You do not need YouTube TV to watch NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket is sold as a standalone subscription. You can buy it without YouTube TV, and you can buy YouTube TV without Sunday Ticket. They are separate products with separate prices and separate sign-up pages. If you want only the football games and nothing else, you pay only for Sunday Ticket. If you want YouTube TV's regular channels plus Sunday Ticket, you can bundle them together at a discount.
The key difference is where you watch and what you get. YouTube TV is a live TV service with hundreds of channels — news, sports, entertainment, everything a cable package would have. Sunday Ticket is only the out-of-market NFL games that your local channels do not broadcast. Most people who buy Sunday Ticket already have a way to watch their home team's local games, so they add Sunday Ticket for the rest of the league.
Key Takeaways
- NFL Sunday Ticket can be purchased on its own without YouTube TV, and you watch it through the YouTube TV app or website even if you do not subscribe to YouTube TV's regular channels.
- YouTube TV subscribers get a discount on Sunday Ticket compared to the standalone price, but the discount is optional — you do not have to take it.
- Sunday Ticket shows only out-of-market games, meaning games your local broadcast channels do not carry; your home team's local games still come through your regular TV provider or antenna.
- You need a valid U.S. address and a payment method to buy Sunday Ticket, but you do not need cable, satellite, or any other TV service.
- The Sunday Ticket app works on phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs, so you can watch on multiple devices with one subscription.
What NFL Sunday Ticket actually includes
Sunday Ticket gives you every out-of-market NFL game broadcast on Sunday afternoons during the regular season and playoffs. "Out-of-market" means any game that is not your home team's local broadcast. If you live in New York and your home team is the Jets, you get every game except the Jets' local broadcasts — those still come through your local CBS or Fox affiliate.
The service includes games in the main Sunday afternoon window (typically 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET) and some primetime games. It does not include Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, or Sunday Night Football — those air on ESPN, Amazon Prime, or NBC with or without a cable subscription. It also does not include playoff games that air on broadcast networks.
You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or compatible smart TV. You can also use the YouTube TV app on devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast. The service lets you watch multiple games at once on a split screen and includes replays of games you missed.
Standalone Sunday Ticket pricing and how it compares to the bundle
Standalone NFL Sunday Ticket costs around $500 for the full season, though the exact price can change year to year. You can also pay monthly if you prefer — the monthly option costs more per month but lets you cancel anytime without paying for the whole season upfront.
If you already have YouTube TV or plan to get it, the bundle is cheaper. YouTube TV with Sunday Ticket included runs less than the cost of both services separately. The exact savings depend on which YouTube TV plan you choose — YouTube TV offers a base plan and a plan with more sports channels. The bundle discount applies to whichever plan you pick.
The choice comes down to whether you want YouTube TV's other channels. If you watch local news, cable sports channels, or entertainment programming, the bundle saves you money. If you only want the NFL games, the standalone Sunday Ticket is the right choice.
How to set up Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV
Go to the NFL Sunday Ticket website or open the YouTube TV app on your device. Select "Get Sunday Ticket" and choose the standalone option. You will need a valid U.S. address, a payment method (credit card, debit card, or Google Pay), and a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free during sign-up.
After you complete the purchase, you can start watching when ready. The app will remember your login on any device you use, so you do not have to sign in every time. You can watch on up to four devices at once, though only one can be a TV at a time — the other three must be phones, tablets, or computers.
If you change your mind during the first week, most providers allow you to cancel and get a refund. After that, cancellation policies vary, so check the terms before you buy.
What devices work with Sunday Ticket
You can watch on any device with the YouTube TV app or a web browser. That includes iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets, computers running Windows or Mac, and smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and others. You can also use streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, and Chromecast.
The app is free to read — you only pay for the Sunday Ticket subscription itself. If you use a smart TV, check your TV's app store to see if the YouTube TV app is available. Most newer TVs have it built in, but older models may not.
One thing to know: if you watch on a TV, that counts as one of your four simultaneous streams. If you are watching on the TV and someone else in your household wants to watch on a phone at the same time, that uses two of your four streams. Once you hit four, no one else can watch until someone stops.
Local games and why you still need another source
Sunday Ticket does not replace your regular TV service for local games. If your home team plays a game that your local CBS, Fox, or NFL Network affiliate broadcasts, that game is not on Sunday Ticket — it is on your local channel. You watch it through cable, satellite, an antenna, or a streaming service that carries local broadcasts.
This is why many people keep their cable or satellite subscription even after buying Sunday Ticket. Others use a digital antenna to pick up local broadcasts for free, or they subscribe to a service like Hulu with Live TV or YouTube TV itself, which carries local channels in most markets.
Before you buy Sunday Ticket, think about how you watch your home team's games now. If you already have a way to see those games, Sunday Ticket fills in the rest of the schedule. If you do not, you will need to add another service.
Blackout rules and what you cannot watch
Some games are blacked out on Sunday Ticket even if they are out-of-market. This usually happens when a game is broadcast on a national network like ESPN or when local broadcasters have exclusive rights. You cannot watch these games on Sunday Ticket — you have to watch them on the network that is broadcasting them, which may require a cable login or a separate subscription.
Blackout rules are set by the NFL and the broadcasters, not by YouTube. They change from week to week depending on which games are on national TV. The Sunday Ticket app will show you which games are available to watch and which are blacked out before you try to watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Sunday Ticket on my TV without YouTube TV?
Yes. read the YouTube TV app on your smart TV or streaming device, sign in with your Google account, and select your Sunday Ticket subscription. You do not need a YouTube TV channel subscription to use the app or watch Sunday Ticket.
What happens if I cancel YouTube TV but keep Sunday Ticket?
You can keep Sunday Ticket running independently. Your subscription will continue, and you will still be able to watch games through the YouTube TV app. You will just lose access to YouTube TV's regular channels.
Is Sunday Ticket the same price every year?
The price can change year to year. Google and the NFL set the price annually, and it may go up or down. Check the official Sunday Ticket website for the current season's pricing before you buy.
Can I share my Sunday Ticket login with family members?
You can watch on up to four devices at the same time, so family members in your household can watch simultaneously on different devices. Sharing your login with people outside your household may violate the terms of service.
Do I need cable to watch Sunday Ticket?
No. You only need an internet connection, a valid U.S. address, and a payment method. You do not need cable, satellite, or any other TV service to buy or watch Sunday Ticket.