Football fans thrive on getting as much access to their favorite team as possible. From training camp to late-season struggles, it’s essential for fans to get complete coverage.
Thankfully, there are several live TV streaming services that let fans save money and watch NFL Network without cable. If you want to cut the cord and still watch football games, the NFL draft, and more, this guide is for you.
Table of Contents
What Streaming Services Have the NFL Network?
That fear kept my family from ditching cable for years. Now we save nearly $100 a month, and we still get to catch all the action of our favorite teams.
Here are the best choices to get NFL Network without cable.
Service | Cost | DVR Capacity | Free Trial | Sign Up |
---|---|---|---|---|
fuboTV | $79.99+ | 1,000 hrs. | 7 days | Try Now |
Sling TV | $40+ | 50 hrs. | N/A | Try Now |
Hulu Live | $76.99+ | No limit | N/A | Try Now |
YouTube TV | $72.99+ | No limit | 7 days | Try Now |
DIRECTV STREAM | $79.99+ | No limit | 5 days | Try Now |
1. fuboTV
FuboTV is one of the top choices for sports fans. The streaming service began as a platform for niche sports like international soccer and cycling leagues.
It’s now a full-fledged service that is a terrific cable replacement for cord-cutters who want to save money.
The base package, known as Pro, has over 180 channels and costs $79.99 a month, plus RSN fees. It’s an excellent way for you to stream NFL Network without cable.
Fubo not only offers NFL Network, it includes other popular sports networks like:
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews
- FS1 and FS2
- ACC, Big Ten, and SEC networks
- Bally Sports regional sports networks
You can include the NFL RedZone as a part of the Sports Plus add-on for $10.99 a month. This includes roughly 20 other sports networks.
The service also has dozens of popular entertainment and lifestyle channels as well as all local channels. It even offers a 1,000-hour cloud DVR in its base package.
Read our review of fubo to learn more about the service.
If you want to watch NFL games without cable, try fuboTV’s seven-day free trial to see if it’s the right solution for you.
2. Sling TV
As a part of its Blue package, Sling TV is the cheapest way to get NFL Network without cable.
The service has two base offerings, including Blue and Orange. You must choose Blue to live stream the NFL Network.
At $40 a month, Sling Blue is an affordable cable replacement. Blue also carries FS1 and NBC Sports Network for sports fans.
One drawback is that it only offers NBC and FOX in select markets. You will need an antenna to watch all of your local channels.
Read our guide on ways to get NBC without cable to learn about other options.
Additionally, if you want ESPN you must also sign up for the Orange + Blue package. At $55 per month it’s still the most affordable way to get both ESPN and the NFL Network.
Subscribers can purchase the Sports add-on for an additional $11 a month. This offers approximately ten other networks, including NFL RedZone.
Sling includes a 50-hour cloud DVR. You can upgrade to 200 hours for $5 per month if you need more space.
Read our review of the Sling TV packages to learn more about the service.
Try Sling TV’s three-day free trial if you want to watch NFL Network online.
3. Hulu Live
Hulu Live offers the network in its base package. This helps make the streaming service a bit more competitive for sports fans.
Additionally, the service carries the following sports channel in its base package:
- The entire ESPN family of channels
- FS1 and FS2
- ACC and SEC Networks
It also offers lower-tier sports channels like CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports, so it’s a terrific way to watch live games on major networks.
If you want to watch NFL RedZone, you need to purchase the Sports Add-on for $9.99 per month. This includes five additional channels.
Additionally, Hulu Live includes the Disney bundle in its base plan, so you get access to ESPN+. EPN+ is airing one exclusive game for the 2022 season and has lots of supplementary content for football fans.
Hulu Live has roughly 80 channels, including many popular lifestyle and entertainment networks. It also carries all local channels.
You also get an unlimited DVR with the service.
Read our review of the Hulu Live channels to learn more about the service.
4. YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a top-rated cable replacement service and a terrific way to watch NFL Network live.
The platform carries over 90 broadcast channels, including many popular sports options.
Besides watching the NFL live stream, you also receive the following sports channels:
- The complete ESPN family of networks
- FS1 and FS2
- MLB and NBA networks
- ACC, Big Ten, and SEC networks
If you want access to NFL RedZone, you must purchase the Sports Plus add-on for $10.99 a month. This includes twelve additional channels.
*Related: Are you a basketball fan, but want to get rid of your expensive contract? Read our guide on ways to watch professional basketball games without cable and save big bucks.
YouTube TV has dozens of other well-liked entertainment and lifestyle channels. It also includes all local channels, so it’s a perfect fit for football season.
Read our review of the YouTube TV channels to learn more about the service.
5. DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly known as AT&T TV) is a new option to get NFL Network without cable. It’s adding the channel on July 17, 2023.
Plan | Price | No. of Channels | DVR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
Entertainment | $79.99+ | 75+ | No limit | View Plan |
Choice | $108.99+ | 105+ | No limit | View Plan |
Ultimate | $119.99+ | 140+ | No limit | View Plan |
Premier | $164.99+ | 150+ | No limit | View Plan |
DIRECTV STREAM has four package offerings, with the higher-end ones costing nearly as much as cable.
Those packages also include free HBO MAX for three months, as well as other premium channels for free.
DIRECTV STREAM also includes local channels. Other sought after networks include:
- ACCN (Choice, Ultimate, and Premier)
- CBS Sports Network (Ultimate and Premier)
- ESPNU (Choice, Ultimate, and Premier)
- ESPNEWS (Choice, Ultimate, and Premier)
- FS1 (all packages)
- FS2 (Ultimate and Premier)
- NBA TV (Choice, Ultimate, and Premier)
- SECN (Choice, Ultimate, and Premier)
Unfortunately, you must choose at least the Choice tier to get the NFL Network. If you don’t want the Choice package, you can get the channel via their Sports Pack add-on for $14.99 monthly.
The add-on includes 40 other sports-centric channels, including NFL RedZone. Furthermore, if you don’t want the add-on, the Premier plan is the only tier that offers both NFL Network and RedZone.
You can try the service with a five-day free trial.
It, along with Fubo, are the only two live services that carry all of the Bally RSNs. If you don’t need those and want a comparable service, YouTube TV may be a better choice.
Read our DIRECTV STREAM review to learn more.
What Does the NFL Network Air?
There is a lot of programming on the NFL Network. And, if you don’t need other live TV, you can opt for the premium tier of NFL+ to get access to the network. Here’s what you can expect to receive.
Preseason Games
If you like to watch preseason games, this network is the best place to catch the action.
The channel airs every preseason game. While not every game airs live, you can catch others on tape delay.
If you want all out-of-market pre-season games, NFL+ is a good solution. Read our NFL+ review to learn more.
If you want all regular season out-of-market games, NFL Sunday Ticket is a better choice. Read our NFL Sunday Ticket vs. NFL+ analysis to learn more.
Super Bowl Events
If you love all things Super Bowl, the NFL Network is an excellent way to stay abreast of all the latest news.
You won’t get the game, but the channel offers hours of pre-game news and coverage. It’s a must-have for any big football fan.
In Studio Shows and Original Content
The NFL Network is a fantastic resource for fans of professional football. The channel has popular in studio shows like Good Morning Football and NFL Total Access.
If you’re a student of the game, original shows like A Football Life are must-watch for any avid fan.
What You Won’t See
There is a lot of NFL coverage on the channel, but there are a few things you won’t be able to access.
Local Market Games
While the channel is a good way to get out-of-market action, it is not possible to watch local NFL games.
The best way to get regional sports networks is with an antenna or a live TV streaming service that carries local channels.
Playoff Games
If you can’t miss playoff games or the Super Bowl, the NFL Network is not the right fit for you.
It’s a fantastic way to get pre and post-game coverage, but you won’t get live games on major networks. An antenna or streaming service is your best choice.
Bottom Line
Watching professional football games keeps a lot of people from cutting the cord on cable. Thanks to streaming services, that no longer has to be the case.
Platforms like fuboTV and Sling are both legitimate ways to watch NFL Network without cable.
What’s one channel or TV event you can’t live without?
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.