The Short Answer
You can watch the vast majority of NFL games without cable using a combination of free over-the-air TV (CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC) and one or two streaming subscriptions. The only games you'll miss are Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS if you don't have an antenna — and those are free with a $25 indoor antenna.
Where Each Network's Games Stream
| Network | Streaming Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| CBS | Paramount+ (Essential) | $6/mo |
| Fox | YouTube TV, Hulu Live, fuboTV | $73–$83/mo |
| NBC / Peacock | Peacock Premium | $8/mo |
| ESPN / ABC | ESPN+ or YouTube TV | $11/mo or $73/mo |
| Amazon Prime | Prime Video (Thursday Night Football) | $15/mo |
| NFL Network | YouTube TV, fuboTV | $73–$83/mo |
The Best Setup for Most People
Option A — Cheapest ($29/mo): Indoor antenna (one-time $25) + Peacock Premium ($8/mo) + Paramount+ Essential ($6/mo) + Prime Video ($15/mo). You get CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, Peacock exclusives, and Thursday Night Football. You miss NFL Network and ESPN Monday Night Football.
Option B — Most Complete ($73/mo): YouTube TV includes CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and NFL Network. Add Peacock Premium for $8/mo for Peacock-exclusive games. This is the closest you'll get to cable without cable.
Option C — Sports Fan ($83/mo): fuboTV includes every broadcast network plus NFL Network, NFL RedZone (add-on), and over 200 sports channels. Best for households that watch multiple sports, not just NFL.
Sunday Ticket (Out-of-Market Games)
NFL Sunday Ticket moved to YouTube TV in 2023. It's available as a standalone add-on for $349/season (or $249 with a YouTube TV subscription). This is the only way to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games that aren't your local team's broadcast.
Free Options
A $25 indoor antenna picks up CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC in most metro areas — completely free, in HD. This covers roughly 60% of NFL games. Combine with Prime Video ($15/mo) for Thursday Night Football and you're watching most of the season for under $20/mo.
How GridCast Helps
GridCast shows you every NFL game on today's schedule and exactly which streaming service carries it — updated in real time. Instead of guessing which app has tonight's game, just open GridCast and tap the badge to go directly to the stream.