The Best NFL Streaming Service Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
If you’ve ditched your cable company in favor of one (or several) video streaming services, you can still watch NFL games. On-demand services, such as Disney+ and Netflix, don’t offer live sports, so you must subscribe to a live TV streaming service to catch the gridiron action.
Not every live TV streaming service is ideal for NFL fans, though, as some are missing key channels. You should also consider the features and other streaming content a service offers to determine which one is the best value for your household. If you don’t know where to start, check out our guide to the best video streaming services for your budget.
Here we’ve gathered the best streamers for NFL games, from dedicated services to more general options that bring a host of other sports, shows, and movies to your TV. Read on for our top picks, followed by everything you need to know about streaming NFL games.
Hulu
Best for NFL Coverage and On-Demand Shows
Why We Picked It
Hulu + Live TV features all the channels you need to watch NFL games, including CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC. Hulu recently added the NFL Network channel, and now offers a Sports add-on ($10 per month) that includes NFL RedZone. Other sports channels on the service include BTN and the Golf Channel. You can also subscribe to the Español add-on ($4.99 per month) to get international sports coverage from ESPN Deportes.
Who It’s For
Hulu + Live TV is an excellent choice for general audiences with coverage of most popular news and entertainment channels. A subscription unlocks Hulu’s expansive library of on-demand shows and movies, too.
You can improve Hulu’s technical capabilities with the Enhanced Cloud DVR (which increases the available DVR storage to 200 hours from 50) or the Unlimited Screens (which increases the number of simultaneous streams from two to an unlimited number in your home and up to three outside of it) add-ons. Each option costs $9.99 per month on its own, but you can get both for $14.98 per month. Note that while Hulu’s on-demand content is available in 1080p, a few on-demand originals support 4K streaming on select platforms. The service supports 1080p/60fps live streams on some platforms, too.
PROS
- Excellent selection of TV series
- Extensive live TV channel lineup
- Robust cloud DVR option
- Available on nearly every media streaming device
CONS
- Base on-demand plan includes ads
- Offline downloads feature requires premium account
- Fewer high-quality originals than competitors
- Missing most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
YouTube TV
Best for Recording NFL Games
Why We Picked It
For NFL coverage, YouTube TV offers CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC in its lineup. It even includes the NFL Network, which is great for die-hard NFL fans. If you want the NFL RedZone channel, you can pay for YouTube’s $10.99-per-month Sports Plus add-on.
As for other national sports, the service includes the Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, Olympic Channel, and Tennis Channel. You can pay an extra monthly fee for the FOX Soccer Plus ($15 per month) and NBA League Pass ($39.99 per month) add-ons. YouTube TV also includes top news and entertainment channels.
Who It’s For
YouTube TV is for viewers who want to record football action for later. With YouTube TV, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage (recordings are kept for up to nine months), up to three simultaneous device streams, and support for six user accounts. All those features are useful for when family members want to watch different programs that are set to air at the same time. YouTube TV is notably one of the few services that streams live channels in 1080p. A new 4K Plus add-on lets you stream select live channels in 4K, watch DVR recordings offline, and stream from an unlimited number of devices on your home network.
PROS
- Excellent lineup of sports, news, and entertainment channels
- Robust and easy-to-use DVR features
- Intuitive interface
- Supports three simultaneous streams per account by default
- Excellent add-ons
CONS
- Lacks most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
- Only basic parental control options
fuboTV
Best for Watching the NFL and Other Sports
Why We Picked It
FuboTV is an excellent option for NFL fans; it includes CBS, FOX, NBC, and the NFL Network. FuboTV recently added Disney channels (including ESPN) to its channel lineups, which considerably improves the service’s NFL coverage. You can also get the NFL RedZone channel via the $10.99 per month Sports Plus with NFL RedZone add-on.
Who It’s For
FuboTV is for all sports fans. It excels in its other sports coverage though with the Golf Channel, MLB Network, and NBA TV. International sports channels on the service include beIN Sports, GOL TV, and TUDN. FuboTV’s news and entertainment offerings are strong especially with the addition of Viacom and Discovery channels, even though it no longer has A&E or Turner channels.
All of fuboTV’s plans let you record up to 250 hours of DVR content, which it keeps forever. The Cloud DVR 1000 add-on ($16.99 per month) increase that limit to 1,000 hours. All plans also let you stream on three screens at once, but the Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99 per month) increases that limit to 10 devices on your home network and two off of it. Other cool features of fuboTV are Lookback, which lets you watch select sports programs up to 72 hours after they aired, and Startover, which enables you to restart certain live events from the beginning.
FuboTV is available on the web or via dedicated apps for Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and Roku devices. Note that while most of fuboTV’s live streams are limited to 720p, it does air select live programming in 4K(Opens in a new window), including NFL games. Most of its on-demand content can be streamed in atleast 1080p.
PROS
- Tons of live sports and on-demand entertainment content
- Reliable streaming
- Excellent web interface
- Capable DVR functionality
- Some 4K content
CONS
- Costly add-ons and packages
- No A&E, Bally Sports, or Turner channels
- Most live streams limited to 720p
NFL+
Best for Replays of Every NFL Game
Why We Picked It
NFL+ (previously NFL Game Pass) gives NFL fans access to replays of every NFL game (including playoff matchups and the Super Bowl) each season regardless of their location. No other streaming service offers that capability. Game replays are typically available shortly after the live broadcast concludes. The service also includes live audio feeds of games and in-market preseason games, and live local and primetime games on mobile devices.
Who It’s For
NFL+ one of the best options for people who do not live in their favorite team’s local market. Although some football fans might not like the prospect of watching games after they air. NFL+ supports streams of up to 1080p/60fps depending on the broadcast, but it no longer offers some of the genuinely useful playback features that it previously did. The condensed replay mode is still available, but the options to watch multiple replays simultaneously and listen to audio replays are gone. The service should also let subscribers download game replays on mobile devices for offline viewing.
PROS
- Full and condensed replays of every NFL game
- Live local, prime-time, and out-of-market preseason games
- Supports streams of up to 1080p/60fps
- Live audio for every game
- No limits on simultaneous streams
- Affordable way to watch out-of-market games
- Picture-in-picture viewing option on mobile
CONS
- Can’t watch all live games on all devices
- Replays locked to higher service tier
- No longer lets you simultaneously stream multiple games via web browser
- Lacks audio replays
- Replaces a free tier with a paid one
- No offline playback
Paramount+
Best for NFL Broadcasts on CBS
Why We Picked It
Paramount+ enables Premium subscribers ($9.99 per month) to stream a live feed of local CBS broadcast channels, which means you can watch live NFL games. You can also watch on-demand episodes of NFL Slimetime. Other sports on this service include the NCAA March Madness tournament, select PGA Tour events, and lots of national and international soccer (Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Concacaf, Liga Profesional de Fútbol, National Women’s Soccer League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League).
Who It’s For
As the streaming hub for CBS, Paramount+ has more to watch for viewers who care about content beyond football. Paramount+ includes access to a decent library of on-demand network TV shows and original too, such as The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In addition to watching Paramount+ on the web, you can download apps for mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), gaming consoles (Xbox and PlayStation 4), and smart TVs (LG, Samsung, and Vizio). The service supports up to three simultaneous streams per account on all plans, but the ability to download titles for offline viewing and access 4K content is restricted to the more expensive ad-free plan.
PROS
- Broad library of on-demand content across many genres
- Live sports coverage
- Supports offline downloads and 4K streaming
- Allows three simultaneous streams and six profiles per account
- Excellent closed captions options and parental control tools
CONS
- Fewer high-quality originals than competiing services
- Offline downloads and 4K streaming are restricted to premium tier
- Only premium subscribers get local CBS broadcast channels
DirecTV Stream
Best for RSN Coverage
Why We Picked It
NFL fans should consider the Entertainment plan from DirecTV Stream (previously AT&T TV), which includes CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC. You need to pay more (the Choice Plan is $89.99 per month) to get the Golf Channel and RSNs, however. Another disadvantage of DirecTV Stream is that no package includes the NFL Network channel.
Who It’s For
With its local and national channels, DirecTV Stream helps you track the tricky world of regional sports networks. It offers 20 hours of DVR storage and keeps recordings for up to 90 days. Most other services let users save more hours of programming and for longer. Sports fans will appreciate DirecTV Stream’s Lookback and Rewind capabilities, which let you watch previously aired content (up to 72 hours in the past) and restart live streams from the beginning of the broadcast, respectively. Note, however, that these features are only available for select channels and programs.
DirecTV Stream supports an impressive 20 simultaneous streams per account on your home network and up to three outside it. The service is available on media streaming devices, mobile platforms, and the web, but not for gaming consoles.
PROS
- Reliable streaming performance in testing
- Supports 20 simultaneous streams on home network
- Lineup includes RSNs from AT&T, Comcast, and Sinclair
- Includes parental control options
CONS
- Expensive
- Some interface quirks
NFL Sunday Ticket
Best for Out-of-Market Regular-Season Games
Why We Picked It
NFL Sunday Ticket is the only service we’ve reviewed that lets you watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on Sunday. It’s the best option for football fans who don’t live in their favorite team’s broadcast market. However, NFL Sunday Ticket is very expensive and does not include live Thursday night, in-market Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, or Monday night football games. We tested out the non-cable version of the service, but know that this package is only available to select customers (you can check your eligibility on the site).
Who It’s For
We like NFL Sunday Ticket’s customizable closed captions and its innovative playback modes that let you watch multiple games at once. However, we would also like to see it add support for more than one simultaneous stream and DVR recordings. In testing, we did not experience any streaming performance issues even when streaming several games on the same device at the same time. You can download the NFL Sunday Ticket app on mobile platforms (Android, Fire OS, iOS), media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), and select smart TVs. Note that while NFL Sunday Ticket is currently exclusive to DirecTV, it will most likely be moving to a different streaming service in the near future.
PROS
- One of the only ways to legally watch out-of-market games
- Excellent playback modes and closed caption customization options
- Reliable streaming performance in testing
CONS
- Expensive
- No prime-time, in-market, or postseason NFL coverage
- Doesn’t let you opt out of subscription once the season begins
- Doesn’t support simultaneous streams
- Disorganized web interface
Buying Guide: The Best NFL Streaming Services for 2023
Is There a Streaming Service for NFL Games?
NFL games generally air during four time slots on different networks throughout the regular season:
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Thursday Night Football (typically on NFL Network, with most games simulcast on FOX, Prime Video, and Twitch)
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Sunday afternoons (CBS and FOX)
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Sunday Night Football (NBC)
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Monday Night Football (ESPN)
Last season, playoff games were split between CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC, channels that you can get with a live TV streaming service. In addition, US holidays affect the schedule, which means that there may be multiple games on a Thursday or a game on Saturday. Consult the schedule below for details on watching those games.
The NFL recently renegotiated the broadcast rights(Opens in a new window) for games starting with the 2023 season, and the deal runs through the 2033 season. Under this new deal, the broadcast rights for Sunday afternoons, Sunday nights, and Monday nights remain the same. Super Bowl coverage will rotate between ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, while NFL Network retains rights to some exclusive games. Both Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football games are subject to flex schedules with this new contract; in other words, the NFL can change which games air during these primetime slots based on what will make for more entertaining matchups.
However, the agreement also signals a dramatic shift in the NFL’s support for streaming services. One major change is that Prime Video will become the exclusive broadcaster of Thursday Night Football starting in 2022. Some changes take effect this year. For example, NBC will begin streaming Sunday Night Football games this season on Peacock, much like CBS does for Sunday afternoon games on Paramount+. We hope ESPN+ starts to carry NFL games that air on ABC or ESPN.
DirecTV’s rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket package are set to expire at the end of the 2022 season. Amazon, Apple, and Disney are all reportedly interested in securing these rights going forward, so NFL Sunday Ticket could very well shift ownership to one of these streaming giants.
Which NFL games you can watch on Sunday afternoons depends on where you live. These games are carried on local CBS and FOX affiliate channels and are subject to the same blackout rules as cable broadcasts. You will get other Sunday afternoon games in addition to those involving your local team, but how many and which ones is not always easy to determine. Check out 506Sports’ regional NFL coverage maps(Opens in a new window) each week for all the details.
The NFL matchups on Sunday nights and every other day of the week are national broadcasts, so everyone will see the same game regardless of where they live. Playoff games and the Super Bowl are also televised to national audiences. NFL fans don’t have to navigate the mess that is regional sports network (RSN) broadcast rights; all these channels are available in the majority of broadcast markets and on most live TV streaming services.
Even with the upcoming changes, the NFL’s current streaming strategy still isn’t ideal. It puts the burden on fans to pay for and manage multiple streaming services at a time. The NFL also doesn’t seem to recognize the reality that a location-based strategy is ineffectual at reaching modern audiences, especially those who don’t live in their favorite team’s home market.
Many of the major NFL commentary shows air on channels we already mentioned, but some do not. For example, Nickelodeon now offers a weekly, family-friendly NFL highlights show, called NFL Slimetime,(Opens in a new window) that’s hosted by Nate Burleson and Young Dylan, alongside correspondent Dylan Schefter. DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu, Philo, and YouTube TV all offer Nickelodeon. Eli and Peyton Manning will also call some Monday Night Football games on ESPN2 this season; this broadcast is simulcast on ESPN+. DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV’s Orange Plan, and YouTube TV all have ESPN2 in their lineups.
The NFL RedZone channel(Opens in a new window) is another option for people who want to watch scoring highlights on Sunday afternoons or keep up with fantasy football stats in real time. FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV offer add-ons with this channel.
How to Stream NFL Games
This season, each team will play 17 regular-season games, plus three weeks of preseason games. You can find the preseason schedule on the NFL’s official site(Opens in a new window). For more on how to watch every big game, we will update the schedule throughout the NFL season.
Recommended by Our Editors
How to Watch NFL via Cable and Over-the-Air Streaming
One of the easiest ways to ensure complete coverage of national and in-market games is to sign up for a cable plan. Note that if you go this route, you will likely pay more money than you would with any video streaming service. You’ll also lose out on other conveniences, such as better-designed interfaces and support for more platforms. NFL Sunday Ticket is one of the few legitimate options for watching out-of-market regular-season games live. This service is available as a cable add-on or online for people who are unable to get DirecTV cable.
Streaming cable over the air via an antenna is another option for watching broadcast channels, such as CBS, FOX, and NBC, though your success may vary depending on your location and the strength of the signal in your home. You also must buy and set up an antenna for this method. Sling TV is the only video streaming service on this list that integrates with over-the-air channels.
How Can I Stream NFL Games for Free?
The cheaper initial NFL+ tier has largely replaced the free viewing options previously found on the Yahoo Sports app and NFL app. If you want to watch football, you’re going to spend some cash.
However, you can consider setting up a digital antenna to watch games on the major broadcast channels. These devices are relatively cheap and don’t require a monthly subscription.
Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know
The Best Sports Streaming Services
If you are looking to watch sports other than the NFL, check out our roundup of the best sports streaming services. We also have roundups of the best MLB streaming services, best NBA streaming services, and best NHL streaming services. We cover everything you need to know about RSNs in these roundups, since many MLB, NBA, and NHL games don’t air as national broadcasts.
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