Best Way to Watch the NFL

The NFL is the most fragmented sports property in the world. Inside the United States its rights are split across four broadcast partners, a streaming service and a paid add-on; outside the United States a single product, NFL Game Pass, does most of the work.

The good news is that the NFL is also one of the few major leagues with a genuinely generous free tier in two countries, both of which are covered below.

The best free NFL, anywhere

This is the strongest free NFL offering in the world, and it is not widely known.

United Kingdom — Channel 5 and 5Action. Two live games every regular-season Sunday, at 6pm on 5Action and 9pm on Channel 5, plus the playoffs, the Super Bowl, and all of the European fixtures including the London games.
Ireland — Virgin Media Television. At least 22 games a season including the playoffs and the Super Bowl, free, under a deal running to 2028. In a market where NFL coverage is normally paid, this is exceptional.
United States — an antenna. ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC are free over the air, and the NFL is carried across all four. Note that the individual network apps often ask for a pay-TV login before they will show live sport.

Inside the United States

Window	Where
Sunday afternoon	CBS carries the AFC package and FOX the NFC package, both free with an antenna. Flex scheduling applies, so late-season fixtures move.
Sunday Night Football	NBC and Peacock. Peacock Premium is the streaming tier that includes live sport.
Monday Night Football	ESPN or ABC, streaming in the ESPN app. ESPN Unlimited carries it.
Thursday Night Football	Amazon Prime Video, exclusively, plus the Black Friday game and a Wild Card game.
Every out-of-market game	NFL Sunday Ticket, sold as a YouTube TV add-on — the only place to get it.
Red Zone	Carried by NFL+ Premium, YouTube TV's sports plan or as an add-on, and Sling's Select tier with the Sports Extra add-on. Check your own platform before assuming.

Outside the United States

Outside the US, one product covers most of the world: NFL Game Pass on DAZN, available in more than 200 markets but excluding the United States and China. It comes in season and weekly versions, each with a regular and an Ultimate tier, where Ultimate adds multi-game viewing and better audio.

Country	Who carries it	Game Pass price
UK	Sky Sports carries more than half of all games plus RedZone, the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Channel 5 carries two games free each Sunday.	About £179.99 for the season, or about £16.99 for a single week
Ireland	Sky Sports, plus at least 22 games a season free on Virgin Media.	About €199.99 for the season
Canada	DAZN Canada carries the NFL and RedZone; TSN's Premium tier adds RedZone as well.	Included with the DAZN subscription — not sold separately
Germany	DAZN and WOW both list the NFL.	About €199.99 for the season
Spain	DAZN, which also carries the Spanish-language RedZone.	About €199.99 for the season
Italy	DAZN.	About €209.99 for the season
France	DAZN.	About €219.99 for the season
Australia	Kayo carries the NFL among its channels.	About AUD 339.99 for the season
Brazil	DAZN leads on the NFL in that market.	About BRL 479.90 for the season
Mexico	DAZN.	About MXN 3,100 for the season
Japan	DAZN.	About JPY 33,000 for the season
MENA	beIN Sports carries the NFL across the region.	Sold through DAZN in the same way as elsewhere

Ranked by what you get

Best free: Virgin Media in Ireland, at 22-plus games including the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Channel 5 in the UK is a close second and includes the London games. Both are free-to-air and both are inside their own country only.
Best for following one team abroad: NFL Game Pass on DAZN. It is the only product that carries every game, wherever you are.
Best in the US overall: YouTube TV with the Sunday Ticket add-on. It is the most expensive option on this page and the only one that gives you every out-of-market game.
Best value in the US: Amazon Prime Video at about USD 14.99/month for Thursday Night Football, with a 30-day free trial attached. It is one window only, so it is poor value if you want the rest of the week.
Best value in Canada: DAZN Canada, because NFL Game Pass and RedZone are included in the subscription rather than sold on top.

Three things that catch people out. DAZN's free tier does not include the NFL anywhere — it is a paid add-on. DAZN in the United States does not carry the NFL at all, because Game Pass is sold internationally only. And in the UK, NFL Game Pass carries two Sunday games on a 24-hour tape delay, so it is not a live product for those games.

One timing note

Game Pass is sold as a season product, and the price depends on when in the season you buy it. A season pass bought in September costs more than the same pass bought in December, because the regular version is priced for the whole season. If you are buying mid-season, check what you are actually getting before you pay.

Where can I watch NFL games for free?

In the UK, Channel 5 and 5Action carry two live games every Sunday plus the playoffs and the Super Bowl. In Ireland, Virgin Media carries at least 22 games a season free through 2028. In the US, the Sunday afternoon games are free over the air with an antenna.

Does DAZN carry the NFL?

Via NFL Game Pass, yes — in more than 200 markets, but excluding the United States and China. In Canada it is included with the DAZN subscription. DAZN's free tier does not include the NFL anywhere, and DAZN US does not carry it at all.

What is the cheapest way to watch every NFL game?

Outside the US, NFL Game Pass on DAZN. Inside the US, Sunday Ticket, which is sold through YouTube TV — it is the only place to get it, and it is the most expensive route on this page.

Does NFL Game Pass show every game live?

Not in the UK, where two Sunday games are carried on a 24-hour tape delay. Check the terms for your own market before subscribing, because the delay rules differ by country.

Where is Thursday Night Football?

Amazon Prime Video, exclusively, along with the Black Friday game and one Wild Card game. Amazon Prime includes a 30-day free trial, which is one of the last meaningful sports trials still running.

Where to go next

NFL coverage worldwide Free live sports streams Which free trials still exist Watching sport without cable.