Best Ways to Stream NFL Games (2026 Season)
YouTube TV covers the most NFL games among the services we compare; Prime Video, Netflix, and Peacock exclusives still need their own subscriptions.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
Who airs what: NFL game windows in 2026
"Live TV streamers" means YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM. Sling TV is listed separately because coverage differs by plan and market.
| Game window / package | Network | Streaming access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday afternoon (AFC) | CBS | Paramount+ Premium (live local CBS), live TV streamers | Not on Sling TV (no CBS) |
| Sunday afternoon (NFC); Christmas night | FOX | Live TV streamers; Sling Blue in select markets | Local FOX feed; FOX One out of scope |
| Sunday Night Football; Thanksgiving night | NBC | Peacock, live TV streamers; Sling Blue in select markets | Peacock also has its own exclusive game; confirm the 2026 slot |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / ABC | ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited), live TV streamers, Sling Orange | Some Monday games moved to NFL Network in 2026 |
| NFL Network games (7 per season) | NFL Network | ESPN app, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN has owned NFL Network since February 2026; DIRECTV STREAM tier unconfirmed |
| Thursday Night Football; Black Friday | Prime Video | Prime Video only | Exclusive through 2033; also on local broadcast in the two home markets |
| Five games in 2026, incl. Christmas doubleheader | Netflix | Netflix only | Sept 10 (Melbourne), Nov 25, two Christmas games, Jan 9, 2027; plus NFL Honors |
| Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games | NFL Sunday Ticket | YouTube TV add-on; standalone on YouTube Primetime Channels | Excludes in-market and primetime games |
| RedZone and replays on mobile | NFL+ | Not through any service here | Phones and tablets only; Premium adds RedZone |
| NFL RedZone (whip-around) | NFL RedZone | Add-on on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, Fubo; ESPN app via NFL+ Premium bundle | DIRECTV STREAM 2026 status unverified |
Source: docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md, verified Oct 12, 2026. Local affiliate availability depends on your ZIP code for every live TV service.
Services that carry NFL games, ranked
Ordered by how much of the 2026 schedule each service reaches, then by starting price.
-
The best all-around cable replacement
- 100+ channels incl. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN
- Unlimited cloud DVR, 3 streams
- Intro offer: $59.99/mo for 2 months
$82.99/mo after the intro period
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$82.99/moBase Plan; promo $59.99 for 2 months for new members
Best live TV overall
Editorial scoreExcellent8.0/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Built for fans who need their regional sports network
- Most regional sports networks of any streamer
- Up to 10 streams, unlimited DVR, 4K events
- Free trial usually offered
No TNT or TBS; regional sports fee extra
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- 4K
- Free Trial
From$55.99/moSports tier; Pro $88.99 plus regional sports fee
Best for regional sports networks and soccer
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Nearly every channel, at a cable-like price
- Deepest channel lineup, up to 185+
- Regional sports plus ESPN and TNT
- 5-day free trial, unlimited at-home streams
Highest price; regional sports fee up to $19.99
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$74.99/moMySports genre pack; ENTERTAINMENT $89.99
Best cable-like channel lineup
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV plus three on-demand libraries in one plan
- 95+ live channels with locals, ESPN, TNT
- Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select
- Unlimited cloud DVR
2 streams unless you add $9.99/mo
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- On-Demand
- No Contract
From$99.99/moWith ads, rate effective Oct 21, 2026; $109.99 Premium
Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN
Editorial scoreVery good7.4/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV for less, if you can skip CBS
- Lowest-priced major live TV service
- Orange: ESPN, TNT; Blue: FS1, NFL Network
- No contract; cheap add-on packs
No CBS; 1 stream on Orange; 50-hour DVR
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- No Contract
From$45.99/moOrange or Blue; $60.99 for both
Best budget live TV
Editorial scoreVery good7.1/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
NFL, NBA and Premier League without a cable bundle
- Sunday Night Football and NBA on NBC
- Most Premier League matches
- Annual plans on every tier
Select tier has no live sports
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moSelect tier (no sports); Premium $12.99
Best value for NFL, NBA, and Premier League
Editorial scoreVery good7.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The cheapest way to stream CBS and the Champions League
- NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League
- Premium adds SHOWTIME and live local CBS
- Annual plans from $89.99/yr
No free trial since January 2026
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moEssential (ads); $13.99 Premium with SHOWTIME
Best for CBS, NFL on CBS, and Champions League
Editorial scoreVery good7.6/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
A strong bonus if you already pay for Prime
- Included with Amazon Prime membership
- Thursday Night Football and NBA games
- 30-day Prime trial for new members
Ad-free and 4K need the $4.99 Ultra add-on
- On-Demand
- Sports
- Free Trial
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moPrime Video alone; included with $14.99 Prime
Best if you already pay for Prime
Editorial scoreVery good7.3/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The biggest streaming library for originals and movies
- Largest original series and film library
- Plans from $8.99/mo with ads
- Works on virtually every device
4K only on the $26.99 Premium plan
- On-Demand
- 4K
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moStandard with ads; $19.99 ad-free
Best for on-demand originals
Editorial scoreExcellent8.5/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
Key facts
- Rights holders: CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN/ABC, NFL Network, Prime Video, Netflix.
- Sunday afternoon games are regional; your local CBS and FOX decide.
- Streaming exclusives still air on local broadcast in both home markets.
- Sunday Ticket (YouTube) covers out-of-market Sunday afternoon games only.
- Sling TV never carries CBS; Paramount+ needs Premium for live CBS.
- Trials: DIRECTV STREAM 5 days; Fubo usually 5 to 7; YouTube TV varies; Amazon Prime 30 days (new members); none for Netflix, Peacock, Paramount+, Sling.
NFL broadcast rights and viewing restrictions
- CBS: Sunday AFC package. FOX: NFC package plus a Christmas night game. NBC: Sunday Night Football and Thanksgiving night. ESPN/ABC: Monday Night Football.
- NFL Network (acquired by ESPN in February 2026) carries seven games and picked up some Monday games this year.
- Prime Video has Thursday Night Football and Black Friday through 2033; Netflix has five 2026 games plus NFL Honors.
- ESPN now distributes RedZone to live TV providers; the direct route is NFL+ Premium, or ESPN's ESPN Unlimited plus NFL+ Premium bundle. DIRECTV STREAM's RedZone status is unconfirmed.
Live TV bundles vs. streaming-only subscriptions
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM cover Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, Monday night, and NFL Network games in one plan.
- Sling needs Orange (ESPN) plus Blue (NFL Network, select locals) and still lacks CBS.
- Peacock: SNF simulcast and its exclusive game. Paramount+ Premium: local CBS only. Prime Video: Thursdays. Netflix: five dates. ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited): MNF and NFL Network games.
- A local-team-only household can pair an antenna with one or two exclusives; see sports streaming considerations and live TV vs. on-demand.
Local, out-of-market, and blackout rules
- Live TV streamers carry CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC in most but not all markets; check each provider's ZIP lookup. Sling Blue has ABC, FOX, NBC only in select large metros.
- A DIRECTV dispute with WRTV (Indianapolis) in August 2026 is unverified; affiliate carriage can change mid-season.
- Sunday Ticket: out-of-market Sunday afternoon CBS and FOX games; YouTube TV add-on or standalone on Primetime Channels, with different new, returning, standalone, and student prices. Confirm prices on YouTube; it excludes in-market, Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday, and Netflix games.
- NFL+: live local and primetime games on phones and tablets only; Premium adds RedZone and replays. Not a TV substitute.
Pricing comparison
Lowest recurring monthly rate, verified Oct 12, 2026. The plan with NFL channels may cost more (Fubo coverage assumes Pro; Paramount+ needs Premium).
| Service | Starting price | NFL coverage from our research |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo | CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, NFL Network; Sunday Ticket and RedZone add-ons |
| Fubo | $55.99/mo | Broadcast networks (NBC restored June 2026), ESPN, NFL Network; RedZone add-on |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $74.99/mo | Broadcast networks, ESPN; NFL Network tier and RedZone unverified |
| Hulu + Live TV | $99.99/mo | Broadcast networks, ESPN, NFL Network; RedZone via Sports Add-on |
| Sling TV | $45.99/mo | ESPN on Orange, NFL Network on Blue, no CBS, locals in select markets |
| Peacock | $8.99/mo | SNF simulcast and Peacock exclusive game (Premium) |
| Paramount+ | $8.99/mo | CBS Sunday games via live local CBS (Premium) |
| Prime Video | $8.99/mo | Thursday Night Football and Black Friday |
| Netflix | $8.99/mo | Five games in 2026 plus NFL Honors |
Every national window = one live TV service plus Prime Video and Netflix. See the household cost guide and the comparison table.
Compatible devices
- All nine services run on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Samsung and LG TVs, phones, and browsers.
- No PlayStation app for Sling TV, Fubo, or DIRECTV STREAM; DIRECTV STREAM also lacks Xbox.
- YouTube TV multiview shows up to four games at once. Full matrix: device compatibility.
Provider comparisons for NFL viewers
- YouTube TV: all four locals in most ZIPs plus ESPN and TNT; unlimited DVR (nine months); three streams; Sunday Ticket and multiview. Cons: $82.99/mo after intro; 4K extra, select events. Review.
- Fubo: up to ten home streams, unlimited DVR, select 4K games, trial usually available. Cons: no TNT, TBS, truTV; regional sports fee; plan names changed repeatedly in 2025 and 2026. Review.
- DIRECTV STREAM: unlimited home streams and DVR, deepest lineup, five-day trial. Cons: most expensive with the regional sports fee; prices rose June 2026 and vary by ZIP. Review.
- Hulu + Live TV: adds Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Select; unlimited DVR; next-day episodes. Cons: two streams without the add-on; $99.99/mo. Review.
- Sling TV: lowest price; Orange for ESPN or Blue for NFL Network and locals. Cons: one stream on Orange; no CBS; 50 hours DVR. Review.
- Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, Netflix: each is the cheapest way to its own package and carries no other network's games; no standard trial except the 30-day Amazon Prime membership trial. Reviews: Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, Netflix.
NFL streaming FAQ
Which single service shows the most NFL games?
YouTube TV: CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, plus Sunday Ticket as an add-on. Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, and Hulu + Live TV match the channels but not Sunday Ticket; no service carries Prime Video or Netflix games.
Can I watch NFL games on Sling TV?
Partly: ESPN on Orange, NFL Network plus FOX and NBC (select markets) on Blue. No CBS in any market, so the AFC package needs an antenna or Paramount+.
Does NFL Sunday Ticket include every game?
No. Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games only; in-market, Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night, and Netflix games are excluded.
Where is NFL RedZone in 2026?
Add-on on YouTube TV (Sports Plus), Hulu + Live TV (Sports Add-on), Sling Blue (Sports Extra), Fubo (Sports Plus), or the ESPN app via the ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium bundle. DIRECTV STREAM's status is unconfirmed.
Do I need Peacock if I have a live TV service?
Only for Peacock's exclusive game, which is streaming-only outside the two home markets. Sunday Night Football airs on NBC.
Will these rights change during the season?
Carriage can change through disputes, as the YouTube TV and Disney blackout in late 2025 and the Fubo and NBCUniversal blackout that ended June 2026 showed. We re-verify by January 10, 2027, or earlier if a dispute is reported.
Methodology and sources
Rights and carriage facts come from docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md and carriage.json, verified Oct 12, 2026. Prices render from our dated evidence store through tokens. Sources consulted: cordcuttersnews.com (YouTube TV 2026 guide), cloudwards.net (Hulu + Live TV channels), tvguide.com (Sling and Fubo channel lists), sportsmediawatch.com (Fubo and NBCUniversal deal), compareinternethub.com (DIRECTV STREAM), agoodmovietowatch.com (Peacock NFL and NFL+ pricing), tomsguide.com (NFL streaming services and the ESPN RedZone bundle), awfulannouncing.com (NFL Network in ESPN Unlimited), cabletv.com (streaming exclusives), netflix.com/tudum (Netflix NFL schedule), 9to5google.com (Sunday Ticket 2026), and sportsvideo.org (ESPN and NFL deal approval). Sports rights change; claims on this page expire on January 10, 2027 and are re-verified before republishing. Ranking order follows How We Rank, with coverage breadth applied first.
We are an independent publisher, not affiliated with the NFL, any network, or any streaming service. Editorial policy.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure