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Can You Watch 2024 NFL Preseason Games for Free?

Can You Watch 2024 NFL Preseason Games for Free?

It can be a little tricky to keep track of your favorite NFL team’s preseason games, but we’ll break down the best options to watch free below.

David Satin
David covers the biggest news stories, live events, premieres, and informational pieces for The Streamable. Before joining TS, he wrote extensively for Screen Rant and has years of experience writing about the entertainment and streaming industries. He's a Broncos fan, streams on his Toshiba Fire TV, and his favorites include "Andor," "Rings of Power," and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
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David Satin
The NFL preseason is just getting started, and fans can watch games on a number of different outlets.

The calendar may still say summer, but the NFL is ramping up. Preseason games have already begun, as fans who watched the rain-shortened Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans last week know. Every other team in the league gets started with their preseason schedule in the coming days, and I’ll help fans find the best viewing options for watching their favorite squad’s preseason outings free below!

How Can You Watch 2024 NFL Preseason Games Free?

Option 1: Free Trial to a Live TV Streaming Service

Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM are the best choices for watching NFL preseason games according to our experts.

There are several live TV streaming services that offer free trials of varying lengths. If you’re just looking to catch your team’s first preseason game at no cost, this can be an excellent way to watch for free and see them in action for the first time in 2024.

DTV STREAM Fubo Hulu Philo Sling TV YouTube
Free Trial Free Trial Free 3-Day Trial Free Trial Get 50% OFF Sign Up
$86.99 $94.99 $82.99 $28 $45.99 $45.99 $82.99
CBS ✓ ✓ ✓ - - - ✓
Fox ✓ ✓ ✓ - - ✓ ✓
NBC ✓ ✓ ✓ - - ✓ ✓
NFL Network + $15 ✓ ✓ - - ✓ ✓

There are four national TV networks that will air preseason games this season: CBS, Fox, NBC and NFL Network. These channels are available on DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV, all of which offer free trials.

If you decide to go this route, we think DIRECTV STREAM is the best way to go. It’s got a five-day free trial and carries all of these networks on its base CHOICE package ($108.99 per month after the trial ends). If you don’t want to go this route, try Hulu + Live TV and its three-day free trial.

Sling TV does carry some of the networks you’ll need, but it doesn’t have CBS anywhere, nor does it carry Fox or NBC in all markets. Viewers can stream CBS and all of its programming live on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, which offers a standard seven-day free trial.

Our Top Choice for Watching 2023 NFL Preseason Games: DIRECTV STREAM

  • Five-day free trial
  • Largest selection of top cable and sports channels
  • $10 off the first three months for a limited time

Our Recommendation for Sports Fans to Watch 2023 NFL Preseason Games and More: Hulu + Live TV

  • Three-day free trial
  • All needed channels on base plan
  • ESPN+ comes free with all plans at $76.99 per month or more.

Option 2: Free Trial to On-Demand Streamers

Paramount+ and Prime Video will offer some NFL preseason options this year.

Prime Video will offer a live preseason game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, and viewers can watch it for free with a 30-day free trial. Paramount+ comes with a seven-day trial as well, and its Paramount+ with SHOWTIME tier offers a 24/7 livestream of CBS in your market. If your local team plays preseason games on a CBS affiliate, this is the perfect way to watch at least one game free.

The Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos preseason game in Week 3 will be shown on CBS nationally, so Paramount+ will allow you to stream this game free at the very least.

Option 3: Watch Games Over the Air

An OTA antenna is a great way to watch NFL preseason games without a subscription fee of any kind.

If you don’t have an over-the-air (OTA) antenna yet, this option won’t technically be free. But for a one-time purchase price, you can grab an antenna and watch your local team’s preseason games with no monthly subscription charges or other fees. The vast majority of NFL teams play preseason games on local broadcast channels in their home markets, and this is a great way to see those games without worrying about paying $75 per month or more for an expensive live TV service.

The Streamable has a special deal with Antennas Direct that allows viewers to take 20% off the purchase of an antenna of their choice using promo code STREAMABLE20 at checkout. Shop the deals using the button below!

Can You Watch NFL Preseason Games Free on NFL+?

NFL+ does carry out-of-market preseason games, but does not have a free trial.

NFL+ is a streaming service run by the league itself to help distribute games. It allows fans to watch live, out-of-market preseason games on select devices, but it does not offer a free trial at this time. Plans start at $6.99 per month, and viewers cannot watch any in-market preseason contests on the service.

David Satin
David covers the biggest news stories, live events, premieres, and informational pieces for The Streamable. Before joining TS, he wrote extensively for Screen Rant and has years of experience writing about the entertainment and streaming industries. He's a Broncos fan, streams on his Toshiba Fire TV, and his favorites include "Andor," "Rings of Power," and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
Read full bio ›
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DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.