How to get NFL RedZone without cable: Pricing, features and more

NFL RedZone
(Image credit: NFL)

With the first NFL Sunday of the 2024-25 NFL season coming this week, it's time to learn about NFL RedZone.

NFL RedZone is one of the best ways to get all the action on Sunday. Unlike NFL Sunday Ticket, which gives fans access to every out-of-market Sunday day game, RedZone gives NFL fans seven hours of completely uninterrupted, commercial-free football, every Sunday of the regular season. The program is hosted by the truly incredible Scott Hanson, who commentates on every play within the opponent's 20-yard line (aka the "red zone"), every scoring play and some other big plays in between.

The good news is, like with Sunday Ticket, you don't need a cable TV subscription to get access to NFL Red Zone. In fact, every single one of our picks for the best cable TV alternatives gives you a way to sign up for NFL RedZone while still cutting the cord. Some are cheaper than others, but all of them offer it. And if you don't want a cable TV alternative, the NFL gives you a way to sign up thanks to its NFL Plus streaming service.

So here's how to get signed up for NFL RedZone without cable, along with everything else you need to know.

NFL RedZone Providers

Get RedZone with NFL Sunday Ticket

NFL Sunday Ticket logo for YouTube

(Image credit: YouTube)

Unfortunately, you can no longer get RedZone when signing up for NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV. However, you can still add RedZone to a Sunday Ticket subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels. You'll just need to pay $40 extra to get access for the entire 2024-25 season.

If you have YouTube TV, you can still sign up for RedZone separately through YouTube TV if you're already a YouTube TV subscriber. You'll just need to add the Sports Plus package to your subscription for an additional $10.99 a month.

Aside from these options, you can also bundle Sunday Ticket with RedZone through Sunday Ticket's student plan. Read more on this special discounted plan below.

NFL Sunday Ticket student discount: RedZone for $10

If you're a student, YouTube TV is offering a student discount so you can get NFL Sunday Ticket at an affordable price. Unfortunately, though, you'll need to sign up for Sunday Ticket and RedZone — there's no discount for just RedZone. The student discount is currently available but you want to act fast before the price goes up.

Students eligible for the student discount can buy an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription from YouTube Primetime Channels for $199 and can bundle Sunday Ticket with NFL RedZone for just $10 more. Students can not sign up for Sunday Ticket via YouTube TV and are limited to one device and one concurrent stream at a time.

To be eligible for the student plan, you just need to be 18 years of age or older, be enrolled as a student at an accredited college or university and be able to be verified through SheerID, the verification tool that YouTube is using for the student discount.

Sign up now at YouTube Primetime Channels

Sling TV: Blue package + Sports Extra

The Sling TV app button on the Apple TV home screen.

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey / Tom's Guide)

Sling TV is currently our pick the best cable TV alternative out there and it has a couple of different offers for those looking to get an NFL RedZone subscription.

First, you can sign up for Sling Blue — one of Sling TV's channel packages — starting at just $40 a month (some markets have a $5 upcharge for ABC) and then add on the Sports Extra package for an additional $11 a month. Just keep in mind that you must sign up for the Sling Blue Sports Extra package. The Sling Orange version does not come with RedZone.

For a limited time, you can get your first month of Sling Blue for half off — just $20. These promotions aren't always active though, so make sure to check out our Sling TV promo codes before signing up.

You can save even more if you're willing to commit to Sling TV for a bit longer than month-to-month. Right now, you can get four months of Sling Orange + Sling Blue and Sports Extra for $199. You'll be locked in for a few months, but you'll get over 68 channels including RedZone, ESPN and NFL Network. In select markets, you can access up to three broadcast networks — Fox, NBC and ABC.

Sign up now at Sling

YouTube TV: Sports Plus required

Stats are overlaid on screen during a football game on YouTube TV

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey / Tom's Guide)

As mentioned earlier, any YouTube TV subscriber can add RedZone. Once you're subscribed, or if you're already a subscriber, add on the Sports Plus package for $10.99 a month, which gives you access to 16 different sports channels — including NFL RedZone.

YouTube TV is normally $72.99 a month but there are often promotions available. Right now, new subscribers will get their first four months for just $64.99 a month. For that money, you'll get access to a lot of great sports-watching features like multiview and catching up through key plays that make this cable TV alternative a great choice for sports fans.

Sign up now at YouTube TV

Hulu + Live TV: Sports Add-on adds RedZone

A living room with a TV hanging on the wall which says 'Hulu' on it in green writing. There's a TV cabinet underneath the TV with ornaments.

(Image credit: Hulu)

Hulu + Live TV may not be our top pick for the best cable TV alternative or have some of the sports features that YouTube TV has, but it gives you a ton of content for a good price. That's because, in addition to live TV channels, you also get access to Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, which are some of our favorite streaming services.

Right now, new subscribers can sign up for Hulu + Live TV for $76.99 a month*, giving you access to 90+ live TV channels, Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Once you're subscribed, you'll need to add the Sports Add-on to your subscription for $9.99 a month (you can also add this during the sign up process). This add-on gives you access to eight additional sports channels — including NFL RedZone.

Sign up now at Hulu

*Starting October 17, the price of ESPN Plus, Disney Plus and Hulu will increase. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) will increase to $82.99 a month and will cost an additional $13 a month to remove ads from on demand content.

Fubo: The Ultimate free trial

(L to R) fubo logo next to youtube tv logo on an Apple TV

(Image credit: Future)

Fubo is also one of our best cable TV alternatives and it's changed how you get RedZone from previous years.

It used to be that you would get Fubo's Ultimate plan to get NFL RedZone. That plan no longer exists. So to get RedZone now, you'll need to add the Sports Plus with NFL RedZone add-on. This add-on is $10.99 a month and gives you RedZone plus 23 other channels.

The good news is you can add this to almost any Fubo plan, including Fubo Pro. This plan starts at $79.99 plus additional taxes and fees and gives you 192 channels and unlimited DVR storage that you can watch on up to 10 screens in your house plus two on the go. Unfortunately, RedZone cannot be added to Fubo Latino at this time.

Regardless of the plan you pick, you get a seven-day free trial, so you can try before you buy.

Sign up now at Fubo

DirecTV Stream: Add the Sports Pack

NFL Sunday Ticket

(Image credit: AT&T)

Our last option for NFL RedZone through a cable TV alternative is DirecTV Stream. DirecTV Stream, like Fubo, is on the more expensive part of the spectrum of RedZone options.

To get NFL RedZone, regardless of your plan, you need to add the DirecTV Sports Pack to your DirecTV stream package. DirecTV Premier does include RedZone, but only for DirecTV satellite customers. The Sports Pack costs $14.99 per month.

The cheapest option from DirecTV Stream is the Entertainment package. It starts at $79.99 a month plus tax and gives you 90+ channels. 

However, if you're willing to spend a bit, there are some promotions currently available. First, new DirecTV Stream customers who sign up for the Choice package plus Sports Pack get it for just $98.99 for the first month. This promotion gives you the Choice package (normally $108.99/month) for $10 off a month for your first three months and one month of Sports Pack for free. If you want even more channels, you can also score the same promotion for the Ultimate Package for $11 more.

Sign up now at DirecTV Stream

NFL Plus Premium: RedZone without a cable TV alternative

NFL Plus logo

(Image credit: NFL Plus)

For those who prefer to ditch cable and cable alternatives altogether, the NFL has its own streaming service called NFL Plus. And if you sign up for NFL Plus Premium, you get NFL RedZone included.

There are two payment options for NFL Plus Premium. First, you can sign up for a monthly plan at just $14.99 a month. This gives you access to NFL RedZone on your TV, PC, phone and tablet. You also get access to live out-of-market preseason games and NFL Network on all devices and you can watch live local and primetime games (excluding preseason) on your phone or tablet.

However, if you also want to watch postseason games plus RedZone for the 18-week regular season, you might want to sign up for a yearly subscription. Right now, you can get an annual subscription to NFL Plus Premium for $99.99. If you want NFL RedZone and nothing else, NFL Plus Premium may be the most cost-effective way to do it.

Sign up now at NFL Plus

NFL RedZone Features

What is NFL RedZone?

NFL RedZone has one goal and one goal only — nonstop NFL football. Every Sunday from 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, host Scott Hanson narrates seven hours of football without a single break. No cuts to commercials, just pure football.

Over the seven-hour telecast, you'll get to see every touchdown of every game that takes place during the day on Sunday. But it's not just the touchdowns (and field goals). If there's nobody who has just scored to cut to, RedZone will take you to whatever game is looking most likely to generate a score or take you through replays of key highlights. It's arguably the best way to watch football without any filler.

What games does NFL RedZone cover?

NFL RedZone only covers the Sunday day games — games that take place during the window of 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT to 8 p.m. / 5 p.m. PT. That means no Thursday Night, Sunday Night or Monday Night Football. 

Additionally, RedZone only covers the 18-week regular season. So preseason and playoff games are not covered by an NFL RedZone telecast.

More from Tom's Guide

Malcolm McMillan
Streaming Editor

Malcolm McMillan is a Streaming Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all the latest in streaming TV shows and movies. That means news, analysis, recommendations, reviews and more for just about anything you can watch, including sports! If it can be seen on a screen, he can write about it.

Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most.

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