Written by Annie Moss, Moss of Bath. Last updated: November 2026
Freesat vs Freely comes down to how television reaches your home. Freesat uses a satellite dish and needs no internet for live channels. Freely streams live TV over broadband, so no dish is required. Neither charges a subscription. Moss of Bath’s advice is to keep a working dish for now and look at your Freely options when you next buy a TV.
Both services are run by the same organisation, Everyone TV, which also runs Freeview. That explains why the names are so easily confused. Our guide to Freesat vs Freeview compares the two older services. This one looks at the newcomer and what it means for anyone with a dish.
What is the difference between Freesat and Freely?
Freesat is broadcast from satellites and received by a dish on your property. Freely is delivered through your broadband, on a TV or streaming device with Freely built in. The main practical differences are the equipment you need, what happens when your internet drops out, and the ability to record.
| Freesat | Freely | Freeview | |
| How it arrives | Satellite dish | Broadband | TV aerial |
| Internet needed for live TV? | No | Yes, 10Mbps minimum | No |
| Equipment | Freesat box or built-in tuner, plus dish | Freely TV or streaming device | TV with Freeview tuner, plus aerial |
| Recording | Yes, with a recording box | No | Yes, with a recording box |
| Live TV pause | Depends on the box | Up to 15 minutes | Depends on the box |
| Subscription | None | None | None |
| TV Licence for live TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If you are comparing Freeview vs Freesat and Freely, the table above shows the three side by side. For more on the aerial side of things, read What Is Freely and Do I Still Need a TV Aerial?
Do you need broadband for Freely or Freesat?
Freely needs broadband for its streamed channels, and Freely’s own guidance gives 10Mbps as the recommended minimum. Freesat needs no internet for live channels. You only need a connection on Freesat for on-demand apps such as BBC iPlayer.
This is the deciding factor for many homes. If the broadband goes down, streamed Freely channels go with it, and a slow or patchy Wi-Fi signal at the TV can cause problems even when the router itself is fine. A dish carries on regardless of your internet, although very heavy rain can interrupt a satellite picture for a while.
We would look at the connection before anything else. In a rural home with poor broadband, Freesat is the safer choice today. Where fixed-line broadband can’t be improved, Moss of Bath also installs Starlink, which can make streaming a realistic option.
Which has more channels, Freesat or Freely?
Freesat gives you access to over 100 TV and radio channels. Freely’s line-up is growing. It passed 70 live channels over Wi-Fi by the end of 2025 and more have been added since. Both services carry the main channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, so check any smaller channel you watch regularly.
Freely also lets you connect an aerial to add more channels, which then appear in the same TV guide. Freely’s website has a channel guide that works by postcode, so you can see what you would get before you change anything.
Can you record on Freely?
No. Freely lets you pause live TV for up to 15 minutes, and programmes you have missed are available through catch-up apps, but Freely does not record. A Freesat recording box stores programmes for as long as you want to keep them.
Anyone who has built up a library of recorded films or series should take this seriously. Catch-up programmes expire, and a recording you control doesn’t.
Will my satellite dish work with Freely?
Probably not. Most Freely TVs connect to broadband and, if you choose, an aerial. Everyone TV has said it expects Freely devices with satellite capability, so check the exact model if you are hoping to use your dish with one.
Your dish does still have a use. A working dish from an old Sky installation can be used for Freesat if it is still correctly aligned, because Freesat and Sky use the same satellites. Moss of Bath can check and realign a dish if your signal has become unreliable. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, speak to your local council before fitting a new one.
Is Freesat being switched off?
No switch-off date for Freesat has been announced. Its future is less certain than Freeview’s, though. The Government’s June 2026 green paper left Freesat to a separate transition plan, while proposing that Freeview ends in either 2034 or 2044.
Freesat relies on the same satellites as Sky, and Sky’s agreement with satellite operator SES runs until 2029. The BBC has said that a decision by Sky to leave satellite would challenge the viability of Freesat. That doesn’t set a date, and there is no reason to remove a dish that works. It is a good reason to think about your next television. Our article Is Freeview Being Switched Off? covers the aerial side.
Freely or Freesat: which should you choose?
Stay with Freesat if your dish works, your broadband is unreliable, or you record a lot of television. Consider Freely if your broadband is stable, you have no dish, or you want live and on-demand TV together in one guide. You can also have both, with a Freesat box connected to a Freely TV.
Not every TV brand includes Freely, so check the exact model before you buy. Older smart TVs won’t be upgraded to Freely, but a streaming device plugged into an HDMI socket adds it to your current set. We stock the Manhattan Aero 4K for this. It’s also worth knowing that a smart TV still works without the internet, so an aerial or dish remains a useful backup.
Our recommendation is simple. Don’t replace anything that works purely because of the headlines, and ask about Freely when your television is next due for replacement.
Frequently asked questions
Is Freely replacing Freesat? Freely is designed to succeed both Freesat and Freeview over time, but nothing has been switched off. Freesat continues to broadcast as normal.
Is Freely really free? There is no subscription. You need broadband, a Freely TV or streaming device, and a TV Licence to watch live TV.
Can I get Freely on my existing TV? Yes, if the TV has a spare HDMI socket and you add a Freely streaming device. Without one, you will need a TV with Freely built in.
Does Freesat work without Wi-Fi? Yes. Live Freesat channels come through the dish. Wi-Fi is only used for on-demand apps.
Not sure which suits your home?
Moss of Bath is an independent TV and AV specialist, founded in 1962. We can show you which televisions include Freely, check your dish or aerial, and look at the broadband connection where your TV sits.
Visit our showroom at 45 St James’s Parade, Bath BA1 1UQ, call 01225 331 441, or email sales@mossofbath.co.uk.
