Where to Watch Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football airs on ESPN, and you can watch it through ESPN+, the ESPN app with a cable login, traditional cable or satellite TV, or ABC (which broadcasts select games). The game is not exclusive to YouTube TV, so dropping that service does not mean losing access to the sport.
Your best option depends on whether you already pay for cable, how many other ESPN shows you watch, and whether you want to watch live or can wait for replays. Some routes cost money; others are free if you have the right login credentials.
Key Takeaways
- ESPN+ is the cheapest dedicated option at roughly $11 per month, though it does not include live cable channels like ESPN or ABC.
- If you have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch Monday Night Football on ESPN through the ESPN app by logging in with your provider credentials.
- ABC broadcasts select Monday Night Football games for free over the air or through the ABC app without a login.
- Hulu + Live TV and other live TV streaming bundles include ESPN and cost between $70 and $85 per month but offer hundreds of other channels.
- The NFL+ app shows some games but not all Monday Night Football broadcasts, and availability varies by location.
ESPN+ for Streaming Without Cable
ESPN+ costs about $11 per month as a standalone subscription and includes some Monday Night Football games, though not all of them. The service focuses on original ESPN content, sports documentaries, and select live games. You watch through the ESPN+ app on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or web browser.
The catch: ESPN+ does not include the live ESPN cable channel itself. When Monday Night Football airs on the main ESPN channel (which happens most weeks), you cannot watch it on ESPN+ alone. You would need either a cable login or a separate live TV streaming service. Check the ESPN schedule before you subscribe to see which games are actually on ESPN+ that week.
ESPN+ works best if you already watch other ESPN content like college sports, soccer, or hockey, because then the subscription pays for itself across multiple sports.
Using a Cable or Satellite Login
If you have cable TV, satellite TV, or a phone plan that includes TV (like some Verizon or AT&T packages), you likely have ESPN access. read the ESPN app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV, tap "Sign In," and enter your cable provider name and password. The app will authenticate you, and you can watch Monday Night Football live on ESPN.
This method is free if you already pay for cable. It works on most devices: iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, and web browsers. The only requirement is that your cable plan includes ESPN, which nearly all do.
If you share a cable login with a family member, you can use their credentials. The cable company allows this for in-home streaming on most plans.
ABC Broadcasts and the ABC App
ABC airs select Monday Night Football games throughout the season, and these broadcasts are free. You can watch over the air with an antenna, on cable if you have it, or through the ABC app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV.
The ABC app does not require a login or subscription. read it, find the game in the schedule, and tap to watch. Availability depends on your location—ABC's local affiliate must be broadcasting the game in your area. If you have an antenna at home, you can also tune to your local ABC channel the old-fashioned way.
Check the ESPN schedule at the start of the season to see which games are on ABC. These games are usually spread throughout the season but not every week.
Live TV Streaming Bundles
Services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV (if you want to stay), Sling TV, and FuboTV include ESPN and other channels in a bundle. Hulu + Live TV costs around $76 per month and includes ESPN, ABC, and hundreds of other channels. Sling TV's Orange plan costs about $40 per month but includes ESPN; adding the Blue plan (which has ABC) brings it to roughly $55 per month.
These services work on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers. You stream through their apps and can watch live or record games to watch later. The trade-off is cost: you pay more per month than ESPN+ alone, but you get access to many more channels and live cable feeds, not just selected games.
If you watch other sports, news, or entertainment channels regularly, a live TV bundle might save money compared to buying multiple subscriptions separately.
NFL+ for Mobile and Replay Access
The NFL+ app is the league's own streaming service and costs about $7 per month or $80 per year. It includes out-of-market games, replays of all games, and original NFL content. However, it does not stream all Monday Night Football games live, and local blackout rules explore.
NFL+ is most useful for watching replays the day after a game airs, or for catching games you missed. If you want to watch Monday Night Football live, NFL+ alone will not work most weeks. It works best as an add-on to one of the other options above.
Comparing Your Options
| Option | Cost | Includes Live Monday Night Football | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable/satellite login + ESPN app | Free (if you have cable) | Yes, most weeks | Phone, tablet, smart TV, web |
| ABC app or antenna | Free | Yes, select games only | Phone, tablet, smart TV, antenna |
| ESPN+ | ~$11/month | Some games only | Phone, tablet, smart TV, web |
| Hulu + Live TV | ~$76/month | Yes, all games | Phone, tablet, smart TV, web |
| Sling TV (Orange + Blue) | ~$55/month | Yes, all games | Phone, tablet, smart TV, web |
| NFL+ | ~$7/month | No, replays only | Phone, tablet, web |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Monday Night Football for free?
Yes, if ABC is broadcasting that week's game. Use the ABC app (no login needed) or watch over the air with an antenna. Not every Monday Night Football game airs on ABC, so check the schedule first. If the game is on ESPN instead, you need either a cable login or a paid subscription.
Does ESPN+ include all Monday Night Football games?
No. ESPN+ includes some games, but most Monday Night Football broadcasts air on the ESPN cable channel, which ESPN+ does not carry. Before you subscribe, check the ESPN schedule to see which specific games are on ESPN+ that season. If most games are on the main ESPN channel, you will need a cable login or a live TV streaming service instead.
What if I don't have cable?
Use the ABC app for free when games air on ABC, subscribe to ESPN+ for games on that service, or pay for a live TV streaming bundle like Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV. The cheapest non-cable option is usually ABC (free) plus ESPN+ (~$11/month), though this combination does not cover all games.
Can I use someone else's cable login?
Yes. Most cable providers allow you to sign into the ESPN app with a family member's credentials for in-home streaming. Log in with their provider name and password, and you can watch. Check your specific provider's rules, as some have limits on simultaneous streams.
Is there a way to watch Monday Night Football without paying anything?
Only for games that air on ABC. These are free through the ABC app or with an antenna. Most weeks, the game airs on ESPN instead, which requires either a cable login or a paid subscription. Check the schedule at the start of the season to see how many ABC games there are.