Weekends were made for watching football, and now there are more ways than ever to get your fix. I’ve compiled this list of the best streaming services for football, so you can enjoy the top NFL and NCAA football games every week from anywhere.
There’s a common misconception that “American football” is only popular and available in the US. However, the truth is the sport is growing globally, and I found some of the best football streaming services for free are in Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. If you’re traveling abroad, download CyberGhost VPN on your streaming device to avoid losing access to your usual platforms.
Quick Guide: How to Watch Football with CyberGhost VPN
- Get CyberGhost VPN and install it on your streaming device.
- Connect to a server in the country where your streaming account is registered.
- Sign in to your streaming platform and enjoy the game!
1. The DAZN NFL Game Pass International – Best for NFL Football
| Where is it available? | Everywhere outside the US and China |
| What can you watch? | Every game from the preseason through the Super BowlNFL RedZoneComplete on-demand game replays or condensed gamesHighlights from every gameCoaches FilmNFL Network |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers |
| Free trial | 1 week, subject to availability. |
The NFL Game Pass is the best streaming service for pro football outside the US. You can stream every game, live or on demand – that’s over 335 games, including the preseason, playoffs, and the Super Bowl. NFL Game Pass International has thousands of hours of content year-round to satisfy that football hunger, with access to NFL RedZone, NFL Network, Hard Knocks, coverage of the NFL Draft and NFL Scouting Combine, and more.
The on-demand streams give you the ability to go back and rewatch any game. You have the option to stream the complete game, condensed version, highlights, or the Coaches Film.
2. YouTube TV – Best for Watching Out-of-Market Games
| Where is it available? | US |
| What can you watch? | NFL Sunday TicketNFL RedZone Local games subject to availabilityNCAA Football |
| Website | https://tv.youtube.com |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers |
| Free trial | 10 days |
YouTube TV is the best streaming service for NFL games and NCAA Football in the US. It has exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket (available as an add-on), so you can watch every out-of-market game live. If you miss a game, you can watch it on demand until midnight the following Wednesday.
For games broadcast locally, YouTube TV plans include networks such as NBC, Fox, CBS, and national channels like ESPN and Fox Sports. You can watch NFL and NCAA football on these channels, as long as they aren’t blacked out in your area.
3. Hulu + Live TV – Best for Watching College Football
| Where is it available? | US |
| What can you watch? | Live NFL and college games on Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPNBIG 10, ACC, ESPNU, SEC, AND College Extra Unlimited DVR to record games for later |
| Website | https://www.hulu.com/live-sports |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers |
| Free trial | 3 days |
Hulu + Plus Live TV gives you access to all the football games broadcast in your area. The 90-channel lineup includes local TV, so you can watch your favorite college and professional football teams play. You’ll also get access to nationally televised games on ESPN, the Big 10 Network, SEC, and the ACC conference channels.
If you want to watch the NFL, you can stream Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and locally televised games. Hulu + Live TV has an unlimited DVR feature, so you can catch up on any games you missed and watch them at your convenience.
4. Sling TV – Best for Streaming Prime Time Football Games
| Where is it available? | US |
| What can you watch? | NFL games on ESPN and in some markets on Fox and NBCNFL RedZoneNCAA Football SEC, ACC, Big 10, and PAC 12 networks |
| Website | https://www.sling.com/programming/sports/ |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers |
| Free trial | 7 days – based on availability |
Combine Sling TV’s Orange and Blue packages to watch the NFL, NCAA, and soccer on ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNU, FS1, and FS2. Its college network coverage gives you access to conference channels for the SEC, ACC, Big 10, and PAC 12.
In-market games on Fox and NBC are subject to availability based on your location and local blackout restrictions. The package includes 50 free hours of DVR storage, which allows you to record live games and watch them when you have the time.
5. NFL+ – Best for Watching Local Games and RedZone
| Where is it available? | US |
| What can you watch? | In-market NFL gamesNationally televised NFL gamesNFL RedZone |
| Website | https://www.nfl.com/plus/ |
| Compatible devices | iOS and Android |
| Free trial | 7 days |
NFL+ allows you to stream one team, as long as it’s in your local TV market. For example, if you live in or around Pittsburgh, you’ll have access to the Steelers games. However, an LA Rams fan living in Pittsburgh won’t be able to watch the Rams, unless they’re playing a prime-time game.
In addition to local games, NFL+ comes with access to the NFL RedZone, so you can enjoy 8 hours of commercial-free football every Sunday, and watch every score from every game in real time.
CyberGhost VPN has servers in 11 NFL cities in the US, so even if you don’t live near your favorite team, you can still watch them on NFL+.
6. DirecTV Stream – Best for Access to Regional Sports Networks
| Where is it available? | US |
| What can you watch? | NFL and college games broadcast on regional sports channelsNFL RedZone |
| Website | https://www.directv.com/sports/nfl/ |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers |
| Free trial | 5 days |
DirecTV Stream is one of the rare football streaming platforms with access to regional sports networks (RSN) such as AT&T Sportsnet, SportsNet LA, NESN, Yes Network, NBC Sports regionals, and 21 Bally Sports regions. These are great if your college or pro football team plays on any of these networks. You also get prime-time games broadcast on Fox, CBS, and NBC, plus ESPN and the NFL RedZone channel.
DirecTV Stream is the most expensive option on this list because it comes with the regional sports channel lineup. Although you’re paying more, it’s good value for money.
7. TVNZ+ – Best Free Option for Streaming the NFL
| Where is it available? | New Zealand |
| What can you watch? | Up to 3 games per week live and on demand Highlight from every NFL gameNFL playoffsSuper Bowl |
| Website | https://www.tvnz.co.nz/sport/american-football |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers |
| Free trial | N/A |
TVNZ+ live streams up to three NFL games every Sunday (well actually Monday morning in New Zealand) during the regular season. If you can’t watch the games live, because you’re at work or school, each game is available on-demand until Thursday. You can also watch the playoffs and Super Bowl for free on TVNZ+.
If you’re trying to live stream the game, but your school or office Wi-Fi blocks streaming apps, download CyberGhost VPN and connect to a server in New Zealand. A VPN hides your online activity, so you can bypass firewalls and stream the NFL without interruptions.
8. 7plus – Best for Free Football Streams in Australia
| Where is it available? | Australia |
| What can you watch? | Select NFL regular season gamesAll NFL playoff games and the Super BowlAustralian Rules Football (AFL) |
| Website | https://7plus.com.au/nfl |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, web browsers |
| Free trial | N/A |
If you want to watch football in Australia, and it doesn’t matter which teams are playing, then 7plus is your best option. The free streaming platform offers two games every Sunday, which you can watch on-demand throughout the week – better than waking up at 5 a.m. to watch a game. You can also stream every NFL playoff game and the Super Bowl.
9. RTL, RTL+, and Nitro – Best for Watching the NFL for Free in Germany
| Where is it available? | Germany and Austria |
| What can you watch? | 3 NFL regular season games per weekAll NFL playoff games and the Super Bowl |
| Website | https://plus.rtl.de/video-tv/live/american-football |
| Compatible Devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, streaming sticks, web browsers |
| Free Trial | N/A |
RTL signed a broadcast deal with the NFL in Germany through the 2028 season. You can watch 3 games a week on the free-to-air Nitro channel and the RTL+ streaming platform. The network uses German broadcasters to call the games. This can be difficult to follow if you’re not a German speaker, but you could see it as an opportunity to learn a new language while watching football.
10. My5 – Best for Watching Monday Night Football in the UK for Free
| Where is it available? | UK |
| What can you watch? | Every Monday Night Football GameHighlight from every game |
| Website | https://www.channel5.com/show/live-nfl-monday-night-football |
| Compatible Devices | Android, iOS, smart TVs, streaming sticks, web browsers |
| Free Trial | N/A |
Monday Night Football is always a big game, and you can stream it free on My5 in the UK. Since the game starts in the middle of the night local time, it’s available on-demand until the following Monday. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the complete game. My5 also has an NFL highlight and analysis show called Endzone to keep you up to date with all the latest football action from the NFL.
How to Watch Football When You’re Traveling Abroad
All of the football streaming sites mentioned above only work in specific locations. If you’re traveling and can’t access your accounts, connect to a VPN server in the country where your account is registered. This will give you an IP address in the correct location, so you can sign into your streaming account and continue watching football games!
The best streaming services for NCAA football are Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. These platforms are only available in the US, so you’ll need a VPN with US-based servers to keep watching when you’re out of the country. CyberGhost VPN gives you access to servers in 11 US cities
Troubleshooting: If you’re being blocked based on your location, clear your browser’s cache and reload the page. Or go to your app settings, choose the Force Stop option, then reload the app. If you’re still having issues, disconnect your VPN and reconnect to a different US VPN server.
Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Sports
CyberGhost VPN goes the extra mile to help you make the most of your sports streaming subscription. We regularly test our servers to make sure the IP addresses work with popular streaming platforms, so you can access sports streams without issues, even when traveling.
We use advanced VPN encryption to hide your online activity. This can help you bypass ISP throttling and unblock streaming sites at work or school.
With unlimited data and high-speed servers, including 10-Gbps servers in popular locations, you can watch NFL and NCAA Football all weekend with no buffering or lagging.
Our native VPN apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android/Google TV, and Amazon Fire TV Stick are easy to use, even if you’ve never used a VPN before. You can also set CyberGhost VPN up on your router to cover all your devices, including smart TVs and portable streaming devices.
If you need any assistance, our 24/7 customer support team is ready to help. Try CyberGhost VPN risk-free with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Don’t Miss a Snap or Touchdown This Football Season
There are plenty of ways to stream football – the trick is knowing which platform is the best for you. If you just want to watch the NFL and you’re outside the US, the DAZN Game Pass International is your best option. US-based cord-cutting options like YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV give you access to college football, but you might miss out on your local teams.
If you want to watch local games, you’ll need to subscribe to the NFL+ app or DirecTV Stream, which has a large selection of RSN and local network channels.
If you’re traveling abroad, make sure to take CyberGhost VPN with you. It’s the easiest and safest way to stream football when you’re away from home. Just connect to a VPN server in your home country, sign in to your usual streaming platform, and enjoy the games.
FAQ
If you’re in the US but don’t live in your favorite team’s TV zone, the NFL Sunday Ticket is your best option. It has all out-of-market games and the RedZone channel. If you don’t live in the US, the DAZN NFL Game Pass International has every game live and on-demand, plus the RedZone channel, NFL Network, and more.
In the US, YouTube TV is the best streaming service for football because you can get nearly every NFL game and many of the top college football games every week. Outside the US, DAZN Game Pass International gives you access to every NFL game including the Super Bowl, but it’s pricey. If you’re in Germany, France, Australia, or New Zealand, some local platforms offer football streams for free.
NFL+ is the best app for streaming in-market games and the RedZone channel, while YouTube TV is the best app for streaming NCAA football games and out-of-market NFL games. Outside the US, the DAZN Game Pass International is the best app for streaming football.
YouTube TV with the Sunday Ticket add-on includes the most football games. You can watch NCAA football on multiple channels on Saturday, then move to the NFL on Sunday. If you don’t add the Sunday Ticket you can still stream games on Fox and CBS. Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football are also available on YouTube TV.
Leave a comment