The 2026 NFL regular season is in full swing, and we're here with a price-conscious guide on where and how to watch.
The stripped-down, sports-focused packages from YouTube TV and Fubo are pretty compelling for fans who watch regularly. Others may want to consider selecting networks a la carte.
Where to watch Sunday, Monday and Thursday football games
Despite the increasingly fragmented sports rights landscape, most weekly NFL games still air on traditional TV networks. “Thursday Night Football” is the exception, but you’re probably used to it streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video each week by now.
Where to watch Sunday day games: CBS and Fox.
Where to watch Sunday night games: NBC.
Where to watch Monday night games: ESPN (and sometimes ABC).
Where to watch Thursday night games: Prime Video.
Where to watch games played internationally: NFL Network (and Netflix in Week 1).
Netflix expands its NFL coverage to five regular season games this year, which includes two Christmas Day matchups.
» MORE: What’s the cheapest Netflix plan you can get?
Video: How I LEGALLY Watch Live NFL Games For CHEAP
Where to watch on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve
Got a winter “holiday” in mind? There’s a game or two (or three) on TV for that.
Thanksgiving Eve (Netflix)
Thanksgiving (CBS, Fox, NBC)
Black Friday (Prime Video)
Christmas Eve (Prime Video)
Christmas Day (Netflix)
New Year’s Eve (Prime Video)
Super Bowl LXI will air on ESPN (and ABC) on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2027.
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How to watch football without cable
You can buy a single package or pick networks one by one.
Option 1: Subscribe to a live TV streaming service sports package
It’s hard to beat the relatively new sports plans from YouTube TV and Fubo for fans who want to watch on Sundays and Mondays. These pared-down live TV streaming plans are cheaper than the flagship plan offered by each service and include Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN (and ABC) and NFL Network along with a handful of other fringe sports channels. Prices below are before taxes and fees.
YouTube TV Sports plan: $64.99 per month.
Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC and NFL Network included.
Fubo Sports plan: $64.99 per month.
Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC and NFL Network included.
What you’ll still need: A Prime Video subscription for “Thursday Night Football.” Amazon Prime members have it already. Others can subscribe separately for $8.99 per month. Also, you’ll need Netflix for the few games it airs.
Option 2: Subscribe to multiple network-owned streaming services
Now that each major NFL-airing network offers its own direct-to-consumer streaming service, you can get them all separately. Doing so costs more than the sports plans mentioned above. Here are the primary players and the cost of each. Prices are before taxes and fees.
Fox One: $19.99 per month, includes live NFL games on Fox.
Paramount+ Essential: $8.99 per month, includes live NFL games on CBS.
Peacock Premium: $12.99 per month, includes live NFL games on NBC.
ESPN Unlimited: $29.99 per month, includes live NFL games on ESPN (and ABC).
Total before taxes: Roughly $72 per month. Add $8.99 if you need Prime Video.
» MORE: What you get with Peacock and Paramount+.
Option 3: Subscribe to the services that air Sunday daytime games
Maybe Sunday afternoons are your jam. Then all you need is Fox One and Paramount+. Those two will get you a good amount of Sunday afternoon NFC and AFC action, and allow you to catch the home team often at a reasonable cost.
Fox One: $19.99 per month, includes live NFL games on Fox.
Paramount+ Essential: $8.99 per month, includes live NFL games on CBS.
Total before taxes: Roughly $29 per month.
Option 4: Bundle Fox and ESPN to save $10, add Peacock and Paramount+
You can pair ESPN Unlimited and Fox One for $39.99 per month. That's $10 off buying each separately.
Add Peacock Premium ($12.99) plus Paramount+ Essential ($8.99), and you're looking at around $62 total for Fox, CBS, NBC and ESPN via different apps ... not much less than YouTube TV Sports or Fubo Sports.
Avoid paying twice
Before you subscribe to the entire "streamiverse," see if a service you already pay for includes free TV. Eligible T-Mobile plans include Netflix, for example. That covers your Christmas Day games. Another example: A Walmart+ membership includes a choice of Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential at no additional cost. That covers part of the Sunday lineup.
Are sports streaming services worth it?
For me, the casual football fan who wrote this article (without AI, mind you), buying a live TV streaming service doesn’t quite compute. I cut the cable cord years ago and saved a lot of money. I simply can’t accept the cable-like costs we've gotten back to with streaming.
I tried an indoor antenna one season, which I was super stoked about, but couldn’t get Fox to come in consistently.
So, something like Fox One, to catch my Washington Commanders most Sunday afternoons, and Peacock Premium, for "Sunday Night Football," is the cheaper play for me this season.
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