With the 2020 football season upon us, it’s time for cable-cutters to start thinking about how to stream NFL games this year. There are plenty of streaming services that include at least some NFL coverage, so it’s worth doing your research before choosing the service that’s right for you.
That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide that shows you exactly how to legally watch the NFL without cable, with no technical knowledge or experience required. You can be streaming games in just minutes (it’s easy and super fast to get started.) Check out the full guide on how to live stream NFL games below.
Our recommendation
Overall, we recommend Hulu + Live TV as the go-to streaming service for NFL fans. With Hulu Live, you’ll get access to local channels, ESPN and the NFL Network, which will cover you for most games this season. Try Hulu + Live TV with a seven-day free trial.
Get 65+ channels along with a library of 80,000+ TV episodes and movies on-demand! Bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ for even more great content.
Streaming services to watch the NFL at-a-glance
| Streaming service | Price | Free trial? | Free trial length |
| Hulu + Live TV | $55/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
| Sling TV | $30/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
| fuboTV | $60/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
| Vidgo | $40/mo. for the first 90 days, then $45/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 3 days |
| YouTube TV | $65/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
| AT&T TV NOW | $55/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
| CBS All Access | $6/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
| Amazon Prime | $13/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 30 days |
| NFL Game Pass | $30/mo. | Yes – sign up here | 7 days |
How to live stream the NFL
Even without cable, you can still catch all of the NFL action this season. Here’s an overview of the streaming services that offer live NFL games:
The guide below extensively covers all you need to know about watching football without cable. But if you’re just looking for a quick-and-easy cheat sheet, here you go:
You will need an online streaming service that offers live TV coverage. These services essentially function like cable, providing a wide selection of channels that you can watch live. The difference is that they are a lot cheaper, and don’t require a contract. They require an internet connection to watch, but nothing more.
We list many options below, but our top pick is Hulu + Live TV. This service costs $55/mo. and covers over 65 channels to watch live. It offers many of the channels you’ll need to watch live football, so with this service you can stream nearly every NFL game live. Plus, you can catch the nightly news, binge watch the latest TV shows, and even access a massive Netflix-like on-demand library.
Hulu + Live TV offers a free seven-day trial. This is a great no-cost way to test the service out.
Get 65+ channels along with a library of 80,000+ TV episodes and movies on-demand! Bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ for even more great content.
Once you’ve signed up, all you need now is a compatible device. You can use your computer or smartphone, or watch on your TV with a streaming player (Roku, Apple TV, etc.). Once everything is set up, you can watch live TV whenever you want, just like if you had cable!
So there you have it. If you want a quick summary, it’s this: Sign up for Hulu + Live TV and you’ll be able to stream NFL games LIVE in 2020 on all your favorite devices. And you can cancel at any time!
If you have questions, keep reading the guide below for more in-depth information.
The four steps to stream NFL games online
- Know which channels you need for watching NFL online.
- Set a monthly budget you’re comfortable spending.
- Choose how you want to watch games (on your TV, phone, tablet, etc.).
- Pick a streaming service that meets your needs and use a free trial to test it out.
Don’t worry, I’m going to walk you through the entire process. I promise, it’s incredibly easy, and you’re going to save a ton of money.
A little background on how to watch NFL online
I know, I know…it used to be difficult to watch NFL online without cable. But it’s 2020, and things have changed a lot. Streaming options have come a long way in recent years, and now, it’s easier than ever before to keep up with all the gridiron action without the burden of expensive cable TV.
Even if you live in an area where you can’t get antenna reception to pick up your local games on FOX, CBS, or NBC, you can still stream NFL games in a number of different ways so you don’t miss a single snap. I know this because I do it every single Thursday, Sunday and Monday during NFL season!
The best part? All of these streaming services are pay-as-you-go (and cheaper than cable!), just like Netflix, so you can cancel any time you’d like. And all of the options we’re going to discuss are 100% legal, mainstream services.
Okay, let’s get started.
Step 1: Which NFL channels do you need?
Before we go into all of the different streaming services that will let you watch football online without cable, let’s take a closer look at the key NFL channels you’ll need and which streaming services offer them.
The bulk of NFL action — Sunday afternoon games — airs on CBS and FOX. NFL RedZone also offers live, commercial-free look-ins all afternoon Sunday into games around the league, making it a great way to keep tabs on several games all at once. Sunday Night Football airs on NBC, and Monday Night Football comes on ESPN (if your hometown team is playing on Monday Night, the game will also simulcast to one of your local broadcast networks.) Thursday Night Football is the most complicated of the bunch — 11 games will simulcast on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime, and seven games will air exclusively on NFL Network (full TNF schedule here.)
Here’s a full overview of the NFL channels carrying games in 2020:
- CBS—Sunday afternoon games, playoffs, Super Bowl
- FOX—Sunday afternoon games, Thursday Night Football, playoffs
- NBC—Sunday Night Football, playoffs
- ESPN—Monday Night Football, playoffs (Wild Card Round)
- NFL Network—Thursday Night Football, replays, highlights and commentary
- NFL RedZone—Live look-ins for Sunday afternoon games
You can see the full NFL schedule here for more info on upcoming games and their TV info.
FAQ: Can I stream my local channels online?
Yes, many streaming services today now carry your local broadcast channels, like CBS, FOX and NBC. Hulu + Live TV offers the most local coverage of all. These channels are very important for NFL fans!
Step 2: Set a Monthly Budget
The average cable bill is now $217 per month. I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in forking over more than $2,400 a year to the cable company. Heck, you could get tickets to home games for your local team at that price.
Here’s the good news: thanks to the new streaming services that have become available in recent years, you can get all the NFL channels (plus all your other favorites) you need for a fraction of the price of cable. I’m saving over $700 a year with my streaming setup that lets me watch NFL online without cable.
With that in mind, you need to set a monthly budget of what you’re willing to pay to be able to stream NFL games. If you want to make sure you have all the channels you need to stream games, you’re looking at around $55-65 per month. That’s a whole lot cheaper than $217 a month, and the best part is all of these streaming services are contract-free, meaning you pay month to month and can cancel whenever you want. This also means that you could potentially just subscribe for NFL season, and cancel when it’s over.
You can also try any of these streaming services free for a week in most cases. That gives you time to test them out to see which you like most.
Having said that, you may be able to get your NFL fix for even cheaper if you’re willing to do without certain channels. More on that later.
FAQ: How much does it cost to watch NFL without cable?
Prices vary, but to get all the channels you need to stream live games, you can expect to spend around $55/mo. or a bit more. This is way cheaper than the average cable bill of $217/mo., and you can also try these services out for free with a free trial.
- Sign up for Sling TV
- Start a seven-day free trial
Sign up for the Orange or Blue Sling TV packages, or get them both to access 50+ channels. Use the add-ons to customize your streaming experience!
Step 3: Choose how you want to stream NFL games
There are numerous ways you can watch NFL without cable. You can stream games live directly to your TV, on your phone, on your tablet, or even on your computer.
I won’t spend too much time talking about how to watch NFL online using your phone, tablet, or computer, because it’s pretty simple. All of the streaming services we’re going to discuss have mobile apps for Apple and Android devices, so once you sign up for whichever service you choose below, you just download the app on your device and you’re good to go. Most allow for streaming on your computer too.
Of course, if you’re like me, you still do the majority of your TV viewing on, well, your TV. I don’t know about you, but when I started looking into how to watch NFL games without cable, it was absolutely essential that I could watch them on my big screen TV.
The good news is it’s very easy to stream NFL games on your TV. In fact, if you already watch Netflix on your TV, you probably have what you need to watch NFL games online too.
In order to stream NFL games on your TV, you’ll need either a smart TV that carries the apps of whichever service you choose below, or a streaming player you can connect to your TV – such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Google Chromecast, to name a few.
Think of a streaming player as your cable box. It connects to your TV and lets you access various streaming apps, like Netflix, Hulu, and the different cable TV alternatives we’re going to discuss below.
Personally, I’ve tried all the different popular streaming players, spending literally thousands of hours testing them all out. While they’re all good, I rank them in the following order in terms of user-friendliness, performance and app availability:
- Roku (4, Ultra, Premiere, Streaming Stick are all good choices)
- Apple TV
- Amazon Fire TV
- Google Chromecast
There are other choices, like Nvidia Shield or even video game consoles for example, but those four above are the most popular and easiest to use for most people. You can see a detailed comparison in our best streaming devices comparison article.
If you already have one of these devices, you’re good to go! Simply sign up for one of the services below, sign into your account on your streaming device, and start streaming! If you don’t have a device, purchase one before signing up for a service. You can also check with the service you’re signing up for; sometimes they run special deals where you can get discounted streaming players during the signup process.
FAQ: Which devices can I watch NFL online with?
You can stream NFL games on smart TVs, any TV with the use of a streaming player (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc), smartphones, tablets, or computers.
Step 4: Pick a streaming service
The final, and most important, step is to choose a streaming service that carries the channels you need to watch NFL online while meeting your budget. Below, I’m going to go in-depth detailing all of the different choices you have, explaining their pros and cons, and helping you find the one that’s right for your needs.
Watch the NFL on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu provides access to most NFL games, plus news, TV shows, on-demand content and more
Get 65+ channels along with a library of 80,000+ TV episodes and movies on-demand! Bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ for even more great content.
- Key channels included: ESPN, FOX, NBC, CBS
- What’s missing?: NFL Network, NFL RedZone
- Stream these NFL games: Monday Night Football, Sunday afternoon games on FOX and CBS, Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football
- App authentication: ESPN, FOX Sports Go, NBC Sports, CBS, CBS Sports
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers and more.
Hulu + Live TV offers an excellent way to watch NFL games online without cable. All you need is an internet connection and a device to stream on, and you’ll be able to watch all of your in-market Sunday afternoon games on CBS and FOX, Sunday Night Football on NBC, Monday Night Football on ESPN, and Thursday Night Football on FOX. The only national games you’ll miss are the handful of NFL Network-exclusive Thursday Night Football games later this season, which isn’t much at all.
What makes Hulu + Live TV the top choice for NFL coverage in our opinion is that it offers the big local networks (CBS, FOX, and NBC) that air the vast majority of games in more markets than any other streaming service. That’s the vast majority of the country. And if by some small chance you don’t live in one of the markets where Hulu + Live TV carries your locals, you may still watch games airing on those local channels by logging into the FOX Sports Go and CBS apps using your account credentials. However, the trick won’t work for the NBC Sports app.
More locals means more NFL football.
Many other streaming services suffer from limited availability of local networks like CBS, FOX, and NBC. This is where Hulu + Live TV sets itself apart, covering more than 600 markets for the four big broadcast networks, meaning you can get an NFL live stream in most US cities.
But that’s not the only thing that makes Hulu’s live service different from every other service. Included in your Hulu + Live TV subscription is complete access to the classic Hulu on-demand streaming library, which is similar to Netflix and is loaded with full libraries of hit TV series, Hulu Originals, movies, and more.
- $55/mo. – no contract, no hidden fees, cancel whenever you want
- 65+ channels, Hulu’s on-demand service, Cloud DVR (record up to 50 hours), and other features included
- Covers CBS, FOX, and NBC in more markets than any other live streaming service
- Stream on most devices — Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, Android, Xbox, and more
- Excellent coverage of local sports
- A great all-around alternative to cable TV
- Try Hulu + Live TV free for seven days
You can check out our full Hulu + Live TV review for more information.
Get 65+ channels along with a library of 80,000+ TV episodes and movies on-demand! Bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ for even more great content.
Watch the NFL on Sling TV
The budget-friendly, flexible option for watching your favorite channels
Sign up for the Orange or Blue Sling TV packages, or get them both to access 50+ channels. Use the add-ons to customize your streaming experience!
- Key channels included: ESPN, FOX/NBC (limited markets)
- What’s missing?: CBS, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NBC/FOX in many areas
- Stream these NFL games: Monday Night Football, Sunday afternoon games on FOX, Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football games on FOX
- App authentication: ESPN, FOX Sports Go, NBC, NBC Sports
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox One, AirTV, Android TV, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers and more.
Sling TV is another option to watch NFL without cable. Sling offers several channels that will offer live football streaming, including ESPN, nationwide, and NBC/FOX in select areas. If you don’t live in one of the markets where Sling TV carries FOX and NBC, you can still watch games airing on FOX by logging into the FOX Sports Go using your account credentials. You’ll also get local/regional FOX Sports networks. That said, the coverage of NBC and FOX are quite a bit more limited than some other options, and CBS isn’t included at all.
Save more with Sling TV.
Sling TV has packages starting at $30/mo., and several add-on packages are available which really gives you the ability to build a custom package of channels that fits your interests and your budget. Of course, the more channels you add to your package, the more the price will increase so keep an eye on that when building your bundle.
Here’s what you need to know about Sling TV:
- Starts at $30/mo. — no contract, no hidden fees
- A great choice for those looking to save money
- A la carte type packages make it easy to build your own channel bundles to create your perfect lineup
- Combine Orange and Blue base packages for a discounted price of $45/mo. ($60 value) to get their full selection of NFL channels
- Available on a variety of players, including Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV and Apple TV; many smart TVs; as well as Apple and Android mobile devices.
- Often, Sling TV offers discounted streaming devices to new users who sign up and prepay for a few months in advance.
- Comes with 10 hours of free cloud DVR storage to record your shows and events (or get 50 hours for an additional $5/mo.)
- Try Sling TV free for seven days
To learn more, take a look at our Sling TV review.
Sign up for the Orange or Blue Sling TV packages, or get them both to access 50+ channels. Use the add-ons to customize your streaming experience!
Watch the NFL on fuboTV
The live streaming service built specifically for sports fans
Enjoy the largest selection of live sports content! Get 100+ channels with up to 500 hours of online cloud DVR storage and the option to stream on multiple devices simultaneously. fuboTV also provides primetime shows and family-friendly movies so there’s something for everyone.
- Key channels included: FOX, NBC, CBS, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, ESPN
- Stream these NFL games: Sunday afternoon games on FOX and CBS, Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, Monday Night Football
- App authentication: NBC Sports, NBC, NFL Mobile, CBS Sports, ESPN
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers and more.
fuboTV is a streaming service that is primarily meant for sports fans. It offers 100+ channels to watch live, many of which are high quality sports networks. The service offers NBC, CBS, and FOX in many markets as well as NFL Network and NFL RedZone nationwide, so it’s useful for live NFL streaming on Sundays and for Thursday Night Football coverage. Recently, fuboTV added ESPN to its channel lineup, so you’ll be able to watch Monday Night Football as well.
Like the other services we’ve discussed, fuboTV only offers FOX, CBS, and NBC in select areas. Coverage is fairly good, but not as widespread as Hulu + Live TV. However, fuboTV also allows authentication with CBS, which expands coverage beyond normal covered areas. That means you should be able to watch NFL games online airing on CBS in your market regardless of where you live.
The company recently released a statement saying, “With access to nearly every game and on every device, as well as the in-depth, wall-to-wall coverage provided by NFL Network and Red Zone – fuboTV is the unmatched choice for cord-cutting NFL fans.”
More US and international sports than anyone else.
When it comes to sheer volume of live sports coverage, no other service matches fuboTV at this time.
- More regional sports networks than anyone else — NBC Sports regionals, NESN, MSG, NBC Sports Chicago, etc.
- Huge lineup of international and niche sports channels you can add on — Zona Futbol, Fight Network, FOX Soccer Plus, Eleven Sports, etc.
- League channels — NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NBA TV, etc.
- Plans from $60/mo.
- No contracts — cancel any time
- Cloud DVR to record your favorite sports and shows (30 hours of storage included; can upgrade to 500 hours for a minor fee)
- NFL and other live sports have less delay on fuboTV than any other streaming service, so you’re never minutes behind the action like you might be on other streams
- Stream on practically any device — Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, iPhone/iPad, Android phones/tablets, computers, more
- Try fuboTV free for seven days
Read through our fuboTV review to learn more.
Enjoy the largest selection of live sports content! Get 100+ channels with up to 500 hours of online cloud DVR storage and the option to stream on multiple devices simultaneously.
Watch the NFL on Vidgo
An affordable option for cable-cutters, Vidgo is the only service other than fuboTV that includes the NFL Network
As a newer platform in the streaming space, Vidgo is a great option if you’re looking to save money but still access some of the must-see NFL games this season. Start your three-day free trial.
- Key channels included: ESPN, FOX, NFL Network
- What’s missing?: NBC, CBS
- Stream these NFL games: Monday Night Football, Sunday afternoon games on FOX, Thursday Night Football games on FOX
- App authentication: ESPN, NFL Network
- Device availability: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, web browsers, Android TV
While Vidgo is still making a name for itself as a streaming service, it does have several compelling selling points for NFL fans. First, it’s one of the only platforms to include the NFL Network in its standard package. You can even upgrade to a higher-tier package to get access to NFL RedZone. It also includes access to FOX so you can catch regular season games broadcast on that network as well. Also, Vidgo offers a feature called “Social TV,” which lets you host private viewing parties with friends and family across the country. You can also join public viewing parties to watch your favorite football team with other fans.
Budget-friendly pricing and unique social features.
Although Vidgo’s starter package doesn’t include the biggest variety of channels, NFL fans will appreciate the breadth of sports channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and more.
- Pay $40/mo. for the first 90 days (then $45/mo.)
- Watch NFL games on FOX, ESPN and NFL Network
- Access to FOX sports networks like FS1 and FOX Deportes, plus more ESPN channels
- Stream on up to three devices
- English and Spanish packages available
- No long-term contracts or credit check required
- Enjoy Social TV to interact with other sports fans
- Try Vidgo for free for three days
Check out all of the exciting features and benefits of this new platform by signing up for a free trial.
Watch the NFL on YouTube TV
With ample coverage of major local broadcast networks, YouTube TV gives fans a great way to stream NFL games in their market
YouTube TV offers a wide selection of local channels with many pay-TV favorites. Get seven days free.
- Key channels included: ESPN, FOX, NBC, CBS
- What’s missing?: NFL Network, NFL RedZone, live locals (CBS, NBC, FOX) in some markets
- Stream these NFL games: Monday Night Football, Sunday afternoon games on FOX and CBS, Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football games on FOX
- App authentication: FOX Sports Go, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports
- Device availability: Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers, and more.
We’re all familiar with YouTube, but a lot of people don’t know that the company now offers its own streaming service that’s loaded with local broadcast networks and popular cable TV channels. It’s called YouTube TV, and it’s another great option for watching football online without cable. You’ll get local channels – FOX, NBC, and CBS in many markets, as well as ESPN for Monday Night Football. NFL Network and NFL RedZone are missing, however.
A great service that’s getting better.
YouTube TV is the newest streaming service listed in this guide, but while it’s still growing, it has already made remarkable strides in a short time. It’s rapidly expanding, adding channels and improving on itself.
- $65/mo. — no contract, cancel any time you wish
- Great mobile app and on-the-go streaming experience
- Solid selection of channels for watching most NFL games
- Cloud DVR boasts unlimited storage
- Available on most streaming devices
- Try YouTube TV free for seven days
To learn more, make sure you check out our YouTube TV review or try it free for seven days.
Watch the NFL on AT&T TV NOW
Big channel packages offer a lot of sports, entertainment, and more
AT&T TV NOW (formerly DIRECTV NOW) offers huge channel packages so you can get all your favorites to watch NFL online. Get seven days free.
- Key channels included: ESPN, FOX, NBC, CBS
- What’s missing?: NFL Network, NFL RedZone, locals (FOX, NBC, CBS) in some markets
- Stream these NFL games: Monday Night Football, Sunday afternoon games on FOX and CBS, Sunday Night Football, some Thursday Night Football
- App authentication: ESPN, FOX Sports Go, NBC, NBC Sports
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers and more
AT&T TV NOW is a streaming service from AT&T that’s a decent way to watch NFL online without cable. It brings many of the benefits of their parent satellite service to users who have or want to cut the cord. No contract is required, and there’s no satellite needed.
AT&T TV NOW starts at just $55/mo. for a package of over 45 networks, including ESPN (for Monday Night Football and NFL Draft coverage), ESPN2, FOX, and more. Fans in many markets will have access to live local channels, such as FOX, CBS, and NBC, to stream NFL games live. However, the local market coverage isn’t as expansive as what Hulu + Live TV offers. AT&T TV NOW also does not cover NFL Network any more, although they used to.
Your favorite channels and useful features.
AT&T TV NOW has a fair selection of channels, although it’s nothing like it used to be. The service had some major changes in early 2019, and it’s no longer as competitive as it once was. Even still, it’s a pretty good option for cord-cutters.
So, to sum up, with AT&T TV NOW you can:
- Watch ALL Monday Night Football games via ESPN
- Watch Sunday football games on NBC, FOX, and CBS in many markets
- Watch Thursday Night Football on FOX (but you’ll miss some NFL Network-hosted games)
- Watch tons of analytical/news coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and other sports networks
- Watch live news on FOX News and CNN, entertainment on TBS, TNT, Bravo and much more
- Enjoy up to 60+ channels, including HBO and Cinemax on the higher-tier package. You can add Showtime, Starz and other premium channels.
- Try AT&T TV NOW free for seven days
With AT&T TV NOW, you can watch live football games on streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV, mobile devices, computers, and more! It’s super easy to use, and has a familiar grid-like pattern that will be easy to adapt to for recent cord-cutters. Read our complete review of AT&T TV NOW here to learn more.
Check out the FREE seven-day trial of AT&T TV NOW to watch NFL online free and see for yourself what this service can offer you.
Other niche services for watching NFL without cable
While the above streaming services offer fairly complete solutions for watching football online, there are some other options available that you may find useful.
Watch the NFL with CBS All Access
Get Sunday afternoon football for just a few bucks a month
Enjoy access to over 15,000+ episodes of CBS content, including premium shows like The Big Bang Theory, NCIS, and The Twilight Zone. NFL games are also included. Starting at just $6/mo., CBS All Access provides quality content at a respectable price.
- Key channels included: CBS
- What’s missing?: ESPN, NFL Network, NBC, FOX
- Stream these NFL games: Sunday afternoon games on CBS
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, PS4, Xbox, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers, and more.
CBS All Access lets you stream all NFL games airing on the CBS network directly to your device. For only $6/mo., you can watch NFL games online without cable. Sure, this just gets you the games airing on CBS, but in many AFC markets, that will let you watch most of your home team’s Sunday afternoon games. This service is really ideal for those who can’t seem to pick up CBS on their antenna to watch football over the air. Check out the CBS TV schedule for NFL games here.
Not only will you be able to stream football games, you will also have access to a huge on-demand library of hit TV shows from CBS, and new shows are available the day after they air.
CBS All Access is available with local live feeds for about 90% of the country, and the streaming area is growing. So you’ll be able to watch NFL online almost everywhere in the USA. It also works with a variety of mobile and streaming devices.
Learn more by checking out our CBS All Access review.
Enjoy access to over 15,000+ episodes of CBS content, including premium shows and sports content. Starting at just $5.99, CBS All Access provides quality content at a respectable price.
Watch the NFL on Amazon Prime Video
With Amazon Prime Video, get access to an extensive library of on-demand movies and shows, and additional entertainment with Amazon Channels.
- Key channels included: Amazon Prime
- What’s missing?: ESPN, NBC, CBS, FOX
- Stream these NFL games: 11 Thursday Night Football games streaming on Prime (FOX simulcast)
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, PS3/PS4, most smart TVs, Xbox One/360, Nintendo Wii/Wii U, Android TV, iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers, and more.
In an interesting deal that first started in the 2017 season and is still going in 2020, online shopping and streaming giant Amazon has partnered with the NFL to stream 11 Thursday Night Football games free to Prime subscribers. It’s another way to watch NFL games online this season. Read more about the partnership here.
You’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to enjoy the action. If you’re not already, you may want to be (and there’s a free 30-day trial available). Amazon Prime offers a massive on-demand streaming library similar to Netflix, free two-day shipping on Amazon.com, and tons of other benefits. If you’re someone who shops online, it pays for itself very quickly with the free shipping and other benefits.
See our Amazon Prime Video review for details.
With Amazon Prime, get access to an extensive library of on-demand movies and shows, and additional entertainment with Amazon Channels.
How to stream the NFL on-demand without cable
Don’t need to watch NFL games live? Consider signing up for NFL Game Pass, which allows you to catch all of the regular season games on-demand after they’ve finished.
Watch the NFL on NFL Game Pass
Watch NFL game replays later the same day
NFL Game Pass offers live out-of-market preseason games and same-day replays of regular season action. Stream NFL games free for seven days.
- Stream these NFL games: Live out-of-market preseason games, every regular season game on demand
- Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, PS4, Xbox One, Android TV, iOS devices, Android devices, and more.
Finally, there’s the NFL’s own official streaming service, Game Pass, that lets you watch NFL without cable. NFL Game Pass is $99 for the year (or you can make four installment payments of $30), and it gives football fans a pretty good bang for the buck. It’s available via the NFL app.
Here’s what you get:
- Stream live preseason games out of market (in-market games are only available on demand)
- Get on-demand replays of every NFL regular season game
- Condensed game replays let you watch a full game in about 45 minutes
- Additional camera views
- Deep archive of past Super Bowls, Hard Knocks, A Football Life, and more for binge watching
While Game Pass isn’t for the fan who wants to watch live games on Sundays during the regular season, it is a good deal for hardcore football fans who want to catch up on games throughout the week.
Check out our NFL Game Pass review for more details.
Click here to try NFL Game Pass free for seven days.
Live outside the US? Watch NFL games live online with international Game Pass services
If you live outside of the USA and want to stream NFL games online, there are international versions of NFL Game Pass available to those abroad. Here’s the main difference between Game Pass’ international offerings and Game Pass domestic — with NFL Game Pass Europe and Game Pass for other parts of the world, you can watch football games live on your devices. In addition to getting an NFL live stream with the international versions of Game Pass, you also get access to all the games on demand, a huge library of games and other football shows, and so much more.
Live in Europe? Click here to try NFL Game Pass Europe.
Live elsewhere outside of the US? Try Game Pass for the rest of the world.
NFL streaming guides by team
Our hot take
Each of the streaming services outlined in this article offers fans the ability to watch some (if not all) of the hard-hitting NFL live stream action this season. Once you’ve decided on a service that’s right for you, sign up for a trial to see if you like it — and you might even be able to stream NFL games free. Plus, you’ll gain access to much more exciting content, including TV shows, movies and news programs.
