How to Stream NFL Games: The Best Apps for Football Fans

Whether you’re away from home and don’t want to miss a game, your TV antenna has a terrible time trying to pick up your local station, or you simply prefer the convenience of enjoying NFL games streamed directly to your favorite devices, there are many quality options for streaming live football games. With that said, there are so many streaming platforms to choose from, tracking down your team’s next game, figuring out which service you need to sign up for, and setting it all up before kickoff can be a pain if you don’t know what each app has to offer.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all streaming service for football fans, but if you compare your team’s schedule to my list of apps, it’s pretty easy to plan your viewing schedule from the preseason games until the Super Bowl. I tested a variety of streaming services to keep up with the Jacksonville Jaguars over the years, and the following apps deliver the most games and entertaining extras for your hard-earned dollar.

Our top picks for how to stream NFL games

What to consider when choosing a streaming service to watch the NFL games

It’s all about the games

Easily the most important factors to consider when researching streaming apps are whether they allow you to watch the NFL games you want to see, and when you want to see them. Some services only stream live games on certain days, while others allow viewers to flip between multiple games playing at the same time. Reliably punctual viewers will appreciate apps that exclusively stream live games, but other fans may appreciate a streaming service that lets them replay recent games.

Bonuses

Subscribing to different apps to catch every NFL game you want to watch throughout the season can be cumbersome, but this tactic often includes some worthwhile perks. For instance, apps like fuboTV, Paramount+, and Prime Video feature thousands of movies, shows, and live TV channels to enjoy in between games, and you may end up wanting to keep one or two of these apps long after the Super Bowl ends.

Price

The core monthly price that comes with streaming NFL games ranges from around $8 to $10 on the lower end, to over $100 each month. Although the most important thing is you can view every NFL game that you’d want to during the season, it is a general rule that the more NFL games that you can access, the more expensive it’s likely to be.

How I selected the best streaming services to watch the Super Bowl

There are many good-to-excellent apps for streaming NFL games, but there are only three that I would recommend for watching the Super Bowl: Paramount+, fuboTV, and NFL Sunday Ticket + YouTube TV.

All three are perfectly suited for viewing the official Super Bowl stream via the live CBS broadcast, and each is a great option for enjoying games throughout the season as well, so I recommend getting acquainted with at least one of these before the big game.

Some of the reasons I picked these three streaming services include:

Free trial

Although the exact terms differ between each app and are subject to change, Paramount+, fuboTV, and NFL Sunday Ticket + YouTube TV all offer a limited-time free trial period for you to see if the service is right for you. If you time it right, you’ll be able to watch the Super Bowl for free, enjoy the best of your streaming platform of choice, and learn if it’s a good fit for your streaming habits outside of the big game.

CBS broadcaster

The only place anyone can officially watch the Super Bowl live is via CBS, and each of these three apps include live streaming CBS broadcasts.

Versatility

Some NFL fans will want to see the Super Bowl on the biggest TV they own, while others need the ability to watch via their smartphone, PC, or tablet. The good news is that my three picks are compatible with almost every modern device, but I highly recommend double-checking in advance so you aren’t disappointed if it doesn’t work when you absolutely need to watch the game.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the duration of the NFL season?

The 2024 NFL season officially kicked off on September 5th, with the playoffs slated to begin on January 11th, and Super Bowl LVIII (58) is set for February 9th, 2025. The NFL season lasts for 18 weeks, with each team playing for 17 games and taking a single bye week.

How many Monday Night Football games are there in 2024?

There are 18 Monday Night Football games scheduled for the 2024-2025 season, and they are all available to stream on ESPN+.

Can I stream NFL football for free?

Although the most convenient way to watch Thursday Night Football on your favorite devices is Prime Video, you can tune in for the same games via Amazon-owned Twitch via their “PrimeVideo” channel to see 17 Thursday games in 2024 for free.