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There is no shortage of ways to watch NFL games, especially if you live in the United States. Getting free access to those games is a different story entirely. Streaming NFL games requires paid access in most cases, whether you're watching live TV streaming services or specialized network apps. You aren't totally out of luck, though—there are still a few options to watch NFL live streams for free weekly. More importantly, you can watch the Super Bowl for free.
The options below are officially sanctioned broadcasts across several countries, including the United States, the UK, and Australia. Although you can watch these NFL games live for free, you'll need a VPN if you don't live in those regions. We'll drop our recommendation for our top VPN pick below if you don't already have one.
During the regular season, you're limited to whichever games these sources feel like showing each week, so you may miss out on your favorite teams and matchups. If you need a more varied selection, you can check out some other not-so-frugal watch options in our guide to NFL live streams, which has plenty of options for cord-cutters.
If you're just coming in for the Super Bowl on February 11, free is indeed an option. We've added a quick tips box below, with everything you need for the Chiefs vs. 49ers finale, with links to various free trials in the USA or free overseas broadcasts in Australia and the UK.
The remainder of this article discusses options for viewing free games during the regular NFL season. While correct for the 2023/2024 season, we'll update before next season to reflect any changes.
How to watch Monday Night Football for free
Channel 5 in the United Kingdom shows Monday Night Football for free. International viewers not located in the UK can use a VPN to watch the game every Monday night starting at 8:15 p.m. ET. Just use the VPN to connect to a server within the UK, then head to Channel 5's website and find the game on the main feed in the TV guide. You'll need a free account to get through the door, but that's easy enough to create if you use Google to find a local postal code to use.
- Read more: How to watch Monday Night Football for free
How to watch Thursday Night Football for free
Twitch streams Thursday Night Football live for free in the United States, a nice byproduct of being an Amazon subsidiary. Navigate to the Prime Video Twitch channel every Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET, and you'll be able to tune in, no account necessary. If you're not in the United States, Twitch will block you from viewing these feeds, but you may be able to get around that with a VPN, although we've struggled to sneak in from overseas.
The game is also shown on the Prime Video app in the US, and we have been able to access that on international versions of Prime via a VPN.
- Read more: How to watch Thursday Night Football for free
How to watch NFL games live for free every Sunday
7Mate in Australia shows select NFL games every Sunday. You'll mostly find Sunday afternoon games here, typically one early afternoon game (1 p.m. ET) and one late afternoon game (4:25 p.m. ET) right afterward. There's no telling which games 7Mate will feature too far in advance, so check the guide each week to settle your viewing plans beforehand. You can also expect full NFL playoff coverage at 7Plus once the road to the Super Bowl starts in early January.
- Read more: Watch NFL live streams without cable | What channel is Sunday night football on?
Watch NFL live streams free with a VPN
A VPN uses technological trickery to dupe websites into thinking you're visiting from within a supported country, so you can tune into some of the sources above to watch NFL games for free. If you already have one, just point it to the country required to view the stream you're interested in, visit that website, and sign up with a free account if necessary. Signing up may require a local postal code, but that's easily attainable with a quick Google search.
You can snag a risk-free offer on the best VPN we've tested if you need a VPN. ExpressVPN is 49% off the regular price right now, and you get three extra months for free. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're unsatisfied, too. Check out our ExpressVPN review to learn more.
Staff Pick
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that makes it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get an extra three months for free today.
How to Stream NFL games free with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
- Install it on the device you're using to watch the game.
- Turn it on and set it to your preferred location.
- Go to Twitch (Thursday - USA), Channel 5 (Monday - UK), or 7Mate (Sunday - Australia).
- If necessary, sign up with a local postal code.
- Enjoy your free NFL streams.
Editorial Fellow
Quentyn Kennemer was a former Editorial Fellow for Insider Reviews. A career tech journalist, reporter, and devout tech-head whose entire life story surrounds the matter, he also loves escaping to fascinating new worlds through video games. In addition to Insider, Quentyn has written and edited for top publications like Forbes, Consumer Reports, Digital Trends, and more.
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