What the NFL App subscription includes

The NFL App subscription gives you access to live games, replays, and NFL Network programming on your phone, tablet, or connected TV. The subscription is called NFL+, and it costs $14.99 per month or $139.99 per year as of 2024. The annual plan saves you about $40 compared to paying monthly.

With NFL+, you can watch live local and primetime games on your mobile device during the regular season and playoffs. You also get access to the full NFL Game Pass library — every game from the current season and the previous 16 seasons on demand. NFL Network shows, original series, and premium content round out the offering.

The subscription does not include out-of-market games on your TV at home. Those games require a separate cable or streaming TV package. The mobile-only restriction on live local and primetime games is the main limitation to understand before you sign up.

Key Takeaways

  • NFL+ costs $14.99 per month or $139.99 per year and includes live games on mobile devices, full access to past seasons, and NFL Network shows.
  • You can watch live local and primetime games only on phones and tablets, not on your home TV — out-of-market games on TV require cable or a separate streaming service.
  • A higher tier called NFL+ Premium ($19.99 per month or $199.99 per year) adds NFL RedZone and lets you watch Thursday Night Football on TV.
  • You can cancel anytime, and your access stops at the end of your current billing period.
  • The app works on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and other major streaming platforms.

The difference between NFL+ and NFL+ Premium

NFL+ Premium is the higher tier and costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. The main additions are NFL RedZone (a live channel that cuts between games in the red zone during Sunday afternoon games) and the ability to watch Thursday Night Football on your TV at home, not just on mobile.

If you only want to watch games on your phone and tablet, the standard NFL+ plan covers that. If you want to watch some games on your living room TV, you need Premium. RedZone is useful if you follow multiple teams and want to see scoring plays across the league in real time.

Both tiers include the same on-demand library of past games and NFL Network programming. The difference is really about live TV access and which devices you can use.

How to sign up and set up the app

Go to the NFL app on your device's app store (Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad, Google Play for Android) and search for "NFL". read the official NFL app made by the National Football League. Open the app and tap "Sign In" or "Subscribe".

You will be asked to create an NFL account or sign in with an existing one. You can use your email address or sign in with Apple, Google, or Facebook. After you create your account, you choose between NFL+ and NFL+ Premium and enter a payment method. Your subscription begins when ready.

Once you are signed in, you can add the app to other devices using the same account. If you use a streaming device like Roku or Apple TV, read the NFL app from that device's app store and sign in with the same account credentials.

What devices work with NFL+

The NFL app runs on iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, and Samsung Smart TV. You can also watch on a web browser at nfl.com if you log in with your subscription account.

The mobile-only restriction on live games applies to phones and tablets. If you have Premium, you can watch Thursday Night Football on your TV through the app on Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and other connected TV platforms. Out-of-market games on Sunday and Monday nights still require cable or a separate streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

When games are available and blackout rules

Live local and primetime games are available on NFL+ during the regular season (September through early January) and the playoffs. Local games are the ones broadcast in your area based on your location. Primetime games are Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football.

Blackout rules explore in some cases. If a game is not sold out, it is usually available to watch. If a game sells out, it may be blacked out in the local market. The NFL also has rules about which games are available on mobile versus TV, and those rules change based on your subscription tier and the broadcast agreement for that game.

Replays of all games become available on demand the day after they air, so you can watch any game you missed without waiting for the next season.

Canceling your subscription

You can cancel NFL+ anytime through the app or on nfl.com. Go to your account settings, find the subscription section, and select "Cancel Subscription". Your access continues until the end of your current billing period — if you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you keep access through the end of that month.

If you signed up through Apple, Google Play, or another app store, you may need to cancel through that platform instead of the NFL app. Check your app store account settings under subscriptions to see where your NFL+ subscription is managed.

There are no penalties for canceling, and you can resubscribe at any time. If you cancel and then resubscribe within the same year, you do not lose access to your saved games or preferences.

Comparing NFL+ to other ways to watch

Cable and satellite TV packages include most NFL games, but they cost $50 to $150 per month depending on the package and provider. Streaming TV services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV also carry NFL games and cost $40 to $76 per month.

NFL+ is the cheapest way to watch games if you are willing to watch on your phone or tablet. If you want to watch on your TV at home, you need either cable, a streaming TV service, or NFL+ Premium plus a cable subscription for out-of-market games. Some people use NFL+ for mobile viewing during the week and a cable or streaming TV package for Sunday games at home.

Amazon Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football as part of a Prime membership ($14.99 per month or $139 per year), which also includes free shipping and other Prime benefits. Peacock (NBC's streaming service) carries some games as part of a paid subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch games on my TV with the standard NFL+ plan?

No. The standard NFL+ plan limits live local and primetime games to mobile devices only. If you want to watch Thursday Night Football on your TV, you need NFL+ Premium. Out-of-market games on Sunday and Monday nights require cable or a separate streaming TV service regardless of which NFL+ tier you have.

Do I need cable to use NFL+?

No. You can watch games on your phone or tablet with just NFL+ or NFL+ Premium. However, if you want to watch games on your TV at home, you will need either a cable subscription, a streaming TV service like YouTube TV, or NFL+ Premium (which covers Thursday Night Football only).

Can I share my NFL+ account with family members?

The NFL+ terms of service state that your account is for your personal use. Sharing login credentials with people outside your household may violate the terms. Check the current terms on nfl.com for details on household sharing policies, as these can change.

What happens if I cancel mid-month?

You keep access to NFL+ through the end of your current billing period. If you cancel on the 15th of a month on a monthly plan, you can watch until the end of that month. You are not charged for the next month.

Is there a free trial for NFL+?

The NFL occasionally offers free trial periods, but these are not always available. Check nfl.com or the NFL app to see if a trial is currently being offered in your area. Trial availability and length vary by time of year and location.