10+ Cheapest Ways to Watch NFL Games

Watching NFL games in 2025 shouldn’t feel like taking on a second rent payment. Yet every year, the price of sports streaming goes up, blackout restrictions get worse, and platforms split games across more services. Whether you’re a casual fan who wants Sunday afternoon matchups or a die-hard viewer who watches every snap, finding the cheapest ways to watch NFL games has become a challenge.

The good news? You don’t need cable. You don’t need an overpriced sports bundle. And you definitely don’t need to hop between shady streaming sites hoping one won’t crash. There are budget-friendly NFL streaming solutions that let you watch every game legally and affordably including the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

• Read: How to watch NFL on IPTV

This guide breaks down the cheapest ways to watch NFL games in 2025, how to avoid blackout restrictions, how to watch NFL abroad, and how to save money by combining NFL Game Pass International with a VPN to unlock the lowest subscription prices. If you’re tired of paying too much, here’s how to stream the NFL season without draining your wallet.

Get the NFL Game Pass International

If your goal is to watch every game at the lowest price, NFL Game Pass International is the single best and cheapest solution. Unlike the U.S. version, which is limited and tied into other platforms, the international version includes full game replays, coaches’ film, condensed games, and every matchup in one place.

The price, however, changes depending on the country. Some regions are significantly cheaper, sometimes less than half the U.S. rate. Fans who travel often use a VPN to access lower-priced regions, letting them pay the local price for the same service.

A VPN also lets travelers:

• Access the NFL library they already paid for
  
• Avoid NFL blackout restrictions
  
• Watch games in HD while abroad
  
• Stream safely on public Wi-Fi
  

This combination of Game Pass + VPN is the cheapest NFL streaming option for full-season coverage, especially if you want every game, ad-free replays, and in-depth breakdowns.

Why It’s Getting So Expensive to Watch NFL Games

NFL viewership is higher than ever, but so are prices. The reason? Licensing deals. Lots of them. Broadcast rights are split across:

• CBS
  
• FOX
  
• NBC
  
• ABC
  
• ESPN
  
• NFL Network
  
• Peacock
  
• Amazon Prime Video
  
• YouTube TV (Sunday Ticket)
  

Every service wants exclusives, and every exclusive adds a new cost for fans. If you wanted all live games using U.S. streaming platforms alone, you’d be juggling several subscriptions per month, easily over $200+ monthly during the season.

On top of that, blackout restrictions still apply in the U.S., meaning even if you pay, certain local games are blocked due to broadcasting rules. That’s why more fans are turning toward the cheapest ways to watch NFL games, using a combination of international subscriptions, VPN access, OTA antennas, and budget-friendly live TV streaming options.

Put simply: watching the NFL got expensive because the league sold more rights, but fans don’t need to pay for all of them.

How to Watch Every Game for the Lowest Price

Below is a table summarizing the cheapest NFL streaming options, costs, VPN requirements, and benefits.

Method	Approx Cost	What You Get	VPN Needed?	Pros	Cons
NFL Game Pass International	Varies by country (cheapest globally)	Full replays, condensed games, coaches’ film	Optional (for cheaper regions)	Cheapest full-season access, no blackouts	No live U.S. broadcasts
OTA Antenna (CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC)	One-time $20–$40	Local games, SNF, playoffs, Super Bowl	No	Free HD broadcasts forever	No out-of-market games
Sling TV + NFL RedZone	Low monthly cost	RedZone + select channels	No	Cheapest RedZone access	Limited live games
YouTube TV (Sunday Ticket optional)	Higher cost	Every out-of-market Sunday game	No	Best coverage for die-hard fans	Expensive
International Broadcasters	Varies	Multiple live games weekly	Sometimes	Cheaper than U.S. options	Region-specific
Live TV Free Trials	Free 5–7 days	Major NFL channels	No	Short-term free access	Temporary only

Cheapest Ways to Watch NFL Games

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Below are the most effective and wallet-friendly strategies.

1. NFL Game Pass International + VPN (Best Overall)

This is the best long-term method for fans who want the entire NFL catalog.

• Get the lowest regional price
  
• Avoid blackouts completely
  
• Access replays, highlights, and condensed games
  
• Works anywhere when paired with a VPN
  

Most cost-effective for international viewers and travelers.

2. Free OTA Antenna (Best for Local Games)

A digital antenna gives you:

• CBS
  
• FOX
  
• NBC
  
• ABC

This covers Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football, some MNF simulcasts, playoffs, and the Super Bowl.

A one-time purchase = free NFL for years.

3. Sling TV for Cheapest NFL RedZone

If you must have RedZone without paying cable prices, Sling is the cheapest way.

• Low-cost base plan
  
• Add-on for NFL RedZone
  
• Works great with an antenna for local games

4. YouTube TV With NFL Sunday Ticket (Best for Out-of-Market Fans)

More expensive, but the only way to watch every out-of-market Sunday game legally. Not cheap, but a complete solution for hardcore fans.

5. Rotate Free Trials for Short-Term Viewing

Services that sometimes offer free trials include:

• Live TV platforms with FOX/CBS/NBC
  
• ESPN platforms
  
• Providers offering NFL Network temporarily

Great for early-season games or testing platforms.

What’s the Best Streaming Service to Watch NFL Games Without Cable?

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If you want a single service that covers the most games without needing cable, the top pick is:

YouTube TV

Why?

• Includes CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network
  
• Optional NFL Sunday Ticket
  
• Unlimited DVR
  
• Works across devices

But YouTube TV is not the cheapest, it’s just the most complete. If you want the cheapest without cable:

• Use an OTA antenna for local games
  
• Add Sling TV for RedZone
  
• Use NFL Game Pass International + VPN for full replays

This 3-part combination is usually the lowest-cost approach.

What Are My Streaming Options for NFL Games in 2025?

Watching NFL games in 2025 has become more flexible than ever, thanks to a mix of live TV streaming services and newly launched standalone sports platforms. If you’re trying to figure out the most affordable way to catch every matchup, here’s how the major services stack up.

Four out of the five big live TV streaming platforms, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream, carry the key channels you need: ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC. These networks air the majority of Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football. However, coverage isn’t universal. Local channels vary by region, so always double-check that your ZIP code gets the full lineup before subscribing.

Three of these services (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo) also include NFL Network in their base plans. That gives you access to several exclusive games and extra NFL content without paying for add-ons.

But in 2025, there’s an emerging alternative: direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services. With the introduction of ESPN DTC and FOX One, fans now have a more budget-friendly way to stream NFL games without committing to a full live TV bundle. When you pair these with Paramount+ (for CBS games) and Peacock (for NBC), you can watch games across all the major networks for less than the cost of YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

Here’s how it breaks down:

Live TV vs. DTC Services (2025)

A traditional live TV streaming service runs:

• YouTube TV — $83/month
  
• Hulu + Live TV — $83/month
  
• Fubo — $85/month
  

For the full four-month NFL season (Sept–Dec), you’re looking at roughly $332–$340.

Meanwhile, the DTC route looks like this:

• ESPN DTC: $30/month
  
• FOX One: $20/month
  
• Paramount+: $8/month
  
• Peacock: $11/month
  

Total: $69/month or $276 for the season — already cheaper than any live TV bundle.

And it gets even better. Starting October 2, ESPN and FOX are offering a joint bundle for $40/month, saving you $10 monthly. With that bundle active for the last three months of the season, the total drops to around $246.

That said, this à-la-carte method comes with one inconvenience: you’ll need to switch between apps to jump from FOX to CBS during Sunday afternoon broadcasts, instead of simply changing channels.

No matter which approach you choose, there are still a few extra pieces you’ll need:

• Prime Video for Thursday Night Football
  
• Netflix for the two exclusive Christmas Day games
  
• NFL Network for seven exclusive matchups
  

If you don’t get NFL Network through your live TV provider, you can still access it affordably through NFL+, which costs $7/month. NFL+ also lets you stream national or local NFL games on mobile devices (phone/tablet only), making it a useful backup option for fans on the go.

In short, whether you go with an all-in-one live TV service or mix-and-match the cheaper DTC apps, 2025 offers plenty of ways to tune into every NFL play without cable — and even more ways to cut the cost with the right tools and streaming strategy.

How Can I Watch NFL Games in the UK?

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You can use:

1. NFL Game Pass International

Available directly in the UK and includes full replays and game coverage.

2. Sky Sports NFL

Sky airs multiple live games every week, including prime-time matchups.

3. NOW TV Sports Pass

Lets you stream Sky Sports NFL without a long-term contract.

4. Use a VPN When Traveling

If you’re traveling outside the UK, a VPN helps you access your UK subscriptions safely and without regional blocks.

Frequently Asked Questions