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NOTE: Disney channels (including ESPN and ABC) are currently unavailable on DirecTV services due to a contract dispute. While the dispute continues, we’ve removed DirecTV Stream from this article. All services below will let you watch ESPN and ABC as listed.
The NFL is back, kicking off with a blockbuster game between the two-time reigning champions Kansas City Chief and last year’s second-place AFC team, the Baltimore Ravens.
At a Glance: How to Watch NFL Games Online Without Cable
Stream: fubo, Sling, Hulu + Live TV. Select games are available on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Paramount+. Also consider a VPN for out-of-market games.
TV Channels: ESPN, NFL Network, Fox, NBC, ABC and CBS
NFL 2024-25 Season Dates: Sept. 5, 2024, to Feb 9, 2025 (Super Bowl 59)
get free trial at fubo
The Chiefs are favored to take home another trophy in February at Super Bowl 59, but the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles are all in the running as well.
If you cut the cord on cable this season, you’ll need to re-visit your streaming service setup to make sure you can watch every NFL game online. Below are all the best ways to watch the NFL live online, plus a couple of hacks for livestreaming NFL games for free and watching out-of-market games with a VPN.
How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable
NFL broadcasts are spread out across ESPN, NFL Network, Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS. Some streaming services are now in the NFL broadcasting business as well: Thursday Night Football is on Amazon Prime Video, while Peacock and Paramount+ both show select games too.
This can be overwhelming for us consumers, but there’s a fairly comprehensive solution in cable streaming services like fubo and Hulu + Live TV. These are essentially virtual cable/satellite packages, with the best ones getting you livestreams of all the above channels. Check out more details below.
Stream NFL Games on fubo
Free Trial
One of our favorite live TV streaming services for watching NFL games online is fubo, which can get you livestreams of ESPN, NFL Network, Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS. fuboTV packages start at $79.99 a month, but you get a seven-day free trial to test out the service. Plus, fubo is currently offering $30 off your first month.
fubo
get free trial
fubo’s massive streaming plans carry up to 275+ channels, and you can get even more depending on your location. Packages start at $79.99 a month, and you get seven days to try the service for free.
Stream NFL Games on Sling
Affordable Pick
A slightly more affordable live TV streaming service is Sling, whose Orange + Blue package starts at $55 a month. This package includes ESPN, Fox, NFL Network, and NBC, ABC, but not CBS. Better yet, Sling is offering $25 off your first month right now.
Sling
Get Sling $40+
Sling is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services, with packages starting at $40 a month. You can get up to 46 channels in the Sling Orange + Blue plan, plus more with Sling’s add-ons.
Stream NFL Games on Hulu + Live TV
Also Consider
You already know Hulu as the home hit on-demand content, but their Hulu + Live TV service also gets you NFL livestreams on ESPN, CBS, FOX, ABC, and NFL Network. Better yet, a Hulu + Live TV membership includes Disney+ and ESPN+ for free. Considering all the content you get, Hulu + Live TV is very well-priced at $76.99 per month (after a three-day free trial).
Hulu + Live TV
Get Free trial
Hulu + Live TV bundles together Hulu’s on-demand library and over 95 live TV channels, including local channels and almost all popular national channels. Subscriptions also include ESPN+ and Disney+ at no additional cost. Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 a month after a three-day free trial.
How to Watch NFL Games for Free
Thanks to the free trials from fubo and Hulu + Live TV, you can watch NFL games for free for up to 10 days. Sign up for fubo’s seven-day free trial here or Hulu + Live TV’s three-day free trial here. Just remember to cancel either free trial to avoid paying.
get free trial at fubo
How to Watch Games-Out-of-Market NFL Games
Almost every NFL fan has come up against regional broadcasting issues, whether they’re trying to watch an out-of-market game or their local game is in a blackout. Luckily, you can watch out-of-market game NFL games — and bypass blackouts — by using a VPN with any of the above live TV streaming services.
VPNs (virtual private networks) essentially “trick” your streaming service into thinking it’s in another region, which lets you access any content, regardless of geo-blocks. That means if an NFL game isn’t showing on any of your local channels, you can switch your device’s location to another region where the game is being shown. Besides letting you stream out-of-market NFL games, VPNs also sometimes let you watch free livestreams of sports from other countries.
get express vpn at $12.95
We recommend using ExpressVPN, which offers fast, secure service and costs $12.95 a month. You can bring this price way down by paying for multiple months upfront, and ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want a refund after a month.
NFL Schedule 2024-25 Season
The 2024-25 NFL season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, and runs through Super Bowl 59 on Feb 9, 2025.
