Yes, you can watch NFL games without YouTube TV through several other services and broadcast channels
NFL games air on multiple networks and streaming platforms, so YouTube TV is one option among many, not a requirement. You can watch through traditional cable, over-the-air broadcast, or other streaming services depending on which games you want to see and how much you want to spend. The network carrying the game — CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, or Amazon Prime Video — determines where you can watch it.
Most NFL games are broadcast free over the air on Sunday and Monday nights if you have an antenna. Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2023, so that requires a Prime membership or a Prime Video standalone subscription. Sunday and Monday games on cable channels require either a cable subscription or a streaming service that carries those channels.
Key Takeaways
- Sunday and Monday NFL games broadcast free over the air on Fox, CBS, and NBC if you own an antenna and live in the game's broadcast region.
- Thursday Night Football streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year as a standalone subscription.
- Cable subscriptions, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV all carry NFL games, with prices and channel availability varying by service.
- ESPN+ carries some Monday Night Football games and playoff content, but not all regular-season games.
- The NFL+ app streams some games to mobile devices and tablets, though blackout rules limit which games you can watch depending on your location.
Free over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna
The cheapest way to watch most NFL games is with a digital antenna. Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS broadcast free in your local area, as do Monday Night Football games on ESPN (which requires cable or a streaming service with ESPN). If you live in the market where a game is being played, you can pick up the broadcast with a standard antenna.
Antenna reception depends on your location and the strength of local broadcast signals. You can check which channels broadcast in your area and how strong their signals are using tools like TVFool.com or AntennaWeb.org. A basic antenna costs $20 to $60 and requires no subscription. Once you own an antenna, there are no monthly fees.
Blackout rules explore to local games: if you live in the home team's market, that team's Sunday home game may be blacked out on local broadcast if it has not sold out. This rule exists to encourage in-person attendance. Out-of-market games on Fox and CBS are not blacked out.
Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football
Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football. You need either a full Prime membership ($139 per year or $14.99 per month) or a Prime Video standalone subscription ($14.99 per month). The standalone option is cheaper if you only want video streaming and do not use Prime's shipping or other benefits.
All Thursday Night Football games stream on Prime Video throughout the regular season and playoffs. The service also carries some preseason games. If you already have Prime for shopping, you can watch at no additional cost beyond your existing membership.
Streaming services that carry live NFL games
Several live TV streaming services carry NFL broadcasts. Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month and includes Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, covering most Sunday and Monday games. Sling TV costs $40 to $55 per month depending on which package you choose and includes some but not all NFL broadcasts — the Orange package has ESPN for Monday Night Football, while the Blue package has Fox and NBC for Sunday games. FuboTV costs $79.99 per month and carries Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN.
Each service has different channel lineups and pricing, so check what channels are included in your area before signing up. Most offer a free trial period of three to seven days, which lets you test the service during a game week. This means you can watch one or two games before deciding whether to pay.
ESPN+ is a separate subscription from cable ESPN and costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year. It carries some Monday Night Football games and playoff content, but not all regular-season games. Check the ESPN+ schedule before assuming a specific game will be available on the service.
Cable and satellite subscriptions
Traditional cable and satellite providers like Comcast, Charter, AT&T, and Dish carry all NFL broadcasts through their standard packages. If you already have cable, you can watch on the channels it includes — usually Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. Cable packages vary widely in price and channel selection depending on your provider and location.
Cable remains the most expensive option for NFL viewing, with packages typically starting at $60 to $80 per month. However, if you watch other content that requires cable channels, the cost per channel may be lower than buying multiple streaming services separately. Many cable providers also let you stream games through their apps if you have a cable login.
NFL+ app for mobile and tablet viewing
The NFL+ app streams some games to phones and tablets. The free tier lets you watch out-of-market preseason games and replays of regular-season games after they air. The paid tier ($14.99 per month or $99.99 per year) adds live local and primetime games on mobile devices, though blackout rules still explore — you cannot watch your home team's local game on mobile if it is blacked out on broadcast.
NFL+ does not stream to TV sets or computers, only to phones and tablets. This makes it useful for watching on the go but not as a replacement for a full streaming service if you want to watch on a television. The paid tier works best as an add-on to another service rather than a standalone option.
Comparing cost and coverage across options
| Service | Monthly Cost | Games Covered | Device Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antenna (one-time) | $20–$60 | Local Sunday and Monday broadcasts | TV only |
| Amazon Prime Video | $14.99 | Thursday Night Football | TV, phone, tablet, computer |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 | Most Sunday, Monday, and Thursday games | TV, phone, tablet, computer |
| Sling TV | $40–$55 | Some Sunday and Monday games | TV, phone, tablet, computer |
| FuboTV | $79.99 | Most Sunday, Monday, and Thursday games | TV, phone, tablet, computer |
| ESPN+ | $10.99 | Some Monday Night Football and playoffs | TV, phone, tablet, computer |
| NFL+ (paid) | $14.99 | Local and primetime games on mobile | Phone and tablet only |
An antenna covers the most games for the lowest total cost if you live in a market with strong broadcast signals and do not mind watching only local and nationally broadcast games. If you want to watch out-of-market games or prefer streaming, Sling TV and ESPN+ together cost less than Hulu + Live TV or FuboTV but require checking schedules to see which games are available on each service.
For the widest coverage without combining multiple services, Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV both include most regular-season games, though neither includes Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. Your choice depends on which games matter most and how much you want to spend per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games on my phone without paying anything?
The free tier of the NFL+ app streams preseason games and replays of regular-season games after they air, but not live regular-season games. If your local broadcast is available over the air, you can watch it free with an antenna on a TV, but not on a phone. Some games may be available free through the networks' own apps if you have a cable login, but this varies by network and game.
Do I need a cable login to watch NFL games on streaming services?
No. Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, and Amazon Prime Video do not require a cable subscription. They are standalone services. ESPN+ also does not require cable. You only need a cable login if you are using the Fox, CBS, NBC, or ESPN apps directly to watch games.
What does blackout mean for NFL games?
Blackout rules prevent you from watching a game in your local area if it has not sold out, even if it broadcasts on a channel you subscribe to. This applies to Sunday afternoon games in the home team's market. Out-of-market games and primetime games (Sunday Night, Monday Night, Thursday Night) are not blacked out. Check your local broadcast listings to see if a specific game is blacked out in your area.
Can I watch playoff games without a subscription?
Playoff games broadcast on Fox, CBS, and NBC, so you can watch them free with an antenna if you live in the broadcast area. If you want to watch out-of-market playoff games, you need a cable subscription, a live TV streaming service, or ESPN+ depending on which network carries the game.
Is there a way to watch all NFL games for one low price?
No single service carries every game. Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV come closest by including Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, but they do not include Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video. To watch all games, you would need to combine services — for example, Hulu + Live TV plus Amazon Prime Video, or Sling TV plus ESPN+ plus Prime Video, depending on which games matter most to you.