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Football is back! And while that’s exciting, the NFL has cut deals with even more streaming services, and trying to watch games this year will be an absolute mess. Here’s what you need to know about the 10 different channels or streaming services you’ll need to watch the NFL this season.
While the 2025-26 NFL regular season officially kicks off on Thursday, September 4th, the first preseason game airs on July 31st. Yes, that’s right around the corner. I’m excited, but with how expensive theNFL Sunday Ticket from YouTubeis, I’m scrambling to figure out how to watch all the important games, and I’m not alone.
Good Luck Watching NFL Football This Year
Unless you’re willing to shell out $480 for the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube or with YouTube TV, or a little less for new customers, this season will be a challenge. That’s because NFL games will air on multiple channels and streaming services, some of which you probably don’t have.
Imagine telling someone 15 years ago that Google now owns the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, and it’s more expensive than it ever was with DirecTV. Then, even with the Sunday Ticket, they’ll needNetflix,Prime Video,Peacock, andESPN+. That’s the situation, and watching football is no longer easy.
YouTube TV
Probably the most recognizable brand name among live TV streaming services, YouTube TV is the best way to watch movies, live TV, sports, and more.
NFL fans have a right to be frustrated. Whether you’ve ditched traditional cable or not, this season’s brutal fragmentation will make watching each game difficult and wildly expensive.
All the Streaming Services You’ll Need (and How Much It’ll Cost)
The 2025-26 NFL season will be similar to previous years with the three main primetime channels and TNF on Prime Video, but then everything gets a bit messy.
For example, CBS, FOX, and NBC will still air games as usual. These are available from traditional cable or dish providers and streaming services likeYouTube TV,Fubo, andSling TV.
However, you’ll also need to pay for Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football, have a Netflix subscription, and use a streaming service that offers ESPN/ABC and the NFL Network for some international games. Peacock will also get another exclusive. The2025 NFL scheduleis a mess. Did you catch all that?
$480 or $40 per month
$8.99 per month or $139 annually for Amazon Prime
$7.99 per month with ads, or $17.99 to go ad-free
$378 + $82.99 per month base plan
$10.99 per month with ads, or $16.99 to go ad-free
ESPN+ (or ABC)
$11.99 per month, or $16.99 per month bundled with Disney+
Confused yet? You’re not alone. That’s a lot to keep track of, regardless of whether you use traditional TV methods or a live TV streaming service.
The good news is that as long as you have access to Fox, CBS, and NBC, which all carry a slate of NFL games each week, you’ll be fine in your local market, as these channels carry Sunday afternoon and evening games. Then, some late-season or Saturday playoff games will also air on these “OTA” channels. And if your local team plays Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, it’ll also air on your local station.
Obviously, if you’re a fan of a team in another state, like me (a Packers fan living in Texas), trying to catch each game is going to be a nightmare. You’ll end up juggling everything mentioned above to try and keep tabs on your team. That or get the NFL Sunday Ticket.
You’ll Need More Than Cable for Some Games
As a reminder, many international games with NFL Network listed can and will appear on regular OTA channels in your area. For example, if you’re a Vikings fan living in Minnesota, you’ll likely be able to watch the London game on your local affiliate station like NBC, CBS, or Fox, depending on the kickoff time.
There Has to Be a Better Way
I don’t know about you guys, but this sounds like a lot of work. Sure, most casual fans will just watch whatever is on TV, and many people already pay for Amazon Prime or Netflix. As a result, most people will watch what they can, or diehard fans will get NFL Redzone, Sunday Ticket, or use some other method.
Did you know there’s actually another way to watch NFL games all season long? One that’s both better and worse than what’s mentioned above. I’m talking aboutNFL+, whichcame out in 2022and is getting better each year. NFL Plus replaced NFL Mobile by Verizon, which was free, and now it’s a paid service with plenty to offer for all fans.
NFL+ is the easiest way to watch all live local and primetime games right from your phone for only $6.99 per month. Then, you can watcheveryNFL game on-demand after it airs and the game is over. However, a huge caveat is that you canonlywatch those games on your phone. And no, you can’t get around it by casting to a TV, screen sharing, or anything of that nature. The NFL has blocked all of that.
NFL+
More importantly, with Premium, you can access RedZone from the NFL app on smart TVs and other streaming devices. So while you won’t be watching full games or seeing your favorite team play each week, it’s nonstop football for diehard fans, and on your big-screen TV.
As I said above, this option is better than jumping through endless channels and streaming services, but it has tons of limitations.
Sorry. There’s no easy way to enjoy NFL football in 2025. With billions of dollars on the line from broadcast networks and streaming services, that’s how it is these days.
