Choosing the Right NFL Sunday Ticket Plan: Who Should Subscribe and Why
Before you fork over $350–$450, we crafted a guide to help you decide whether you should get the golden Ticket.
NFL Sunday Ticket is the subscription a diehard fan of a specific NFL team should have—but not all fans need it.
Sunday Ticket gives you access to stream all out-of-market Sunday games on your TV for a pretty penny of $350–$450, but is it worth your hard-earned cash?
I will go over which subscription is best for whom, if you should get it based on the type of NFL fan you are, and the cool features the Ticket offers.
Is NFL Sunday Ticket worth it?
If you’re obsessed with the NFL, or at least a team far from home, then NFL Sunday Ticket is a worthy addition to any TV setup. It gets you over 200 live Sunday afternoon games that air regionally across CBS and FOX. Of course, every NFL fan would love that coverage, but the cost is as bulky as a defensive lineman.
NFL Sunday Ticket’s lowest retail price is $349 for a full season, and that’s when you get it with YouTube TV—which already costs $72.99 a month. Meanwhile, similar out-of-market packages like MLB.TV and NBA League Pass cost way less for more live coverage. But hey, it’s the NFL we’re talking about—what did you expect?
At least NFL Sunday Ticket is no longer exclusive to DIRECTV with its lengthy contracts and bulky equipment. And, apart from its price and internet requirements, there are still many aspects of NFL Sunday Ticket to celebrate.
Should you get NFL Sunday Ticket + YouTube TV or just NFL Sunday Ticket?
By now, most of us know what NFL Sunday Ticket is all about—but which subscription option should you jump on this season? *takes a deep breath*
NFL Sunday Ticket + YouTube TV will equip you with all out-of-market games and all channels for primetime games (besides TNF). So, if you live outside your team’s area, you can watch all of your team’s games with this subscription.
I want to highlight that the pricing of this “bundle” can be confusing because it’s, in fact, not a bundle. If you want this plan, you’ll save $100 on NFL Sunday Ticket, but you’ll still have to pay an additional $73 per month for YouTube TV. So your true monthly payment for both services is $160 during the NFL season (which is still cheaper than if you were to get another TV provider + Sunday Ticket).
NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV is best for fans who already have a TV provider they’re loyal to. A fan who doesn’t live in their team’s area can still get all the out-of-market Sunday games by ordering only the Ticket but will have to get local channels, ESPN, and NFL Network elsewhere. The only way to order this subscription is through YouTube Primetime Channels.
Now, if you want to know if you specifically should get NFL Sunday Ticket, scroll down a smidge.
NFL Sunday Ticket prices
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV base plan | $72.99/mo. | View plan |
| NFL Sunday Ticket + YouTube TV | $349/yr. or $87.25/mo. for four months* | View plan |
| NFL Sunday Ticket + NFL RedZone + YouTube TV | $389/yr. or $97.25/mo. for four months* | View plan |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | $449/yr. or $112.25/mo. for four months | View plan |
| NFL Sunday Ticket + NFL RedZone | $489/yr. or $122.25/mo. for four months | View plan |
Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Plus $72.99/mo. recurring for YouTube TV.
Quick disclaimer: Whether you choose the annual or monthly plan, you won’t be able to receive a refund for or cancel NFL Sunday Ticket once you’ve ordered.
If Sunday Ticket isn’t everything you thought it would be, make sure to cancel at the end of the season. Or I would suggest you deselect “auto-renew” in your settings so you’re not unexpectedly charged the following season.
Which NFL fan should get NFL Sunday Ticket, and who could do without it?
The Dallas Cowboys, San Fransisco 49ers, and New York Jets have the most primetime games for the 2024 season, so fans of these teams might not be getting the most out of NFL Sunday Ticket. But a loyal out-of-market Carolina Panthers fan should hands down get a Sunday Ticket subscription, as they’re the only team to have zero primetime games.
Fans of the other teams not mentioned could benefit from watching 10+ games with NFL Sunday Ticket, which they wouldn’t otherwise get access to without it. NFL RedZone will be more up your alley if you’re not a diehard like the unbearable Eagles fan.
It’s a surprise to no one that the Dallas Cowboys is consistently the most televised NFL team. Last year, the Cowboys had six primetime games, and an additional seven were televised to most of the U.S. So, Cowboys fans don’t need NFL Sunday Ticket unless they’re willing to pay $350+ to watch four or so games that could potentially not be televised in your area.
Last year, the San Fransisco 49ers had five primetime games and three additional Sunday games televised to most people. There will be six primetime games this year, and based on key matchups, we think it’s safe to say that three or four Sunday games will be favored to show up on your TV.
So, the NFL Sunday Ticket is a hit or miss for 49ers fans. Depending on your level of fandom, you can pay $350+ for as many as eight games with the Ticket.
The New York Jets will have the same number of primetime games as they were supposed to have last year before Aaron Rodgers was injured: six. With this many primetime games slotted for the Jets and a healthy Rodgers, we can safely assume they’re planning to televise more Jets games this season than last.
It could be as many as seven, similar to the Cowboys, or a few less. So this is when you ask yourself how big of a Jets fan you are. Should you pay $350+ to watch seven (at most) of their games that could potentially not be televised in your area, or could you get by with a $11–$15 NFL RedZone Channel subscription?
If any fan should get an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription, it’s a loyal Carolina Panthers fan. They’re the only team to have zero primetime games this 2024 season and won’t likely have many Sunday games widely televised across the nation (unless Bryce Young, Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson, and Chuba Hubbard show the haters they’re better than they predict).
Should you add the NFL RedZone Channel to your NFL Sunday Ticket subscription?
Think of it as drafting George Kittle and Dalton Schultz for your fantasy team—you have a top player and an above-average backup to use when needed. That’s the difference between getting NFL Sunday Ticket vs. the Ticket and NFL RedZone.
If your team isn’t playing Sunday morning or afternoon, the NFL RedZone Channel is your direct pass to watching all of the important moments of those Sunday games in real time. As a fantasy player, I watch only the NFL RedZone Channel to keep tabs on all 13 or so games.
And it’s not overwhelming like YouTube TV’s multiview option (more on this below). RedZone will split the screen for two games at most, and that’s usually when there are two matchups in their final two minutes.
NFL Sunday Ticket has three excellent features
1. The multiview feature is great for keeping track of four games
Let’s say you want to watch Marvin Harrison Jr.’s performance with the Cardinals, Cousins vs. either Wilson or Fields, Caleb Williams’s debut, and Pat Surtain ll vs. DK Metcalf all at once. YouTube TV makes that possible—but, with some limitations.
NFL Sunday Ticket has many pre-chosen split screens that you can select to watch four live games simultaneously. The downside is that you can’t choose which four specific games will be on your screen. It would be really nice if YouTube TV could change this feature to be customizable.
At the same time, one of our writers found the multiview too overwhelming because there was simply too much action going on. I personally stream NFL RedZone because I’m a fantasy football manager, of course, and RedZone shows you one play, sometimes two, at once—important plays in real-time or only seconds later.
2. The live chat and poll feature makes you feel included
You know when you watch a live YouTube video, and there’s a live chat on the side for some banter? YouTube TV has incorporated that same live chat feature into NFL Sunday Ticket.
So you can go ahead and let Eagles fans know that “it’s the Cowboys’ year this year, boys,” or comment with hesitation that “the 49ers will defeat the Chiefs next time they meet.” And you can use this feature on any device you use to stream.
The chat also includes live polls. You’ll get questions like “Will the Detroit Lions have over 250 passing yards today against the New York Giants?” or “How many touchdowns will Tyreek Hill score today?”
3. The go-back feature is convenient for those who missed part of the game
Did you miss a crucial moment because your kid needed help with homework? Or are you coming in at halftime for the Sunday afternoon game because of church? No problem.
When you click the up button on the game, YouTube TV organizes key plays in boxes that feature a photo of the player who made said vital play. Click through them to catch up and be ready to watch the game live after halftime.
Does NFL Sunday Ticket offer deals?
Last year, the first season of NFL Sunday Ticket living on YouTube TV, was the prime time to get a deal. But there are still a couple of discounts you can take advantage of:
- If you’re a new YouTube TV subscriber, you can get $15 off your first three months to save $45 in total.
- YouTube TV offers a student discount. Through YouTube Primetime Channels, qualified students can get NFL Sunday Ticket for $199 per season, or $209 if you want to add the NFL RedZone Channel (which is what we’d recommend for only $10 more).
To sign up for the NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan, visit the NFL YouTube channel and select Get NFL Sunday Ticket. You’ll see a link towards the bottom to opt into the student plan.
NFL Sunday Ticket FAQ
Who will carry NFL Sunday Ticket in 2024?
YouTube TV will carry the NFL Sunday Ticket until the 2029–2030 NFL season as part of their multi-year deal.
Can I buy NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV?
You can buy NFL Sunday Ticket without a YouTube TV subscription through YouTube’s Primetime Channels. You’ll just have to budget for a $450 seasonal subscription instead of $350. We also cover other NFL Sunday Ticket alternatives in our NFL Sunday Ticket Without YouTube TV guide.
How much is NFL Sunday Ticket in 2024?
YouTube’s NFL Sunday Ticket will have the same price tag as 2023. If you get NFL Sunday Ticket with your YouTube TV subscription, you’ll pay $350 for the season. NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV is $450 per season.
Can I get NFL Sunday Ticket on Amazon Prime Video?
No, the only places to order NFL Sunday Ticket are with YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels (the latter being for those who don’t want YouTube TV).
Which games do you not get with NFL Sunday Ticket?
You won’t get access to your local games with NFL Sunday Ticket. So if a Sunday game is featured on FOX or CBS in your area, you’ll have to pull up your local channels to watch it.
Why you should trust us
Our sports and TV experts have tested and used YouTube TV for years and tested out NFL Sunday Ticket during the 2023 season. They’ve also watched the NFL for over a decade and researched NFL Sunday Ticket for over four years. With our experience watching sports and using streaming services, we crafted this guide for an NFL fan interested in the Ticket.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
