How to Watch Live NFL Games Without Cable in 2025
You’re ready to watch some football, but you don’t know how to watch the NFL without cable. Well, here’s a public service announcement — for the first time, NFL fans can stream every single game without cable — often for less than the cost of a traditional package.
And that’s good news if you’re like a lot of sports fans and cut the cord on cable a while back. Sure, new streaming services are constantly popping up and television contracts are changing, so it can be hard to keep up with how to watch NFL without cable. But today, we’re looking at all the options you’ll need to catch the entire season (even without cable), including:
- NFL Network
- NFL+
- NFL Sunday Ticket (through YouTube)
- Amazon Prime Video
- FuboTV
- Hulu + Live TV
- Paramount+
- Digital media players
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How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable
There are three viewing packages offered by the NFL, beyond watching individual games on broadcast TV.
1. NFL Network
NFL Network is the league’s own cable and streaming channel, not a standalone service. It airs one exclusive live game each week, usually a Thursday night matchup or an international game, along with year-round NFL programming, highlights and analysis. If you’re figuring out how to watch NFL games without cable, several streaming bundles carry NFL Network, including Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling and YouTube TV.
The NFL’s streaming service — NFL Network — is also available at no cost via Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. You can also log in through the NFL App. the NFL App via iOS and Android devices and through an XBox One or PlayStation game console. The NFL Network shows one live game per week, then offers repeats of games from the previous week. The network is especially useful if you want more than just local and primetime games, because it gives you access to special matchups and nonstop football coverage even during the offseason.
2. NFL+
NFL+ is the league’s official streaming service, designed for fans who want flexibility. With the basic plan ($6.99 a month), you can stream offerings live in-market and primetime games on your mobile device or tablet, along with live audio for every matchup and replays of all the NFL games. The games can be watched in full or in specially crafted 40- to 45-minute versions edited to include only the snaps from scrimmage, removing all the other action in between plays. It’s a handy option if you’re exploring how to watch NFL games without cable but still want coverage on the go.
If you’re a fan who wants to dive deeper into strategy, NFL+ Premium ($14.99 a month) adds a lot more. You’ll get full and condensed game replays, Coaches Film and NFL RedZone on Sundays. That means you can easily rewatch or catch up on action you missed, a big plus if you’re figuring out how to watch out-of-market NFL games without a pricey TV package.
NFL+ also lets you choose your audio broadcast, so you can follow either the national call or your favorite local announcers. It’s one of the more affordable ways of streaming NFL games, but keep in mind that live video is limited to mobile and tablet devices, so it’s best for fans who watch mostly on the go.
3. NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket is now offered through YouTube and YouTube TV, giving fans access to every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game from CBS and Fox. It’s a must-have if your favorite team isn’t local, perfect for Bears fans living in Florida or Seahawks fans out on the East Coast, and trying to figure out how to watch NFL games without cable while still catching every snap.
Pricing is more straightforward than it used to be: a standalone subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels runs about $378 to $480 per season for returning users ($276 for new). If you already subscribe to YouTube TV, you can add Sunday Ticket on top of your plan, with perks like DVR features and bundled live TV. YouTube also offers seasonal or promotional discounts that sometimes drop the cost below the standard rate, making it the cheapest way to watch NFL games if you time it right, so keep your eye out for discounts.
For an additional $10.99 per month, you can add NFL RedZone to your package. RedZone gives you seven hours of non-stop scoring highlights every Sunday, so you won’t miss a single touchdown. We’d say that’s a pretty sweet deal.
Other Ways to Watch Live NFL Games
Beyond the NFL’s own packages, several streaming services and local broadcast options let you watch live games without cable. These are worth considering if you’re figuring out how to watch a football game without cable and still want plenty of coverage all season long.
Here are some of the most popular choices:
- Amazon Prime Video: Thursday Night Football streams exclusively on Amazon, included with a Prime membership ($14.99/month or $139/year). Amazon also airs special matchups like the Black Friday game, so it’s a solid pick if you already use Prime for shopping or streaming.
- Peacock: Peacock carries every NBC broadcast, which means Sunday Night Football plus select late-season exclusives. Plans start at $8/month, making it one of the cheaper ways to catch weekly primetime games.
- FuboTV: Fubo is a sports-heavy streaming service with NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and NFL Network. Starting around $85/month, it’s pricier than some options but includes over 100 channels, from MLB and NBA to international soccer.
- Hulu + Live TV: Hulu’s live bundle ($83/month) covers all the major networks — NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and NFL Network — and comes with Disney+ and ESPN+. Add $9.99 for NFL RedZone if you want every scoring play on Sundays.
- Paramount+: Paramount+ streams every NFL game broadcast on CBS, which means most AFC matchups. Plans start at $8/month, or $13/month with Showtime and access to your local CBS station. It’s one of the easiest ways to follow AFC teams without cable.
- Digital Antennas & Media Players: An HDTV antenna gives you free access to local games on CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC. If you prefer streaming, devices like Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV let you watch through network apps with a provider login. This is the lowest-cost option if you mainly want your hometown games.
No matter which route you choose, these options make it easier than ever to stay connected to the action without juggling an expensive cable bill.
4. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive rights holder to the NFL’s Thursday night football games. We repeat: Prime Video is the only place to watch Thursday Night Football. The upside? There’s no extra subscription fee to access those games beyond what you pay for Amazon Prime ($14.99 a month, $139 a year).
Amazon also offers a monthly subscription for students at $7.49 and to those on qualified government assistance for $6.99 per month. Even better, all Thursday Night Football matchups are also simulcast on broadcast TV in each team’s local market, making Prime the best way to watch NFL games without cable if your team is playing.
5. FuboTV
FuboTV ($84.99 and up a month) is one of the most complete live TV streaming services for football fans and offers all regionally broadcasted games plus access to NFL RedZone. A standard plan includes CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network — basically everything you’d get with cable. The big plus here is that the streaming service also provides access to the NFL Network. FuboTV boasts 100-plus channels, but what really sets it apart is the lineup beyond football. You’ll find MLB, NHL, NBA and tons of international soccer, making it a strong pick if you’re a sports fan in general and not just tuning in for football season.
6. Hulu + Live TV
The monthly subscription fee of $82.99 (with ads) for Hulu + Live TV gets you all of the broadcast games your cable service previously provided and offers you access to NFL Network, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN+. With the Sports add-on package ($9.99), you can access the NFL RedZone and Monday Night Football.
7. Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is the go-to streaming option if you want to catch AFC matchups, since it carries all NFL games shown on CBS. The Essential plan is $7.99 per month and streams the national CBS feed, though it doesn’t always include your local CBS affiliate.
If you want more, the Paramount+ with Showtime plan is $12.99 per month and adds access to your local CBS station, along with Showtime programming and an ad-free experience. Both tiers let you stream live games through the Paramount+ app on devices like Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
You can download Paramount+ via the Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon or Roku.
8. Peacock
Peacock is NBC’s streaming service, and it’s the place to go if you don’t want to miss Sunday Night Football. Every weekly primetime game on NBC streams here, plus select playoff matchups and one exclusive Wild Card game each season.
The service is also one of the more affordable ways to follow football: plans start at about $7.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month for the ad-free version. If you already tune into NBC for primetime, Peacock makes it easy to keep watching without cable.
9. Digital Media Players
If you want to keep things simple (and free) an HDTV antenna is one of the easiest ways to watch NFL games. Over-the-air broadcasts give you access to CBS (AFC home games), FOX (NFC home games), NBC (Sunday Night Football), ABC and even ESPN matchups through certain simulcast agreements.
You won’t get to pick every game. The networks decide which ones air in your market, but it’s a solid option if you mainly want local coverage without paying for a subscription.
If you’d rather stream, devices like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV remote make it easy to log into each network’s app and catch the same broadcasts online.
Decisions, Decisions: How to Watch Football Without Cable
When deciding which service to subscribe to for NFL games, consider:
- Which games the service offers
- Which extra NFL features (audio, replays, live programming options, etc.) the service provides
- What the rest of your family likes to watch
- Where you live. Out-of-market fans may need Sunday Ticket, while local fans can often stick with NFL+ or a live TV bundle
Most of the streaming services offer more than just sports coverage, and you may have family members who would like to watch true-crime dramas, romantic comedies or documentaries.
FAQ: How to Watch NFL Football Without Cable
Cutting the cord doesn’t mean missing football season. Here are quick answers to the most common questions about streaming NFL games without cable.
Yes, you can watch NFL games without cable using streaming services or a digital antenna. Options like Hulu + Live TV, Fubo or Paramount+ give you access to live broadcasts online.
You can stream some NFL games for free with an HDTV antenna that picks up local channels like CBS, FOX and NBC. Many streaming services also offer short free trials during the season.
There isn’t a permanent way to get NFL Sunday Ticket for free. However, YouTube TV sometimes runs seasonal promotions or discounts that lower the cost for new subscribers.
The cheapest way to watch the NFL is with a service like Paramount+ ($7.99/month) for CBS games or Peacock ($7.99/month) for NBC games. Pairing a budget service with a digital antenna can stretch your coverage.
Yes, NFL Sunday Ticket is available as a standalone purchase through YouTube’s Primetime Channels or as an add-on with YouTube TV. YouTube also streams highlights and extras on the official NFL channel.
Robert Bruce is a senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering earning, saving and managing money. He has written about personal finance for more than a decade. Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013.
