Free NFL App vs NFL+: What You Get and Is NFL+ Worth It?
The free NFL app gives you scores, news, highlights and schedules, but not live game streams. To watch games in the app you need NFL+, which the NFL lists at $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year for the 2026 season. NFL+ streams your local and primetime games live, but only on a phone or tablet, plus NFL Network on any device. NFL+ Premium, at $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year, adds NFL RedZone and full game replays. NFL+ is worth it if you mostly watch on the go; for games on the big TV, you still need TV service or a live TV streamer. Questions about NFL channels on your TV? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Free NFL app vs NFL+ vs NFL+ Premium (2026 season)
| Feature | Free NFL app | NFL+ | NFL+ Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $6.99/month or $49.99/year | $14.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Scores, news, highlights | Yes | Yes, ad-free highlights | Yes, ad-free highlights |
| Live local and primetime games | No | Phone and tablet only | Phone and tablet only |
| Live postseason games | No | Phone and tablet only | Phone and tablet only |
| NFL Network live | No | Yes | Yes |
| Live game audio for every game | No | Yes | Yes |
| NFL RedZone | No | No | Yes |
| Full and condensed replays, All-22 | No | No | Yes |
Prices are from the NFL’s own support page as of October 2026. Buying through an app store or streaming device may add fees.
What the free NFL app does
The NFL app costs nothing to download. You get live scores, news, video highlights, schedules and fantasy tools. It is also the app you use to watch NFL+, so subscribing simply unlocks more inside the same app.
What NFL+ adds
NFL+ is the league’s own streaming subscription, now in its fifth season. It streams live local and primetime regular-season games and all postseason games on phones and tablets, a live 24/7 stream of NFL Network, out-of-market preseason games, live home, away and national radio calls for every game, and the NFL Films library. The catch is the screen: those live regular-season games do not play on your TV through NFL+.
What NFL+ Premium adds
Premium includes everything in NFL+ plus NFL RedZone, which jumps to every touchdown during Sunday afternoon games, full and condensed replays of every game on any device, All-22 coaches film and the NFL Pro stats tool. Replays are a good fit for fans who cannot watch live. For other ways to get RedZone on TV, see how to watch NFL RedZone.
Want RedZone and NFL Network on your TV instead of your phone? Call 1-855-690-9884 to compare TV packages.
NFL+ vs Sunday Ticket and live TV
- NFL+ covers your local and primetime games on a phone or tablet.
- Sunday Ticket carries out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on TVs. See how much Sunday Ticket costs on YouTube TV and how to get it without YouTube TV.
- TV service or a live TV streamer gives you local CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC games plus ESPN and NFL Network on the big screen. Our NFL on DIRECTV guide covers channels.
Is NFL+ worth it?
NFL+ is worth $6.99 a month if you often watch away from a TV, such as at work, on the road or in a second room, or if you want NFL Network without a cable package. Premium is worth it if you love RedZone or want to rewatch games. If you only watch at home on the TV, put the money toward a TV plan that includes your local channels instead. For a smooth stream, plan on about 5–10 Mbps per HD device; see good internet speed for streaming.
Ready to get every game on your TV? Call 1-855-690-9884.