No sport is more popular than professional football, and most people think that a cable subscription is the only way to watch their favorite team.
Thanks to live TV streaming services, that is not the case. There are numerous ways to watch NFL games without cable or a satellite TV provider.
We’ve tested the top video streaming services to find the best ways to catch all the action this season.
Table of Contents
What Channels Are NFL Games On?
Before choosing a service to stream NFL games, it is essential to know what networks you need.
Here are the channels you must have to get live football:
- CBS – Shows Sunday games (AFC games)
- ESPN – Shows Monday Night Football
- Fox – Shows Sunday games (NFC games)
- NBC – Shows Sunday and Thursday Night Football
Thursday Night Football is a bit more complicated since some shows air exclusively on the NFL Network. We will cover how to watch those games later in this review.
Best Choices to Watch NFL Games Online
There are various ways to watch live NFL games. Here are the top live streaming services to watch football this fall.
| Service | Cost | Free Trial | Locals (Y/N) | Streams | DVR | Try |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fuboTV | $69.99 | 7 Days | Y | 10 | 1,000 hrs. | Try |
| Sling TV | $50 | 3 Days | Fox/NBC | 4 | 50 hrs. | Try |
| Vidgo | $55 | N/A | ABC/Fox | 3 | N/A | Try |
| Hulu Live | $69.99 | N/A | Y | 2 | No limit | Try |
| YouTube TV | $64.99 | 7 Days | Y | 3 | No limit | Try |
| Paramount+ | $9.99 | 7 Days | CBS | 3 | N/A | Try |
| Amazon Prime | $8.99 | 30 Days | N/A | 3 | N/A | Try |
fuboTV
FuboTV is our top choice to watch NFL games. The service carries the entire ESPN family of channels, the NFL Network, and all of your local networks.
The base package, Pro, costs $69.99 per month and includes roughly 110 channels. This makes the streaming service a terrific choice to watch all nationally televised games as well as local games.
*Related: Do you want all the in-studio commentary without a contract? Read our guide on how to watch NFL Network without cable to learn the best options.
Other sports channels you can expect to get with the base package include:
- FS1
- FS2
- BTN
- Golf Channel
If you enjoy niche sports, fuboTV offers various add-on packages to get access to sports like biking and tennis. You can add NFL RedZone with its Sports Plus add-on for an additional $10.99 per month.
FuboTV has a cloud-based DVR that allows you to record 1,000 hours of content.
Read our review of the fuboTV packages to learn more.
Sports channels included: ESPN family of channels, NFL Network, FS1, FS2, BTN, Golf Channel, Olympics Channel, TVG, beIN Sports, CBS Sports Network, and all local networks.
Best for: Top choice for NFL fans
Sling TV
Sling TV is the cheapest option to get live NFL games. The platform has two base packages, including Orange and Blue. Each plan costs $35 per month.
However, with the affordability comes a bit of confusion for some people. Orange includes ESPN and ESPN2, and Blue offers the NFL Network.
You must combine the two, known as Sling Orange + Blue, to get both ESPN and NFL Network. The combined package costs $50 per month and offers roughly 50 channels.
One other challenge is that local networks are only available in Blue, albeit on a limited basis.
The channels included are NBC and Fox. If you pair this with an over-the-antenna, you will have access to all of your local networks.
*Missing out on your local channels? Read our guide on how to watch FOX without a cable provider here to learn how to get your local affiliate.
If you get Orange + Blue, you’ll also receive:
- FS1
- FS2
- Stadium
You can purchase the Sports Add-on for an extra $11 per month to get NFL RedZone and ten other sports channels.
Sling has a cloud-DVR setup with 50 included hours. You can upgrade to 200 hours for $5 per month.
Read our review of the Sling TV plans to learn more.
Sports channels included: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NFL Network, Stadium, Fox, and NBC in some locations.
Best for: Fans who want flexibility
Vidgo
Vidgo is a newer player in the cable replacement space and a good option to watch the NFL online. The service is cheaper than options like fuboTV or Hulu Live and the base plan costs $55 a month.
Vidgo carries the entire ESPN family of channels and NFL Network. Unfortunately, it only offers ABC and Fox for local channels, so you will need an antenna to get CBS.
Other sports channels Vidgo carries include:
- NFL RedZone
- BTN
- The Longhorn Network
- Pac-12 Network
This makes Vidgo the only streaming service to offer both NFL Network and NFL RedZone in its base package.
*Related: Do you want to break free of cable but overwhelmed at where to start? Sign up for our course to learn the steps you need to cut the cord and save $100+ per month.*
It’s important to note that there is currently no DVR with Vidgo. This might be a deal-breaker for fans who want to record games.
The platform offers a seven day free trial before trying the service.
Read our Vidgo TV review here to learn more.
Sports channels included: ESPN family of networks, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, ACCN, BTN, The Longhorn Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, ABC, and Fox.
Best for: Fans who want NFL Network and NFL RedZone
Hulu with Live TV
Hulu with Live TV is an excellent choice to watch the NFL online. The service offers one base package, which costs $69.99 per month for roughly 85 channels.
Hulu Live carries each of the ESPN channels, the NFL Network, and all of your local channels. This makes it a good choice to access your local TV market and other live sports.
Other sports channels Hulu Live offers include:
- ACCN
- BTN
- FS1
- FS2
- Golf Channel
You can add NFL RedZone by purchasing its Sports Add-on for $9.99, which includes five other channels.
Furthermore, Hulu Live upgraded its DVR to allow for unlimited recording capacity. You can also skip commercials on recordings.
The service offers two simultaneous streams. You can upgrade to unlimited streams for $10 per month.
Read our Hulu Live channels list to learn more.
Sports channels included: ESPN family of channels, NFL Network, FS1, FS2, ACCN, BTN, CBS Sports Network, Golf Channel, Olympic Channel, and SECN.
Best for: College football fans
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a close second to fuboTV to watch NFL games without cable. The streaming platform offers roughly 90 channels for $64.99 per month.
This gets you the full family of ESPN channels, the NFL Network, and all local networks.
Additional sports channels include:
- ACCN
- BTN
- FS1
- FS2
You can add NFL RedZone as a part of its Sports Plus add-on for $10.99 per month. This includes twelve other channels.
If you’re an NBA or MLB fan, the service also carries those respective networks.
*Related: Are you a basketball fan, but want to ditch your expensive contract? Read our guide on the best ways to stream NBA games and save big bucks.
Another awesome feature YouTube TV offers is an unlimited capacity DVR. However, all recordings are only housed for nine months. This could be a deterrent for some fans.
Read our YouTube TV review to learn more about this streaming service.
Sports channels included: Entire ESPN family of channels, NFL Network, FS1, FS2, ACCN, BTN, CBS Sports Network, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, Olympics Channel, SECN, and all local channels.
Best for: NBA and MLB fans
Paramount+
Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All-Access) is a fantastic option for AFC fans.
The on-demand streaming service provides access to your local CBS affiliate if you upgrade to their premium add-free package.
As you can see below, the price is pretty affordable.
| Subscription Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Ads (Essential Plan) | $4.99 | $49.99 |
| Ad-Free (Premium Plan) | $9.99 | $99.99 |
The app gives access to over 30,000 TV shows and 2,500 movies. If you upgrade to the ad-free option, you can watch anything on your local CBS channel, including football games.
If your favorite NFL team is in the AFC, this service might be the ideal choice for you.
However, you won’t get other games with this platform. You can pair it with an antenna or a service like Sling to catch more action.
Best for: AFC fans
Amazon Prime Video
The NFL Network airs all Thursday Night Football games, but most of them are also simulcast on Fox and Amazon Prime Video.
If you don’t want to use a higher-cost streaming service, this is a good way to get most of the Thursday Night action since they simulcast all but three games.
Amazon Prime costs $119 per year. Alternately, you can sign up for the standalone video service for $8.99 a month.
You won’t get other games, but it is a good choice if you want to keep your costs somewhat low.
Best for: Amazon Prime members
How Can I Watch NFL Games for Free?
An over-the-air antenna is the best way to watch NFL games without cable. Outside of an affordable one-time cost, you can watch games on all your local networks free for life.
You can watch the following with an antenna:
- In-market Sunday afternoon games
- Sunday Night Football
- Thursday Night Football that’s simulcast on Fox
Just peruse the best antennas on Amazon to find one that works for you. Top antennas include 1byone, Mohu, Wsky, and Antennas Direct.
An antenna is the cheapest way to watch pre-season games, regular season games, and the playoffs.
How Can I Watch Out-of-Market Games?
Non-regional action plagues many fans because they cannot watch their favorite teams from across the country.
You may think that NFL Sunday Ticket is the only way to watch out-of-market Sunday games. It’s not.
The NFL Game Pass is a good solution. Live coverage is not offered during the regular season, though it is during the pre-season.
You get access to all 256 regular season games without commercials. Game availability is usually delayed by one day, though sometimes it will air later on the same day.
After a seven-day free trial, the service costs $99 per year and includes games dating back to 2009, DVR functionality, coaches’ film, and the entire NFL Films library.
How to Watch Sunday Night Football Without Cable
All Sunday Night Football games air on NBC. You need either an antenna to get access to local channels or a streaming service that offers NBC.
Read our guide here on how easy it is to install an antenna.
An antenna is the most affordable option. But, if you want to watch the NFL online, fuboTV guarantees the ability to watch the action. Sling Blue may also be a choice depending on where you live.
How to Watch Monday Night Football Without Cable
Monday Night Football is a must-have for most football fans. The game airs on ESPN, so you will need a streaming service that carries the channel to stream games.
All of the live TV streaming providers on this list carry ESPN, so it comes down to which platform you prefer.
How to Watch Thursday Night Football Without Cable
Thursday Night Football airs exclusively on the NFL Network, though they simulcast most of the games on NBC or Amazon Prime.
If you don’t mind missing a couple of games, you will be fine with a digital antenna or Amazon.
However, if you don’t want to miss a Thursday night game, you will need a streaming service that offers the NFL Network.
How Much Does the NFL Sunday Ticket Cost?
It may seem odd to see NFL Sunday Ticket in a list of ways to stream NFL games without cable. However, it is a real option for some people.
If you live in an area where DIRECTV is not available and you’re a student, you can get the service NFL Sunday Ticket U. This costs $73.49 a month and lets you watch every out-of-market Sunday game live.
The price is a significant drawback, with it costing nearly $300 for the four months of the season. If you can live without the NFL live stream, there are better options.
How to Watch the NFL Playoffs Without Cable
Having access to the playoffs is essential for any NFL fan. Thankfully, you don’t need cable to watch the NFL playoffs or the Super Bowl.
The playoffs start on January 15, 2022 for the 2021 NFL season, with the Super Bowl taking place on February 13, 2022.
While ESPN and Nickelodeon will simulcast several games, all of the games will air on local stations. An over-the-air antenna will be sufficient to watch all playoff games.
If you don’t have an antenna, you will need a live TV streaming service that carries all local networks.
This makes best fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live, and DIRECTV STREAM as the best choices to get all playoff games.
If you don’t need access to all of the action, Peacock Premium and the ad-free version of Paramount+ will let you watch games. The latter will even carry the Super Bowl.
Summary
It used to be that the only way you could watch football was with a cable contract. That is no longer the case. Most streaming platforms carry ESPN and the NFL Network.
While not all providers offer local networks, you can get those with an antenna for a one-time cost. The best part is no sports streaming services require a contract, so you can cancel at any time.
If you want to watch live NFL games without paying $200+ per month, you can do it and pocket the savings for other needs.
Has the thought of losing the ability to watch sports the way you like kept you from cutting the cord? What other channels do you feel like you can’t live without?
Thank you for the informative post!
I just got the Fire TV Stick with Alexa and last night watched the OU Indiana Football game.
Trying to see how to get other college and NFL games so your post was well received.
I have a second Fire TV Stick so can I use my existing account to access the same programming?
Thanks —- in advance!
Not a problem Jerry, happy to help. Yes, you can definitely use the second Fire Stick. Amazon allows two streams at once and something we commonly do in our family.
Thanks!
Can’t you use this with any tv or does it have to be a smart tv?
Use what?
Please help! I am trying to be smart and do some research before I cancel my cable but I feel like I’m going in circles. My husband wants Fox News, a way to watch NFL games and a way to watch local channels so he can watch SEC games. We already have Amazon Prime to watch movies/shows and Netflix for the kids. I know I have to have some sort of internet to stream these subscriptions, but I don’t know what speed I need to get to now have “buffering interruptions”. Also, Comcast is telling me that internet alone is $75/month WITHOUT taxes an fees!!! That’s outrageous. Are there other internet options that will work?
Unfortunately I’m not certain of what Internet options that are out there since it varies so much by where you live. I do know that most of the streaming options recommend in the 25 Mbps neighborhood if you’ll have multiple devices streaming at the same time.
For what you’re looking for TV wise, I’d look at DirecTV Now or Sling TV as the best options.
Should I buy an Amazon Fire Stick for each television?
It’s actually a portable device Diane, so you don’t *have* to. We have two as our two TVs are at opposite ends of the house and we like to take one with us when we travel. You can get by with one if that’s your preference.
Can you get local channels using a regular big rooftop antenna. That is all I have right now for tV. I have been very frugal since digital tv came out. But very limited as to what I can watch. But I do get about 25 local channels.Thanks!
Donna
Im sorry, in the above post from “Donna” , I needed to know if I could get local channels using a firestick, if I have a regular old antenna on the rooftop. Just to make things clearer. Thanks again, Donna
Not a problem Donna. 🙂 No, the Amazon Fire Stick will not allow you to get local channels. The best way is to get an indoor, digital antenna. There are many good brands out there that cost no more than $50-60 as a one-time cost. If you’re looking for a way to get cable channels, without a contract, I’d recommend DirecTV Now as a good option.
Hello John, I am so confused on what to do. I am 81 years old and I am wanting to cut the cord to cable. I am currently paying $192 for the bundle. I Can you please advise me as what to do I do need Internet so I would probably keep that through Comcast. Can you please advise me as what to do I do need Internet so I would probably keep that through Comcast. I was thinking about getting the fire stick. I would like to get my local channels so wasn’t sure what to do about that. I hope you can help me. I thank you in advance. Katie
Hi Katie, that’s an awful lot to be spending on a bundle. For sake of brevity, here are two guides – how to cut the cord and how to get Internet without cable. Both should give you a good start on saving some money.
Antennas do not work at all where we live, tried two different brands, big no go. Any other was to get local TV?
It is possible to get locals with a few of the streaming providers. You might want to check out PS Vue, YouTube TV or DirecTV Now. This post should be helpful as well.
Really great and thorough information! Much appreciated. Any chance you can provide me the same type of help with the NHL? My husband is a born & bred NY Rangers fan, but since we dropped DirectTV, we no longer get the MSG channel and some of the other East coast feeds. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
Glad to be of help Cindy! FuboTV would be the best option to get the MSG Network. DirecTV Now also gets you the MSG Network, but it’s $55 per month vs. $45 for FuboTV. Another option could be Sling TV. Sling does not have MSG, but you can get the NHL Network as a part of their “Sports Extra” package that would run a total of $35 per month.
Some of your responces are simple but not realistic for some of us. I have an OTA antenna but only local channel we can pick up is ABC, which of course doesn’t offer NFL. We cannot get CBS, NBC, FOX or ESPN. I tried SlingTV but same thing, no CBS, FOX, NBC offered.
I understand your frustration Jeff, but it’s virtually impossible to give a solution for all situations as there are just so many different possibilities. Some can get all locals, some can only get 1-2, and some are too rural to get anything – those only scratch the surface and there are MANY other possibilities. That being said, that’s why we linked to all of our reviews within this article. Spend a few minutes and read them and it’s likely you’ll find something that works for you. For example, Hulu Live provides access to locals and offers much of what Sling does.
We cannot get Fox, nbc or CBS sports on hulu. It tellsworth me successful activation but it never comes on. I ordered the antenna you recommended and disable cable shows all of the antennas are within 35 miles. Hoping it gets us the football games.
Sorry to hear that Barb, have you contacted Hulu for help yet? I’m assuming they should be able to help, especially with the CBS Sports since it’s an actual cable channel. The antenna should allow you to get both Fox and NBC at the very least.
I cancelled my direct tv and got a Clearstream 4k hdtv antenna. Actually through Wal- Mart online. That way if had to return could go to local store.( check web sites for prices because they vary greatly. My cost for the antenna and you will need an amplifier (mine is a Channel Master Titan 2) total for the 2 around $150.00, Price to have installed $175 which was reasonable, (He actually was employed with a cable company so I had a lot of faith he knew what he was doing) others were charging 2x that amount. This will pay for itself in a very short time. The closes towers are about 60 miles away. I get about 68 plus channels. Which includes local channels, ABC,CBS,NBC, FOX.The colors are very vibrant and clear. I also have the fire stick with Alexa remote. So far all is running smoothly. Hope this helps someone. I did a lot of research before any purchase so far this is working for me.
Glad to hear you’ve found a workable solution Patricia!
I have 4 TV’s. Do I need 4 separate fire sticks? TV’s are all watched at same time but different channels.
Good question Gail. You would only need 4 Fire Sticks if you plan on someone watching each TV at the same time. They’re plug and play and easy to move so if you’re not planning on that then you don’t necessarily need 4 sticks. Amazon does only allow you to stream on three devices at once though, so you will want to keep that in mind.
Thanks for al this information, it is extremely helpful. Can you get turner classic station with a firestick? How about MSNBC
Glad to be of help Beth! You wouldn’t be able to get those through the Fire Stick, but a streaming platform like Hulu Live would be a great option for those channels.
Wonderful information here. I have a question. We purchased a Firestick and a Roku streaming device for use on separate TVs. Will I be able to use my Hulu + LiveTV account on both at the same time?
Thanks Sasha, glad to be of help. Yep, you should be able to use both without a problem.
We have 3 hdtv’s and currently have Verizon tv/cable bundle and are paying tooo much $196. We do tape a lot of local shows daily, occasionally 5 at the same time. We cannot switch to companies like DISH since we have lots of trees that interfere with the satellite reception. We also enjoy our local sports channels and don’t want to give up our pro and college football games, hockey, basketball. We live in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Can you offer suggestions where we won’t have to give up multiple taping capabilities on local channels and sports games but not pay these exorbitantly high fees? Keeping my fingers crossed there’s a solution out there. Thanks in advance.
Ouch, sorry to hear that Andrea. Hulu Live is going to be your best bet. They offer locals in nearly every market, plus a good selection of sports channels. You may not be able to record 5 channels at once, but they carry a lot of network shows on a 24 delay through their legacy service so that could take care of much of what you want. Their DVR offers 50 hours of recording, but you can add an extra 150 hours for $14.99/month taking the total cost to $60/month.
Like everyone else, just trying to find options to cut the cord! Very helpful website!
Happy to be of help Barbara. 🙂
Thanks for this article. Any word yet if DirecTV Now will offer the NFL Sunday Ticket to all customers (I think last year it was selective markets).
I cut the cord but have no problem getting DirecTV Now if they offer the NFL Sunday Ticket. Unfortunately I can’t get an answer from their service reps, online, over the phone or in person as they are confusing the NFL Network (just dropped by DTV Now) with the Sunday NFL Ticket. Thanks!
Of course, happy to help Don! I’m not certain on that unfortunately. If I were to guess, I’d guess they won’t be offering it to many markets unfortunately.
We recently moved to Tampa, FL. My husband absolutely must be able to watch the Bears games live. I’d rather not give DirecTV a fortune so he can watch 16 football games. Do you know of any other way to get the games, other than NFL Sunday Ticket?
There’s no way to guarantee to get all 16 games without Sunday Ticket. Your best bet would be the NFL Game Pass, but the games are tape delayed.
This article doesn’t seem to specify this….but how can one get an out of market game on their smart tv WHILE it’s being played, or LIVE? We live in NC and want to be able to watch the Minnesota games online in an area where Directv is not offered, and we want to see them as they are being played and on Sundays. Is this possible? Thank you in advance! ????
That’s not really possible, unfortunately, unless they’re playing a team local to your area.
Ooh that’s cool – I didn’t know my Amazon Prime streamed Football! Will definitely be using that to catch up on games in the future.
I was considering between a lot of these streaming options, and I think the one I found the most attractive was YouTube TV. It’s not the cheapest, but it feels like they’ve got tons of channels.