I Did the Math – Here’s the Cheapest Way to Watch the NFL in 2025
Update: Promos and streaming products have changed! See our updated price comparison.
This season, there are more ways than ever to watch the NFL. But the pricing for these packages isn’t always transparent. Promos and hidden fees are duking it out to make things complicated. I pulled together the pricing for all four months of the regular season. The regular season begins September 4 and ends January 4. Here’s how all the prices break down.
Best Prices for Sunday and Monday Football
For this exercise, I’m assuming you want a full season with all the main games. These prices include CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network for the full season except where noted.
| Provider | Avg. Monthly Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sling TV | $56.50 | 3 months paid in advance, no CBS |
| Sling TV | $57.74 | Paid monthly, no CBS |
| YouTube TV | $58.24 | Grab deal before Aug. 31 |
| DIRECTV | $69.99 | MySports package |
| DIRECTV | $71.24 | Entertainment package |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | |
| Fubo | $93.48 |
Although Sling TV is technically the winner, you wouldn’t be able to watch any games on CBS. Another Sling factor to consider: ABC, FOX, and NBC availability depends on where you live. It’s not a problem in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, or San Francisco, but it gets choppy outside those markets.
For that reason, YouTube TV is the best bet for most people with a $33 discount each of your first 3 months. In order to lock in that pricing, you’ll need to sign up by August 31.
$82.99/mo.$49.99/mo.
Since your YouTube TV price would shoot up to $82.99 for December, it would be smarter to drop the service when that promo deal expires, then you could switch to something like Sling TV for the final month. (Sling TV offers 50% off your first month.)
As we draw closer to the season, we may see more deals as providers try to lock you down for the season. For instance, DIRECTV is offering a $50 Visa gift card if you sign up for their Sports Pack (that includes NFL Network and NFL RedZone). You can get a $100 Visa gift card if you sign up for the Sports Pack and Peacock.
$49.99/mo.
Be aware that these deals are usually only available for first-time subscribers.
Best Prices that Include NFL RedZone
Watching NFL RedZone is like injecting a Hail Mary directly into your veins. It’s 7 hours of wall-to-wall football highlights in real-time. Excellent host Scott Hanson guides you around the league so you see all the best moments of all the games. It’s a godsend for fantasy football players.
If you want a package that includes full games from the channels above and RedZone, here’s how the pricing shakes out.
| Provider | Avg. Monthly Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $69.23 | Grab deal before Aug. 31 |
| Sling TV | $71.50 | 3 months paid in advance, no CBS |
| Sling TV | $72.74 | Paid monthly, no CBS |
| DIRECTV | $79.98 | Entertainment package + Sports Pack |
| DIRECTV | $82.98 | MySports + MySports Extra |
| Hulu + Live TV | $92.98 | |
| Fubo | $113.48 |
Once again, YouTube TV wins. That final month will be a nasty $93.98 after the promo runs out, so I would switch to another provider in December.
Read: Ultimate Guide to Streaming the NFL in 2025 ►
What About NFL+? Isn’t That Cheap?
Yes, NFL+ is inexpensive, but the $6.99 plan only gives you NFL Network on TV. Everything else needs to be watched on a mobile device. Jumping to NFL+ Premium is $14.99 and you’d get NFL RedZone on TV. But the bundle pricing for RedZone is better with a full TV package.
If you get NFL+, that doesn’t help you with games on NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, or ESPN. For that reason, I don’t recommend it unless you’re in a very special situation (like if you don’t have access to a big screen TV on Sundays).
You can bundle ESPN Unlimited with NFL+ Premium for RedZone starting Sept. 3. That will cost $39.99.
What Will Thursday Night Football on Prime Video Cost?
Prime Video is $8.99/month, though you get your first 30 days free. If you have Amazon Prime, the service is included.
$8.99/mo.
What If You Just Need One Channel?
I can’t imagine anyone in this scenario, but you will have some options to stream games on one specific channel this year.
ESPN Unlimited ($29.99): Watch any Monday Night Football games that air on ABC or ESPN. Because ESPN bought NFL Network, you’ll get that, too.
Paramount+ ($7.99): Watch games that air on your local CBS channel.
Peacock ($10.99): See Sunday Night Football from NBC.
Fox One ($19.99): This service launches Aug. 21. You’ll be able to watch your live, local Fox affiliate.
Because of these prices, it’s smarter to get a full live TV package instead of trying to cobble something together individually.
Can You Watch the NFL for Free This Year?
There are two legal ways to watch the NFL for free.
Choosing Free Trials for Short-Term NFL Access
Most live TV services offer free trials. DIRECTV offers a 5-day free trial, Fubo offers a free trial that changes between 1 day and 7 days. Hulu + Live TV offers a 3-day free trial. YouTube TV usually gives a 5-day free trial, though it’s currently 21 days.
It’s worth trying several different streamers for free to see which is worth paying for.
Watching NFL for Free with an Antenna
An antenna can be a great way to keep up with the NFL, since you’d get all the Sunday games on FOX, CBS, and NBC.
Monday nights will be hit-or-miss, depending if the games are simulcast on ABC. This season, ABC hosts or simulcasts 13 games
If you live in the market of either Thursday night team, you will be able to watch with an antenna. If not, Prime Video is your only option.
If you connect your antenna to a HDHomeRun and connect it to your computer with Plex Pass, you can stream and record any game you can access over-the-air for free! That’s what I do.
Channel Master FLATenna
Use this great indoor antenna to pick up free HD and digital signals with a 35-mile range. Watch ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and more for free forever!
What you can’t watch with an antenna: ESPN, Prime Video, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, Prime Video, and the 4 exclusive games on Netflix, ESPN+, and YouTube.
Important: 4 Games Are Not on Broadcast TV This Year
You’ll need other streamers for a handful of games this year.
- Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers – YouTube Exclusive
- Week 7: Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks – ESPN+ Exclusive
- Week 17 (Christmas Day): Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Netflix Exclusives
ESPN+ is included with DIRECTV’s MySports package and Hulu + Live TV. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay extra to catch that Week 7 game.
Bottom Line
Your price depends on what you want to watch. An antenna is the best option if you’re really price-sensitive. But can you live without Monday and Thursday Night Football?
Unless another streamer comes in with a blockbuster offer, it looks like I’ll be going with YouTube TV after several years away.
$82.99/mo.$49.99/mo.
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