7 Ways to Watch Live NFL Games Without Cable During the 2018 Season
Are you ready for some football? The NFL season is finally here — and over the past 12 months it’s become even easier to watch your favorite NFL team even if you’ve cut the cord.
With games this season on CBS, NBC, FOX, NFL Network, ESPN, and Amazon — you have multiple ways to stream NFL action online.
What’s New Since Last NFL Season?
- All streaming services now let you stream games from your mobile device
- Live Streaming Services have added hundreds of local affiliates so won’t miss local games
- Live Streaming Services have added NFL Network and NFL RedZone to their channel packages
- Yahoo! will be streaming nationally televised games for free to smartphone and tablets
- You can now subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV in certain markets
- Amazon will broadcast 11 Thursday Night Football games for free on Twitch.tv
How to Watch the NFL Games without Cable in 2018
1. Watch Local Games with an Antenna
Just like the old days, you can still pick up local channels from CBS, NBC, and FOX from an antenna. Outside of the cost of the antenna, you won’t pay a thing to watch your favorite team.
If you live within 35 miles of the broadcast signal, you will likely be able to pick up your locals channels with a cheap indoor antenna ($15–30).
We suggest the Mohu Leaf 30 (30-mile range) or Mohu Leaf 50 (60-mile range) depending on line of sight.
2. Subscribe to a Live TV Streaming Service
There are six major streaming providers that offer Live TV Streaming. These allow you to watch games live using iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and Web.
This is the best option for fans that want to watch local in-market games, as well as nationally televised games on cable networks like ESPN, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone.
Since last season, fuboTV and DIRECTV NOW added NFL Network. fuboTV also added NFL RedZone to their Sports Pack ($9/month).
The different services have also spent the year adding hundreds of affiliates so that you can watch your local CBS, NBC, and FOX network.
Unfortunately, not every service carries every local channel. Check our Local Channel Lookup Tool to see the local channels available in your market.
TOP PICK
fuboTV
Price: $45
Includes: CBS, NBC, FOX, NFL Network, NFL RedZone (+$9)
Click Here for a 7-Day Free Trial
All Streaming Options
Hulu Live TV
Price: $40
Includes: CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN
PlayStation Vue
Price: $50
Includes: CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL RedZone (+$10)
Click Here for a 5-Day Free Trial
DIRECTV NOW
Price: $55
Includes: CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, NFL Network
YouTube TV
Price: $40
Includes: CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN
Click Here for a 7-Day Free Trial
Sling Blue
Price: $25
Includes: FOX, NBC, NFL Network, NFL RedZone (+$10), & ESPN (+$15)
Click Here for a 7-Day Free Trial
3. Subscribe to CBS All Access for NFL on CBS
One cheaper alternative is CBS All Access ($5.99/mo). They offer live local CBS affiliates in over 200 cities — many more than any of the live TV streaming services. If you are a fan of an AFC team, this will be the cheapest option to get 60–70% of your team’s games.
For Bills, Bengals, and Colts fans — this is a good option to add your local CBS affiliate to your existing live streaming subscription since most services won’t offer your local CBS.
Click Here for a 7-Day Free Trial to CBS All Access
4. Subscribe to SUNDAYTICKET.TV to Watch Out-of-Market games
If you’ve moved away from your favorite team, you may be able subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket’s out-of-market package online. While you won’t get games that are airing live in your local market, you will get access to nearly every out-of-market game — even on your mobile device.
Not everyone can subscribe though. To be eligible, you have to live in an apartment or dorm that can’t get DirecTV or subscribe to DIRECTV NOW in select markets.
Either way at $73.49 per month, it’s one of the more expensive options, but it is the only option to watch out-of-market games without cable.
Click here to Subscribe to SundayTicket.TV
Are you a Student?
Fortunately, if you’re a student they have an insane deal. Once you validate your student ID, you will be able to subscribe for $100 for the entire season.
Click here to Subscribe to SundayTicket.TV for Students
5. Watch Nationally Televised Games on Yahoo! for Free on Your Mobile Device
Last season, Verizon acquired the rights to streaming nationally televised games on phones and tablets.
Any wireless customer can now stream all NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network games on their smartphone or tablet for free.
The games will be available on the NFL App and Verizon-owned properties like Yahoo Sports, Tumblr, and AOL.
Unfortunately, the apps won’t let you stream the games on our TV — you’ll need a Live TV Streaming Service for that.
Learn more about NFL Streaming on Yahoo!
6. Subscribe to Amazon Prime for Thursday Night Football
Amazon won the rights to 11 Thursday Night Football games this season. If you’re a Prime subscriber($119/year or $49 if you’re a student), you’ll be able to watch for free.
If not, Amazon will be streaming the games for free on Twitch.TV.
None of these games are not exclusive, so if you get FOX or NFL Network through another service — you will be able to watch these games on those as well.
Get a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime
7. Listen Live and Watch Replays with NFL Game Pass
This won’t give you live regular season games, but you will be able to watch all games on demand after they air. You’ll also get access live radio broadcasts in the NFL App.
Get a 7-Day Free Trial of NFL Game Pass
Best Way to Watch Every NFL Team without Cable
We picked the best live TV streaming services for each NFL team so you won’t miss a single play. Don’t subscribe to one until you check your favorite team’s schedule.
