You do not have to have YouTube TV to watch NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket is sold as a standalone subscription through YouTube TV's parent company, Google. You can buy Sunday Ticket without owning a YouTube TV account, and you do not need YouTube TV to watch the games. Google offers Sunday Ticket in two ways: as an add-on to an existing YouTube TV subscription, or as a standalone product you purchase separately.
The standalone option costs more than the add-on, because the add-on price assumes you already pay for YouTube TV's base service. If you only want to watch out-of-market NFL games on Sundays and do not care about YouTube TV's other channels, the standalone purchase is the direct route.
Key Takeaways
- NFL Sunday Ticket can be purchased as a standalone subscription without YouTube TV, though the standalone price is higher than the add-on price.
- You watch Sunday Ticket through the YouTube TV app or website, but you do not need a YouTube TV account to buy the standalone version.
- Standalone Sunday Ticket requires a Google account to purchase and sign in, but not a YouTube TV subscription.
- The add-on option is cheaper if you already subscribe to YouTube TV or plan to use its other channels and live TV.
- Sunday Ticket covers out-of-market games only—games broadcast nationally on CBS or Fox in your area are not included.
How to buy Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV
Go to the NFL Sunday Ticket website or the YouTube TV app and select the standalone Sunday Ticket option at checkout. You will need a Google account to complete the purchase. If you do not have one, you can create it for free using any email address. The purchase process takes a few minutes and does not require you to set up YouTube TV or choose a cable provider.
After you buy standalone Sunday Ticket, you sign in with your Google account on the YouTube TV app, the website, or supported devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Chromecast. Your Sunday Ticket subscription is tied to your Google account, not to YouTube TV. You can watch games on any device where you are signed into that account.
Standalone pricing versus the YouTube TV add-on
The standalone price is set by Google and changes year to year. The add-on price is lower because it assumes you are already paying for YouTube TV's base subscription, which includes live TV channels, cloud DVR, and other features. If you only want Sunday Ticket and have no interest in YouTube TV's other content, buying standalone saves you the cost of the base subscription—even though the per-game cost is higher.
Some viewers find it worthwhile to add YouTube TV to their setup if they watch other live sports or cable channels regularly. Others find it cheaper to stick with standalone Sunday Ticket and get their other content from different services. The math depends on what else you watch and what you already pay for.
What games are included in Sunday Ticket
Sunday Ticket covers out-of-market NFL games broadcast on Sunday afternoons. If you live in the market where a game is being played, or if the game is broadcast nationally on CBS or Fox, you cannot watch it through Sunday Ticket—you watch it on your local CBS or Fox channel instead. Sunday Ticket is designed for fans who want to watch teams from other cities.
The service does not include Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, or playoff games. Those air on ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, or broadcast networks depending on the year. Sunday Ticket is specifically for the Sunday afternoon slate.
Devices you can use to watch standalone Sunday Ticket
You can watch on a web browser at youtube.com by signing in with your Google account. The YouTube TV app works on phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming devices, and computers. Supported devices include Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, and Chromecast. You can also cast from your phone to a Chromecast or compatible TV.
The experience is the same whether you have YouTube TV or standalone Sunday Ticket—you use the same app and sign in the same way. The only difference is what content you can access. With standalone Sunday Ticket, you see only the games included in your subscription, not YouTube TV's other channels.
Blackout rules and local broadcast restrictions
Even with Sunday Ticket, you cannot watch a game if it is being broadcast on CBS or Fox in your local market. This is called a blackout, and it exists because local broadcasters pay for exclusive rights to show games in their area. Sunday Ticket respects those rights by blocking the game in the affected region.
You can check which games are blacked out in your area by entering your zip code on the NFL Sunday Ticket website before you buy. This helps you decide whether the subscription is worth the cost for your location. Some markets have more blackouts than others depending on which NFL teams are nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Sunday Ticket on my phone without YouTube TV?
Yes. read the YouTube TV app, sign in with your Google account, and you can watch on your phone. You do not need YouTube TV—your standalone Sunday Ticket subscription works in the app the same way.
What if I cancel YouTube TV after buying Sunday Ticket as an add-on?
Your Sunday Ticket add-on cancels when your YouTube TV subscription ends. If you want to keep watching Sunday Ticket after canceling YouTube TV, you would need to buy the standalone version instead.
Do I need a cable provider to buy standalone Sunday Ticket?
No. Standalone Sunday Ticket requires only a Google account. You do not enter a cable provider, and you do not need cable or satellite TV to watch.
Can I share my standalone Sunday Ticket with family members?
You can watch on multiple devices using your Google account, but sharing your login with others outside your household may violate Google's terms. YouTube TV allows multiple user profiles on one account for household members, but standalone Sunday Ticket does not have the same profile feature.
What happens if a game is blacked out in my area?
You will not be able to watch that game through Sunday Ticket. You can watch it on the local CBS or Fox channel instead, or through the NFL's official website or app if it is available in your region.