Where to watch football if you don't use YouTube TV
Football is available on multiple streaming services and traditional cable providers, so leaving YouTube TV does not mean losing access to games. The main broadcast networks — CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN — all stream their games through their own apps or through other platforms. Your best option depends on which teams and leagues you follow, whether you want live games or highlights, and how much you are willing to spend each month.
The clearest path is usually a combination: one service for live games during the season, plus a free option for highlights and replays. Most people find they need two or three services to catch all the games they want, rather than one that covers everything.
Key Takeaways
- ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ together cost $14.99 per month and cover Monday Night Football, select college games, and some playoff content through the Disney Bundle.
- Paramount+ ($5.99 to $11.99 per month) carries all CBS games, including the Super Bowl in even-numbered years.
- Fox games stream free on the Fox app and website if you sign in with a cable or streaming TV provider account.
- NFL.com and the NFL app show highlights free and offer NFL+ ($9.99 per month) for live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet.
- Sling TV ($40 per month) and Hulu with Live TV ($76.99 per month) are the cheapest live TV options that include ESPN and cable sports channels.
Streaming services that carry live football games
ESPN+ is the primary streaming home for Monday Night Football and carries select college football and NFL playoff games. The service costs $9.99 per month on its own, but the Disney Bundle — which includes ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ — costs $14.99 per month and is the better value if you watch any other content on those platforms.
Paramount+ carries all CBS games, including the Super Bowl in even-numbered years (2024, 2026, and so on). The ad-supported tier is $5.99 per month; the ad-free version is $11.99 per month. If you follow an AFC team or a team that plays most of its games on CBS, this is usually the single most important service to have.
Amazon Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football during the NFL season. You need an active Prime membership ($14.99 per month or $139 per year) to watch, but Prime includes other benefits like free shipping and video streaming outside of football.
Free and cable-login options
Fox games stream free on the Fox app and Fox.com if you sign in with a cable or streaming TV provider account. This includes most Sunday afternoon games on Fox. You do not need to pay Fox directly — your existing cable login, Hulu with Live TV login, or other provider account works.
NBC games stream free on Peacock if you have a cable or streaming TV provider login, though some games are exclusive to Peacock Premium ($5.99 or $11.99 per month). Most Sunday Night Football games are available free with a login; check the Peacock app to see which games require a paid subscription.
The NFL app and NFL.com show highlights free when ready after games end. NFL+ ($9.99 per month) adds live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet, but not on a TV connected to your streaming device. This is useful if you travel or want to watch on a commute, but it is not a full replacement for a TV service.
Live TV streaming services with sports channels
Sling TV is the cheapest live TV option at $40 per month for the Orange plan, which includes ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT. You can add the Sports Extra package for $11 per month to get NFL RedZone, ESPNU, and other sports channels. Sling does not carry local CBS or Fox channels in most markets, so you would still need the free Fox app or a Paramount+ subscription to catch those games.
Hulu with Live TV costs $76.99 per month (or $82.99 with ads removed) and includes ESPN, local CBS and Fox channels in most markets, and NBC. This is the most complete option if you want to watch most games on one service, but it is also the most expensive. The service includes on-demand Hulu content as well.
YouTube TV's direct competitors — Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Vidgo — all carry similar channel lineups and cost between $70 and $100 per month. None of them offers a clear advantage over Hulu with Live TV unless you need specific regional sports networks or international channels.
College football and playoff games
College football games air on ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, and specialty channels like SEC Network and ACC Network. Most of these are included in Hulu with Live TV or Sling TV with the Sports Extra add-on. ESPN+ carries some exclusive college games that do not air on broadcast television.
NFL playoff games and the Super Bowl are split among CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN. Paramount+ carries the Super Bowl in even-numbered years; CBS and Fox games are free with a cable login on their apps. ESPN+ and Hulu with Live TV both carry playoff games on ESPN.
Comparing total monthly cost
| Service or Combination | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ only | $9.99 | Monday Night Football, select college and playoff games |
| Disney Bundle (ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+) | $14.99 | Monday Night Football plus Hulu and Disney+ content |
| Paramount+ (ad-supported) | $5.99 | All CBS games including Super Bowl in even years |
| Paramount+ + ESPN+ + NFL+ | $25.97 | CBS games, Monday Night Football, local/primetime games on phone |
| Sling TV Orange + Sports Extra | $51.00 | ESPN channels, TNT, NFL RedZone, but no local CBS or Fox |
| Hulu with Live TV | $76.99 | Most games on one service including local channels and ESPN |
The cheapest way to watch most games is to combine Paramount+ ($5.99), ESPN+ ($9.99), and use free logins on the Fox and NBC apps. This costs about $16 per month and covers CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN games. You miss some cable-exclusive games and NFL RedZone, but you catch the majority of regular-season matchups.
If you want everything in one place and do not mind paying more, Hulu with Live TV at $76.99 per month is simpler than juggling multiple apps, though it is more expensive than YouTube TV was for most people.
What you lose without a full live TV service
The main trade-off with streaming individual services instead of a live TV bundle is that you need multiple apps and logins. You cannot flip through channels to find a game; you have to know which service carries it and open that app.
You also lose access to cable-exclusive games and channels like NFL RedZone, which shows live look-ins at all games during Sunday afternoon windows. If you follow a team that plays most of its games on cable, you may need Sling TV or Hulu with Live TV to catch everything.
Local blackout rules still explore on streaming services. If a game is blacked out in your area on cable, it is usually blacked out on the streaming version too, though the rules vary by network and league.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games free without paying for anything?
You can watch highlights free on NFL.com and the NFL app when ready after games end. Some games air free on broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, NBC) if you have an antenna or a cable login to stream them on the network apps. Monday Night Football requires ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle. There is no way to watch all live games without paying something.
Do I need cable to use the free streaming options?
Yes, the free streaming options on Fox, NBC, and Peacock require you to sign in with a cable or streaming TV provider account. If you do not have cable or a live TV streaming service, you cannot use those free streams. Paramount+, ESPN+, and NFL+ do not require a cable login.
What is the cheapest way to watch my team's games?
First, find out which network carries most of your team's games — check your team's official schedule. If it is CBS, get Paramount+ ($5.99). If it is Fox or NBC, use the free app with a cable login, or pay for Paramount+ and ESPN+ ($15.98) to cover other games. If your team plays mostly on ESPN or cable, you need Sling TV or Hulu with Live TV.
Can I watch football on my TV with these streaming services?
Yes, all of them except NFL+ work on TV. NFL+ is phone and tablet only. Paramount+, ESPN+, Hulu, Sling TV, and Hulu with Live TV all have apps for Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV, and most smart TVs. The Fox and NBC apps also work on TV if you have a cable login.
What happens to my games during the playoffs and Super Bowl?
Playoff games are split among CBS (Paramount+), Fox (free with cable login), NBC (Peacock with cable login), and ESPN (ESPN+ or Hulu with Live TV). The Super Bowl alternates between CBS and NBC in even years and Fox in odd years. Paramount+ carries the Super Bowl when it is on CBS.