How to Watch NFL Games Free with Fubo and What RedZone Access Costs
For NFL fans who gave up cable, opening Sunday used to mean scrambling for a stream. Fubo is one of the services that solves that, at least for a short stretch. USA Today's guide to the opening Sunday of the NFL season highlighted Fubo's five-day free trial, which includes unlimited cloud DVR and access to more than 200 live channels. That lineup includes ESPN, FOX, CBS, and other local networks.
What makes Fubo especially useful on NFL Sundays is that it lets subscribers stream the game in their own market without buying an additional service. In the Week 1 slate covered by USA Today, Fubo carried all 14 remaining games, and 13 of those were available free on Sunday. A fan in the middle of a trial could watch nearly the entire day's schedule without leaving the app.
RedZone's Complicated Price Tag
NFL RedZone is a channel available on several streaming services. Getting it free is possible, but only briefly. OregonLive's viewing guide noted that Week 1 of RedZone could be streamed free through Fubo or DIRECTV, both of which offered free trials. Sling TV also offered a one-day streaming pass for $4.99.
Once the trial runs out, costs diverge sharply. OregonLive listed Fubo at $85 per month, with an additional $11 monthly Sports Plus package that adds RedZone, making the total $96. Sling TV Blue, with its Sports Extra add-on, came in at $56.99 per month. NFL+ Premium, which lets viewers watch RedZone on a phone or TV through the NFL app, costs $14.99 per month. That is the cheapest recurring option for people who only care about RedZone.
What the Options Actually Buy
Fubo and Sling do not offer RedZone the same way. Fubo permits at least two concurrent viewers within the same household, which matters for a family with multiple football fans. Sling's package price makes it the cheaper full-service bundle. OregonLive described Fubo, Sling, and DIRECTV as the best major streaming services for RedZone, particularly for fans in the Pacific Northwest, where channel availability can be inconsistent.
The Choice After the Trial Ends
For cord cutters, the opening Sunday of the NFL season is a test of whether a streaming setup can replace cable. The free trials solve that for one week. The larger question is what happens the following Sunday. RedZone fans can pay $14.99 for NFL+ Premium and watch only that channel, or they can build a fuller package around Fubo or Sling. The choice depends on whether RedZone is a supplement or the main event. The available evidence covers the options offered by major streaming services; regional variations and promotions can shift, so checking the current terms before signing up is the safest move.