In the not-too-distant past, any mention of looking for the best TV recorders would have someone reaching for the nearest VHS video cassette. Thankfully, television has upped its game lately - not just in the raft of quality entertainment being churned out, but technically, too. The best TVs are fully digital now, but many still don't come with a way to record your favourite shows.
The ability to record gives you full control over the way you watch. We're spoiled for choice, which can make for many scheduling dilemmas. High-quality entertainment is abundant, sent through the ether to our ever-larger smart TVs. But does it matter whether you get your shows through a digital aerial or the internet when selecting from the best TV recorders? Let's find out.
The best TV recorders of 2024 at a glance:
• Best TV recorder: Humax FVP-5000T - View at Amazon
• Best Freeview TV recorder: Panasonic DMR-BWT850EB Recorder - View at Amazon
• Best Freesat 4K TV recorder: Freesat Recordable 4K TV Box - View at Argos
Following the example set by streaming giants Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, standard terrestrial channels now offer an excellent catalogue of programmes. But how you're receiving them is important. If you're already used to watching via the Freeview Play app, you might want an internet-enabled recorder with Freeview Play. Likewise, if you also have a digital terrestrial Freeview aerial or Freesat dish, you'll probably want to record live TV.
Some TVs have their own Freeview receiver and built-in schedule that will let you mark a programme for recording, but you'll still need a hard drive to make those recordings. Sound like a minefield? Don't worry - our experts have put together a guide at the end of the article. So, let's grab that TV guide and get ready for some of the best TV recorders on the market right now.
The best TV recorders of 2024:
Please note: All prices correct at time of writing. Prices, stock and deals subject to change without notice.
Best Freeview TV recorder
This smart model from Panasonic is a bit of a wildcard in our selection of the best TV recorders. For starters, yes, it's capable of recording 4K and full-HD programmes to the built-in 1TB hard drive, but it'll also archive some of this content onto blank DVD or Blu-ray discs. If you're enjoying standard definition or HD content, this will even upscale it to 4K for you as you watch. An added bonus is support for the playback of 3D Blu-Ray discs. It's not a cheap option, but it's a classy piece of kit.
What this does best is Freeview Play. With twin tuners, you can record two programmes at the same time. But of course, you have the Freeview Play service itself, which will give you instant access to all of the usual catchup services with entertainment from the previous seven days. Freeview itself is fast and easy to use, with your digital terrestrial aerial plugged into the back, you'll be able to pause and rewind live TV.
If you're new to Freeview, you'll be glad to know that terrestrial aerials are cheaper than the dish you'd need to buy for use with its satellite-based cousin, FreeSat. But if you're familiar with Freesat and want more to choose from, we have a guide to the best Freeview boxes.
But, all that Freeview and recording goodness comes with a trade-off - there is only the Panasonic app store. While the box comes with excellent Freeview Play functionality and regular catch-up services like iPlayer and ITV, the rest is fairly limited. Other than access to Amazon Instant Video and Netflix, and a few others, it's limited. But with 4K, Freeview Play and a huge hard drive for pure Freeview, this is a real winner.
Pros
- Large storage capacity
- 4K recording and upscaling
- Ability to archive recordings to DVD
Cons
- Blu-Ray or DVD recordings can only be played back in a Panasonic player
Best TV recorder
A solid, nifty TV recorder perfect for saving plenty of TV shows, the Humax FVP-5000T TV recorder is one affordable and easy-to-use device we can heartily recommend.
Capable of capturing up to full-HD resolution, this TV recorder isn't the best for those who love saving TV programmes at ridiculously high 4K resolutions, but for those who want to save libraries upon libraries of films, you won't find many cheaper options that are more capable.
A speedy, hefty option that'll store up to 250 hours of entertainment, pair with one of our unbeatable budget TV deals, and you'll be golden.
Pros
- 250 hours of potential recordings
- Easy to use
- Ideal for affordable recording
Cons
- No 4K recording option
Best BT TV recorder
www.onbuy.com
BT's HD recorder may not be a super-low budget option, but in the world of reliable feature-rich TV gadgetry, it's as low as you'll want to get.
Not only will this small, unassuming box sit nicely next to your TV, but it can also deliver great content with all of the possible catchup services you could want.
500 GB is plenty of storage space to record your must-watch shows, and if you feel you can spare the extra bit of digital room, you can even record them in HD. Although, other recorders with higher capacities can be found for a similar price.
Best of all, if you're out and about and have forgotten to set something up to record, you can set it up to do so using the companion app on your phone.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Works great with BT setups
- Handy companion app
Cons
- Other TV recorders outclass it in terms of total storage
Best Freesat 4K TV recorder
www.argos.co.uk
The Freesat Recordable 4K TV Box is the only set-top box that anyone who uses Freesat will need. With access to over 170 channels, the box carries enough tuners to allow four programmes to record at once. It’ll store up to 1000 hours of SD content and allow you to pause or rewind live TV.
The user interface is a pleasure to use, being clear and intuitive. With an internet connection (wifi or ethernet), you can also unlock the box’s on-demand and streaming services.
BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and 4OD are here for those looking to keep things free. Access to Netflix is available via a subscription, as is Amazon Prime Video. As its plain-speaking title suggests, the box allows you to watch any 4K content from services like Netflix and YouTube. Then there's the massive 2TB of hard drive storage, a great upgrade from the previous model's 500GB; plus Dolby Atmos and Dolby 5.1 for incredible sound.
Pros
- Plenty of storage
- Fantastic 4K recording
- Great user interface
Cons
- If you don't have a satellite dish already, it's an extra cost
Best TV recorders of 2024: Buyer's guide
These boxes aren’t only about recording. Many carry with them Freeview or Freesat TV programming guide, on-demand services and access to streaming subscriptions. Some have compatible smartphone and tablet apps that allow you to set recordings or stream them to your device. With so many TV recorders to choose from, it can be tough to know how much you'll need to spend. The rule of thumb for all kinds of TV recorder users is: go bigger if you can afford it. Here are just a few pointers:
Consider your TV
If you've got a full HD TV, then getting a 4K TV recorder may be a waste of cash. There's a good chance that your TV will already have a Freeview or Freesat aerial connection but lacks any way to store recordings. An external USB drive, like those at the end of the article, may be all you need. But, not all smart TVs are fast and easy to use. And, of course, you may not want a cumbersome external drive sticking out of your brand-new 4K set. So, if you're looking to get the most out of your stunning UHD display, you're better off going for a 4K TV recorder.
How much do you need to record?
How many shows are you planning to record? If you want plenty of space for your favourite shows without the need to go on a deleting spree - go for something with more capacity. 1TB recorders are fantastic for a whole library of entertainment. For those with a smart TV or Freeview box which is capable of recording but lacks the memory to store any programmes, we’ve also included several external memory drives at the bottom of the page.
To help you start recording, we’ve rounded up the best TV recorders on the market. Our picks are user-friendly, reliable and affordable. They can record multiple channels at once and store hundreds of hours of programming content.
External drives for recording straight from a smart TV
If you own a smart TV, it's likely able to record, pause and rewind live digital terrestrial channels. However, as smart TVs do not typically ship with an internal HDD for such purposes, these features are unavailable until an external memory drive connects via a USB port.
If your television has this capability, you won’t need to pick up a TV recording set-top box - an external drive will do. And, because these external drives don't come with smart features and user interfaces, you can get a lot more memory capacity for your money.
Please note: Some drives may need formatting before your TV recognises them. If in doubt about your TV's compatibility, please check with the manufacturer.
Here are our top recommendations:
Best overall hard drive for TV recording
The Western Digital My Passport Portable External Hard Drive is affordable, reliable and boasts plenty of memory. It connects via a USB 3.0 connection, so if your TV has the corresponding port, the read/write speeds are good enough for recording and playback.
Pros
- Huge amount of storage
- Small, easy-to-move
- Rapid downloading
Cons
- You won't get the speed benefit of USB 3.0 if your TV has USB 2 ports
Best large-capacity hard drive for TV recording
The hugely popular Seagate external hard drive is the be-all-end-all of any external hard drive, with an earth-shattering 8 TB of storage, perfect for more films and television than you'll ever need.
Despite being on the chunkier side, the Seagate 8 TB external hard drive remains perfectly portable, so bringing over your library to a friend's house or even to another television is an absolute breeze.
Pros
- Incredible storage
- Fantastic price
Cons
- Very large compared to other external hard drives
Best SSD for TV recording
The Samsung T7 is a real favourite of ours, thanks to its versatility and performance. As an SSD with excellent ports, the 3.2 Gen 2 can push over 1000 MB/s in the right circumstances. While this speed is likely unattainable via a smart TV connection, you may be able to see double the performance of a standard HDD.
That's great news if you like your HD and 4K content delivered with haste. The T7 is also a pretty dinky drive, so tucks away nicely behind a TV. In a nice little bit of futureproofing, the drive also carries USB-C connectivity. Available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB.
Pros
- Small and portable
- Cheap
Cons
- Larger storage capacities get expensive
Best large-capacity SSD for TV recording
While it doesn't quite match the 8 TB of its hard drive counterpart, 5 TB is still a shockingly large amount. With this SSD, you'll easily be able to record the entire series worth of shows and catch up at your own pace.
Since you have so must storage, we'd even suggest using this for other projects as well and making the most of its versatility.
Pros
- Incredible storage capacity
- Portable and easy to use
- Quite durable
Cons
- Likely more storage than many need
Best small USB stick for TV recording
If you only record the odd film or are very good at keeping on top of your 'to-watch' backlog, a small, affordable USB stick may be the ticket.
Though tiny, the Samsung Fit Plus is mighty. While the read speed attainable depends on the TV, Samsung reports that the 128GB and 256GB capacity Fit Plus drives can reach read speeds of 400MB/s. Giving your TV as much headroom as this means that bottlenecking shouldn’t ever be a problem, which is ideal for watching back HD and 4K video files.
Pros
- Very small and portable
- Perfect for commuting
Cons
- Fairly small storage
Best SanDisk USB for TV recording
If you're keen on the portability of a flash drive, we also want to suggest this one from SanDisk. It sports a seriously impressive read speed, enough to back up its claim of being able to download a movie in 30 seconds.
It is a little bit limited by the 128 GB capacity, but so long as manage it well, it shouldn't prove to be much of an issue.
Pros
- Very fast read speed
- Great size and is compact without being easily lost
Cons
- Capacity will likely mean you'll not be able to record too much at a time
Best TV recorders of 2024: Jargon guide
No matter what kind of user you are, when it comes to TV recorders more is more. The larger you can go with the resolution, hard drive capacity and the number of tuners the better. But, of course, the more you get the higher the price. So, cut your cloth to fit. It's important to consider which of the following key areas will be at the top of your shopping list:
HDD capacity
HDD stands for Hard Drive Disk and refers to the amount of memory that a TV recorder has inbuilt. 500 GB is about the starting capacity and typically will store around 200 to 250 hours of standard definition recording. However, this number can vary as the file type and method of storage used by manufacturers can affect this number.
Definition/Resolution
TV recorders are available in both 1080p (Full-HD) and 4K variations. Which is right for you depend on your current setup and any plans that you may have for future upgrades. It’s also worth noting that recording in higher definitions requires more memory.
Tuners
Digital terrestrial tuners deliver your live TV programming. To record one channel while watching another will require the TV recorder to have two of these tuners. If you’re looking to record multiple channels at the same time, consider a device with four tuners.
Freeview and Freeview Play
Freeview Play is a service that combines digital terrestrial channels and catch-up television streaming into one place, allowing you to browse forward to see what’s upcoming, and backwards to see shows from the previous week.
An aerial is required to watch Freeview Play for live TV as received through an aerial, as it is with standard Freeview. Only the on-demand and catch-up features require an internet connection. According to Freeview, you’ll need a minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps.
Freesat and IPTV
There are plenty of TV recorders that are based on other signal sources, such as Freesat or IPTV. Freesat is basically a receiver similar to a Sky box as it has a satellite dish connected, but the programming is free - like Freeview. IPTV is another name for streaming live or on-demand programmes via the internet.
Companion apps
Some devices have companion smartphone and tablet apps. The function of these apps varies from device to device, but even the most basic ones can be very useful. For example, some allow for recording to be set remotely, while others allow recorded programming to stream directly to the app. Note that these features will require an internet connection for both the device and the recorder.
Optional Extras
A TV recorder doesn’t just have to be another set-top box added to the shelf - it can replace them. Many options bundle in Freeview live TV programming and Freeview Play along with streaming apps, like BBC iPlayer and Netflix. This means that a TV recorder could become your primary entertainment hub, rather than just an add-on.
Why record when you can stream?
Having a recording of a programme means that you are not at the mercy of your internet connection. You can keep the programme for as long as you like, long after they disappear from the online schedules. Plus, you won’t have to tolerate poor internet connectivity or max out your broadband data limit if you have one. Not big on broadcast or terrestrial content?
Then you're probably more suited to streaming-only entertainment, so you may want to consider the best streaming devicesinstead. They're easy to use, cheap and perfect for instant entertainment.
Best of all, recording television is free. You are not tethered to subscriptions service, where you lose access to your favourite shows once the billing stops.
Can you record on a smart TV?
Yes, so long as your smart TV is compatible with the process. It's sometimes referred to as PVR (Personal Video Recorder) or DVR (Digital Video Recorder). The process will record directly from your smart TV’s Freeview, and it’ll also allow you to pause and rewind live TV.
The process requires a large chunk of memory, however, and often only becomes accessible after adding some storage via an external device, like a USB stick or portable HDD. We’ve listed some of these external storage options above, or you can head over to our article rounding up the best USB sticks for smart TVs.
For more storage options for your beloved PC, laptop, or even console, here are the best external hard drives - affordable, powerful, and perfect for portability.
Once the external drive is ready to go, you should be able to record with the touch of a single button or even set recordings right from the TV’s EPG (electronic program guide).
William Lobley is the Deputy Tech & Fitness Editor for What's The Best. Here, he oversees, curates and researches listicles and reviews as many products as his home office can handle.
He has spent nearly five years writing about tech, audio, outdoors and fitness and has reviewed everything from smartphones to ice baths. In addition, he's well-versed in sniffing out the best deals and savings the internet offers.
When not at his desk writing, reviewing or deal-hunting, he'll be relaxing with Japanese crime novels, bingeing some classic anime, strolling the countryside or at the gym listening to the heaviest metal Spotify has to offer.
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