NFL Network: Stream the Entire Football Season Live Online Cheaper Than Cable

I rely on NFL Network to stay connected to football. Through this channel, I watch live games, particularly during preseason, along with expert analysis and compelling documentaries. While I once needed a cable subscription to access NFL Network, today there are more ways to tune in.

In a hurry? If you just want to start watching NFL Network and don’t care about the details, these streaming services will serve you well:

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $6.67/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

How to Watch NFL Network Live Without Cable

NFL Network started as a cable TV channel back in 2003. It airs live games throughout the NFL (National Football League) season in addition to providing 24/7 coverage with player and game analysis, documentaries, and classic games.

It isn’t broadcast over the air, so you can’t get NFL Network with a TV antenna. Instead, you must get it from a third-party streaming provider. Today, NFL Network is available from all the major online live TV streaming services.

All you need is an internet connection, streaming device (like a TV or mobile phone), and a subscription to a streaming service that offers NFL Network. Once you sign up for the streaming service, you’re set to go.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Streaming Services with NFL Network

As you plan for the upcoming NFL season, you are likely looking into the different ways on how to watch NFL Network online without cable. With so many different streaming services available, it shouldn’t be hard to find NFL Network and its slate of games this fall.

Fubo

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is one of the top streaming services when it comes to sports. For just $79.99/month, you get NFL Network and the other NFL channels: CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC. 

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

The standard Fubo plan (Pro) comes with over 150 channels — 35+ of them sports-oriented in addition to all the network affiliates in most areas. It also comes with a generous unlimited cloud DVR storage and the ability to watch on up to ten devices/TVs at the same time. New subscribers get seven days to try it all out.

If you want NFL RedZone, Fubo offers it as part of its Sports Plus add-on. For $10.99/mo, you get NFL RedZone and 25 other additional sports channels including MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.

For more information, see the following articles:

• Fubo Review
• Fubo Packages
• Fubo Local Channels
• Fubo Devices.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM’s base plan costs $79.99/month with 75+ channels including all the major local channels. But to watch NLF Network, you need to sign up for the Choice plan for $108.99/month. The Choice plan offers 100+ channels with Sports channels like ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox Sports, TNT, NBA TV, Golf Channel, Tennis Channel & more. It also includes the best selection of RSNs in the industry.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

If you upgrade to the Premier plan ($164.99/month), you will get all that including access to Max, SHOWTIME, and Starz. All plans offer unlimited hours of cloud DVR and watching on unlimited streaming devices at the same time.

• DIRECTV STREAM Review
• DIRECTV STREAM Packages
• DIRECTV STREAM Local Channels
• DIRECTV STREAM Devices.

Sling TV

The Sling Blue plan comes with NFL Network and 40+ other channels for just $40.00/month. Otherwise, it isn’t a great plan for live sports. It does, however, offer local affiliates of FOX, which airs two games each Sunday, and NBC, which airs Sunday Night Football. It also shows the entire NFL draft.

Save $25 on Sling TV Now

You can also get ESPN, if you opt for the Orange + Blue plan for $55.00/month.

Sling TV provides the option of integrating an antenna with its streaming platform. If you sign-up for just two months in advance, they will send you an antenna for free. This should allow you to get all your local affiliates including CBS in one low-cost plan.

Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and you can use it with up to three devices at one time. Save $25 on your first month of Sling TV.

Or, check out our detailed articles on Sling TV:

• Sling TV Review
• Sling TV Packages
• Sling TV Local Channels
• Sling TV Devices
• Sling TV Preseason Guide
• Sling TV NFL Draft Guide.

Hulu + Live TV

Not long ago, Hulu was a disappointment for NFL fans. But since the start of the 2021 season, Hulu + Live TV offers NFL Network. This is part of its 85+ live TV streaming plan, which includes CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC — all the channels you need to watch the NFL live. And you get ESPN+ and Disney+.

Get Hulu + Live TV for $59.99 Monthly

Hulu is also offering NFL RedZone in the Sports add-on for $9.99/mo. It comes with a handful of other channels focusing on horse racing (TVG, TVG2), hunting (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel), and motorsports (MAVTV).

Try the Hulu Live free 3-day trial. You can read more about Hulu in these articles:

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu + Live TV Packages
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels.

Other Ways to Get NFL Network

There are other ways to watch your favorite teams on NFL Network:

• NFL App: You will need to sign-in with your streaming service login, but this allows you to watch NFL Network live. You can also live stream it at nfl.com.
• YouTube TV: A general streaming service with broad NFL coverage, including the NFL Network. It is also offering NFL Sunday Ticket as from 2023.

TVs and Devices to Watch NFL Network

All of the streaming services that we’ve highlighted support the vast majority of the devices currently in use.

All support the Samsung and LG smart TVs of the past few years. Fubo also supports the Hisense TVs. But all the services support smart TVs based on Android TV.

All the standard TV devices are supported: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku. And mobile devices based on Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad) are supported.

Finally, Fubo, Hulu, and Sling TV all support the Xbox One. Hulu also supports the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. And Sling TV supports the Oculus.

And finally, everyone supports the major web browsers. Devices that run such browsers can often be hooked up to TVs, too.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

2023 NFL Network Game Schedule

The NFL Network broadcast schedule for games is focused mostly on the preseason.

2023 Preseason

Regular Season

Wrapping Up

The ultimate channel for watching NFL games is NFL Network. Want to know how to stream NFL Network live when cutting the cable cord? You have plenty of options out there right now and they seem to be growing with each season.

Whether you subscribe to Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, or Hulu + Live TV, you will be able to enjoy all all the action from the pre-season all the way through to the Super Bowl. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQs

What live NFL games can I watch on the NFL Network?

NFL Network airs all preseason games, the playoffs, and the Super Bowl. It will air a handful of regular season games as well, but most of them will be on CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, or ESPN. If regular season games are what you’re after, there are better options. See the 2023 NFL Network Game Schedule.

Can I watch the NFL Network for free?

The NFL Network is not available anywhere for free. Whether you pay for a cable subscription or subscribe to a streaming service, you will need to pay in order to access NFL Network. The good news is that the streaming services mentioned earlier do not charge extra for viewers to watch NFL Network. It is included in their basic packages.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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