If you haven't cut the cord and are thinking about it, now is the perfect time. If you're like many cord cutters, once you have a digital antenna and sign up to a streaming service or two, you won't even know why you stayed with cable as long as you did. If you do cut the cord, one of your best friends will be your antenna.

With that in mind, if you're still weighing the options, here are six reasons why you should think about getting an antenna.

Antennas equal free TV. Local channels such as PBS, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are meant to be free. An antenna will make sure you get these channels on your television. You'll have to pay for your antenna, but after that, you'll be able to watch all of the channels that are available in your area, and you won't have to pay a dime. And don't worry about breaking the bank when buying an antenna. While you can spend up to $100 on the latest antenna technology, most people can get away with one in the $20 to $60 range. Either way, you're looking at a cost equal to or less than one month of cable service.

The variety of free programming is astounding. Thanks to local channels, you'll get news, sports, special events such as the Super Bowl and a wide variety of successful daytime, prime-time and late-night shows. Many of the top-rated shows each season come from local channels, so you will have plenty to watch.

Cable is cheating you. The majority of cable companies charge you around $10 every month for local channels. That's right. With cable, you're being charged $10 for channels you already can get for free. Why pay for those channels when they are ready and waiting for you? Save your money and use your antenna instead.

Better visual quality. Cable gives you the option of standard definition or paying more for high definition. However, with an antenna you'll get uncompressed HD. That's going to give you a better visual clarity than you would receive with cable.

You'll be weather-ready. How many times has a storm hit and knocked out your cable? With an antenna, you'll be set even if the cable goes out. Your local channels will still be able to get you the information you need to keep your home and family safe in the event of an emergency.

Antennas are crucial to your entertainment package. A lot of people might say that your antenna will round out your package, but it's the place to begin. The vast majority of top programs are right here on the channels you'll get with your antenna. From there, you can add your favorite streaming services (either on-demand or live-streaming services) to create an entertainment package that doesn't break the bank.

Once you make the decision to switch, and you are in the market for an antenna, the hard part is over. Now you need to pick out the best antenna for you. If you're clueless on that front, these tips should help.

Know your channels. Before you buy the right antenna, you need to know what's available in your area. You can use free services, such as TV Fool, to find out. You'll be able to search the availability of channels to your specific address, and you'll even find out how strong the signal will be. If you live in a major city, this might not be a worry, but it's worth checking otherwise.

Choose the right antenna type. When you're looking for antennas, you'll see terminology such as "omnidirectional," which is a good choice if you have channels coming at you from all directions. Your other option is "directional," which means channels are coming in from one place or direction. Directional antennas sometimes have a better reach, but both have perks and should be chosen based on the direction from which you receive the channels.

You don't have to spend a lot. You might think antennas are expensive, but many of them fall in the $10 to $100 range. There are some more expensive options, but for the most part you can get a good deal, and once you pay, you're done. And remember: Just because you have multiple TVs doesn't mean you need multiple antennas. You can hook up one antenna to two or three TVs.

If you're looking to save the most money possible, you should definitely shop around. It's quite easy finding antennas these days, and most of the big-name stores will have them. If you shop online you can find them everywhere from Best Buy to Amazon. You can also check out Antennas Direct or Mohu to find a variety of great antennas that work in both larger homes and smaller spaces at reasonable prices.

