Cheapest NFL Streaming Options Guide: Engadget Lays Out Costs for Cord-Cutters
With the NFL season starting Sept. 9, Engadget details the cheapest streaming options for cord-cutters, from OTA antennas to NFL+ and full-package plans.
For viewers in their home team's market, an over-the-air digital antenna provides free access to local games after an upfront hardware cost of $15 to $150. No subscription fee is required. Streaming alternatives include NFL+ at $6.99 per month for mobile and tablet viewing only, or $14.99 per month for premium features such as RedZone and full replays on TV.
AFC fans can subscribe to Paramount+ Essential Plan for $8.99 monthly for regional Sunday afternoon games, while Peacock Premium at $12.99 covers Sunday Night Football. NFC viewers need FOX One at $19.99 per month. Thursday Night Football is available on Amazon Prime Video or free on Twitch, as Engadget notes.
For complete out-of-market access, full packages are expensive: YouTube TV Sports Plan is $54.99 monthly, Hulu + Live TV is $89.99 with ads, Fubo is $64.99 ($54.99 for the first month), and Sling requires Orange and Blue plans at $45.99 each or $60.99 bundled. YouTube TV's NFL Sunday Ticket add-on costs $240 for new users and $378 for returning subscribers per season, according to the report.
Engadget suggests a budget-friendly combination: an OTA antenna for local games plus NFL+ Premium for RedZone and replays. The article also notes that international games this year will be spread across Netflix, CBS, Paramount+, NFL Network, Fox, NBC and Peacock. Christmas games are on Netflix, Thanksgiving games on CBS, Fox and NBC, and the Black Friday game and December matchups on Prime Video. The Super Bowl will air on ESPN and ABC.
The publication concludes that there is no truly cheap way to watch every game live, but sacrificing out-of-market access can keep costs down.