Where to watch NFL games if you don't use YouTube TV
The main routes are NFL+ (the league's own streaming service), cable or satellite TV, broadcast networks, and sports bars or restaurants with cable subscriptions. Which one works depends on what games you want to watch and whether you're willing to pay for a dedicated service.
NFL+ streams regular season games on your phone or tablet, but not on a TV connected to a wall — a real limitation if you want to watch on a larger screen. Cable and satellite still carry most games, though the upfront cost is higher than streaming. Broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN) show games free over the air if you have an antenna, but only regional matchups and primetime slots. Sports bars show every game and cost you nothing beyond food or drinks.
The trade-off is straightforward: free options have blackouts and device limits; paid options give you more games but lock you into a contract or subscription.
Key Takeaways
- NFL+ costs $14 per month or $120 per year and streams games on phones and tablets, but not on televisions.
- Cable and satellite providers (Comcast, DirecTV, Dish) carry all games but require a contract and typically cost $80 to $150 per month.
- Free broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN) show regional games and primetime matchups with an antenna, with no subscription needed.
- Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV stream cable channels for $40 to $75 per month and work on any device with a screen.
- Sports bars and restaurants show every game and cost nothing beyond what you spend on food or drinks.
NFL+ for phone and tablet streaming
NFL+ is the league's own streaming service and the cheapest paid option at $14 per month or $120 per year. It includes regular season games, playoff games, and Super Bowl, plus replays and highlights. The catch is that it only works on phones and tablets — you cannot cast it to a television or use it on a Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV.
Games are blacked out in your local market if they air on broadcast TV the same day, which means you may not be able to watch your home team's game even if you pay. Out-of-market games (teams outside your region) stream without blackout restrictions. If you travel or live far from your team's home city, NFL+ is often the only way to watch their games legally without cable.
The service also includes NFL RedZone, which cuts between games to show every touchdown as it happens. RedZone is normally a cable add-on that costs extra, so if you want it on a phone, NFL+ is the only option.
Cable and satellite TV for all games
Cable (Comcast, Charter, Verizon Fios) and satellite (DirecTV, Dish) carry every NFL game and let you watch on your TV without blackout restrictions. Both require a contract, typically two years, and cost $80 to $150 per month depending on the package and your location. Setup takes a technician visit and a few days.
The advantage is reliability and picture quality — no buffering, no device limits, and you get the same broadcast as everyone else. The disadvantage is cost and commitment. If you cancel early, you pay an early termination fee, usually $100 to $200. If you move, you may have to renegotiate your contract.
Most cable and satellite packages include NFL RedZone as an add-on for $10 to $15 per month. Some packages bundle it in at no extra cost during football season.
Free broadcast TV with an antenna
CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN broadcast NFL games free over the air if you have an antenna. You get regional games (your local team and nearby teams) and primetime slots (Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night). You do not get out-of-market games or cable-exclusive matchups.
An antenna costs $20 to $60 one time and picks up channels within 30 to 50 miles depending on the model and your location. You can check which channels broadcast in your area and how strong the signal is at TVFool.com or AntennaWeb.org by entering your zip code.
The picture quality is often better than streaming because broadcast is not compressed. The downside is that you cannot pause, rewind, or watch on demand — you watch live or you miss it. Weather and tall buildings can block the signal, though most antennas are reliable in suburban and rural areas.
Live TV streaming services
Sling TV costs $40 per month and includes ESPN, Fox, and NBC — enough to catch most games. Hulu + Live TV costs $75 per month and adds CBS and more cable channels. YouTube TV (the service you came from) costs $73 per month and includes all broadcast networks plus NFL RedZone.
All three work on any device with a screen: phones, tablets, computers, Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, and smart TVs. You can pause and rewind live games, and you get a cloud DVR to record games and watch them later. No contract is required — you can cancel any month.
The trade-off is that these services are more expensive than cable per month but cheaper overall if you only keep them during football season (September through February). Sling TV is the cheapest option but has fewer channels. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV are nearly the same price and both carry all the games you need.
Sports bars and restaurants
Every sports bar, restaurant, and many gyms have cable subscriptions and show every NFL game on multiple screens. You pay nothing to watch — you only pay for food, drinks, or a membership. This is free if you were going to eat or drink there anyway.
The downside is that you cannot control what game plays on which screen, you sit in a crowd, and you have to go somewhere. The upside is that it is genuinely free and the atmosphere is built for watching sports. If you want to watch a game with friends or family, a bar is often cheaper and more fun than paying for a home subscription.
Comparing cost and commitment
| Service | Cost | Contract | TV Streaming | All Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL+ | $14/month | No | No (phone/tablet only) | No (local blackouts) |
| Antenna | $20–$60 one time | No | Yes | No (regional only) |
| Sling TV | $40/month | No | Yes | No (missing some channels) |
| Hulu + Live TV | $75/month | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cable/Satellite | $80–$150/month | Yes (2 years) | Yes | Yes |
| Sports bar | Free (or food cost) | No | Yes | Yes |
Which option makes sense for your situation
If you want to watch on a TV and do not want a contract, Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV are your best bets. Hulu + Live TV costs more but includes all channels and RedZone. Sling TV is cheaper but you may miss some games depending on your region.
If you only watch your team's out-of-market games and have a phone or tablet, NFL+ is the cheapest option at $14 per month. If your team plays in your region and broadcasts on local TV, an antenna is free after the one-time hardware cost.
If you watch casually and do not mind leaving home, sports bars are genuinely free and often more fun. If you want everything with no compromise, cable or satellite is the only option, but the two-year contract and high monthly cost make it worth comparing to live TV streaming first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games on my TV with NFL+?
No. NFL+ only works on phones and tablets. You cannot cast it to a Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, or any television. If you want to watch on a TV, you need cable, satellite, a live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV, or an antenna.
Do I need cable to watch my local team's games?
Not always. If your team plays on CBS, Fox, NBC, or ESPN, you can watch with a free antenna. If they play on cable channels like NFL Network or ESPN+, you need a paid service. Check your team's schedule to see which channels broadcast their games.
What is the cheapest way to watch all NFL games?
An antenna is free after a one-time $20 to $60 purchase and gives you regional games and primetime slots. If you want out-of-market games too, Sling TV at $40 per month is the cheapest paid option, though it may not include all channels in your region.
Can I watch NFL games without paying anything?
Yes, three ways: an antenna for broadcast games, sports bars that show all games, or NFL+ if you have a free trial (though trials are rare). An antenna is the only option that costs nothing upfront and nothing per month.
Do live TV streaming services have contracts?
No. Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV let you cancel any month with no penalty. Cable and satellite require a two-year contract and charge early termination fees if you cancel early.