broadband connection, and not through the satellite (do note that older boxes don’t support ITV Hub’s replacement, ITVX).
In 2021, Freesat was acquired by Digital UK (which has since changed its name to “Everyone TV”) – the company behind Freeview. Therefore, Freeview and Freesat are now under the same roof, although they continue to operate as separate consumer entities – for now, at least.
How Do I Set Up Freesat And What Do I Need?
In order to be able to watch Freesat, you need two main components:
1. A Satellite Dish: You need a dish outside your home, which will receive the transmissions from the satellite up in space. If you have an old Sky dish you might be able to use it even if you’re no longer subscribed to Sky. Otherwise, you will need to buy and install your own dish.
You can either buy a dish yourself (on Amazon for example) and then arrange an installation separately, or you can arrange an installation along with your purchase, with some retailers.
Keep in mind that if you live in a rented property, conservation area or a listed building, there may be restrictions on installing satellite equipment.
In some cases, you can also use your Sky dish (if you have one) for Freesat – but it depends on your specific installation, and the dish might need professional retuning.
2. A Freesat Tuner – The satellite dish needs to connect to a device in your house, which will translate the signals and pass them on to your telly (usually via an HDMI cable. If you don’t have enough HDMI ports on your TV, you can use an HDMI switch.)
You can either use a set-top Freesat box, such as the ones I review in this guide, or you can get a telly with a Freesat tuner built-in – Amazon offers some good ones from LG, Cello and others. (While All TVs manufactured and sold in the UK since 2010 should have a Freeview tuner built-in, that’s not the case with Freesat – so there aren’t a lot of Freesat-compatible TVs left these days)
If you’re looking to use your Freesat box as a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and record programmes, and if you plan to use streaming apps like BBC iPlayer, you’ll also need to connect your Freesat box to the internet – either via WiFi, or with an Ethernet cable to your router. (If your TV is not in the same room as the router, you can use a Powerline Adapter – see my reviews here.)
Freesat VS. Freeview VS. YouView – What’s the difference?
I’ve mentioned Freeview already, but there’s also YouView, and they’re both different from Freesat… Confused? Don’t be.
- Freeview: Operated by Everyone TV (formerly Digital UK), a joint venture of the BBC, ITV Channel 4 and Channel 5, Freeview provides access to 100+ free, over-the-air channels and radio stations. To get it, you need an aerial – either one on your roof, or a cheap indoor aerial – and a Freeview tuner – either one built-into your TV, or a set-top box one which also offers recording capabilities. Read my full Freeview Guide right here.
- YouView: A “hybrid” service that combines over-the-air Freeview channels, and catch-up TV streamed to you via your broadband connection. Some YouView boxes also offer additional pay-per-view channels and programmes, but with many Freeview boxes also offering catch-up TV these days (with Freeview Play), the two services have become almost identical. As with Freeview, you’ll need an aerial for the reception – and you’ll also need a broadband connection (WiFi or Ethernet) for the catch-up services.
The main difference between Freesat and Freeview/YouView is the reception – in most cases, you’ll get better reception with a satellite dish than with an aerial (especially when compared to a small, indoor aerial.) The downside, however, is that you need a satellite dish.
In the past, the HD version of Channel 4 was removed from Freesat – but has since returned.
How To Buy The Best Freesat Box: Things To Consider
While the selection of Freesat boxes out there isn’t very big – there are still distinct differences between the ones that are available – both in features and cost.
Also, keep in mind that Humax no longer manufactures Freesat boxes – you might still find them in some stores, but they won’t get updated with some of Freesat’s newest features (so ITVX doesn’t work on them, for example).
PVR And Recording
Some Freesat boxes come with a built-in hard drive, allowing you to record TV programmes for later viewing (and you can record one programme while watching another one on a different channel). Conveniently, you can also use the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) to choose future-programmes to record, so you’ll never miss your favourite shows.
If you mostly use the streaming TV apps (such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX), you might not need a recording box – but keep in mind that some of the UK streaming apps are catch-up services, and the programmes expire after a set number of days.
If you are planning to record live TV shows, you also need to choose how much storage space you want your Freesat box to have, as that will determine how many hours of TV you can record.
Freesat Freetime – 7 Day Rollback
Some boxes support Freesat’s “Freetime” catch-up service, which lets you use the EPG to watch programmes that aired during the last 7 days (but only on specific channels).
Additional Apps
As mentioned, some Freesat boxes can also be used as internet streamers, in which case you’ll want them to have the relevant apps. The newer boxes also have a Netflix app and an Amazon Prime Video app built-in, which will prevent the need to get another streaming box just for those.
TV Connections
All Freesat boxes come with an HDMI connection, but if you have an older telly, you might need a SCART connection instead – so check if the box you’re looking to buy has one.
Freesat With Broadband Connection
If you want to use the streaming apps, you’ll also need to connect the Freesat box to the internet. Some boxes come with an Ethernet port, which you connect directly to your router, and some also come with a WiFi connection. Connecting via an Ethernet cable is usually more stable and provides better speeds – but if your telly is not next to your router, you might still want to consider WiFi.
Best Freesat Boxes UK 2023
| Rank | Freesat Box | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freesat 4K Recorder Box | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 2 | Freesat 4K TV Box | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 3 | Manhattan SX Freesat | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 4 | Humax HB-1100S Freesat | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 5 | Edision Lite V3 Freesat | ⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
Best Overall
The newest, advanced recorder with 4K support, catch-up apps and up to 2TB
Pros
- Record up to 4 channels at once
- Fast and easy to use interface
- 4K picture quality
- Good selection of catch-up apps
Cons
- Not cheap
- 4K only relevant to some apps
- Some users have encountered bugs
Features List
- Recording: Yes (Up to 2TB)
- Apps: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and more
- Freesat Mobile App: Yes
- Freeesat Rollback: Catch-up on last 7 days (via apps)
- Broadband Connections: Ethernet, WiFi
- TV Connections: HDMI
Bottom Line
Up until 2020, Humax ruled the Freesat world – but their boxes were becoming slow and obsolete, until they stopped making them.
Then, after months of waiting, Freesat finally launched a new set of boxes from Commscope (formerly Arris) – so we’re finally getting a modern, fast box that also supports 4K.
This recording model can record up to 4 programmes/channels at the same time (but you need a Wideband LNB dish), and has a wide range of smart recording features. You can also use the Freesat mobile app to set recordings from your mobile phone.
The number of hours you can record depends on the model you get: 500GB (Up to 250 hours), 1TB (Up to 500 hours) or 2TB (Up to 1,000 hours!).
Other than the usual Freesat features, with its easy to use interface and Electronic Programmes Guide, the box also comes with an impressive selection of broadband-based streaming apps, such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
Keep in mind, there are no 4K broadcasts on Freesat (at least for now) – so you’ll only be able to use that feature when streaming content from Netflix (provided you have the 4K plan), Prime Video and YouTube (and the occasional BBC iPlayer 4K ‘test’).
All in all, this box will give you the ultimate Freesat experience – but at a cost.
The newest, advanced box with 4K support and catch-up apps (no recording)
Pros
- Fast and easy to use interface
- 4K picture quality
- Good selection of catch-up apps
Cons
- No recording
Features List
- Recording: No
- Apps: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and more
- Freesat App: Yes
- Freeesat Rollback: Catch-up on last 7 days (via apps)
- Broadband Connections: Ethernet, WiFi
- TV Connections: HDMI
Bottom Line
If you don’t need recording capabilities, this ‘official’ 4K box from Freesat is your next best choice.
You get the speedy, easy to use interface and Electronic Programmes Guide, as well as the catch-up apps (providing you connect it to the internet) – BBC iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube and more.
Again, remember that there are no 4K broadcasts on Freesat, so for the moment, 4K only works with Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube.
This Freesat box does not have a hard drive, therefore you can’t record over the air programmes (though you can use the apps and catch-up services to ‘go back in time’ on some of the channels).
This box is set to give you an excellent Freesat experience, as long as you don’t need to record.
Best Value
Best value for money but no recording.
Pros
- Excellent price
- Good Full-HD reception
- Dolby Digital Plus surround sound
Cons
- No recording
- No Freetime (Catchup) and no apps
Features List
- Recording: No
- Apps: None
- Reminders: Set a reminder for a show on the EPG, and the box will turn on automatically
- Broadband Connections: Ethernet, WiFi (But only for software updates)
- TV Connections: HDMI (SCART and RCA with supplied AV kit)
Bottom Line
If you’re after a basic Freesat box that can show you all the channels in excellent quality but doesn’t have recording or catch-up capabilities, then the Manhatten SX represents the best value for money.
What it does, it does very well – the EPG guide is easy to use and pretty swift (compared to some other Freesat boxes), it has a nifty “Reminders” feature that will let you choose an upcoming show – and the box will turn on automatically when the show starts, and it even has SD upscaling for better picture quality with SD channels.
As mentioned, there are no PVR capabilities (you can’t even record on a USB stick – the USB port is only for software updates), and there are no apps or catch-up services – the broadband connection are there, again, only for software updates.
But if you don’t need the more advanced features – this high-quality box comes at an impressive price point.
Great picture quality but no recording.
Pros
- Excellent HD picture quality
- A selection of apps
- Easy to setup
- Stream content from home PC
- USB Recording
Cons
- Discontinued
- Slow interface
- No internal hard-drive
- ITVX (and ITV Hub) no longer supported
Features List
- Recording: Via USB
- Apps: BBC iPlayer, Netflix and more
- Freesat App: Control the device via your phone
- Freesat Rollback: Catch-up on last 7 days (“Freetime”)
- Broadband Connections: Ethernet, WiFi
- TV Connections: HDMI, Composite
Bottom Line
This older Freesat box used to be an excellent player: it comes packed with features and apps, the picture quality and reception are top-notch, and the interface is easy to use (though annoyingly slow.)
The HB-1100S doesn’t come with a built-in hard drive, and while you can connect an external one via USB, if you’re planning on using it frequently as a recorder, you’re better off with the recording box.
Setting this box up is a breeze once you connect it to your satellite dish, and the Freesat EPG is a joy to use. It also offers a 7-day catch-up service – you select programmes that aired during that time, via the EPG, and you get to magically watch them – it’s like your very own PVR in the cloud (but only for 7 days, and only on 26 channels at this time.)
The device also comes with a useful bunch of apps – from UK channels (such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 5), to Netflix and YouTube and several others. Alas, as is often the case, there are no Amazon Prime Video or NOW TV apps as of this writing.
However, since this box is no longer supported or manufactured – it will gradually lose functionality. Therefore ITV Hub’s replacement, ITVX, doesn’t work on it.
Basic, OK if you’re looking for a cheap Satellite Receiver
Pros
- Cheap
- Recording via USB
- Full HD quality
- Small form factor
Cons
- Dated interface
- No 7-days EPG
- No apps/internet
- Not an official Freesat box
Features List
- Recording: Only via USB stick
- Apps: None
- Freesat Rollback: None (Only what’s on NOW/NEXT)
- Broadband Connections: WiFi (For software updates?)
- TV Connections: HDMI / SCART
Bottom Line
This is a basic, bare-bones Satellite Receiver, that does its job (though with fewer features), and has one thing going for it – it’s very cheap.
There are no apps and no internet connection in this box – you only get the Freesat channels (and it’s also compatible with some of the European satellite channels, in case you travel with it), but is not an official Freesat box.
It doesn’t have a built-in hard drive, but you can use a USB stick to record and time-shift programmes.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t support the full 7-day EPG – it will only show you the name of the programme you’re watching right now, and the next one.
If you’re only interested in getting the free channels, without a lot of fanfare, this is a solid, cheap box.
